Category: Life

  • Taste the Best of Lahore with FoodPanda “Good Food Tour”

    Taste the Best of Lahore with FoodPanda “Good Food Tour”

    Over that past year, I have been fortunate enough to meet lots of amazing bloggers, which has helped ease my anxiety when attending events. So, when Foodpanda emailed me about her latest event, “Good Food Tour Lahore edition“, I did not hesitate in responding with a giant yes please!

    Foodpanda : Good Food Tour Invitation
    Foodpanda : Good Food Tour Invitation

    As the date came closer I followed the #GoodFoodTour  hastag on Instagram and Twitter to see who was attending and, to my surprise, none of my usual blogger buddies seemed to be on the list; my anxiety grew but I didn’t want to sit in my comfort zone by not going. This was an opportunity to push myself and meet people.

    I joined Foodpanda’s ‘Good Food Tour’ last friday, which was the second event of a series of good food tours in Pakistan focusing on a different theme each time. This tour focused on a culinary journey through the trendiest restaurants in Lahore. A journey that will be a delicious treat for the tastebuds, where a group of bloggers and influencers ate their way around town, trying signature dishes from 4 top-notch restaurants in Lahore.

    Warning: the following post contains an excessive amount of photographs of highly delicious food – reading on an empty stomach is not advised! 🙂

    First Stop: Napoli Restaurant

    The first stop of this tour was Napoli Restaurant located at DHA phase 5, who served us with their delicious new improved menu with all the healthy and nutritional options. Napoli offer delightful variety of nutritionally dense, delicious and fresh food. They are  passionate about helping customers refuel, rebuild and heal through food.

    We had Wasabi Prawns,  Honey mustard wings, Fried calamari, two tomato bruschetta. The fried Calmari and wasabi Prawns, Two Tomato Bruschetta with blast of flavors and  Honey Glazed Mustard Wings was mouth watering and the ambience of the café was very peaceful.

    Two Tomato Bruschetta @ Napoli Restaurant
    Two Tomato Bruschetta @ Napoli Restaurant

    The Two Tomato Bruschetta was also absolutely delicious with slices of grilled ciabatta bread topped with fresh baby plum, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, baby basil and cheese. I want the recipe for the tomato dressing, it was so good! 😀

    Two Tomato Bruschetta @ Napoli Restaurant
    Two Tomato Bruschetta @ Napoli Restaurant

    These crispy Wasabi Prawns were an excellent choice to pair with fresh salad. Danggit! Don’t you just look forward to this for the first meal of the day? Or anytime of the day actually.

    Wasabi Prawns @ Napoli Restaurant
    Wasabi Prawns @ Napoli Restaurant

    Their Fried calamari is out of this world and the sauces deserve special mention. I mean if you like calamari… you would fall in love with  this tempura style Calamari! Crunchy, fresh, addicting. !!

    Fried Calmari @ Napoli Restaurant
    Fried Calmari @ Napoli Restaurant

    One simply can’t say no to wings.  A simple honey-Mustard glaze gives these wings knockout flavor. A must try!

    Honey Mustard Wings @ Napoli Restaurant
    Honey Mustard Wings @ Napoli Restaurant

    Second Stop: Rivoli

    The second restaurant of this amazing Food Panda tour was “Rivoli”. Our culinary experience at the Rivoli started off with  Street style Chicken Sliders, Fried ring onion, fries and dipping suace.  The Slider was saucy but the one thing I didn’t like was the slider bun which was really hard. It was kind of sweet and tasted like the meetha bun we find at our Pakistani bakeries. My overall experience was just ok.

    Third Stop: Sweet Affairs

    “Sweet Affairs” was our 3rd stop. And I just fell in love with this, From the brick oven Pizza (BBQ & Mexican flavored), to the Fettuccine in bechmal sauce, Pasta Aurora with Grilled Chicken and the Basil Beef from Sweet Affairs are a must-try!

    I really liked the soothing and peaceful ambiance of Sweet affairsl, and the quality of the food was well above average.

    Sweet Affairs
    Sweet Affairs

    I can highly recommend the fettuccine in bechmal sauce,  the sauce was so good, fresh basil, with a good amount of cheese and sauce,  i just want to slurp it with a spoon. 😛

    And their brick oven pizza’s (BBA & Mexican) were amazing !!! Loved the taste, the presentation and the topping. It’s light and fresh and yet at the same time gave me all the festive feels.  Best thing about this was how they brought the authentic taste of Italian cuisine in Lahore.  All the dishes were just perfect. 5/5 for that!

    Fourth Stop: Mocca Coffee

    No meal is complete without the perfect sweet finish and foodpanda‘s Good Food Tour was completed with delectable sweet treats from Mocca Coffee.

