Chicken and Mushroom Pie

1 lb boneless chicken cut into cubes

2 med onion's sliced

1 tin button mushrooms or fresh

1 8 floz fresh cream

1 cube chicken stock in 1 pint water

salt/pepper to taste

1 block puff pastry or 2 rolled pastries

1 egg beaten

2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp cornflour

Heat butter and fry onion's until light brown add chicken and cook well, add in mushrooms, in jug mix the stock water, fresh cream and cornflour and mix well, add to the chicken and salt and pepper to taste, cook for a while until sauce thickens, the consistency should not be too thick or too runny so add more cornflour if needed. Pour into a baking dish and set aside to cool.  Roll out your pastry until is it bigger then the size of the dish, trim the edges of the pastry and use these trimmings to put on the rim of the dish then place the pastry over the dish and press onto the rim, the trimmings should hold the main pastry to the dish, brush with egg and bake for 45 min or until golden brown on gas mark 5.

Eggplant Dish

1 large eggplant (Aubergine)

3 green chilli's cut in half

1 small bunch spring onion chopped

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp turmeric

chopped coriander

oil

a few toothpicks

1 piece coal and i small piece of foil

First wash and brush the eggplant with oil and stick a few toothpicks into it half way and bake in the oven on high until soft. once cooked place in cold water and then peel off skin and mash in a bowel, heat up the coal on your cooker until you see it turn a little red then gray in colour. place foil in the center of the mashed eggplant and put the hot coal in it add 1 tbsp of oil on it and quickly cover with a tight dish so the smoke can't escape. leave for about half an hour for the smoke to get right into the eggplant . in a pot add 2 tbsp oil and fry the onions until little brown, add spring onions and the rest of the ingredients  Remove the foil and coal from eh eggplant and add it to the onions and mix well, cook for a while and then garnish with coriander. Enjoy with roti or naan.

Puff Pastry with Potato filling

Makes 16

1 box ready rolled puff pastry

1 large potato boiled and mashed

1 chicken fillet cut into small cubes

1/4 cup sweetcorn

2 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

2 tbsp lemon juice

salt to taste

crushed green chilli (optional)

1 beaten egg

Heat oil and add mustard seeds, once they start popping add the chicken and cook at the same time add sweetcorn, salt, chilli and lemon juice and cook until water from chicken has evaporated then add the smashed potato and mix well. leave aside to cool. Unroll the pastry and fold in half landscape way, open and cut along that line, then fold again landscape and cut the same way. You should have four long strips. Now fold these stripes one by one into half and cut and then half again and cut so you will end up with 16 rectangle shapes. place a tsp full of mixture int he center of the pastry and fold over and folk down, once all done brush with egg and bake in the oven 180 or gas mark 5 until golden on top.

These are great for kid's after school snack or for Ramadan.

After School Snack

Pitta bread

Tomato puree (tube or jar)

Grated cheese

Oregano herb

Any pizza veggies or chicken or meat you like for topping

So all you do is spread puree onto the pitta bread, add the toppings and grated cheese, sprinkle herbs and grill until cheese has melted.  HOW EASY IS THAT?

Chicken with Mayyonnaise

1 chicken cut into 8 with or without skin

1 bottle Nando's sauce (any strength)

1 small bottle mayonnaise

2 med onions sliced

2 med fresh tomato's sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

Place chicken into an oven dish add both nando's and mayonnaise and olive oil to it and cook in the oven. Once 3/4 cooked and the onion and tomato's on top of the chicken and cook in the oven until brown, serve with rice.

https://www.justgiving.com/ayshasamazingrecipes

PASSWORD: maaria02  to donate.

