Holy Month of Ramadan

Last week we started the holy month of Ramadan. I posted a detailed post about Ramadan last year.. feel free to check it out here


Today instead I wanted to share with you what I have been doing to prepare for Ramadan. The few days leading up to the month I made some snacks to eat during sehori (pre dawn meal) or after dinner when you get those late night munchies would don't want to end up eating a bag of chips. T
hese are not official desi/muslim recipes it just what I made.



The first thing I..well actually H did about 90% of the work so I should give him the credit, made was Banana Oatmeal Muffins. They tasted too healthy according to M. Will probably omit the oatmeal next time. I added peanut butter chip to them as well. 

 
Next I made malai which is like a thick sweetened cream to be eaten with toast. There is a story to this one. Back in Pakistan you get raw cow's milk (pasteurized is also available and now more common) The milk needs to be boiled to make it drinkable. When you boil the milk a thick layer of cream is made which you remove and chill and can later be eaten separately with breakfast. When my family migrated to America they missed malai. My aunt started to boil half n half until it thickened, added sugar and refrigerated it. For years we ate that as malai. I actually prefer it to the original. Now it has become a family tradition of sorts spreading through the family tree. I used to make it all the time. Not the most healthy so now I only make it during Ramadan. H loves it so much he forgoes the toast and just eats it with a spoon. 

                         

Next up and were stuffed dates. Dates are very important in Ramadan. It is customary to break your fast with a date. Eating dates first reduces the hunger pangs, so excessive eating during ifthar can be controlled. This indirectly helps in weight control too. They are alkaline in nature, so help in balancing out the acids in the stomach after a full day of fasting. I had seen these chocolate dates trending on the socials and had been meaning to try them for a while now.. and they are magnificent. 


Basically, you pit the dates, stuff them with peanut butter and peanuts and coat them in chocolate. Wait for them to harden in the refrigerator and walah! I kid you not they taste like a Snickers. They must be eaten straight from the fridge. These might become a year round snack. 


This is what we call lauki in Urdu also known as bottle gourd. It is rich in iron and potassium. Helps keep the heart healthy and lowers blood pressure. It can be cooked in a curry or stew but our Ramadan tradition is to make a milky drink. My mom used to make this every ramadan and my brother and I hated it.. Fast forward some years and I am married and H is little and for some reason (I can't remember right now) my mom ended up spending her Ramadan with us and M complains about being hungry and not having any healthy-ish options at hand so she makes this drink and boom, M is in love. So now I have to make it every year. Not my favorite thing to make because it is tedious process and honestly I hate any job that requires milk to boil. One year my in laws are here and they drink it and now I am stuck making a copious amount of lauki dood. 


We start by peel and grating the gourds. Then cook them down with sugar to taste until the water seperates. In a another pot you boil milk till it reduces just a little. 


The lauki is added to the milk. I also add some custard powder to thicken it.

                  

These are basil seeds also known as tukmaria. They act similar to chia seeds. When added to water they bloat. I found them so cool as a kid. My kids are grossed out by them.


Basil seeds are good to cool down the body (especially useful when you are in a tropical country) They also lower blood sugar level, aid in bowel movement and are loaded with minerals.


They are add to the milk. The milk is then placed in the refrigerator and drunk chilled. No surprise but the kids are not a fan. 


This next one I started to make last year. I was thinking of adding overnight oats to our sehori rotation but when cleaning out the kitchen for our remodel I found a bunch of cracked wheat or bulgur in my pantry. Typically we make a halva out of it. So I experimented a bit. 


You roast the bulgar in some butter then add some water, milk, sweetener (I used condensed milk to give more richness) and let it all cook and thicken.


I divided it into individual portions and refrigerated it. In the morning before eating I add a little milk into it and warm it a little and add some topping (I mixed up some coconut, peanut butter chips, pecans, cinnamon and chia/flax seed powder) 


And lets not forget about the chai. Not chai tea.. because, well, chai means tea and then you're just drinking tea tea. On a daily basis M and I are all about the coffee but in Ramadan we savor the tea. This was my first time trying to make masala chai and the house smelled incredible. There are a few really good and even funny chai related videos on the socials that are my favs and I wanted to share. 

