Just a wee bit late. Oh well, better late than never. As always in Ramadan Diary we’ve decided to compile some appetizing recipes that are easy to follow and cook, yet jam-packed with aromas and flavors, surely to tantalize your taste-buds. Enjoy!

Supplication for today:-

Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.

Today’s To-Do:-

Start reading and understanding Quran or learn some special Dua by heart, a something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Thought of the Day:

Rise above little things. Be a big thinker. You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, dream big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, image big, love big, live big. Carry that list and you’ll start feeling big. Be a believer and you’ll be an achiever.

Recipe of the day —Chocolate Brownies:-

Ingridients:-

Butter 200 g
Brown sugar 350 g
eggs 4
Cocoa Powder 4 tbsp
flour 250 g
baking powder 3 1/2 tsp
walnuts (optional) 85 g
milk 50 ml
Procedure:-

1. Preheat oven to 180 Celsius. Grease and line pan 9” into 13” .
2. Sift flour once and twice with cocoa and baking powder.
3. Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat till light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one by one and beat well.
5. Add flour and beat till well mixed.
6. Stir chopped walnuts if using.
7. Stir in milk.
8. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool in the pan and then cool on a rack.

I’ve tried out this recipe five to six time and comes out just perfect each time.

Happy baking,

Happy Ramadan!

Lahore, Sept 15 : Pakistan tops the list of countries as far as the number of deaths in suicide bombings during the first eight months of the year is concerned, figures compiled by an elite intelligence agency have said.

From January till August, there were in all 28 suicide attacks in Pakistan which claimed more than 471 people and injured around 713. Both the dead and the injured included a large number of innocent civilians as well as the armed forces personnel.

Iraq stood second with 463 people killed in 42 suicide attacks, while Afghanistan was third with 436 people killed in 36 suicide attacks. In Iraq, a total of 527 persons were injured, while in Afghanistan a totalof 394 people were injured, reported The News.

Iraq ranked first during 2007, experiencing over 150 attacks carried out by human bombs; Afghanistan stood second with more than 100 such attacks and Pakistan ranked third with 56 suicide hits. However, Pakistan had suffered more deaths than that of Afghanistan as a consequence of these suicide attacks.

Of the 471 people killed in suicide bombings across Pakistan in the first eight months of 2008, the number of the civilian casualties was 312. The number of the policemen killed in these attacks stood at 87, followed by 72 personnel of the security forces which have often been targeted in the aftermath of the bloody Operation Silence carried out against the fanatic clerics of the Lal Masjid (July 3-10, 2007).

The Pakistani security forces, especially the armed forces personnel, seem to be the main target of the human bombs ever since the Pakistan Army carried out the bloody Lal Masjid operation which allegedly killed hundreds, including innocent civilians.

Source: ANI

My two cents: I am simply speechless! I know these figures are staggering, but I wish some how we can also find out the number of civilian casualties in South Waziristan and border areas near Afghanistan? I bet there will be no comparison. Either way it was the life of a Pakistani. May Allah grant paradise to all those who have passed away and protect us from further casualties.

Opee says: Yummmy to Tummmy

Though the prices at the various eateries of the city have substantially increased as compared to last year, this has not barred Lahoris from going out for iftar or sehr, a restaurant manager at MM Alam Road said. The restaurants across the city have introduced special Ramazan offers to lure costumers and are attempting to counter inflation to an extent by offering dinner in addition to iftar.

An official of a multinational fast food restaurant on MM Alam Road said that the restaurant is actually more packed than it had been last year, adding that seats were available on first-come-first-serve basis, and that they have had to bar customers as there were no tables available. Another restaurant official said that restaurants have offered all sorts of deals to accommodate all sorts of customers.

The manager of a restaurant on MM Alam Road said that more people have also started going out for sehr as compared to last year.

Another restaurant manager said that they only offer iftar packages after a reservation has been made, as otherwise many customers cannot find an available table. Saqib, a customer at a restaurant, said that iftar parties were held in Ramazan as late night parties could not be held because of sehr, adding that restaurants had also countered inflation by offering all sorts of economical deals.

Here are a few eateries and what they have to offer during Ramazan

Salt ‘n Pepper Village

The restaurant is a popular dining spot for Lahoris and it is offering a sehr buffet for Rs 390. An Iftar plus dinner buffet is for Rs 750, while the regular dinner buffet, after iftar, is for Rs 690.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Lahoris have taken a liking to this fast food outlet because of its chicken meals. KFC has three special Ramazan deals. The value deal for iftar includes a zinger, a chicken piece and a drink for Rs 300. The family deal, which is generally available for Rs 900 has been made available for Rs 700. The sehr deal is available for Rs 300 and is available from 2am to till sehr.

