Welsh Cakes Recipe

Assalamu Alaikum everyone!

Maryam here with another yummy no-bake recipe. This week I will be showing you how to make welsh cakes. So let's begin.

Ingredients:-

200g (8 oz) self-raising flour

a pinch of salt

100g (4 oz) butter

50g (2 oz) caster sugar

50g (2 oz) currants

1 egg

2 Tbsp milk

Method:-

Step 1. Mix flour and salt; rub in butter. Add sugar and currants and mix with egg and milk to form a fairly stiff dough.

Step 2. Knead lightly and roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Using a cookie cutter (2 inch diameter), cut out circles and cook on a medium to high greased frying pan for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

Step 3. Cool the cakes on a wire rack, sprinkle with sugar and serve with a cup of tea!

I hope you give this recipe a go. It is very easy and simple to make.

See you next Friday, insha'Allah.

Love and Wassalam,

Maryam



A Craft for our Dad's Work!

Assalamu Alaikum!

Zainab and Sumayyah were asked to decorate a couple of boxes. The boxes were for the employees at our dad's work and the title of the project was 'Tell Us Your Stories'. Here is how they turned out.

This is a close up of the front of Zainab's box. She painted wooden letters and glued them onto a doily.

There is a slit on the top of the box...

...and it is tied with a ribbon at the back.

Here are a few more photos.

Here is Sumayyah's box. She was inspired by the artwork from the Tom Gates book series.

The slit on the top and the ribbon on the back.

A few more photos.

As you can see they are both two completely different styles. Alhamdulillah, our dad said that everyone liked them and we hope you like them too.

Wassalam,

Zainab(15) and Sumayyah(10)



DIY Heart-Shaped Felt Cushion

Assalamu Alaikum!

Today we'd like to show you a craft Sumayyah did a few days ago with our mother's help. She made a felt cushion to put on her bed. It's a fairly simple craft so keep reading to find out how to make one yourself!

You will need:-

some felt (two different colours)

stuffing

scissors

needle and thread

pompoms

some cardboard

pins

hot glue gun (optional)

To begin, you will need to cut the cardboard into the shape of a heart. Next trace around it onto the felt and cut out two identical hearts. Sumayyah chose to use yellow coloured felt.

She also cut out the first letter of her name using some blue felt. After you have done the same you will need to sew the letter onto one of the hearts. Use pins to keep it in place while you sew.

Then sew the two hearts together either by hand or by using a sewing machine (be sure to ask an adult for help if needed).

Remember to leave an opening so you can stuff the cushion!

Hand stitch it closed when you are done stuffing. Then decorate with pompoms!

You could stitch them onto the cushion but Sumayyah just used a hot glue gun. Remember, since it is made of felt, you can't wash it.

And you're done!

Wouldn't this also make a nice gift for someone special?

We hope you liked this DIY project. See you next Friday, insha'Allah.

Love and Wassalam,



4 Unique Books For Girls

Assalamu Alaikum everyone!


It's Hanifah and today I'm here with another book recommendations post. In a world where everyone seems to be stuck in front of a screen, these books are truly a breath of fresh air. If you feel that you lack inspiration or that you need something to help you reconnect with the natural world then, insha'Allah, I believe these books will interest you.


1. The Daring Book for Girls

Our Grandma sent us this book many years ago and it is still one of my favourite activity books. This book is perfect for all girls who love the outdoors and is full of useful information on a variety of different subjects.

It contains many DIY projects and interesting activities as well as biographies of famous women in history, first-aid tips and advice.

I think that it is suitable for girls ages 10+. You can visit this website for more information.


2. Where My Wellies Take Me

This story follows eight-year-old Pippa on a walk through the countryside as she daydreams and admires the things she sees and the poems she is reminded of. The selected poems fit in perfectly with the tale and there are also lots of identification charts throughout it.

The book is almost like Pippa's junk journal/diary and the illustrations and collages by Olivia Lomenech Gill are absolutely beautiful and give the book a nice scrapbook-like feel.

The authors Clare and Michael Morpurgo invite you to "walk up windswept hillsides, to stomp through snow, squelch through muddy gateways, save tadpoles from shrinking puddles, and watch salmon rising in the river". In short, you're encouraged to unleash your inner-tomboy and this book makes you want to do just that.

This is a book for all ages but it would be best appreciated by older children and adults, so ages 12+ perhaps. You can purchase the book on Amazon and I definitely think it would make a lovely gift; especially for poetry lovers.

3. Secret Garden (colouring book)

This colouring book by Johanna Basford is perfect for nature lovers. I think that there is just something so therapeutic about colouring books like this one. The drawings are so beautiful and you can spend ages just looking through the book. Any time you want to sit quietly for a bit and daydream, you can do so while filling the pages with pretty colours. Once you complete a page you are sure to feel a sense of satisfaction, insha'Allah.

There are many other of her colouring books which might also interest you such as the Lost Ocean and the Magical Jungle. They are all very intricate and are therefore better for older children and adults.

4. How to be a Wildflower

Of all the books on this list this one is my absolute favourite and I had to save it for last. Our mother ordered this lovely book for us secretly and it was such a wonderful surprise. When we saw the trailer for it we were really excited as it was just what we wanted. Trust me when I tell you that it is all that it promises to be.

The book is, as the author and illustrator Katie Daisy describes it, a "field guide to the magic that surrounds us". It is full of beautiful illustrations, identification charts and quotes that are sure to inspire you and help you see the beauty in nature. I believe it is suitable for any age range and is colourful enough to entertain even younger readers.

There is, however, a small section on spirituality (spirit animals, magic crystals and things) which clashes obviously with our religious beliefs.

 Other than that the book is perfect; I cannot praise it enough. You can visit this website for more information.

Well, that's it! I hope that you enjoyed this post and that you take a look at some of the books. They really are worth it!

Love and Wassalam,

Hanifah