And that is it. I know it seems like everything I made was sweet. Our dinner is savory. We go to the masjid most nights and while dinner is served there M is not a fan, so most days we come home and then have dinner. It's a normal dinner for the most part. Auntie Zarna Eddie Scott (I made this tea) and Kumar Family

If you have any questions about Ramadan or fasting ask away.. I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge. 
                  
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Comments

  1. Wow, this was so interesting Hena. I may have to make that date recipe and have them as a dessert.
    I can see why that last recipe is a lot of work, wowza,
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  2. Thanks for sharing, your snacks look healthy and delicious.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this with us! It is very interesting and several of the sweets sound super yummy.

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  4. Those basil seeds are SO COOL! And the dates look good - Ramadan Mubarak!

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  5. Debbie3/27/2023

    i remember this from last year and again find it very interesting. the foods are so different than anything i make or eat, i find them to be fascinating. what a spiritual month, we could all benefit observing the meaning behind it!!

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  6. This reminds me of one of my favourite teaching assignments in Ottawa. We had kids from so many cultures. I miss those days.

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  7. I thought of you when I saw Ramadan was beginning. Is the malai sort of like sweetened condensed milk? I didn't know basil seeds could be used like that (like chia). It looks pretty all swelled up, but I'm not a fan of the texture.

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  8. Heather3/27/2023

    I always find your Ramadan posts so interesting!! I love dates and I've made the peanut butter stuffed ones before but haven't added peanuts. Must try! That drink seems like a lot of work. I've never seen basil seeds. Very cool! I hope you have a good month!

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  9. Your recipes look great.

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  10. Those dates look so good! And the malai sounds really interesting to try!

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  11. Elephant's Child3/27/2023

    Thank you. I loved reading about these recipes. I hope your Ramadan is everything you could wish for.

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  12. As someone who hates Snickers, I think I'll pass on the dates... Wow, you made a lot of food. That's not for the whole month, is it? That's a lot of prep work, but these sorts of things would need the prep work, wouldn't they?

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  13. Polyester Princess3/27/2023

    I loved reading about the traditional foods (and their variations) you've prepared for your family to enjoy during Ramadan. Those chocolate covered dates look and sound truly scrumptious! I'm not surprised your kids are grossed out by those basil seeds, though :-) xxx

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  14. Martha3/27/2023

    That was me! ❤ Thanks for commenting on my blog. I hope you can find a maple sugar shack to see the process w your son. Soo great he wants to be involved in baking, too.

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  15. Chatty Crone3/27/2023

    May you have a blessed Ramadan - if I said that correctly. I really loved reading about your traditions of food. I think it was fascinating. Not sure what it tastes like. Would like the dates. ☺

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  16. Marie Smith3/27/2023

    I really enjoyed reading about your food traditions during this holy month.

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  17. Thanks so much for this "insider's view" of Ramadan -- and for the description of all these wonderful recipes. The dates are definitely going into my repertoire! And the halva, too! Wishing all the blessings of this holy season.

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  18. Debra She Who Seeks3/27/2023

    I'd love to try all of these delectable treats, especially the chocolate-covered peanut butter dates!

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  19. Salty Pumpkin Studio3/27/2023

    Interesting foods.
    The stuffed dates open my eyes to the good food possibilities. I've been having them plain.
    Thank you!

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  20. I'm familiar as I have a number of coworkers/friends that celebrate Ramadan. I am going to be trying your dates. They sound and look delicious. H. looks like a pro making the muffins. Thank you for sharing Auntie Zarna, I watched one video and enjoyed her. I already follow Kumaar Family and find them very funny. Wishing you a peaceful month.

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  21. Jennifer3/27/2023

    Ramazan Kareem!!! I loved seeing all of these food! Similar but yet different to Turkish. I am actually trying to fast for the first time and it is difficult. I can't fully fast because of my health issues sadly.