    If you can fit in dessert the Mocca Coffee is another winner – Their Brownie melt is amazing, scoop of Ice cream over brownie drizzled with syrup and served with melted chocolate suace and mint. Yum. Their macaroons, mocca and caramel frappucinos, carrot cake, brownie melt and chocolate mousse are to die for!

    Dear Brownie Melt, If you’re going to ask me what I love about you, the answer is everything. Let’s start simply: You’re delicious.  It’s hard to pick out a single favourite from Mocca Coffee, but if I had to recommend just one thing, Brownie Melt is a MUST-TRY!

  • Foodpanda’s Bites and Vibes Event Recap

    Foodpanda’s Bites and Vibes Event Recap

    Take me back to the Foodpanda’s Bites and Vibes event please!

    Thanks to Foodpanda and their team for inviting me to [EVENT] and giving me a platform to meet my fellow bloggers and it was wonderful experience! The weather was perfect, the food was aplenty, and what is there to complain about to taste and enjoy different cuisine in one place at affordable prices?? So before I get too much into it, let’s start with the basics.What is the Foodpanda’s Bites and Vibes Event?

    Foodpanda has recently gone beyond being just a local food delivery service and have begun incorporating events into their repertoire of all things food. Bites and Vibes is a part of the Foodpanda’s event-series to bringing together different local popular restaurants and a variety of food at a very affordable price dishes and free drinks by 7up, live cooking, chef demonstrations, and more! Located on the Royal Palm Country Golf Club. For more details about the event and ticket prices check out my previous article here.

     

    I was super stoked to be part of this incredible food festival. I went the event with great expectations and it did not disappoint me at all. As soon as I entered the tent enclosed area of  where the festival was held, the aroma of food rising from different stalls made the atmosphere extremely delightful.

    Deli Delights, Spoonful, Shut Up & Eat, Downtown Foodies, Galito’s, Buffalo Wings and Rings, Popeye’s Chicken, Bamboo Union, Maro Tandoor, Dessert Desire, Hakuna Matata, The Waffle House, Cravea and Grab Your Meal also had their stalls at the food festival.

    and mouthwatering food stalls, from desi Ashraf Tikka to fine sushi from Bamboo Union and delicious nutella Naan from Maro Tandoor. There is infinite variety of exquisite cuisine that catered in all kind of budgets.

    Overall, it was a very well organized event and my bro and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it! In addition to the food, appetizers, and desserts, there was the 7up stall to pairing the spicy food (Mana Lo Food Ka Love)  and small kids zone and  games for more fun times. Definitely an event I would go to again next season!

    But the best thing about the Bites and Vibes food festival was that every food item will not exceed the Rs. 200 price!

    On a completely random side note though, a cool thing I noticed there was a photo booth for Selfie Lovers and a spinning wheel to win prizes. For those of you who attended the event, Have You Tried…??? Let me know down below!

    *This post and the work done with foodpanda for ‘bites and vibes’ was not paid work, but we were given tickets to use at the event. All commentary and opinions are my own.

  • Go Go Restaurant Review

    Go Go Restaurant Review

    Well this is the first time I am writing a review for any of the food place in Lahore. I am a big foodie and have been visiting many places very often. But from now, I’ll try to update my readers regularly about different food places, hotels , restaurants, food chains, even roadside food stalls and much more. 

    So my today review is about an old Roadside Go Go Restaurant.

    No more shopping til you drop. I was so hungry while doing shopping on mall road and I wanted some good food, real right thing to satisfy my taste buds. Then this sign board just caught my eye. In a jiff I decided to go there to satisfy my hunger. 

    go-go-restaurant

    Review: Go Go Restaurant – OLD IS GOLD 

    foodblogger-bushrahGo Go Restaurant is a Small restaurant hidden in a strip mall and they have a history of 50 years of hospitality.  

    I had visited this place after a decade to recall & refresh some childhood memories. This fast food restaurant was one of my favorites in childhood. I had many pleasant memories in that restaurant. Good Meal brings back so many childhood memories lol those were the days mann!

    I took a deep breath and imagined my father is here and we are enjoying Club Sandwiches together. Cheers! 

    You know that expression, “I’was so hungry, I could eat a whale! Oh…” No? Good. And if there’s one thing in life that you can be sure about (besides death and taxes), it’s the joy of eating yummy food!

    Old days revived,the same taste, the same food, same old memories. 

     They have a history of serving one of the yummy burgers. Their simple chicken burger’s awesome. They have maintained their food quality but their service ambiance quality has been dropped. They need to open another branch with good service and better seating.

    go-go-restaurant2
    GO GO RESTAURANT ~ 50 Years Of Hospitality

    Service

    Their club sandwiches and Finger Fish  are very good, but their service ambiance quality has been dropped. They need to open another branch with good service and better seating.

    Waitress were very friendly and helpful (i.e., always ready to take photographs for guests) and our food was served quickly. It took about about 10 mins. Pleasantly surprised. 