Chicken Salad with home made Croutons

1 lb boneless chicken cut into strips

2 tsp fajita powder seasoning (buy from supermarket)

1 tsp paprika powder

salt/pepper to taste

2 tbsp olive oil

drizzle lemon juice

dash of dried parsley

2 slices bread without crust

any salad of your choice (eg cucumber, green leaf salad, tom etc)

Heat olive oil in a non stick frying pan, to this add your chicken and all the seasoning except the bread and salad. While this is cooking prepare your salad in a bowl, cut the bread into small cubes and just drizzle some olive oil over and mix using your hands and bake in the oven. Once chicken is done add to your salad bowl and the croutons on top and enjoy. My son made this dish for his dinner and complimented it with some potato wedges on the side.

Gluten Free Ginger Biscuits

2 oz butter

3 oz caster sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 oz gluten free plain flour

1 tbsp gluten free baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon powder

2 tsp ginger powder

pinch of salt

3 tbsp milk

Beat butter and sugar until creamy, add egg, vanilla and beat well then add rest of dry ingredients and then milk to form a soft dough, if it becomes sticky then sprinkle some more flour and knead well. Make small ball and place on a baking dish with grease proof paper on it. Using a fork lightly flatten the balls and bake for 10-12 min on gas mark 5, 190 degree/375F.

 

Dried Apricot Biscuits

3 1/2 oz melted butter

3 oz brown sugar

pinch of salt

1 egg yolk

6 oz wholemeal flour

juice and finely grated zest of 1/2 unwaxed lemons

2 oz dried apricots finely chopped

2 oz pecan nuts finely chopped

Beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy, add egg, flour and lemon juice and mix until smooth.

Add zest, apricots and nuts and mix well until a dough is formed.

Roll out into a cylinder shape about 5cm wide, wrap in foil and chill for 30 min. Take out and slice about 1/4 in thick place on a baking dish and bake for 15-20 min at 160 degree 325F gas mark 3.

Help me make a difference.......

When you go through my blog what goes through your mind? ‘What mouth-watering recipes’, ‘Oh, I think I’ll try that one today’. So how long will it take to make these wonderful recipes? 30 minutes? OK maybe 45 minute in all which it pretty good. OK now ask yourselves how easy is it for you to get hold of the ingredients? Well I think we all know the answer to these.

Now think of all those families especially children who are just like our own children in desperate need of food and clean water, how long do they need to wait for their food to come? How easy is for them to get to the shops? And again we all know the answer to these questions. That’s why I want to do something to help these Muslim families as here we all are having our luxurious food and our brother and sister not to forget our children are suffering without food.

I ask you all too please help me raise money so we can all feed these families and gain the reward from Allah. This is how you can help make a difference. On my recipe blog there will be a link to Just Giving where you can make a donation. I ask for every recipe you make to make a min donation of £1 at least if not more also even if you don’t make the recipes but like the blog then still make a donation. I would like the donation to be on going for it to benefit the families so that’s why I kept it to a min of £1. All the money will directly go to Muslin Aid.

I pray that you all will help me make a difference to these families and insha allah Allah will reward us all, the more people we send this recipe blog link to the more money we can raise and the more on-going donation we make then this also will make the difference.

‘Let’s feed other while we feed ourselves.’

Jazak allah for your support

Aysha Daud

https://www.justgiving.com/ayshasamazingrecipes

PASSWORD: maaria02  to donate.

Lamb Cutlets

1 lb lamb mince (can use chicken)

1 med onion chopped

2 tsp crushed garlic

coriander chopped

1 tsp crushed ginger

2 tsp dhanya powder

1 egg

salt/pepper to taste

breadcrumbs

Mix all of the above ingredients except for the egg and breadcrumbs. Shape into round cutlet shape, dip in egg and breadcrumbs and bake in the oven on 180 degrees for about 15 min turning them half time.

Enjoy with a mint relish, salad and nann.

How Natural Remedies have helped me.....

There are many women out there who suffer in silence with pro-longed bleeding and chronic period pains every month, yes we can go to the doctors but what will they do? send you away with strong pain killers? the pill? or a cocktail for medication which all at some point in time lead to side effects which trigger off other medical problems, am I right?

