, originally uploaded by Rabujee.

No other reason for this post, but to make you all hungry. This is Parmesan Encrusted Chicken with Mostaccioli. Had it a few weeks ago at my (new) favorite restaurant (because not only is the food delicious but all the meat is halal = eatable by ME and other Muslims). Yum.

Random, I'd really like to be try being a chef someday (but those of you who know me are probably thinking "what WOULDN'T you want to try?"). Yes, yes I'm bipolar when it comes to careers lol. Its fun making new and different things and being creative with spices (as funny as that sounds but coming up with new tastes/flavors is cool...except when its a FAIL, then that's just disappointing) . Lately, I've been trying cooking new things for the fam. on the weekends which is cool. Most of all I like to dress up the plate, table, etc. Presentation is the best-est part, no? And then watching a satisfied audience eat away is even better =).
I know a few of the writer's on this blog would agree.

Plus, its really nice to be able to make things that you might WANT to order (as a Muslim) in a restaurant but can't because the food isn't prepared the way your religion asks. Basically we eat meat that is blessed (with a prayer) before its killed. There are many other rules like making sure the cutting tool is as sharp as possible so the animal doesn't suffer unnecessarily (sharper knife means a swifter cut). The jugular veins are usually cut so that blood is properly drained from the body. Also its important to isolate the animal being slaughtered from others in line to-be-slaughtered. That's so the other animals don't go through psychological trauma of seeing what will happen to them. And another one is not to sharpen the knife or cutting tool in view of the animal.

Also, since I'm on the topic we're not allowed to eat pork, or the meat of already dead animals (since they were not blessed at the time they died and because they might have been weak, sickly, etc. ) Andddddd no alcohol.

So why did I start with all this? Oh right, eating at restaurants. Anyways, that's Islamic eating in a nutshell.

P.S. I'm off to class in a little bit, sometimes I wish they would hurry up and do hologram lectures or something. There's just so much more I could do at home, listening in on a lecture, then listening to it at school in a stuffy classroom.