    Order

    Their menu, of course, had lots of options! Chicken burgers, cheese burgers, beef burgers, Sandwiches, Drinks, Shashlik etc. Watching me clueless, their guy started suggesting me their hot sellers. So, my order was as follows: Finger Fish, French Fries and Simple Sandwich & Coleslaw Salad  ~ the perfect cure for the cold weather.  It was a complete meal I would say. 

    go-go-restaurant-menu-card

    Food

    Sandwiches were Incredibly so good. Finger Fish was flavorful and crunchy but few pieces were over burned (dark brown color was not eye appealing).French fries had  a pure desi nice flavour and the crispy, yet moist inside. The  Fries were tasted just like original home-made fries but the sauce was a bit less spicy.

    Coleslaw Salad was so delicious. It’s cool creaminess, crunchy texture, and tangy flavor balances out the richness of fried fish and chips. 

    finger-fish-go-go-restaurant
    fish finger, chips with buttery sandwiches with coleslaw __ A Yummy treat For My Hungry Tummy!!

    As soon as I dig my tooth into the crunchy fish, it was a blast of flavors with creamy coleslaw. Too good! So, every fish lover like me can go for it without a second thought!
    But too huge for me to eat all by myself. :/

    finger-fish-go-go-restaurant-mall
    Childhood memories all in one bite.

     Sat down eating the starters, I met this blue eyed cute cat at a restaurant.

    hungry-cat
    Cutie Cut busy enjoying finger fish 😛

    Value for Money

    I would say that this place an absolute value-for-money! The appetizers starting from Rs. 100 and burgers as low as Rs. 290. While the Finger Fish was Rs. 410, which at first seemed a bit pricey but the heavenly experience is totally worth it! 

    Rs 410 for finger fish platter were not bad. It’s definitely worth extending a shopping visit to get a bite to eat. 😛

    Final Verdict

    7 out of 10,

    Rating: 4-star, Recommended!

    Very reasonable prices and good food! Only draw back is no sitting place had to sit on road side tables. While Go Go Restaurant may not be the ideal place to celebrate a party because of outdoor sitting, but it’s great to have some friends over for a fun afternoon lunch. Oh and the food – just perfect.

    GO GO RESTAURANT INFORMATION

    ADDRESS
    Go Go Restaurant, The Mall Road, Lahore.
    CUISINE
    SNACK, Fast Food 
    OPENING HOURS: 
    Mon-Sun: 1 0:30AM–12:30AM
    AVERAGE PRICE: 

    Rs. 300 – 500 Per Person

    SUITABLE FOR
    Children/Family , Lunch , Brunch, Fast Food 
    PHONE
    (042) 36373-295

    WEBSITE:

    Go Go RESTAURANT WEBSITE

    Want to try some roadside desi style  fast food?Tell me what you thought of the place when you went! Share your favorites from their menu in the comments below.

    Note: I was not paid or compensated for this review. All reviews and opinions expressed are my own.

    If you’d like to invite Recipestable to cover & share your restaurant’s media events, tastings or parties, feel free to contact me here. Thanks!

  • Explore the Hidden Beauty of Neela Wahan Through My Lens

    Explore the Hidden Beauty of Neela Wahan Through My Lens

    Too tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city life. Mostly at home all-day-long.This isn’t feeding my adventurous soul at all. My restless spirit & adventurous soul shouting out for a change and I was just looking for a fun way to pleased my soul.

    Food Blogger Bushrah at Neelwan ValleyAnd then, I got a trip notification from my University.  After a bit of hiatus to recharge my batteries, I suddenly got the urge to join this adventure. I decided without thinking one second. yes, I should definitely go.

    How could I say no to that??

    Travel is my favorite thing to do in life. I love to take pictures of nature and good food.

    Let’s explore the neela wahan valley Through My Lens( Hidden Beauty of Pakistan). I PROMISE, YOU WILL NOT GET BORED.

    Grab a cup of coffee with some cookies or a popcorn bag and join me in my today’s adventure. I am taking you far away from the noise and hustle-and-bustle of big city life to explore the waterfalls & autumn colored mountain trails and ponds.

    Explore the Hidden Beauty of Neela Wahan Through My Lens

    Hiking and I go together like cinnamon and tomato sauce. An itsy bitsy pinch of cinnamon in tomato sauce makes it like wow what is going on in my mouth this is otherworldly amazing and an itsy bitsy amount of hiking in my life makes me all wow I feel great.

    rocky-mountains
    Travel is my favorite thing to do in life.

    Trip To Neela Wahan Valley (Hidden Beauty of Pakistan)

    Yesterday, I got a chance to visit Neela Wahan valley with my university fellows. It was very well planned visit and no doubt I enjoyed alot. Only thing bothering me was loud music. 