Ziafat

This eatery is offering an iftar plus dinner buffet for Rs 670, while a dinner buffet is offered for Rs 620.

Nando’s

Nando’s is offering three special Ramazan deals. A quarter chicken is available for Rs 300, steak for Rs 350 and a half-chicken for Rs 400.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has also arranged special iftar and sehr packages for Ramazan. Iftar Buffet (of course, the notorious all-you-can-eat-deal): Rs 388 (exclusive of tax). It is offering three packages for sehr; a personal pan pizza with a soft drink for Rs 160, a regular pizza with two soft drinks for Rs 320 and a large pizza with a 1.5 litre bottle or pitcher of a soft drink (all packages are exclusive of taxes).

Although the eateries mentioned above only manage to scratch the surface of Lahore’s vast list of eateries, they are amongst the most frequented by Lahoris during Ramazan. There is ample time to get together with friends or family and book a table at any one of the above-mentioned places for either sehr or iftar or both.

Source: Ali Usman @ Daily Times.

As an inevitable result of the ongoing military operation in the northern parts of our country, hundreds of men, women and children have died an unfair death while thousands had to leave their homes to escape being sandwiched in the militants vs military war.

Recent media reports and personal accounts of individual visitors tell us that many of the families who fled the scene of fighting are now living in refugee camps at Mardan and Nowshera.

This is the time to stand together, again, in helping the victims of the situation. A friend and our fellow LMB author, Mohammad Khan (aka Momekh) has taken initiative to start a relief effort from Lahore focused on collection of tents, medicines, food, ration, bottled water, utensils (plates) and other goods that may be of any use to our brethern in need. Ramadan is approaching and these people need help fast.

In his own words, “Preferred is medicine for diarrhea, hepatitis. Or utensils like plates etc. If not, cash can also be sent. A comprehensive list of required stuff inshALLAH will be ready soon.”

If you are interested in contributing relief goods, volunteering or helping by any means please contact:

Mohammad Khan

62-Bridge Colony, Lahore Cantonment

Mobile: 0300-4003055

Please spread the word to those you think will be interested in helping too.

We need to revive the October 2005 spirit back into action…!

I received a forwarded text message this morning explaining the moments that can be termed as the best and the most pleasurable in life. The list had a number of moments from the likes of finding money in an old purse when you badly need it to wiping tears from your eyes after a hearty laughter etc.

The most appealing and rather philosophical was the one explaining the serenity of hearing the rain drops fall on leaves while you are lying in bed.

I woke up to such a moment today and I tell you there’s no moment like it :)

Happy Monsoon!

For the last few days I had not been watching too much TV (apart from IPL), given my somewhat busy routine and the facts that:

1) Our local TV has become extremely uninteresting
2) Our local TV tends to over-hype, dramatize, scandalize and criticize every single news event to the last extent known to mankind
3) I prefer internet as a more reliable source of news on Pakistan

But today I sat down for a while to watch a news channel. Three pieces of news one after the other struck me and I will paraphrase them here without commenting on them. It may be business as usual (or life as usual) in our country, but it hasn’t always been like this… or has it?

a) Severe traffic jam in Lahore due to a mass procession in front of Governor’s House. The protestors were carrying 3 corpses of their tribe/community who were killed in a clash. The scenes were very disturbing. Chief Minister Punjab had to come over and negotiate.
b) Similar protest in front of Governor’s house in Quetta on the same day. I have actually forgotten what was this protest about, but probably on some killings as well. As I said, these instances are business as usual now.
c) A tribal clash broke out some days ago on killing of a dog. The rival tribes fought for a few days (killing several people) before the elders were able to sort it out. As a way of punishment, one tribe handed over its 10 young girls to the rival tribe along with 7 lakh rupees.

A few days ago, mob in Karachi burnt a couple of thugs to death on the grounds that police would not be able to get them prosecuted. A few days later mob in Lahore tried to do something similar.

Before that we were trying to figure out why do we have 3000W shortage of electricity leading to 6-8 hours loadshedding per day, not to mention shortage of wheat which is supposed to be the staple food of Pakistan, an agriculture based country.

And before that we were having one new suicide bombing every 6th day in one city or the other.

And before that we were trying to cope with a situation where our GDP growth targets were being revised downwards, while inflation (food, fuel and housing) kept going upwards.

And before that our major problems were 55% illiteracy, utter lack of health facilities outside main cities, serious pollution and frequent violence inside main cities and corruption everywhere around.

Not to mention poverty and lawlessness… the list goes on…

However I don’t blame the present or any of the past governments. The problems that we have are much more deep rooted. One particular regime (whether Mush (1999-2007) or PPP (1988-90, 1993-5) or PML-N (1990-93, 1995-9) cannot be blamed for all this and that. Maybe as a society, we have all failed in doing our bit, or making our contribution towards progress.

