In the name of Allah most gracious, most merciful
It’s early in the day and I am busy clearing out the freezer
for samoosas, just took a brusque walk outside. Yep I sound positively perky,
could be the sunlight ha ha. Seriously, the winter blues or SAD are real for
some people especially in countries that get little sunlight or where the heat
keeps people indoors breathing in conditioned air all the time.
(check out http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=341).
Apparently it is the interplay between sunlight, melatonin
and serotonin that stimulates our good mood. Sunlight is an excellent source of
Vitamin D only 20 minutes a day - so a brisk walk in the sunlight is highly
recommended. And then other sources of Vitamin D is of course fatty fish such
as salmon, trout, tuna, cod and our own local is lekker snoek!. My
all-time favourite Vitamin D source is shitake mushrooms especially dried. So I am researching, finding shitake spores to
grow InshaAllah.
Soon everyone shall be on vacation and then we start fasting.
Everyone’s excited, we’re trying to get wheels so that we don’t miss out on Taraweeg,
so Abu’s off having a look at second hand cars. Ramadhan is such a wonderful opportunity for
families to establish more communal activities – praying together, reciting
together, reading and helping out with the chores. So much work to do in the neighbourhood.
I know it’s difficult for those who are unable to fast
because of illness, pregnancy and sometimes lactating mothers, sometimes people
real feel bad about not fasting and end up more sick than before. But Ramadhan
comes with so much barakah and even though one may not be able to fast it is a
time to refine solaah and reciting the Qur’an and increase our sadaqah, share
with those who do not have. I love the idea of making and distributing pre
Ramadhan parcels so that we ensure that everyone fasting has at least had a
good breakfast and will break fast with something to eat. So if you have all of
those extra goodies on the table consider those who don’t have.
Also
there are many programmes and courses going during the Ramadhan such as women
only sessions on Sunday mornings at Islamia Masjid; an exciting 6 day Ramadhan
Intensive Qur’anic Arabic Course with the Aqsa Institute; recharging your Iman
with Sh Riyad Walsh and a host of others, just google it.
We
developed a ritual during Ramadhan when our older kids were still teenagers.
They could invite all of their friends for boeka (breaking fast) Abu and I
would do all the cooking. They have to do the serving, bring dessert and lead
the solaah. It was a great opportunity
to meet their friends, sometimes about 40 kids would descend on us. He, Abubakr
makes a really excellent fillet with creamy mushroom sauce, a recipe he learnt
from his Dad. Served with crisp lettuce coated in Dijon mustard, some breads or sweet
saffron rice really delicious. So this
is one of those family recipes that Abubakr has tweaked a bit and I am sharing
it, enjoy!
Fillet with creamy mushroom
Ingredients
1.
1 kg fillet steak
2.
1 tub of fresh cream
3.
3 garlic cloves
4.
2 hot chillis
5.
1 small red onion
6.
A handful danya
7.
A small tomato
8.
1 punnet of button
mushrooms
9.
Peppers stripped
10.
Salt and pepper and Soya sauce
11.
2 Tablespoons of oil
Preparation
·
Cut steak into medallion sizes
·
Season with salt and pepper
and a dash of soya sauce
·
Add oil to pan and preheat
·
Fast 3-minute fry in hot
pan and set aside
·
In the same pan sauté
onions, chillis, mushrooms, garlic and peppers.
·
Return steak to the pan and
pour over cream.
·
Turn down heat and allow to
simmer for 10 mins
·
May be prepared in advance
and warmed. Should the sauce be too thick, add a little milk.
·
Garnish with danya just
before serving
·
Serve with fresh toss salad
and fresh Italian breads or sweet saffron rice
Plant food and take walks in the sun.
Yasmine
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