28th of August marks the celebration of Emirati Women Day. 

Today I would like to encourage all women living in the UAE to keep up the good work. We women can truly make it all. 

This type of encouragement is needed because we live in a world where we always have to work double to show our value. 

But encouragementstill like this make us realize there is someone who recognizes us and give us all what we deserve. Thank you UAE. 

I changed my profile picture on Instagram. Before I had a logo that I made very rustic with the name of the blog. But last week I went to Dubai and I took this picture that I love with a beautiful sunset that I decided to use. 

I think it gives the blog a little bit more of personality. I wanted my readers to know who is behind the blog and to feel connected with me. 

And in the theme of Instagram and social media. I just wanted to write something that has been on my mind on modest fashion and beauty in the social media. 

I am all about fashion, since young I loved  to go to shoppings to see what's on trend. I never had much money to shop so I just window shopping. I'm happy wih my life and the way that I growed up made me a person that can make the most out of small. So I always try to find bargains and the best discounts and be fashionable at the same time. 

When I moved to UAE and started working in Etihad I had to wear make up everyday. So that's when I start taking more attention to make up and all things beauty. 

So my opinion is based in my faith and also on what I like.

I see all over Instagram bloggers that are convered to wear clothes that are not modest or that are showing half or their hair. The subject is really sensitive and I always read some comments and people enter in big wars. 

I think that once you start a blog and get followers you have a social responsability about what you send out out there. And more than following trends the big personalities are shown by those who can keep their morals, values and faith. I follow big modest fashion bloggers that didn't had to go further from their obligations to get followers. (Scroll down to see some I love). And with this i dont mean you have to wear all black(aka Abaya) to be modest. Everyone has their own culture and the meaning of hijab and be modest is to cover. This goes for woman and for men. 

As I reader I like this: To see someone who is truth to their self's.  I like to follow and get inspiratiin by someone who didn't care about what society told them to do. 

We often read about how hijab is enslaving the woman, hijab is a prison. But I think the biggest oppression is when the woman is not free to wear more. We are always in a pressure to wear less.

Doesn't the big oppression come when countries like France that is against the full swuimsuit. There is a brand, Marks and Spencer, launching a full swuimsuit ( often called Burkini) for muslim woman to enjoy going to the beach or pool like everyone else. And everyone is against this. The people against are not allowing muslim women to go to the beach. So who is opppressing? 

I wish there were more brands like Marks Spencer that come forward and think about their whole public. 

Some hijab bloggers I follow:

New exciting things coming since summer is here (in Dubai at least)! With summer will come the trips to the beach, Ramadan, Eid and Summer Hollidays. 

Can't wait to share everything with you guys!

This week I had a lunch at a friends house. Since they are from Arab countries I decided to take something Portuguese to show the delicious Portuguese gastronomy.

Portuguese Dreams

Ingredients:

How to do:

Arroz Doce (Portuguese sweet rice)

Ingredients:

250 gr of rice
400 gr of sugar
6 egg yolks
3 lemon peel
2 cinnamon sticks
50 g butter
0,5 like water
1 cup of milk
1700 ml milk
Salt Cinnamon

How to do it:

1. In a pan boil add the water and rice. Season with salt and boil until there is no more water.
2. Add the butter, the lemon peel, cinnamon sticks and milk. Mix and let it cool for 30 minutes. Add the sugar.
3. Mix the eggs yolks with the cup of milk. And add to the rice.
When it starts to boil remove from heat.
4. Serve it decorated with cinnamon.

Croquetes

Ingredients:

350g minced meat
20g butter
1 garlic clove
1 bay leave
1 tsp parsley
lemon drops
Bechamel Sauce
salt and pepper
2 beatten eggs
Breadcrums
Oil to fry

How to do:

1. in a pan add the butter, crushed garlic, bay leaf and meat. Season with salt and pepper and cook. Stir well until all the meat falls apart. remove the bay leaf .
2. Add the bechamel sauce to the meat and mix well. Check the seasoning. When the mix starts to come off the bottom of the pan remove from heat and set aside to cool.
3. With the dough, mold the Croquetes and pass them in beaten egg and then in breadcrumbs,
4. Fry the Croquetes both sides in hot oil. remove and place on a plate with paper towels.

Croquetes are also a good lunch served with rice.

If you got curious about Portuguese recipes you can find more here, here and here. 

Hope you liked it.
Are you going to try them? If you do please tag me on Instagram @the_paletteoflife I want to see how your recipes turned out!!

I like long romantic walks.. 

Around the Make Up Aisle

This is a very easy recipe that will let everyone with their jaw dropped. Brigadeiros is the Portuguese word for chocolate fudge balls. Although it's a Brazilian recipe we do it a lot in Portugal. We have a lot of history together!! 

So here is the easiest most delicious recipe!! 

What you need: 

1 can of sweet condensed milk
2 tbsp of milk
50 gr ofor unsalted butter 

60 gr of cocoa powder

Granulated chocolate or coconut to decorate 

How to do it:

Mix all the ingredients in a non stick pan and put on medium heat. 

Cook for about 40 minutes mixing always until the mixture  starts to show the bottom of the pan. 

When it's ready remove the mixture to a greased plate.

Let it cool room temperature. When the mixture cooled roll balls and decorate with the Granulated chocolate of coconut. 

Enjoy!!