I have to admit – Ramadan in quarantine isn’t that bad after all. Yes, gatherings with family and friends now happen exclusively online (thank you, Zoom) – but other than that I’ve managed to uphold quite a few of my personal Ramadan “traditions” this year. Staying up too late. Eating one too many Arabic desserts…
Cardamom Rose Chia Pudding
If there’s one thing that hasn’t been in short supply in as of late, it’s time. Time to adjust to the new status quo, time to digest (or sometimes completely avoid) the constant barrage of news headlines surrounding the current health crisis, and time to reflect. I won’t attempt to summarise all of my quarantine…
Egyptian Green Bean Stew
A Ramadan spent in quarantine. I know I’m not alone in marveling at just how peculiar of a notion that is, but it is after all our reality, given the current circumstances. I won’t lie, at first the idea of doing Ramadan totally solo this year (sans family, friends or co-workers) was incredibly daunting. Personally…
Easy Everyday Tofu Scramble
Ah 2020. To say that it has been a year would be a painstakingly obvious understatement, given the current state of affairs globally. While I would love nothing more than to spend the next 300 words or so musing about just how drastically my life has been impacted by recent happenings, I won’t. Partly because…
UAE Conscious Gift Guide (for every season)
Before you say it – I know what you’re thinking. Christmas is days away and I’ve only just gotten around to posting this guide now?! In my defense, I don’t really celebrate Christmas. I mean, sure I do indulge in a little bit of holiday cheer (chiefly by partaking in the annual office Secret Santa gift exchange and…
Caramelised Onion Hummus
Alright guys, I have a confession to make. I only really fell in love with hummus as a student living in the UK, circa 2009. I know, it’s appalling. An entire childhood spent growing up in the Arab world and Tesco’s was the gateway to my undeniable love affair with pureed chickpeas and tahini. But…
48 hours in Fayoum
Al Fayoum: one of Egypt’s oldest cities and home to a large fertile basin in the middle of the desert. Often (erroneously) referred to as an oasis, the area is a charming amalgamation of lush farmlands, powder perfect dunes, glasslike saltwater lakes, and awe-inspiring archaeological sites. Our view on the drive over was littered with…
Vegan Istanbul Guide 2019
Ah, Istanbul. Dünyadaki en sevdiğim şehir. I’ve written time and time again about my love for this incomparable city, so I shan’t bore you again with mindless musings about Istanbul here. Before we dive into this year’s vegan travel guide, a few notes: I was in Istanbul for all of 72 hours ahead of a…