Here's my story...... suffered for 17 years with heavy bleeding plus from by bowels after my second child, was told by my Muslim GP 'sorry you have to live with it there is nothing i can do, it's just the way your body is'. So after 10 years of suffering really badly and ending up in hospital on and off i was told i have endometriosis stage 4 which means i had implants growing outside of my womb and they were stuck to my organs and feeding off their own blood supply which mean they were growing. Had 9 months of injections to shrink the implants so they don't turn cancerous.

Then finally was told sorry no more injections we need to operate so I had a total hysterectomy bilateral salpingo oophorectomy a few weeks ago.

The reason for me telling you my story is that my dad told me to start the turmeric powder once i started the injection and i feel that Allah has made my recovery easy through this source. After op i started the Molasses in hot water and peppermint water which i feel has really aided the recovery period, all shifa is in Allah's hand and only in His hands but He has put blessings in these natural remedies. I have had many visitors who say that i don't look like i have just had a major operation, which is only from Allah.

Please don't suffer in silence and try these remedies put your trust in Allah and make the intention that Allah puts the shifa in these foods.

I pray this will help you to move away from conventional medication.

Jazak Allah for your time to read my story.

Aysha Daud

Turmeric Powder

The active ingredient in turmeric is cur cumin. Turmeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

Here are 20 health benefits of turmeric:

1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.

7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloid plaque build-up in the brain.

8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.

11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.

16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.

17. Studies are on-going in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.

18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumours.

19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodelling of damaged skin.

20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

http://www.healthdiaries.com

Blackstrap Molasses

Molasses is a dark, thick liquid extracted during the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar. Blackstrap molasses is obtained during the third boiling of the cane syrup and contains a unique concentration of many important vitamins and minerals left over after the sugar's sucrose is crystallized.

Blackstrap molasses contains much higher levels of many of these nutrients than regular molasses, especially when it comes to iron content. Other important nutrients obtained from blackstrap include vitamin B6, calcium, manganese, magnesium and potassium.

This rich nutritional profile makes blackstrap molasses a highly regarded super food and popular dietary supplement. Here are 15 health benefits of blackstrap molasses:

Cancer Prevention
Anecdotal evidence and numerous testimonials suggest that blackstrap molasses may play a role in cancer prevention and the treatment of certain types of cancer. Its dense nutritional profile supports these claims, however scientific research and clinical trials are not available to confirm. The high calcium content of blackstrap suggests that it may be useful in preventing and treating colon cancer. It has also been associated with shrinking cancerous tumours.

Some health officials are weary of molasses for cancer treatment due to its high iron and sugar content, which is believed to enable cancer proliferation. Some testimonials have suggested combining blackstrap molasses with baking soda for cancer to good effect.

Antioxidant Protection
Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of the antioxidant manganese, providing about 27.5% the DV per tablespoon. Manganese helps the body fight free radical damage to cells and DNA. Foods with great antioxidant protection are believed to help prevent cancer and heart disease and may also slow the effects of aging.

Energy Production
Blackstrap molasses can offer a temporary energy boost by providing carbohydrates that are quickly converted into energy in the body. More importantly, it can aid energy production because it helps replenish the body's storage of iron. Iron plays a vital role in energy production, transporting oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency can lead to fatigue and energy hindering conditions like anemia, which seriously inhibit energy levels. Blackstrap molasses also provides vitamin B6, which plays a key role in energy production.

Bone Health
Blackstrap molasses provides many of the daily nutrients needed to help keep the bones healthy and strong, including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese and copper. Maintaining a recommended daily allowance of these minerals can greatly reduce the risk of osteoporosis and other diseases of the bone.

Heart Health
Blackstrap molasses provides many of the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain good heart health and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease. These include manganese, magnesium, copper, calcium, potassium and vitamin B6. Together these nutrients can help treat blood clotting, reducing the risk of stroke, lower blood pressure and fight oxidative stress and inflammation to the cardiovascular system.

