Ramadan in Mexico: Iftar, breaking the fast

Day One:

First Iftar of Ramadan

Tonight is the second night of Ramadan, of prayer and recitation, tarawih… but before we pray Maghreb there is iftar. As the sun begins to lower in the horizon, turning the Californian sky into a beautiful display of warm colors, I set several dates on a plate, fill a cup with fresh water, slice an apple and place a handful of almonds to break my fast… My lips feel a little dry, but I don’t feel so hungry or thirsty, yet it’s only the first day of fasting, and this will be the first iftar…

Some hours before iftar, I had set myself to cooking dinner, saying Bismillah and hoping the food would not be bland or salty, I began preparing a simple dinner. I was to prepare over a dozen of little savory rolls of pastry, filled with a mix of fresh cheese and finely chopped herbs, then fry them in scant olive oil. My mother used to prepare these during the summer months, although she has never been too fond of frying, and as I chopped the mint and fennel I thought of my parents. A few days ago I had done my weekly trip to the produce market, I had picked the freshest vegetables, fruits, and as I glimpsed the fennel and mint from the corner of my eye, I knew I had to prepare Omi’s cheese and herb filled rolls for the first iftar. I mixed butter and flour with a bit of warm water, creating a soft and buttery dough, floured my wooden surface, and with a thin rolling pin I began rolling out a somewhat thin pastry to be filled with the cheese and herbs… One, two, three, four little rolls, all fried, and already cooling in absorbent paper… the smell of the cheese, herbs and pastry made me slightly hungry, such a familiar aroma but I would not taste it until iftar… These little rolls brought back memories of my family, my mother in the kitchen, but also of travel, of our stay in Istanbul, and all the food, experiences, and things we as a family have shared for so many years… I am thankful for having such a family, and as their arrival draws near day by day, I can’t help thinking of all the memories and experiences we have lived together and apart… On this first day of iftar, second night of Ramadan, I think of them.

Iftar: Fresh cheese & herbs pastry roll

Rolling out the dough for Rolls

How to prepare cheese & herb filled pastry rolls

Preparing Dinner for Iftar: Ramadan in Mexico

Cheese & Herb filled rolls

Perfect side: A fresh Greek salad

First Iftar of Ramadan

Iftar and Maghreb Time: Ramadan

Ramadan: A Time to Be Grateful

Ramadan Dates for Iftar

The month of Ramadan is an ever exciting and joyful time of year in our home, and we welcome the holy month with great enthusiasm as we prepare richly elaborate foods and adorn our home with handcrafted decorations. As a family, we look forward to a month of not just fasting and praying, but of celebrating and thanking Allah for the many blessings He has bestowed upon our family. My mother and I relish those mornings of cooking in our small kitchen, breathing into the aromas of herbs and spices, preparing delectable dishes, listening to the sound of pots and pans as my mother cooks. Then comes Iftar, the time to break our fast, and as we listen to the Adzhan and bite into the first date or drink the first sip of water, we are ever thankful for  the sweetness of this fruit and for the freshness of this water that Allah provides us.

This year, a day before Ramadan, my parents and I headed for New York, Jackson Heights in Queens to be more precise. As soon as we stepped off the subway and out unto Roosevelt Avenue, we soon perceived the change of atmosphere, the streets were more crowded than usual and there was a mixed air of enthusiasm, anxiety, and festivity in the neighborhood. There were a number of street vendors displaying their goods on every corner, the very essentials of Ramadan; an array of colorful pull-over scarves, praying caps, prayer beads, prayer clocks, The Holy Qur’an in several languages and their respective Qur’an stands. The vendors, merchants, and passersby would greet one another with a cheerful “Ramadan Kareem!” and a smile, regardless of whether they knew one another or not. Almost all businesses and establishments in the neighborhood showed signs of Ramadan, special sale prices on everything from food to clothing.

Not only were the streets swarming with people, but the larger grocery stores with their narrow and almost impassable aisles were packed with energetic and resolute shoppers. Whole families, mothers, fathers, and their eldest children holding long shopping lists on one hand and baskets and carts full of groceries on the other. Veiled women, pushing through the aisles in search of walnuts, almonds, dried fruits, and other ingredients; I saw two ladies both reaching out for the very same large packet of mixed nuts, and each one of them feeling threatened by the other, determined to get everything on their lists. My parents and I had solely come in search of dates, yet we found ourselves in awe at the variety of products, and we soon succumbed into buying bread, dried fruits, and other useful ingredients.

As we wandered through 37^th Avenue, I spotted a small refrigerator in front of a store; it was full with almond, pistachio, and mango Kulfis, those delicious ice pops that can quench thirst and hunger. The taste of cardamom and almond melted in my mouth, it was the first time I tasted a Kulfi but its flavor was strangely familiar to my palate. My father, carrying a large bag containing a 13 pound box of Medjool dates, had the face of a happy child, enjoying his Kulfi like a little boy. We continued on our way and my Mother and I stopped to look at some Indian bracelets and bangles, my Father wondered to a nearby stand and bought an old black and white Indian movie, and we spent a great part of our day in Jackson Heights shopping, browsing, and tasting everything from Kulfis to Goat and Curry Biryani. Jackson Heights has much to offer, especially at this time of year, and being together as a family, enjoying this day prior to Ramadan was a true blessing.

Ramadan is more than a holiday, it is a time to reflect on our lives and the many blessings we are granted along the way, it is a time to ponder about our actions, our thoughts, and the impact these have on those around us, and most importantly, it is a time to be thankful for our families and friends. Ramadan Kareem!

Ramadan Dates

Appetizing Goat Biryani

Green Chiles: A Useful Ingredient

Aesthetic Display of Indian Sweets

Street Booth: Scarves, Prayer Beads, etc

Rose Water in Boxes