Must see places in Andalusia, Spain

If you are a muslim traveller or an islamic architecture lover those are the 7 things you must see in Granada

Top 10 foods to try in Morocco

One of the great cuisines of the world, Moroccan cooking abounds with subtle spices and intriguing flavour combinations.

Top Five Must See Things in Cordoba, Spain

Cordoba قرطبة in the Andalucia province of southern Spain is a city with more than 2,500 years of developed history.

ChefChaouen, the blue city in Morocco

Located just a few hours by bus from Tangier and far enough off the beaten track to dissuade many tourists, Chefchaouen is quiet enough for those visitors overwhelmed by the busy medinas of Fez and Marrakech, and has just enough of what is quintessentially Moroccan to be of interest to other travelers looking for something a bit more authentic.

Fes, Morocco

The most mystical of Morocco's imperial cities, Fez. Capital and spiritual center of Morocco, this city is situated in a narrow valley against the backdrop of the Middle Atlas

jueves, 3 de julio de 2014

27 Foods To Eat At Suhoor That Release Energy Throughout The Day During Ramadan

Spread almond butter on whole grain toast, then top with bananas and chia seeds. 
Even if breakfast comes before dawn, it’s still the most important meal of your day. Drink two glasses of water at every suhoor and follow these tips.



1. Make these bran muffins in advance to eat throughout the week.

2. Spread almond butter on whole grain toast, then top with bananas and chia seeds.

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

3. Toss bananas, skin-on pears, and pumpkin seeds with a little lime juice and cinnamon. Add Greek yogurt if possible.

4. If you’re feeding a family, make instant oatmeal packets on Sunday to use throughout the week.

5. Smash beans on whole wheat toast then top with a tomato and a fried egg.

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

6. Make a big batch of this breakfast grain salad to eat throughout the week with fruits and nuts.

7. Blend milk, yogurt, quick oats, banana, peanut butter, chia seeds and cocao powder for a quick protein smoothie.

8. Scramble eggs with spinach and feta then wrap in a whole grain tortilla.

9. Make breakfast quinoa by heating it with coconut milk, vanilla, and spices then add nuts and dried fruit.

10. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle a fresh cheese on your avocado toast.

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

11. Blend frozen banana with nut butter, cocoa powder, and water. Add oats if you have them.

Get the recipe and more quick smoothies here.

12. Add smoked salmon to a stack of avocado, fried egg, and a whole grain English muffin.

13. Make a batch of hard boiled eggs to have all week then mix them into a crunchy breakfast salad.

14. Layer Greek yogurt with oats, chia seeds, and mixed berries.

15. Find a way to work veggies into your breakfast sandwich (made with whole grain bread of course).

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

16. If you’re feeding a family, try this baked oatmeal casserole you can make ahead and reheat in the microwave.

17. Blend a frozen banana with 1/2 cup frozen kale and 1/2 cup coconut water into a blender.

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

18. Make smoothie packets for your freezer at the beginning of the week to keep that 3am meal simple.

19. Make a smoothie with watermelon, Greek yogurt (protein), apples (fiber), and banana.

20. Blend mangoes, oranges, and pineapple with coconut water and coconut butter.

21. Make a delicious and hydrating Apple-Spice Breakfast Soup the night before.

22. Try egg whites scrambled with fresh avocado and topped with grape tomatoes.

23. Pair your eggs and a whole wheat muffin with a big pile of arugula and avocado.

24. Make a quick breakfast wrap with fruit, nut butter, cinnamon, and a whole wheat wrap.

25. Have a handful of berries and a cup of Greek yogurt with your whole wheat bagel and almond butter.

26. Put poached eggs on a pile of greens and add fresh hydrating tomatoes.

27. Finally, when you’re pressed for time, scarf a couple of hard-boiled eggs, a piece of whole wheat bread, and a fruit or vegetable.


 

And don’t forget, two glasses of water at every suhoor.

miércoles, 2 de julio de 2014

Travel the halal way and discover.. Las Alpujarras southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, Granada


The region of mountain villages known as Las Alpujarras clings to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, cloven by deep, sheltered valleys and gorges which run down towards the Mediterranean.

The Alpujarra, as it is popularly known, in the singular, is famous throughout Spain because of its unique mini-ecology. Its terraced farmlands are constantly watered by the melting snow from above, constituting a high-altitude oasis of greenery which stands in dramatic contrast to the arid foothills below.


This is ideal hiking terrain for adventurous travellers, provided you take along a tent and well-padded sleeping bags - the average altitude is 4,000 feet above sea level.