    Neela Wahan Parking Stand
    Neela Wahan Parking Stand

    Neela Wahan

    Neela means Blue and Wahan means Water Pond. These water falls & ponds are located 30 km away from kalar kahar lake on Khushab road in Nurpur Village(District Chakwal). From there do ask any local person about the gateway to Neela wahan valley. There is no sign board or benchmark available which i can tell you.
    Exact trial start from grave yard in from of water tank from main road.

    Let’s Explore the Neela Wahan Trail first. 

    Main Entrance
    Main Entrance View

    On the way down to the pond, I felt so delighted to see cows grazing on shrubs. Such is an amusement for city dwellers who only get to appreciate simple things when in a rural area. The good thing that comes out of urban life, my urbanized life enables me to see value and beauty in the mundane. 

    The wide and open extent of rocky mountains was also noticeable.

    rocky-mountains

    The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step the village View from the top….The perfect place to spend the time in the nature and to celebrate life.

    neelwahn-top-view
    Neela wahan Valley View from the top.

    Breath taking and Eye-catching view of Neela wahan Ponds from the village top.  

    neelwahn-top-view1

     The track is full of adventure with ups & downs rocky barren and bushy mountains & eye pleasing nature view. 

    Neela Wahan Rocky barren Track
    Neela Wahan Rocky barren Track

    The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step … Descent in mountains Thorny shrubs… OUCH!! More Thorny shrubs.

    Thorny shrubs
    Thorny Shrubs on Rocky Trails

    A 50 minutes downhill track leads to the first 3 ponds. There are a lot of other ponds available being generated by the same stream. So if you have time , do explore the area.

    POnd 1

    At very first we reached to the first pool, the scene of a great wall of mountain behind the pool makes its view more attractive. The water spring is coming out from the mountain wall. The radius of the pool this pool is not so big but around 5 meters.

    waterfal-neelawahan

    The amazing factor of the first pool is the tinny fishes and crabs in it. Of course man is the biggest animal of the world so unlike the others the crab is also frightened from the man. Sometimes, they come out for sunshine, as the water is cold, but we can see them clearly in the water surface.

    Crab at the Neela Wahan
    Meet the Mr.Crab at Neela Wahan Pond

    Water surface of the pool is much zigzagged but could easily walk able, you can have a good bath in it but it’s better that if you know swimming. Lol 😀

    Second and third pools are not more than 30 meters away from the first pool, so it’s good that if you have a guide over there and if not then mountaineers can easily find the track and others as well. Second and third pools are in 2 steps. One is on top and the second is at bottom. These pools are bigger in size, the radius of is around 20 to 40 meters.

    The fourth pool I think more than 2 or 3 yards away. As we were new to this place and due to shortage of time we could not reached to that pool, but we had enjoyed a lot. 

    lunch-neela-wahan

    Above all, the Neela wahan is a place worth tracking, swimming and  for picnic. You can carry the food stuff and can have Bar-B-Q there. Even you can have camping there and can spend a night as well.

    neela-wahan-trip

    In all my travels, specifically nature trips, I consider watching the sunset the ultimate experience. Standing on the edge of the hill’s crest at that incredible moment made me feel I’m indeed part of one of the most spectacular sights in the Universe—of something important.

    neela-wahan-sunset

    Once again, I was stunned at how the unique harmony of colors starts to seep through the rustic sky of Neela Wahan Valley. While I was marveling at the sunset, I realized just how it mirrors life’s cycle of duality. The sun must create a space and time for darkness. Think of the hard times and the good times or the dark tunnel and the light at the end of it. 

    At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to grasp that beauty and truth, which is held within a sunset.

    The main reasons why I took this Tour were to recharge my batteries, disconnect from the hurly-burly of our urban lives, to catch the sunset up a hill, to sooth my soul by spending time near to  nature.

    It was good to get away from work and the ‘ol routine. Maybe next time I’ll stay overnight with family and go Aab-e-shifa!


     Make sure to Pin this on your Vacation ideas board! I think you’d like it
  • Blogiversary Week: Some of My Favorite Dishes Thus Far

    Blogiversary Week: Some of My Favorite Dishes Thus Far

    Happy Blogiversary!

    It’s been Five years since I started this blog, and I wanted to take the opportunity today to look back at some of my favorite dishes I’ve posted through the years. These don’t fit into any one category or any one theme; they’re just things I love and would eat 24-7 if given the opportunity.

    Thank you guys for being a part of things around here for all these years. I’ve enjoyed blogging so very much, and you guys have been wonderful.

    my-fav-dishes

    Here are some of my favorites. Click on either the photo or link below it to be taken to the step-by-step. (Warning: I’ll start with the oldest recipes and work my way up…so some photos may be very old and grody-looking. My photography has been part of the process!)

    I’m sharing a lot of recipes here…but there’ll be no more photos than my average cooking post! Har.

