Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ramadan Kareem

Today marks the 15th day of the holy month of Ramadan. "Fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence." It is also a time to come closer to God by learning self-control, practicing charity, doing good deeds, and praying. Fasting is from sunup til sundown. Breaking the fast at sunset, known as fatour, is typically started with a glass of laban (yogurt drink) and a few dates.

My kids call this tomato soup "Ramadan soup" as I only make it at this time of year. It is a simple recipe that I learned from my mother-in-law (may she rest in peace). We serve it with a little baked cheese sambousa (which is normally fried but my wonderful SIL in Canada showed me how to bake it up beautifully so no oil needed and my kids like it much better this way).

A main course might be brown lentils with rice and a refreshing cucumber yogurt salad.

Later in the evening, a traditional dessert may be served such as khanafa which is a baked cheese based dish that is served with a sugar syrup.


Wishing you much peace and many blessings!

Tammy

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have heard of this religious time. You are a very lucky lady to have experienced & lived a different culture.
Have a Great Day!
Love,
Marilyn

Unknown said...

Tammy, the food looks wonderful. I know quite a bit about middle eastern culture, as my first husband was from Saudi Arabia and we have one child in common. I still make middle eastern dishes on occasion, the meat filled version of sambousa being a huge favorite here in my house. We eat a lot of chicken and rice known as capsa (spelling?). Love your posts.

Bralliz said...

Yummie, Looks great! Thanx for ur sweet comment on my blog! Happy day, xoxox alice

Claus said...

What an interesting tradition! I have heard of Ramadan, but never about the food and when fast ended. The food looks delicious (and meat-free!!), and easy on the stomach.
Thanks for sharing!! I love to learn these sort of things through friends' eyes.
have a great day!

Marilyn said...

All of it looks so familiar, as I grew up in that part of the world.
Peace to you.....
the Other M!!!

Anonymous said...

Your break-fast food looks wonderful! My neice, who lives in Arizona, is participating in the fasting. She has a lot of Muslim friends and enjoys showing them support during this time. I doubt she's seen this fabulous food, though. I'll send her a link. Blessings to you, Tammy.

Linda said...

Interesting, Tammy! I enjoyed reading about the foods served.
Many blessings,
Linda

Nice and Easy Antiques said...

Thank you Tammy for sharing with all of us a little from your side of the world. The food looks delicious, I'm sure your Mother in Law would be happy to know you follow her steps...

erin's art and gardens said...

i like all of the motivations behind fasting. your food looks amazing! i have never eaten ANY of those foods. that khanafa looks so interesting. i am salivating here...yum

Cindy Adkins said...

Wow, Tammy,
This food looks amazing! I have not eaten any of it before...Every time I come on here I just love this song too....
I hope your family will grow in your spirituality during this special season...
Hugs,
Cindy
xox

Diane said...

Thanks for explaining Ramadan, Tammy. Being in Wyoming I never knew just what it was except that it was a holy time. Diane

Angel said...

When I visit you here I feel like an adventurer exploring far away places but somehow it feels like home too. Thank you for your visit to my blog home today. You blessed me with your kind words. God bless you!

Anonymous said...

What a nice post about Ramadan. I have people ask me all the time about why we do it, and what it means. Good for you for educating the masses. I always laugh to know how much your kids love that soup, and that you only cook it during Ramadan. Nice to have a family tradition like that. It is hard to beleive Ramadan is half over already. Time is going by awfully quickly...
Enjoy your lentils and rice. My boys and I eat it with yogurt, but I like the idea of the yogurt with cucumber. Enjoy your dinner!

Love,
Renee

Kate said...

Tammy
Everything looks so yummy and refreshing. Thank you so much for always being so very compassionate and that loving sweet spirit of yours blesses my heart. It heart breaking to know that many of us have been hurt yet we have found our way through the pain. Praying for you and your family as well and being thankful for the gift of your friendship.

love to you
Kate

Caterina Giglio said...

oh I love yogurt and cukes together and good for you educating the masses about middle eastern culture and religion. ... especially in the light of such intolerance here.. blessings to you dear Tammy!

Simple Home said...

You know Tammy, I would really enjoying eating at your house. Everything always looks so tasty. I read in your previous post that it was 115. We haven't gotten that hot here in several years. It's around 105 today, but it's supposed to start cooling tomorrow.

I do love reading those journals I posted about too. Thanks for commenting on them. She was a retired schoolteacher, and wrote very detailed journals with photos added throughout. I have 5 of them, and they're so fun to read.
Blessings,
Marcia

Susan said...

Oh yum, Tammy. Everything looks de-lish. It's been awhile since I've fasted but I should think about doing it again. Susan

crochet lady said...

Thanks for the bit of history and culture. It's nice to see a picture of the dishes to be eaten during that time, they all look interesting. Wish I could taste them.

DeeDee said...

I am officially hungery now....I want therecipe for that cucumber salad...looks so yummy to me...

I never new this tradition..thanks for sharing it and the meaning with us....

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