Free Giveaway: Provide a Less-Known Hadeeth/Tradition Relevant to our Times

A few months ago I blogged about what going green meant to me. It's been going wonderfully except I've been struggling with the reusable bags. I never remember to bring my bags to the grocery store or wherever. And if I do remember, there is no guarantee they'll make an appearance on my next shopping trip.

Also, most canvas bags are big and bulky. The size makes it difficult to stick in my purse to pack for unplanned visits to the grocery story or Target. But then I discovered these awesome reusable bags that can be folded and snapped neatly into a small roll. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to find such an invention.

I leave these bags (I have more than a few) in my purse and school bag at all times. So when I make a last minute run to the pharmacy, I always opt out of a plastic bag and pull out my little bundle of awesomeness. And don't let looks deceive you, these bags carry a load!

(And I might have used this as a lunch bag on occasion)

So I would like to give away 5 bags for free to 5 lucky winners of this giveaway; here are the contest rules:

• Provide a Hadeeth (saying of the Prophet) that ISN'T well known in mainstream Islam yet is extremely relevant to our current times.
  
  
• *UPDATED* You may submit traditions from your faith (it doesn't have to be Islam), so long as you cite your sources. Make sure your submission is relevant to our current times.

• Provide sources of the Hadeeth (Book of Bukhari, etc)

• Post your Hadeeth in the comment section of this post and you'll automatically be entered in the contest
  
  
• Deadline to enter in the contest: December 31, 2010 at 12:00 am (EST)
  
  
• I'll ship these bags anywhere in the world
  
  
• Judges: Myself and a trusted friend (not part of the blogging world, thus unbiased)
  
  

Good luck!

How to be a Healthy Cook: Part 1

A few years ago I had to take a hard look at the kinds of foods I consumed on a daily basis and how that was affecting my health--presently--and in the future. I grew up in a household with authentic Egyptian cuisine: high in saturated fats and carbohydrates. As a result, my old eating habits were unbalanced and some would say, deadly.

I've taught myself to prepare traditional favorites with a light fare although sometimes indulgent but only on rare occasions. These steps were both good for my heart and soul, and probably for my future children..

So dear reader (male or female), allow me to share a few tidbits of how I've put a healthy spin to my cooking.

Cooking Tools:

You will need good cooking tools. I can't emphasize the word GOOD enough. Although it might be tempting to by the cheaper tools, think about the long-term and how long that utensil will last you. Here a few kitchen items that are essential for my kitchen.

- A good wooden cooking spoon/spatula that will not hurt your pots and pans. I purchased a hand carved wooden spoon from a craft show last spring. $25

- Your everything knife. I invested in a Cutco (Rachael Ray style knife). It will never rust because it's stainless steal and works for all my kitchen needs. ($85)

-Enamel Coated Cast Iron. Le Creuset sells some pricey ones, but I found a knock-off version for a quarter of the price from Sam's Club. Great because it goes from your stove top to you oven safely ($30)

-A powerful blender/food processor. I've been through so many blenders, I would have been better off buying an expensive Cuisinart. But due to my limited budget and space, I've decided to invest in this budget-friendly blender/food processor duo. Easy clean-up and very powerful! I couldn't believe how convenient and for the price you get excellent quality. I make my famous hummus (recipe here) and smoothies with this kitchen tool. ($35 but look out for deals, I've seen them for as low as $28)

-Panini Press: I use my panini press at least twice a week to grill chicken and fish with out adding fat. I've also mastered making panini sandwiches and no longer pay $7 a panini at my local cafe. I control what ingredients go in my sandwich and adjust it to my healthy eating style. There are cheaper versions, but I got mine as a gift from Williams-Sonoma. ($99)

-Cutting boards: I have 3 cutting boards. One for fruit, one for veggies and another for meats. The cutting boards are so easy to clean and bend, I can't stop using them. I slice apples daily now! (2pk/$1.99 Ikea)

-Wok: I use my wok all the time. I would say 80% of the time I cook on the stove-top. Mine is Calphalon from Target. ($20)

-Slow Cooker: This is my latest addition to my cooking family. A slow cooker is an amazing way to cook with lots of flavor without adding too much fat to your food. The best part is that you can leave it to cook all day and come home from work and find a meal ready to be served. ($8.99, a black Friday deal)

-Misc.: Measuring cups, mixing bowls (prefer glass/ceramic), colander, baking sheets, Tupperware, freezer/storage Ziploc bags, parchment paper and tin foil.

I'm always looking for new affordable tools to add to my kitchen. What's your favorite tool?

Stay tune for part 2: What ingredients should you stock in your home (hints from a behaviorist)

Stuffed Baby Eggplant

Christmas Lights

You say Pumpkin, I Say Muffin

I love anything pumpkin and have decided to take up the challenge of making my own from scratch. I used this recipe although I used less filling and I made 12 muffins with the ingredients listed.

Ingredients:

Dry & wet ingredients

Mix ingredients, prepare struesel and filling

Streusel and filling

Ready to bake

20 minutes later

Enjoy and don't forget to share :)