    Homemade Pizza Rolls

    Homemade Pizza Rolls
    Homemade Pizza Rolls

     They define me and complete me.

    Strawberry French Toast Roll-Ups

    Strawberry French Toast Roll Ups recipe
    Photo: Strawberry French Toast Roll Ups recipe

    The perfect quick dessert! (Drizzle on caramel sauce instead of powdered sugar if you’re feeling particularly naughty.)

    Restaurant Style Lahori Mutton Karahi 

    Restaurant Style Lahori Mutton Karahi Recipe
    Photo: Restaurant Style Lahori Mutton Karahi

    Being a Lahori, probably one of my most habit-forming recipes. There’s no going back from here.

    25 Minute Chicken and Noodles

    25 Minute Chicken and Noodles
    Photo: 25 Minute Chicken and Noodles

    One of the simplest recipes on this site, it’s also one of the most delicious. You won’t believe the flavor, and you’ll make it all summer long.

    Perfect French Fries

    Perfect French Fries
    Perfect French Fries

    Dip ’em in a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise if you’ve been good and have exercised all week.

    Chatpata Aloo Tikki Burger

    Chatpata Aloo Tikki Burger Recipe
    Chatpata Aloo Tikki Burger Recipe

    Who doesn’t love this school cafeteria throwback?

    Vegetable Kofta Biryani 

    Vegetable Kofta Biryani Recipe
    Photo: Vegetable Kofta Biryani

    You won’t believe how easy it is. Soooo spicy and flavorful!

    Homemade Veggie Pizza

    Homemade Veggie Pizza
    Photo: Homemade Veggie Pizza

    Me likey. The more veggies, the better.

    Noodles Pakora

    Noodles Pakora recipe
    Photo: Noodles Pakora recipe

    Chicken Roast Burger

    chicken-roast-burger

    NanKhatai (Eggless Buttery Cookies)

    nankhatai1

    My go-to fall recipe.

    Shimla Mirch Qeema 

    Shimla Mirch Qeema (Mince with capsicum)
    Photo: Shimla Mirch Qeema (Mince with capsicum)

    This is a wonderful, easy weeknight meal that is ready in under 30 minutes, and you only have to dirty one pan!

    Clean Eating Salmon Fish Fry
    Photo: Clean Eating Salmon Fish Fry

    Crunchy Chicken Pakora

    Crunchy Chicken Pakora recipe
    Photo: Crunchy Chicken Pakora recipe

    Baby Chicken Bread

    Baby Chicken Bread
    Photo: Baby Chicken Bread

    And, from last week, Baby Chicken Bread. I think that’s as good a place as any to end this roundup!

    Hope you find a couple of new things to make this week.

    Thanks again for being here, guys.

    I love ya,
    Bushrah!

  • Blogiversary Ask Me Anything (& a Giveaway)

    Blogiversary Ask Me Anything (& a Giveaway)

    Aslam-o-Alakum everyone!

    So my 5 year blogiversary is coming up in like a week. Yes,I remember tons of random dates dates if something significant happened on that day, ok don’t judge me..😉
    Anyway. So I wanted to do something awesome for my Blogiversary.

    Here is what I want to do:

    Blogiversary Ask Me Anything

    I’ll be making my 5 year blogiversary video soon! What is it you really want to know about me???

    In the comments below, ask me anything you want. Blog related, advice, my favorite things. I will chose 15 questions (or more depending on how many are asked) and I will feature them in my Blogiversary blog post.

    Also… There will be a surprise gift from me. The winner will be picked from the list of people who ask quality and interesting questions. I will notify you through e-mail (if it’s on your blog), or I will comment to let you know.

    *The giveaway will end on October 24th (12 pm Pacific Time).

    ASK AWAY! and Have Fun!

  • Get More Eyes on Your Plates: Grow Your Food Blog with Pinterest

    Pinterest Growth Tips

    1. ENGAGE

    It’s the key to a sensational profile and an engaged audience. No matter the reason behind your account: to promote your brand, to share inspiration or to gather useful posts, people will follow you more easily if they know you’re posting regularly. They’ll know when to expect which type of content and get their inspiration flooding thanks to your presence on the social media.

    2. BE PROUD OF YOUR CONTENT

    We all have our favorite topics, our own passions and the Outdoors pictures that make us go wow. If you like Scandinavian interiors, your ‘Home’ board will contain a massive amount of white walls and black and white patterns. Same thing if you like surfing, you’re most likely to have a board called ‘Summer Vibes’.

    People with the same hobbies as you will start following you in no time, simply because they want to be able to repin the content they feel close to. Stay focused on your passions, be proud about what you’re sharing: love what you pin, your followers will love it too.

    3. BE ATTENTIVE

    Analytics are so important when it comes to Pinterest. Whether it’s for your blog or any kind of social media, those little metrics are able to show you the age, gender, and interests of your audience. If you have followers from Canada, how about you start sharing more cool spots in Montreal, Ottawa, and Québec? It could be pretty awesome for them to discover new shops and restaurants thanks to your pins.