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  22. Christina3/27/2023

    Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family. My sister in law prepared basil seeds just like you show when she last visited. I must say, not my favourite ever but it is good to try different things. I might break my night time fast with a date today, after reading about their benefits. We received a box of absolutely delicious dates from a student the other day and I hope it wasn't the dates she had intended to use to break her Ramadan fast. Wishing you a spiritual enjoyable month x

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  23. I loved this. It's so interesting to read about what your family eat during Ramadan.
    Our area has a large Muslim population and we have lots of friends and neighbours observing the holy month. We were on the train just after sunset on Friday and it was beautiful seeing a young man sharing chocolate with a group of hijabi women he didn't know. xxx

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  24. Chai tea meaning tea tea always made me LOL:) And everything looks delicious, Hena. That malai sounds right up my alley:D

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  25. Thanks for sharing all your Ramadan snacks and treats. The malai sounds so rich and sweet - and positively decadent. And the stuffed dates look divine. I would definitely try those!

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  26. I'd love to try the treats.
    Happy Ramadan, Hena

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  27. All of this looks incredibly delicious! I would love to try some of these goodies. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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  28. All of those snacks look really good, especially the stuffed dates! Thank you for sharing!

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  29. My city has a growing Muslim community and Ramadan is written about in the news and such. I find all the snacks you write about fascinating.

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  30. I found this so interesting to learn more about Ramadan and to see the foods you have been preparing. I must say I have never seen basil seeds used in this way. I do, however, use chia seeds fairly often. As I have dates in the pantry, I will be trying out your recipe. It sounds like a good way to indulge in candy without the guilt.

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  31. That is a funny story- you never know what someone is going to like when they're exposed to it!

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  32. I love learning about all these foods, and they look delicious too!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  33. Happy Ramadhan.... great month for Muslim all around the world...
    Your foods look tasty... yummy....

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  34. Anonymous3/29/2023

    Looks delicious. Regine
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  35. a few of those sound very good, it is good to eat things that are healthy for you after fasting, I think it settles better that is for sure.

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  36. What a wonderful post! I would love to try some of these recipes!

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  37. Very interesting post, I like it :)
    I invite you also to my art channel :)
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  38. Hello :=)
    Happy Ramadhan, All your preparation will be most appreciated, and it's interesting to learn about the ingredients you used.
    All the best

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  39. Very interesting. We have lived in pretty isolated areas most of our lives we were never introduced to many customs like this. Thanks for sharing!

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  40. Thank you so much for sharing about Ramadan and all of these amazing recipes! I have heard about similar date recipes tasting like snickers, I really need to try that because I love those candy bars and I bet this date version is much healthier, haha!

    Wishing you a wonderful weekend! :)

    Make Life Marvelous

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  41. Seemed to be a tasty treat.
    https://www.melodyjacob.com/

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  42. I love the muffins - banana muffins are always a hit in my house. I haven't tried any of the other dishes but it was nice to see how you have prepared for the moth with your family, and I kinda want to try the dates! I hope you have a good Ramadan.

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  43. So many foods I have never heard of before. Thanks for sharing part of your culture with us.

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  44. Hi Hena Thank you for sharing your faith and Ramadan. I am always excited to find the common elements of all faiths and religions. Of course, your snacks are way more yummy than my mom used to make during Lent (ever hear of tuna patties). Oh my sister and I are like why didn't mom just make grilled cheese on Fridays (no meat during Lent). ! Enjoy this month of reflection! xo laura

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  45. Thank you for sharing about Ramadan, everything you made looks wonderful especially those dates. I never heard of basil seeds before, I use chia seeds in my smoothies.

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  46. Lots of Yummy foods on here, especially those dates with peanut butter covered in chocolate. The banana muffins look really good too. Although, I'm with the kids on the basil seeds. They look too scary to eat. You are a good cook in the kitchen. Your bulgur looks like our oatmeal. It's nice to add the pecans and cinnamon and all those other goodies. : )

    ~Sheri

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  47. This is so interesting. I love the intentionality behind that the foods you do eat during this time. I never thought of that, and it makes so much sense. Those dates look pretty darn good! And the "they tasted too healthy" assessment of the muffins cracked me up!

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  48. I was thinking of you when Ramadan started. thank you for sharing your foods, they look so delicious!!

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  49. It looks like you made some wonderful and delicious things for Ramadan. I'm not familiar with a lot of these specifically but the ingredients sound wonderful and I like the stories behind why you do what you do. Oh, dates! YUM! So nice to have extra kitchen help, too!

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  50. I learned a lot from this post! Eid Mubarak !

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