*~Eid Preparations~*

It's Eid tomorrow!
So the day before Eid is Arafah day and Muslims are encouraged to fast on this day. Our household fasted Alhamdullilah.
We went to the supermarket early this morning to avoid the crowds, but this did not work! Obviously everyone had the same idea that I did!
Anyway we went along with a long list of ingredients just for the Eid meal! We all disagreed on what the main meal and desserts should be for tomorrow so everyone is making a dish. It's fine though as we have a lot of family visiting.

I've already prepared my roast chicken, veggie spring rolls and festive fudge! GO ME!
The house is clean and our Eid clothes are ironed.

OK so all of the above is a LIE! That's what I wish I could be writing. I went to the supermarket and on my return discovered that DU had kindly given me free channels for the Eid vacation. I have been watching BBC entertainment all day! I watched Casualty...I don't like Casualty or hospitals, but I watched it! Why would they do this to me???

So now I have given up the remote control to go and get ready for tomorrow. SIGH! What a waste of a day...thanks DU!

Arabic sweets

One of my favourite places in Dubai is Yamal Al Sham

Yamal Al Sham is an Arabic sweet store. It has many different types of tasty nutty pastries covered with syrup and the most amazing chocolate!!!
You must try the chocolate butterflies which have cornflakes inside YUM!
There are also several different types of flavours including an Arabic cardamon nut type which is divine. The chocolate is not labelled with flavours and the ladies who work there don't really know what's inside each one because there are so many. I suggest you ask for a mixture and see what you like best.

Yamal Al Sham also has a biscuit section, nut section and freshly ground coffee. If you have an allergy to nuts then stay away. 

Mixed nuts

 Before entering the store you can smell the aromas of coffee and sweets. Arab's love a coffee called 'gahwa' which is served with something very sweet like baklawa. This is the store that they get everything from.



My teacup filled with gahwa



During Eid this shop gets crazy busy! Last time we had to wait a couple of hours for 3 small baskets of sweets. Here are the beautiful gift baskets.

I never go to a friend's house without bringing a gift. If it is an Arab friend then I will always buy them a tray of sweets from Yamal Al Sham. And then I buy myself a treat too!