    To see your Pinterest Analytics, turn your account into a Business by clicking right here.

    4. AIM HIGH

    I’m sure many people see Pinterest as a cool application you can use whenever you want to find the inspiration, but do not forget it’s a social network. Today, social network rhymes with potential traffic and cool audience. Using your Pinterest profile wisely can help you reach a new niche, so always be sure to set some goals and try to grow the engagement of your followers. However, keep making sure your oldest followers keep returning, it would be too bad to lose an audience, as you get another.

    5. IT WORKS BOTH WAYS

    While using Pinterest can drive traffic to your website, your website can also help you gain new followers on the network. Pin ahead some inspiration for an upcoming article and design pins to announce a blog post. Are you selling products? Show your Pinterest followers, some of them might be interested. What does all this mean? You can attract new readers and clients just by pinning, and gain new followers while displaying your Pinterest profile or the social media icon on your blog.

    6. CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY

    If your website is well-rounded and your brand identity on top, make sure to spread it. Use the same fonts and colors as your website when designing a pin and make sure your boards relate the same topics as your articles. That way, you please people who always want more of your rich content and inspiration.

    7. KEEP IT COOL

    I know I just told you to see Pinterest as a business tool. And yes it can bring new opportunities and potential readers but it’s important for you to remember it’s only just a social media. Do not make it your goal to gain money over Pinterest and let sponsored pins away, just have fun pinning about what you like and stay true to yourself. Do not become one of those people who pin about everything just because a brand said so.


    What about you? Which Pinterest strategy do you use to drive traffic to your blog?


  • Meet the Food Gardener: Seema Khuled

    Today we have a very special guest, a house wife, an active Gardener and a horticulturist, Seema Khuled. She’s a really down to earth person, responsible and a very talented lady, living in Lahore, Pakistan.

    Meet Seema Khuled _ A stunning lady ;)
    Meet Seema Khuled _ A stunning lady 😉

    She grows vegetables, herbs, Mushrooms, Fruits and flowers. Her goal is that each and every household grow food , however small amount it may be .

    Seema Giving Lecture at Horticlture Society of Pakistan
    Seema Giving Lecture at Horticulture Society of Pakistan

    She is my Kitchen Gardening teacher. She always give me useful tips on choosing the right seed, preparing the containers, sowing the seed and after care. She loves to sharing her gardening skills and knowledge with people. I am so happy to have this energetic & talented lady in my life.

    Seema In Kitchen Gardening with Tofiq Pasha
    Seema In Kitchen Gardening with Tofiq Pasha

    Meet the Food Gardener: Seema Khuled _ A Stunning Lady !

    Bushrah: Aslam-o-Alakaum Seema. How are You?

    Seema: Walakum Salam. “I’m Fine. Jeeti Raho Khush Raho”.


    Bushrah: Thanks Seema for the lovely duas. :*

    Seema: 🙂


    Bushrah: First Tell my readers a little about yourself.

    Seema: I would define myself as a Food Gardener.


    Bushrah: Has kitchen Gardening been always a passion of yours, Seema ? Did you always intend to become a Gardener?

    Seema: Honestly speaking. No, I was not into gardening at all. We had a well maintained lawn at my father’s place and I just enjoyed sitting there, not more than that.


    Bushrah: When did you discover the passion for Gardening?

     Seema: I am still learning to be one who knows a bit about gardening.I was fond of going to the nurseries ,getting some ornamentals and evergreens and that was it. It was few years back when I started it on my own once we moved to our new house. 


    Bushrah: Why do you Garden?

    Seema: As I told you earlier that basically I am a food gardener. The realization of the importance of chemical free vegetables lead me to be one..

    So I might say its a journey from denial to realization.


    Bushrah: Did you do some preparation like reading the books, tips and tricks about kitchen gardening ?

    Seema: I do not have any formal education in agriculture or gardening as such. I did my Masters in International Relations and worked at different places but never in any gardening related field. So I read whatever I could lay my hands on through internet. The treasure of information which it carries now is huge and being an avid reader I was able to grasp some basics of kitchen gardening.


    Bushrah: I’m sure your family would be very proud seeing how long you’ve come, both with your cooking and gardening skills and as a person.

    Seema: I have been lucky to have a family who enjoys and appreciates the things that I grow. Me and my husband are equally excited and happy to see each new growth in the garden.


    Bushrah: What would you say is the best thing about kitchen gardening and the hardest thing ?

    Seema: The joy of picking fresh and organic vegetables for my family is the best thing.I know what I am doing is all worth it. The hardest part of kitchen gardening is to have good quality seeds..but now we have many choices for that also. Where there is a will there is a way.


    Bushrah: So when did you decide to start a blog and why?

