IRS Raises Standard Mileage Rate for Second Half of 2011

IRS Raises Standard Mileage Rate for Second Half of 2011

It's been awhile

I've been on Hiatus, but I am back and ready to post is up :) See you again soon.

Ramadhan approaches August 1-August30

Assalamu alikum wr wbr...

★ ★ Practical Pre Ramadhaan Tips ★ ★

It is important for us to prepare for the Holy Month of Ramadan in order to reap the maximum benefits from this month. Rasulullah (may the prayers of Allah and peace be upon him) and his noble Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to look forward to the coming of the blessed month of Ramadan. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would say in his supplications:

Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Sha’ban wa ballighna Ramadan
“Allah bless us in the month of Rajab and Sha’ban and help us to meet and spend Ramadan (in a deserving manner).”

Ramadan is the month of excitement and enlightenment for Muslims. It is the month of revelation of the Holy Qur’an, the month of reading and reciting the entire Qur’an, the month of tahajjud and qiyamul layl, of tarawih prayers, of sadaqah, zakatul fitr, and zakatul mal.

No one can go anywhere without preparation, and no one invites a guest without preparing to welcome him/her. Similarly, to welcome Ramadan — the month of fasting — one has to prepare. The following are some tips to help you receive and welcome this noble month of Ramadan.

1. Try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, as of today.

2. Start reading Qur’an daily after Salatul Fajr.

3. Spend some time listening to recitations from the Qur’an.

4. Train yourself to go to bed early so that you can wake up for Salatul Fajr.

5. Keep yourself in a state of wudu’ at all times.

6. Evaluate yourself daily before going to bed. Thank Almighty Allah for all the good deeds you do, and repent to Him for your mistakes and sins.

7. Give yourself some time alone, so that you can meditate, make dhikr, tasbih, takbir, tahmid, tahlil, and other forms of dhikr. You will experience spiritual elevation and you will enjoy life tremendously.

8. Those who can afford to make ‘Umrah before Ramadan comes should do so, and those who are able to perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan should do so. ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to (the reward of) a hajj.

9. Start giving (charity) daily, no matter how little it is. Make it a habit, like eating and drinking.

10. Find time to pray extra nawafil (optional) salah, such as Salatul Duha, Qiyamul Layl, and Salatul Tahajjud. (note: If you have fardh – obligatory – prayers to make up, it is much more important to fulfill those first.)

11. Spend more time reading Islamic books, especially the Holy Qur’an, books on Seerah (the life of the Messenger of Allah), hadith, and fiqh.

12. Find time to help others with your wisdom, knowledge, and other talents.

13. Try to write articles on Islam for Muslims and others for non-Muslims.

14. Associate with Muslim scholars, ‘ulama, and pious believers so that you may learn from them.

15. Train yourself to do good, no matter how insignificant it may seem, and render useful service to others.

16. Try to learn how to make da’wah to non-Muslims, and engage in this noble activity. It is an art requiring knowledge and training.

17. Try to spend more time with your family, and remind them to prepare for Ramadan as well.

SOURCE: Ramadan Companion

by Faisal Abdur Razak

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Successful Recipes

Alhamdulilah, below are a few recipes I have tried on my family and the last two I put together (meaning I made both) and  I got the most pickiest eater in the house Ms. Africa's vote of approval.

Also on the Fiesta biscuit being that we are vegetarians I subbed the beef for tofu ;)

Lentil Soup

Rated: Submitted By: Joyce Pyra Photo By: Sarah-May Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes Servings: 8

"This hearty soup can be easily doubled for big crowds. My family likes it topped with shredded cheddar cheese."

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup dried lentils, rinsed 6 cups chicken broth 2 cups chopped onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes 1 cup sliced carrots 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large saucepan, bring lentils and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 30 minutes.
2.	Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil; add to saucepan. Add the tomatoes, carrots, thyme and marjoram. Cook 30 minutes longer or until lentils and vegetables are tender.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 3/4/2011 PrintEmail5 CommentsShare: submitted by Lori Falcon http://acowboyswife.com/ This is a classic one-dish recipe, with meat, beans, cheese, veggies and bread combined for one hearty dinner meal. Prep time: 15 min Cook time: 25 min Servings: 6 Ingredients 1 ½ lb ground beef 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies 2 cups corn 2 cans (15–16 oz) ranch style beans 1½ cups shredded cheddar 2 cups biscuit baking mix ½ cup water Preparation Preheat oven to 375° F. Cook ground beef and tomatoes in large skillet until beef is browned. Mix in corn, beans, and ½ cup of the cheese. Pour mixture into casserole dish. Combine baking mix and water in a medium bowl, and pour over the meat/bean mixture. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 25 minutes.

Creole Tuna

Rated: Submitted By: Taste of Home's Fast Family Favorites Photo By: A.Z. Servings: 10

"This speedy recipe relies on pantry staples, so it's easy to make when you can't decide what to fix for dinner."

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons chopped green pepper 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1-1/4 teaspoons sugar 1-1/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper 3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon milk 2-1/2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes 2-1/2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained and flaked 2-1/2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

DIRECTIONS:

You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (10). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (4).

1.	In a saucepan, saute green pepper in butter until tender.
2.	Stir in flour, sugar, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
3.	Add tuna and Creole seasoning; heat through.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com Santa Fe Brown Rice Bake By The Gluten Free Goddess WebMD Recipe from Foodily.com Make this Southwestern-inspired rice dish as spicy or as mild as your taste buds prefer. We serve this as a vegan recipe, but if you love cheese, try topping it with fresh crumbled goat cheese. Ingredients 2 cups raw brown rice, long or short grain 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 sweet or red onion, diced 1 sweet bell pepper, red, yellow, or orange 1 fresh yellow tomato, chopped 3/4 cup roasted or frozen corn kernels 2 roasted or fresh green chilies of choice, seeded and chopped 2-3 tablespoons lime juice Sea salt, to taste 1-2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin A touch of cinnamon -- my secret ingredient 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or Italian parsley A splash more of extra virgin olive oil to moisten the rice 1 14-oz can Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chiles, with juice Instructions Cook 2 cups raw brown rice, long or short grained, in 5 cups fresh water. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add the garlic, chopped onion, sweet bell pepper, and cook for five minutes. Add the fresh yellow tomato, roasted or frozen corn kernels, roasted or fresh green chiles, and lime juice, to taste. Stir-fry very briefly, just until crisp-tender (you want to soften, not cook, the veggies). Remove from heat and set aside. *Note: To roast frozen corn, spread kernels on a baking sheet and roast at a high temperature until slightly charred; or pan roast them in a large dry skillet until sweet and toasty. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. When the rice is cooked, assemble your casserole. Spoon the cooked brown rice into a casserole dish. Add in and stir dashes (to taste) of sea salt, chili powder, cumin, touch of cinnamon, and chopped fresh cilantro or parsley. Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil to moisten the rice. Stir. Add the fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilies and the skillet vegetables. Add fresh chopped herbs, to taste. Toss to combine. Cover and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until the rice is piping hot and heated through. Total Servings: 6 Nutritional Information Per Serving Calories: 307 Carbohydrates: 62.0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Fat:  4.0 g Saturated Fat: 0.6 g Fiber:  3.7 g Sodium:  64 mg Protein:  6.4g

Printed from Allrecipes.com 3/4/2011