The Joy of Ramadan and Cooking

The Joy of Ramadan and Cooking

Joy Turner, sharing her thoughts about Islam with me and our puggle, Mabel.

“I chose Islam because it answered questions that I had as a Christian all of my life. It is a peaceful religion and it honors women in a wonderful way,” Joy Turner responded when I asked her why she became a Muslim.

Since Joy and I rarely spend an hour without talking about food, she directed me one of her favorite Islamic food blogs for a taste of cultural recipes and crafts, called My Halal Kitchen, created by Yvonne Maffei. We are in the middle of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, so the website was a joyful celebration of colorful recipes and crafts. 

http://myhalalkitchen.com/  

The tone, colors and the celebration of family life reminded me of a some of my own Christian holidays and the simple act of slowing down, remembering your vows, and not getting caught up in the chaos of materialistic life that can sometimes overwhelm us all. 

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and symbolizes the month that the prophet Muhammad first received the Quran.  The month long period falls between the dates of June 28-July 28^th 2014, and allows Muslims to reflect on their faith through the act of fasting from sunrise to sunset.

During this month, Muslims share meals at home before sunrise to prepare for a long day of fasting.  At sunset they share meals together that will restore them after a day with no food, tea or water.  Muslims will often times spend the month visiting family and friends, calling loved ones who live far away, and reflecting on their faith.

Two main meals a day are served.  The meal before dawn is called suhoor and is quite heavy to last throughout the entire day until sunset. After sunset, Muslims break the fast with iftar, which tends to be gentle, with liquids such as soups, smoothies, water soluble vegetables, followed by meats and sweet dishes.  

Another great food site with beautiful Ramadan meals can be found on http://www.thekitchn.com/ramadan-when-its-ok-to-eat-and-94989

According to My Halal Kitchen, “In regards to food, halal refers to foods that are permissible to eat and drink and cooking halal simply means to cook with ingredients that are permissible and avoid anything that is not, even if those ingredients may be a by-product included in a particular food item.”

Wikepedia lists foods that are explicitly forbidden to consume (haram) are:  pork, animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but “Allah”, carrion (carcasses of dead animals), the blood of animals, and alcoholic beverages (Quran 5:90)

In a global world where citizens of many countries zig zag across the planet for work, Americans are able to taste and sample foods, traditions and cultures that were completely foreign to us 50 years ago. Val Zillig, a Wisconsin native who transplanted to Chicago for many years, relocated to Abu Dhabi several years ago to work as a city planner.  I asked Val how he felt about working and living in the city during the holy month when fasting was a way of life for most people. 

“I try to fast, but usually have a tea or water during the day,” Val responded. “There is a room in our office where non-Muslims can eat and drink if we want.”

Val Zillig sampling a 40-something treat from Abu Dhabi travels

“Would you ever convert to Islam?” I asked.

“I have not converted to Islam,” Val said.   “However, I do honestly think if I had to choose a religion, it would be Islam.  The people are super wonderful.  There is a peace about people here that I think is absent in the West. I don’t want to overgeneralize, but people don’t seem to speak badly of others, don’t gossip, and are much more forgiving.”

The peacefulness Val recognizes may have something to do with the holy month of Ramadan reflection. Muslims fast the body during Ramadan, but pay close attention to the mind and spirit as well, according to www.islam.about.com: 

 During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

During the month of fasting, there seems to be an emphasis on eating moisture rich foods like soups, stews, along with halal meats, and delicious homemade sweets end the meal.  For traditional Ramadan sweets, visit http://www.pinterest.com/explore/ramadan-sweets/ .

Dates are a significant and traditional Ramadan food, as Muhammad was known to break his fast with this staple fruit of the Middle East.

Stuffed vegetables are a big part of Middle Eastern cooking and I am ready to try some of the recipes that I have gleaned off of these wonderful food sites.  My favorite so far is the healthy smoothie recipe from http://myhalalkitchen.com/strawberry-pineapple-mango-spinach-smoothie-healthy-suhoor-recipe/  This is a great way to get your kids to eat spinach, as they will taste mainly the sweet fruits.

For more information on the top 15 Ramadan drinks and dishes, try this website that Val Zillig recommended. Since he is from Chicago, I am sure he knows great food.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/ramadan-2013/2013/07/25/Top-15-Ramadan-drinks-and-dishes-.html

EID al-Fitr  is the religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of a three day holiday in countries like Jordan and UAE. EID al-FItr (EID) falls on July 29^th in the USA, and Muslims are not permitted to fast. Family and friends prepare meals to celebrate.  Muslims wake up early, pray indoor, outdoor or at a mosque. 

“Many Muslims dress in their finest clothes, old wrongs are forgiven and money is given to the poor.” http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/eid-al-fitr

More colorful photographs of Ramadan and the traditional Eid al-Fitr (EID) festival celebration can be seen on https://www.google.com/search?q=feast+eid+ideas&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS459US459&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=I6nFU-CsDs-PyATQj4HgBQ&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=920&bih=624

I am grateful for the friendships of two native Chicagoans Joy Turner and Val Zillig for sharing their insights with me about the beautiful traditions of the holy month of Ramadan and their thoughts about the Islamic faith.