    Seema: Infact I am still working on  My Blog and will start soon. This is off the record.:-)) But yes the group of Our Gardens was created with the thought of bringing like minded people together and sharing the joy and info about gardening and helping each other with the knowledge and first hand experiences.


    Bushrah: What is in your opinion are the most important factors when you sowing new plants?

    Seema: In my opinion the most important factors are the timings , knowing about the plant’s sunlight and watering requirements. All the rest follows.


    Bushrah: What do you think is behind the boom in urban agriculture and community gardens? Is there room for more innovation?

    Seema: It is the awareness of the common people like me. The awareness about the harmful effects of the pesticides on our food and the havoc its causing to our general health. Seemingly healthy people are so often heard of being fatigued or depressed .One of the major reasons is the chemical imbalance created by the unhealthy food.


    Bushrah: This is what one calls a 100 % dedication i guess!! I See you posting new tips and pictures almost every day. Where do you get inspiration from?

    Its a big part of my life now. I have so many friends from whom I learn a lot and want to share a lot also.The first hand experience surely tell us what to do and not to do.Sharing my experiences is my way of relaxing I guess.


    Bushrah: I hope your family understands how lucky they are to have a personal home gardener or expert for them every day.

    Seema: That is a thing which only my family can answer :-)) They are indeed very supportive in all my activities.


    Bushrah: very right Hahaha 😀


    Bushrah: What was the idea behind “Our Gardens” Group? Did you have a vision of what you wanted or did the idea develop over time?

    Seema: When I started planning for a garden for our new house I felt a dire need for someone at some place to guide me with what I can plant and take care of here right now.That triggered the idea of an online group where me and my few friends can share their personal experiences and guide. Now that we have more than 9000 friends from around the globe , the focus remains the same i.e. sharing of personal efforts , gardens and all the information..Just putting up pics from internet aimlessly is discouraged.


    Bushrah: A message for all those new comers who want to learn Kitchen Gardening but don’t know actually what it means?

    Seema: I am no expert in it but would say a few words. Grow things that you can take to your kitchen and enjoy eating. Start small and simple.You don’t need fancy pots and fancy techniques to grow your food. Look for all the things around you which you can utilise. Just don’t compromise on the quality of seeds and soil. Talk to others , take advice and share with others what you know.


    Bushrah: What is your top tip for “newbies” like me.

    Seema: Start growing. Tomorrow always comes as today. So start today.

    Happy Gardening !!

     


    Bushrah: Are you able to take the next step to the actual ‘Frozen Food’ business already?

    Seema: Yes..Of Course. Very soon InshaAllah  I will be bringing my range of healthy frozen food of UMAMI that would be tastefully different.

    The first and foremost thought behind all UMAMI products is that these should be healthy to the core. All the seasonings are thoughtfully made to enhance the flavour and health as well…The Aloevera oil ..namely Sesaloe and Cocaloe are made from organically home grown aloe vera…The compound butters or the flavoured butters like the Parsley butter and the Roasted chilli & garlic butter have all the flavour and energy required for a healthy start of the day.

    Here is the List of Umami Food Products.

    If you are interesting to buy her organic products you can contact her here=>>UMAMI
    Thank you Seema for taking time out of your busy schedule. I am genuinely happy to interview you, and I am honored by your presence on my blog. 🙂

    Many Thanks and Stay blessed

    And Thank you my readers for spending time with me. I hope, you enjoy her interview and now Check out her kitchen garden video’s.

    Seema Khuled On Home Gardening _ Watch Her Video here !

    Seema Khuled In Kitchen Garden With Tofiq Pasha Mooraj Masala TV Show

    Dear Reader’s!! Now What Are You Waiting For ?

    Go and Grow your own delicious, healthful organic food.There are so many good reasons to begin growing your own food and really no reason not to.

    So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.

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    Dont forget to give me your feedback. I would love to hear from you.Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments regarding Kitchen Gardening.

  • Welcome to My Kitchen Garden

    Aslam-o-Alakum to All & A Big Welcome to My Kitchen Garden!!

    This is my first blogpost in “My Kitchen Garden” section. ( All about simple and efficient gardening). I have a small gardening space with a HIGH ambitions of having all kind of plants in my garden.

    So I try space saving ideas to get the best from my container garden whether it be vertical and crate gardening.
    Last year, I started gardening as a hobby from [highlight]herbs, veggies and strawberries [/highlight]and now enjoying eating what I sow. This My Kitchen Garden section will be a bridge from my past to the future. All work inclusive (InshaAllah).

    Welcome to My Kitchen Garden
    Welcome to My Kitchen Garden

    What is a Kitchen Garden

    Gardening is a great way to spend time with the family as well as create a unity with the process of making food.

    To me a Kitchen Garden is quite simply: 

    A garden designed and planted with food production in mind. The objective is not just self-sufficiency, it is to have a wonderful variety of fresh and flavorsome food growing in your own backyard.

