The do-it-yourself Eid special
Gone are the days when handing out fifty rupee notes as Eidi sufficed. Today’s thrifty youngsters not only demand more money, presenting their Eidi in a proper, fashionable manner has become just as important. Besides, we can’t deny it does feel great giving or receiving gifts in beautifully-wrapped envelopes and cases. And the best part is that you can customise it all! Simply add in a few embellishments to the envelopes or prepare tiny money bags. The sky is the limit when it comes to ideas for Eid.
Before we all get preoccupied with beauty rituals, food preparations and the imminent, last-minute alterations to our Eid joras, let’s not forget that the festive nature of this holiday ought to be depicted in other aspects as well. It’s never too late for you to give this Eid a creative makeover, thanks to our innovative, DIY ideas for funky accessories and elaborate food presentations. Read on to find out how you can inject some much-needed colour into your hot and humid festivities.
Perfect the pouch:
All you need is some fancy cloth, ribbons, scissors and a tube of liquid glue to create these exquisite pouches. Begin by ironing out the cloth and cutting it into medium-sized rectangles. Once the cloth has been cut, fold it inwards about½a centimeter on the small sides and give it a quick stitch to form a crease. Next, fold the cloth inside-out, joining both folded sides evenly and stitch the two big sides up. Fold the inside-out pouch back and you should have a half-ready Eidi holder you can now decorate as you like. You can attach gota, ribbons, diamantes or paper flowers – anything goes so long as you glue it on properly.
The pillow-box project:
This is another great idea for handing out Eidi. The template for a typical pillow-box is readily available on the internet – all you have to do is print it. This project will require coloured chart paper, scissors, glue and of course, decorative accessories of your choice. Simply print a template and use it to trace a pillow-box outline on the chart paper. Cut the template out, stick the advised sides together to form a box and decorate away.
Envelope express:
Want to save time and keep things simple? How about you decorate regular paper envelopes instead? Unleash your creativity with ribbons, diamantes, stickers, glitter, flowers and anything else that you think will add flair to your envelopes. In fact, you can carry the envelopes out in a decorated basket or even add a toffee to each envelope for added sweetness. Whatever you decide, we guarantee the recipients will love it.
Sana Aamir is a Karachi based event planner and decorator. She has her own creative outlet online at facebook.com/SanaCreativeShack
DIY Divine Dining
Refraining from food and drink for thirty days straight and that too, in this blazing heat, is reason enough to dine in style on Eid. This joyous occasion is the ideal opportunity for one to repay themself and their fellow rozaydaars for showing such great determination throughout Ramazan. So why not go all out and treat yourselves?
For most of us, Eid converts our homes into veritable guest houses with an endless supply of food and drink lest our visitors get disappointed. In such times, it is probably best to have a table set and ready with eatables that can be re-filled and heated as required. But food alone is unlikely to satisfy your guests: once again, presentation reigns supreme as even the most delicious dishes feel boring if not served well. Therefore, enhance your food table with some flowers, candles, small-sized crystal decoration pieces that will make the dishes stand out. You can begin by placing a fancy table cloth at the base or even follow a select colour scheme, making the accessories match one another. Flowers in long, cylindrical vases are ideal as they are light and easy to move around.
And for those who see fewer guests or do not have a table large enough for decoration, a two or three tier trolley is the way to go. It’s classic, mobile and easy to set up. Not to mention, the average three-tier trolley is sufficient for all Eid staples. The top tier of your trolley should carry about four to five of the typical Eid dishes, such as sheer korma, kheer, chaat and dahi baray. If you wish to do something different, an assortment of bite-size or finger foods like mini pizzas, rolls, shaami kebabs and pastries is a great alternative. If you are serving kebabs, it is better to use a large plate with linear arrangements. Also, ensure that none of the bowls are over-filled lest they spill over the trolley and embarrass you in front of your guests.
The second tier of your trolley ought to carry the plates, forks and spoons. There is often some confusion as to the inclusion of knives on the trolley but it is best to leave them out, seeing as how we can make do without them. Regardless, make sure that the cutlery complements the plates and bowls your guests will be eating from. An elegant white or floral-printed dinner set should jive well with the current summer trends, especially if you place them right. Ideally, the plates lie at the left end of the trolley, with the bowls on the other side. You can either place a napkin between each plate or include a napkin holder in between the plates and bowls. All cutlery should be stacked atop the plates. Fill in an empty space with a small flower arrangement, if you like.
For Pakistanis, no meal is complete with a round or two of crisp, warm chai. You can dedicate the third tier of your trolley to tea, serving it in a modern pot placed on the right end. The milk, sugar and other condiments should be provided in small, individual pots and the teaspoons in the center. The cups can be stacked on the left and their saucers piled up to face the spoons. Remember that soft drinks and juices have no place on a serving trolley. They should be served on a separate tray, prior to the meal, in simple glassware that is easy to hold and drink from.
Kanwal Tariq is a bio-technologist, a writer and a feminist. She blogs at Whirling Cosmos (kanwalmeghjii.wordpress.com/)
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, July 19th, 2015.
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