Every time I feel like the subsequent month will allow me a break, I am wrong. I don’t know what it is about Dubai, but life is just non-stop here. Luckily, I managed to run off for 10 days, and recuperate at my momma’s place in Jeddah, sipping on Pink Lemonade and chilling like there’s no tomorrow. The best part is that my sister flew in for her annual break, and my mom took a week off from work as well. It was the most mundane, slow, wonderful and typically-Jeddah week one can have- especially after the whirlwind of a life I’m used to in Dubai.

Jeddah is the place to go to when I want to do absolutely nothing at all. Jeddah is the place to go when I want to plaster on a face-mask, sit on the kitchen table for 6 hours straight, and gossip with my mom and sister while Noor (our lovely help) fries me enough (perfectly crispy) onions to take back to Dubai and last me till my next visit. For the sake of stressing on how awesome Jeddah trips are, I’m going to skip the bit where I ruptured my eardrum on our road trip to Medina.

I’m back now, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit how good it feels to be home. It’s strange how this is my home now, and Jeddah is “my mom’s” home. I find comfort in routine, and I find purpose here. I’m super excited to step back into the kitchen and behind the camera. I’m also back to running around like a headless chicken, this time, in preparation for Ramadan and some very exciting projects I have lined up.

Since I’m still missing my parents and sister, it only made sense for me to share a recipe we OD-ed on, on my recent trip: Pink lemonade. It combines my sister’s favorite ingredients: watermelon, lemon and (optional) ice. If you’re up for it, feel free to add some mint or basil too. You see, my sister is always, always, perpetually feeling hot. So any chilled and refreshing drink is the way to her heart.

This recipe is super easy, super-quick, and therefore perfect for Ramadan.