Colon Health
Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of calcium, which helps cleanse the colon of toxins. Calcium is often associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

High In Iron
Just one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses provides nearly 20% of the DV of iron. Iron deficiency is associated with many different conditions, including dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, irritability and anemia. Iron is particularly important for women during menstruation. Iron plays a critical role in blood and cell function and is essential to energy production. It also helps the body fight off infections, supports brain and muscle function and help improves immunity.

Very Good Source of Potassium
One tablespoon of blackstrap molasses provides about 14.5% the DV of potassium. Potassium is essential to maintaining good cardiovascular health and improving bone density. It can help keep blood pressure low, supports proper carbohydrate metabolism and can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and osteoporosis. Potassium deficiency is also associated with an increased risk of arthritis.

Very Good Source of Calcium
Calcium is not only essential to maintaining healthy bones and teeth, but plays a vital role in colon health, heart health, blood clotting, brain nerve activity and muscle function. Just one tablespoon will provide over 17% the DV of calcium.

Good Source of Selenium
Blackstrap molasses is a good source of selenium, providing about 5% of the DV per tablespoon. Selenium plays a key role in thyroid function, antioxidant protection, cancer prevention, cardiovascular health and inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Selenium deficiency can lead to these and other health conditions.

Good Source of Vitamin B6
One tablespoon of blackstrap molasses provides 7.5% the DV of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is needed for the immunity, the nervous system, cell formation, blood health and energy production. It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Alternative Sweetener
Blackstrap molasses can sweeten food without many of the negative side effects of regular sugar and artificial sweeteners. It is very low on the glycaemic index and appears to be a healthier option for diabetic and pre-diabetic people, requiring very little insulin production and altering blood sugar levels far less than regular cane sugar. It is also rich with vital nutrients, where cane sugar offers only fattening carbohydrates.

Weight Loss
Blackstrap molasses provides many vitamins and minerals and boosts energy while containing zero fat and very few calories. This makes it a healthy alternative to sugar and a good addition to an active, low fat weight loss program.

Stomach & Digestive Problems
Anecdotal evidence suggests that blackstrap molasses may help with stomach and digestive problems. Testimonials claim that it can help to soothe stomach aches, help to cure stomach ulcers and may be useful in treating irritable bowel

Skin Health
Testimonials claim that blackstrap molasses is great for skin health and may help to cure eczema, psoriasis, acne and other skin conditions. Blackstrap molasses contains powerful antioxidants, which are believed to contribute to good skin health and lower the risk of lines, wrinkles and other skin conditions associated with premature aging.

http://www.healthdiaries.com/

Lavender Oil

Lavender is the most versatile of all essential oils.  It is known as the “universal oil” – if in doubt, use lavender, is the rule of thumb! *Therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil has been highly regarded for the skin.  Lavender has also been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects.  It may be used to cleanse cuts, bruises and skin irritations. Ur The fragrance is calming, relaxing and balancing – physically and emotionally.

30 Ways to use Lavender oil:

1.) Rub Lavender oil on the feet for a calming effect on the body.

2.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your palms and then apply to your pillow to help you sleep and for insomnia.

3.) Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling.

4.) Put 2-3 drops of Lavender oil on a minor burn to decrease pain and help prevent scarring.

5.) Drop Lavender oil on a cut to stop the bleeding.

6.)  Mix several drops of Lavender oil with olive or coconut oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis.

7.)  To alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place a drop of Lavender oil on the end of the tongue, around the navel or behind the ears.
8.)  To stop a nosebleed, put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice.  Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).

9.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil over the bridge of the nose to unblock tear ducts.

10.) Rub Lavender oil on dry or chapped skin.

11.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned lips.

12.) To reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, massage Lavender oil on and around the affected area.

13.)  Rub 2 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit area to act as a deodorant.

14.) Rub a drop of Lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.

15.) Rub several drops of Lavender oil into the scalp to help eliminate dandruff.

16.) Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and repel moths and insects.