 The cultural interest of the region lies in its fifty-odd villages, which were the last stronghold of the moorish. Soon after the Castillians took Granada in 1492, all the city´s Moors were forced to convert to Christianity. Those who refused took to the hills, settling in this remote, inaccessible area.


Constant pressure from the Christians led to a bloody uprising, the Morisco Rebellion of 1568, which was ruthlessly crushed out, with the public execution of the leader, Ben Humeya, in the main square of Granada. Soon followed a royal decree expelling from the Kingdom of Granada all people of moorish descent, since the "new Christians", as the converts were called, were all suspected of being ¨crypto-Muslims¨ in secret...

The villages of the Alpujarra were resettled with some 12,000 Christian families brought by king Felipe II from Galicia and Asturias in north-western Spain.

However, these unique hamlets have retained their traditional Berber architecture - terraced clusters of grey-white box-shaped houses with flat clay roofs - which is still common in the Rif and Atlas mountains of Morocco.


An street in Órgiva (Las Alpujarras, Granada)
Acequia de Las Ventanas





If you stray from the beaten path, you will be sure to catch sight of the region´s abundant wild life, such as the Cabra Hispanica, a mountain goat which roams the mountains in herds and is often seen standing on pinnacles, silhouetted against the sky. But as soon as it flairs the scent of man it will bound up the steepest slopes with amazing speed... The Alpujarra is also famous for its excellent birdwatching - the colourful Hoopoe with its stark, haunting cry, is a common sight.

ALCAICERÍA, the old silk market in muslim times in GRANADA

Travel the halal way.... and discover ALCAICERÍA, the old silk market in muslim times (GRANADA).

The Alpujarra mountain range, was important for the production of silk, where silkworms feasted on the leaves of the Mulberry trees. The raw material was then transported by mules, to Granada,where the silk threads were woven, then sold, either in bales, or made into clothing etc.

In the centre of Granadas' city, a bazaar was built , consisting of a grid like network of streets, with merchants shops, and inns, for the merchants to sleep, eat and conduct business. (The Corral del Carbon was originally a merchants inn - see my tip for further info).

Arched Gateways led into the bazzar, which were locked at night, while night watchmen guarded the area.

Originally, this bazaar covered the area from Plaza Nueva to Plaza Bib Rambla, and was a very important trading area.

However, on the night of 19th July 1843, a fire started in a shop that made matches, and the entire bazaar was destroyed. The area was soon re-built, but on a smaller scale.

Today, the bazaar still operates as a centre for trading, but mainly goods sold are souvenirs or crafts. It is an interesting place to wander around. Besides looking at the goods for sale, there are some good examples of Islamic architecture, and tiled wall decorations.


Travel the halal way and discover... THE MADRID'S ROYAL PALACE

Madrid grew around the Manzanares River, which was called Mayrit by early Muslim settlers meaning 'source of water'.

Madrid was just a small provincial town, while nearby Toledo was the political and cultural capital of Medieval Castile. Still, remnants of the old walled city are waiting to be found—albeit in some pretty odd places—for those who know where to look.

The medieval town was centered around the present-day Palacio (where the Muslim Alcázar was once located). The easiest place to see remnants of the Muslim wall is on Cuesta de la Vega to the left of the architecturally mediocre Catedral de la Almudena.

Travel the halal way and discover... The Liquid Gold from Morocco: Argan Oil, one of the most rare and expensive oils in the world

Argan oil is beautiful golden oil with a slightly reddish tinge, which comes from the Argan Tree of Morocco

For centuries, the Berber people of Morocco have used the oil for its numerous culinary, cosmetic and medicinal benefits. The argan tree is under the protection of UNESCO due to its dwindling numbers and difficult growing conditions. Argan is one of the most rare and expensive oils in the world because of its limited quantity and traditional production methods. For this reason it is often referred to it as…

The Argan tree is believed to have originated in the town of Argana, a village north east of the Moroccan city, Agadir. It lives longer than the olive tree and requires no cultivation. The trunk of the tree is twisted and gnarled, allowing goats to climb its branches and feed on the leaves and fruit. It is possible to see this magnificent site while driving in the southwest regions of Morocco. The fruit has a green fleshy exterior much like an olive but larger and rounder. There is a nut inside the fruit, which has an extremely hard shell and contains one to three almond shaped kernels.

The goats eat the fruit leaving the nut behind. The nuts are collected by farmers and produced into the argan oil by a very arduous process. The production of argan oil is still mostly done by traditional methods. The production of one liter of oil takes about 20 hours of hands on labor. The production of the argan oil is still a cottage industry, managed by co-operatives of women. It provides employment to many women and families in the region.