This week our Foodie Thursdays is all about tradition. I decided to make a recipe in honor of Palestine.

The main dish is Musakhan. Musakhan is famous Palestinian dish. Easy to make, it is made mostly during the olive oil pressing season to celebrate Palestine main produce, Olive Oil. 

To make this dish you will need a special spice called Sumac. Sumac is what gives Musakhan a exquisite flavor. It's a spice that comes from the berries of the Rhus Shrubs. The berries are dried and the ground to a red powder that has a sour tangy flavor. 

In middle eastern cuisine sumac is added to chicken and salads, like in Fatoush

The Taboon bread used is a flat bread made in a very hot clay oven lined with small stones that give the bread the dimple appearance 

For 2 persons

4 medium onions peeled and chopped

1 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves sliced

2 tbsp Sumac

1/2 tsp all spice

Salt and Pepper
1 tsp sugar 

2 Chicken breasts 

2 loaves of Taboon bread

How to do:

Put the olive oil in a large pot. On medium heat sautée the onions and garlic.
Sprinkle in the salt and sugar.
Stir to coat the onions well and turn the heat to low.
Cook gently taking care not to burn the onions.  The onions will caramelize and sweeten as they cook.
After about 40 minutes the onions should be Soft.
Remove from heat and stir the sumac. They will turn into a pink colour.
Put in a colander and drain the excess oil.

Cook the chicken with salt and pepper and Sumac,  in the oven or grill.

To assemble: Put the bread for 2 or 3 minutes in the oven so it doesn't soften when you assemble.
Serve one loaf of bread with the onions and the chicken on top. You can also put pomegranate seeds or pine nuts to decorate.
Serve with salad and yougurt

I love watching series and movies. 

Me and my hubby watch so many movies. Every weekend we go to the movies and mostly every day we watch one movie in the night. So much that the box office from our cable TV doesn't have any movie that we didn't watch. 

Off course only the type of movies that we like. I'll leave to the braves the horror movies. 

I really like movies but another love is series. Specially those that get us so addicted and waiting everyday of the week for the new episode. 

I'm now watching Scandal and Game of Thrones, can't believe I never watched this before.  I watched season 1 of Game of Thrones in 1 day. I really love how they make us fear for our favourite characters.

I used to see Revenge and I got sad when it finished. The series was loosing is groove I think it finished at proper time. But when it finished I found myself thinking about Emily and Jack what were the doing after.

So between watching these two I think I can fit one more in my schedule. What do you recommend ?

I don't like The Walking Dead. It's not my type watching people eating each other. And I also didn't liked Pretty Little Liars. I saw the beginning and didn't captivate me at all. I thought it was boring. 

One more edition of the Ripe Food and Craft Market in Mushrif Central Park started yesterday.

It will be every Saturday in Mushrif Central Park from 4 pm to 9 pm. in this Market you can find vendors with a wide of range of crafts and also organic foods. 

You can also chill with some music while eating some of the best food. 

You can find healthy ice cream, Fatta, Biriany Pot, Raw juices, Mexican food. 

Sleeveless Coats are here, big time.

On Spring runway they were a huge hit but now in Fall that's when they come to stay and fill our wishlists.
They are basically coats without sleeves and you can find some more warmer in wool or like trench coat without sleeves.

Every brand launched in their collections sleeveless coats/waistcoats and there is a big selection in Zara. But I'll show you other brands that also featured this major fashion trend. 

I personally think this trend is ideal for UAE. We don't have cold at all but the nights are getting slightly colder and a light sleeveless coat would be great pared with a blouse just to give a fashion touch. Not really to keep you warm (Unless you got to the malls, what is happening with the a/c do they want us to pretend it's winter?)

If you live in a country that Fall and Winter are normal, you can wear this Coat with a wool jumper. I'll give you also some street style inspiration on how to rock the sleeveless coat. 

Last Friday I went to Gossip Desserts. This new it spot in Abu Dhabi is in Galleria Mall, Mariah Island.

When I feel down sometimes I want to give up. I feel like I'm done with this life and there is nothing more out there for me. This way of thinking is very destructible and I've been starting to build a stronger character that doesn't make me give up on everything. 

We all have ups and downs in our life. And for sure our ups will be more than downs. And the downs are there to make sure we keep our feet on the ground. So what can we do to feel better when we have a down moment? Here is my top things to do. 

1. Buy a candle with your favorite scent and light up. It’s been proven that certain fragrances can have an effect on your mood. 

2. Spend time helping others. Like playing with children, sit with elderly people or do some charity work. Helping others is always rewarding and gives you a sense of being useful to the society. Spending time playing with children can always make you better. Children are innocent and always fun. Elderly people always have a good advice. 

3. Exercise. Because exercise gives you endorphin. And this hormones are the responsible of making you happy!

4. Grab a tea or a coffee your favorite biscuits/chocolates/popcorn and watch your favorite TV shows. This doesn't even need explanation. It includes food and TV. Watch those TV shows that everyone is always afraid to admit they watch. TLC is full of them. 

5. Pinterest. Go to Pinterest and search inspirational quotes. I always spend to much time on Pinterest. I start by searching food recipes 3 hours later I'm watching funny inspirational quotes or thinking about redecorating my bathroom. For sure you will not be thinking about what is bothering you

7. Shopping. Shopping always gives a sense of happiness. Pampering yourself is important to feel like you're worth. You are the most important thing in your life. So treat yourself nicely. Even if you don't have a lot of money buy that cheap nail polish from the dollar store something that would make you feel good at the time. But don't exaggerate, don't spend your whole salary or you will have one more thing to worry about. 

6. Pray. Pray comes in the same category as talking to someone. But much better. I'm not saying we shouldn't talk with a close friend or a relative but sometimes we talk with someone and we don't get the support we were expecting or their opinion is really hurtful so instead of getting even more sad, why not pray? Whatever your religion is or even if you're not into praying, try. Just seat and try to talk about what is making you feel sad. There is nothing better. When we feel sad we just want to talk about what is hurting us. All we need is someone to listen. You can be sure that you will not hear: I told you so or I knew he wasn't man for you, etc, etc, whatever the reason is making you feel sad. And if you believe, God is always listening to us. And He always helps. 

What about you? what are your tricks to lift your mood?