    For many this means growing fruits and vegetables using organic methods. For me personally I use a[highlight] minimal chemical approach, and try to deal with soil health, plant nutrition and pest problems[/highlight] without the use of chemicals where possible.

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    Here are some thoughts from others:

    [quote]

    A garden, the, is a finite place, in which a gardener (or several gardeners) has created, working with or against nature, a plot whose intention it is to provide pleasure; possibly in the form of beauty, possibly in the form of cabbages – and possibly, beautiful cabbages.

       – Abby Adams, The Gardener’s Gripe Book

    [/quote]

    [quote]

    Growing vegetables, herbs and fruit to pick fresh and crisp from our Kitchen Garden is important for our health and well-being. A Kitchen Garden provides the opportunity to experience eating really fresh vegetables. It also provides the opportunity to engage with plants, to experience the rewards of nurturing, to understand food and our relationship with food, to learn the challenges of food production and food security and to engage in productive physical exercise. Then of course, there’s the sheer joy of harvesting, cooking and sharing own home grown vegetables, herbs and fruit.

    _ Stephen Forbes

    [/quote]

    [quote]

    For all things produced in a garden, whether of salads or fruits, a poor man will eat better that has one of his own, than a rich man that has none.
    – J. C. Loudoun

    [/quote]

    [quote]

    With home grown produce, you know it’s fresh and safe to eat, Then there’s the unparalleled satisfaction of knowing you grew it yourself. These are the accepted reasons behind our current renaissance in growing fresh produce at home. But I suggest we must also add a growing community awareness of the need to reconnect with nature and the environment around us. Is there a better way of achieving this than simply spending quality time in the garden growing your own fresh food ?

    _ Jon Lamb

    [/quote]

    [quote]

    The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.
    – Thomas Jefferson

    [/quote]

    [quote]

    When gardening, I have one gift. You won’t find in any manuals – I know it’s strange, but I can change. Perennials to annuals.”

    _ Dick Emmons

    [/quote]

    I would love to have all of my readers to join me in this excited journey. 🙂 ♥

  • My First Blog Post!

    My First Blog Post!

    My first Blog Post! 

    HELLO WORLD! 

    Aslam-u-alaikum Everyone!

    Thank you for taking a peek at my very first post on my another brand new #foodblog!

    My First Blogpost
    My First Blog post

    I am finally succumbing to all the peer pressure to start a #foodblog. I have to admit I am a little afraid, so please be kind to me. You are probably groaning right about now…not ANOTHER food blog!!  

    There are so many out there, but what can I say I don’t have many talents. Not that I’m a talented cook, but I do enjoy cooking. It gives me great joy to cook meals for my family. Now, I have lots more time on my hands for adventures in the kitchen!  

    Most of you (actually, all of you) don’t know who I am, what is this blog and why I write this blog. That’s why I write this very first blog post.

    Who is me?

    As a visitor of my site, you probably need to know who runs this site. So, here is the quote about the admin and the founder of Recipestable.com.

    I’m Bushrah waheed from Lahore, Pakistan. By profession, I’m a self taught web programmer and a self improved blogger and I started blogging in 2009 as my hobby. Also, I wanted to start this blog before several years ago, but some difficulties came across me. I start this blog, because of I love blogging, I love to share my thoughts, my skills to the world.

    But please don’t have high expectations…I’m not a chef – just want to throw that out there first thing!  Can’t have you expecting too much!

    I’m not brave enough to create a new recipe – not yet anyway!  I like to find recipes and make them over to our liking (well MY liking hahaha). It doesn’t always work out but what can you do? I try on My poor brother & sisters!  😀

    I hope to share recipes, food gardening, reviews, tips, DIY projects, travel, stories, and inspiration with all of you. There are so many wonderful blogs that inspire me everyday, and I want to share in all of the creativity!

    You can find more cool stuff about me by visiting ‘About‘ page of my blog and also don’t forget to connect with me.

    What’s this blog about?

    By reading above paragraph, you may already got an idea about this blog. As the name of the blog, this is a food blog writes about food, recipes, container gardening, blogging tips and many more related to those topics. I’ll write those topics with my personal knowledge, experience and after doing a research about the topic.

    An open invitation to join my blog!

    As this is a food blog, I should invite you to join my blog! By joining my blog, you’ll make your path to stay updated with best recipes, blogging tips and things that will helpful to you to become a better cook and food blogger.

    You can join with my blog through,

    Follow us on Twitter
    Follow us on Pinterest
    Follow us on Instagram
    Like us on Facebook
    Join my Facebook Group

    For now, I’m not going to make this very first blog post very long. Thank you everyone come here and read my first blog post made in here. Your comments and social shout outs are much appreciated.

    First post. Done! Alhamdulillah 🙂