17.) Place a drop of Lavender oil in your water fountain to scent the air, kill bacteria and prolong the time between cleanings.

18.) Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and throw into the dryer which will deodorize and freshen your laundry.

19.) Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.

20.) Diffuse Lavender oil to alleviate the symptoms of allergies.

21.)  Spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with distilled water on a sunburn to decrease pain.

22.) Drop Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and kill bacteria.

23.) Apply 2-3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash to stop the itching and heal the skin.

24.) Apply 1-2 drops of Lavender oil in your iron to freshen your clothes.

25.)  Apply 1-2 drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and place in the dryer for an all natural dryer sheet.

26.) Rub Lavender oil on the back of your neck, chest, and in between your eyes to alleviate sinuses, sinusitis, allergies.

27.) Add Lavender oil to your recipes. (Lavender Blueberry Banana Bread)

28.)  Add drops of Lavender oil to your favorite beverage:  tea or lemonade.

29.)  Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your temples to alleviate a headache.

30.)  Rub a drop on the base of the neck to relieve stress and anxiety.

*NOTE: Not all lavender oil is the same! Please be aware that when you buy lavender oil at spas, health food stores and even online, most are not therapeutic grade!  Young Living lavender oil is.  Does your lavender oil bottle say NOT for internal use???  If so, throw it away!  It is not pure lavender oil.  Pure lavender oil is edible!!

younglivingoillady.com/essential-oils/lavender-oil/

Olive oil benefits

By ROGER DOBSON, Daily Mail

New research today shows that olive oil - which the Ancient Greeks believed had supernatural powers - protects against bowel cancer.

Scientists who carried out the research based on eating habits in the UK and 27 other countries, believe that the oil triggers an increase in the number of times the cells of the bowel lining renew themselves. They also found that in those with diets high in meat content, the renewal process slowed down.

The results of the research give yet another health benefit for an oil that is now thought to be helpful in more than a dozen conditions.

It's also now believed that antioxidants, such as vitamins E and K, and polyphenols found in the oil, provide some kind of defence mechanism that may help to delay ageing, and prevent atherosclerosis, as well as boosting the immune system.

Just why olive oil is so beneficial, compared with other vegetable oils, is not yet known. One theory is that it is because the traditional cold-production process for virgin olive oils, which involves only pressing and filtering, does not destroy the health-enhancing compounds.

Bowel cancer: Research today from the University of Oxford shows that olive oil decreases the amount of bile acid and promotes the constant relining of the bowel. Other researchers have shown that people who get their fat from olive oil can halve their chances of getting colon cancer, which is Britain's second biggest cancer killer.

When scientists at the University of Barcelona fed olive oil to one group of rats and then tried to induce bowel tumours, only half as many developed cancer compared with those in a group which had not been given the oil.

Heart disease: The first real clue to the positive health effects of olive oil was the realisation that people with a Mediterranean diet rich in it had a much lower rate of heart disease than those in Western countries, including the UK and America.

A 30-year study on Crete, where the average islander gets through 60lb of olive oil a year, confirmed the effects. It's thought that the oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fat, helps to prevent the oxidation of 'bad' cholesterol.

Ageing: Researchers in Israel have reported that it is effective in delaying the human ageing metabolism. Vitamin E is thought to be responsible for this anti-ageing effect on both skin and bone.

Diabetes: Research at the University Medical School in Naples, has found that diets rich in olive oil lower blood sugar levels, helping diabetes and other disorders related to insulin production.

Pregnancy nutrition: Essential fatty acids are key constituents of cells and the nervous system. Researchers say that two spoonful’s should be consumed with each meal to supply the daily fatty acid requirement during pregnancy.

Breast cancer: A study in Sweden found that women with the highest risk of breast cancer had the lowest intake of monounsaturated fats, of which olive oil is the most important. One theory is that the beneficial effects are due to the Omega-3 fatty acids found in olive oil.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5004/Olive-oil-benefits.html#ixzz2SpvPNee9