After all, when we blame the mob, we forget that in aggregate terms, “we” are the mob. Why don’t we look at things this way… if 55% of Pakistanis are illiterate, mathematically speaking we all are 55% illiterate, no matter what degrees we tend to flaunt among peers and friends… it’s only when we start to realize our duty as citizens (not that of standing in protests and shouting slogans, but that of actually doing something constructive and positive)… only then we will achieve anything.

With only a handful of days left to Mother’s day, celebrated globally each year on May 11th (sunday) , a day when children express their great gratitude and appreciation for everything done by their mothers. Have you made some plans for it?

If you want to buy her something, it doesn’t have to be fancy and expensive. It can be a hand-made special gift or a card, wonderful bouquet of flowers, just a little something to entertain her, to express your love and affection towards your mother. Or maybe you can throw a surprise dinner party for your mom (as i plan to, Insha Allah! :) )

First make a list of all the family members or friends you plan to invite and send invitations. Then finalize dinner/lunch/brunch menu, don’t forget to include her all time favorite dishes.

Later set a clean lovely table, place attractive fresh flowers, arrange food in a special festive way and enjoy a lovely meal. A great gift for mom, isn’t it?

Can’t decide on anything yet, here’s a cool fun site to fuel your creative side.

1>>> Family Fun -Mother’s day.
2>>> Cards and gifts, ideas for Mother’s day.

In the end i just want to say, for all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered particularly on Mother’s Day!

The six-day Cholistan Festival got off to a colorful start yesterday, May 6th, 2008 at Al-Hamra, The Mall. The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) Assistant Director Zulfiqar said that LAC had organized the festival to promote artists of the desert areas.

Al-Hamra Art Council (AAC) has organised this festival in continuation of its annual activities related to highlight cultural values and festivities of the desert people. The festival will continue for a week with a series of performances in which artists, hailing from Cholistan desert, will show captivating artistic stints in the fields of drama, music, puppet show and folk dance.

Different stalls, enriched with typical Cholistani-cultural items ranging from dresses, silver-moulding jewelry, shawls, ivory-styled bright bangles, glossy clay studded with weeds and grass used as fodder of different animals, light footwear with classic designs to earthen-wares, are installed to make the modern-day city-bounded people of the provincial metropolis aware of the culture life of the Cholistani people.

The Lahorites, who are facing the brunt of the searing summer-season, will be welcomed by the richly-coloured clad folk dancers with riveting dhol beats on the grassy lawn of Al-hamara Art Council.

The word Cholistan is derived from “cholna”, which means moving. The Cholistanis have a semi-nomadic or an unsettled lifestyle, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. And this festival is meant to preserve their identity.

With only five days left, don’t forget to take your friends, family and children to Al-Hamra, so they can enjoy this wonderful, varicolored festival.
More at>>>

Happy Cholistan Festival!

The city of Lahore, it turns out, has 11 twins or sister cities. Here’s the list:

1) Istanbul - Turkey.  2) Sari Won - Democratic Republic of Korea.  3) Xian - China.  4) Kortrijk - Belgium.  5) Fez  - Morocco.  6) Cordoba - Spain.  7) Samarkand - Uzbekstan.  8) Isfahan - Iran.  9) Mashad  - Iran.  10) Glasgow - UK.  11) Chicago - USA

To me, the above is quite a fascinating mix of metropolitans. But the question is, which of the above fits the title of “Lahore’s twin” most appropriately? and which of the above is least similar to Lahore? and why?

Also which other city (or cities) do you think should be twinned with Lahore?

As per the following news report, “Glasgow is the only city working on enhancing the ties between the two cities. It has offered training facilities to the Rescue 1122 officials besides donating firefighting vehicles.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C02%5Cstory_2-3-2007_pg7_43

The 23rd Lahore International Book Fair at the Fortress stadium main ground was opened yesterday. The five-day mega book fair with the theme Education for All, Books for Peace was inaugurated by Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Justice (r) Ejaz Nisar. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Book Fair he laid stress on the necessity of promoting book reading and improving the education system by all means.

The book- fair is becoming more and more popular and expanding each year. That is why publishers from around the world are attracted. Around 175 publishers from around the world, including the US, UK and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, would set up their stalls at the fair. The international publishers will offer attractive discounts and local publishers will give as much as 50 percent discounts on their books. Sounds good enough, no? :)

So, all you book-lovers out there hungry to discover the best selling authors, grab your wish-list and don’t miss this exciting and extraordinary literary event. It’s worth your while.

See you at the festival.