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Enterprising housewives Moya Al Thawadi and Karen Al Sharif have brought their talents together and created a home cooking recipe calendar for 2009.
The calendar, a feast for the eyes and the palate, was a simple case of straight from the oven on to the table for photographs.
The ladies started work on their idea in the summer of 2007 and saw their project to completion last month when the calendar hit major bookshops on the island.
"We indulged in our passions and developed a concept that we could share with everyone. But most of all we wanted to give back to the community as part of the proceeds will go to a local children's charity," said Moya.
Apart from being full time mothers and homemakers, both Karen and Moya actively pursue their individual interests.
Karen, a mother of three living in Adliya, is a professional photographer and runs her photography studio - Captured by Karen - in Mahooz.
Moya, mother of two and resident of Sanad, has a passion for cooking and teaches cookery at Ibn Khuldoon School in Isa town.
"All the photographs were taken in Moya's kitchen. It was the case of straight from the oven and onto the table for photographs," said Karen.
The ladies who have been living in Bahrain for more than two decades and have been friends for 21 years handled the creative aspects of the project single-handedly, outsourcing the design and print of the calendar only.
The photography is done by Karen whereas the styling and preparation of food was Moya's forte.
The calendar has useful tips for busy housewives and 'no fuss' home cooking recipes that produce excellent results.
"All the ingredients are available locally and I have paid special attention that the recipes are appropriate for each month," said Moya.
Succulent beef and prune tagine, an aromatic and warming dish, is featured in January whereas cool, open Mediterranean-style sandwiches grace the hot month of August along with recipes comprising of dates and local fish like hammour and shari.
Moya has developed her own recipes and insists that one does not have to be a great cook to get mouth-watering results.
Just follow the recipes and buy an oven thermometer, is her advice!
The creative duo are pleased that their first-ever joint venture has been well received on the island.
"In fact it has rekindled an interest in cooking which, with the busy schedules of working mothers and the ever present fast food restaurants in every nook and corner, was waning," said Moya whose all-time favourite recipe of layered raspberry and mascarpone dessert for the festive season of December is there for all to cook and savour this month.
