Finding Peace in ‘Community’

Assalamu’alaikum everyone.

Masha-Allah, looks like it is once-a-yearly post momentum in this space.

Very humbled to have found time and made intention to do up a post here.

Life has taken us through interesting tides over these three years, in fact. Grateful for everything, as always. Every experience has strengthened us. And we have learnt many new lessons and appreciate all the new awakenings.

Alhamdhulilah. My hands (and heart) are full as I try keeping up with our boys, ZY and ZD’s energy, especially with AZ’s frequent work travels.

Among this, very glad that our boys and I are now enrolled in a weekend Madrasah in the masjid within our broader constituency, run by and for, Indian Muslims in our community. And these sessions have been so meaningful, to the extent that I feel so upset whenever we have to miss the sessions for whatever reasons that kick in.

The warmth of the Jemaah from the parents’ class (that I’ve signed up for) is just so Masha-Allah. The learning halaqas, partaking of community events, and the moments we came together, especially for mass Iftars in Ramadan,  were so heartwarming.

At the core of it all, these sessions have definitely brought me closer to Allah, and the Quran.

Alhamdhulilah.

On that note, sharing a simple chicken pulao recipe from our kitchen that I brought to our Eid festive gathering  at the masjid last month.

What went in:

1)      Marinate small chicken pieces in yoghurt, very little ginger garlic paste, chilli paste and salt.

2)      Add in usual ‘family’ of briyani spices, onions, green chillies and marinated chicken pieces.

3)      Add in some tomatoes, very little chilli paste again, salt, some mint and coriander leaves. Garam masala, to your liking too.

4)      Add in water (1:2), and once boiled, put in rice.

5)      I personally like the aroma of rose water. And raisins and cashews toasted in ghee too.

If you are reading this and do try this recipe, please say a dua for my family and me.

JazakAllahu Khair.

 

New Chefs In Our Home

Assalamualaikum everyone.

Masha-Allah, happy to be able to find time and write here again.

Today was one of those days that inspire you to write a post - just so I can search and find recipes when it is too much of a bother to look up my recipe book.

And along with this, if you are reading this, and have tried this dish, do make a dua for me, and my family, In-Shaa-Allah.

We had prawns today, and I felt like making a one-pot dish, instead of the usual sambal variations.

And I am specifically putting this up for two reasons.

- This turned out to be VERY child-friendly (was palatable for both my boys, ZY and ZD, with very different taste buds.)

- This was a method using both the stove-top and rice cooker. And the nice part from this was that the rice didnt get burnt at the bottom (like it would have at other times when I've used the rice cooker).

With very little modifications, the dish was made with the steps from this link here. 

I must say, though, it was a little dry, and not very masala-ish. So, if you are looking for a gravy-based type of briyani, this will not be it.

And today, ZY and ZD had their first experience of preparing for a meal too.

It was a spur of moment, activity filler for both boys. After cutting and smashing tomatoes, the little one cleaned up, while his brother was keen to cut up more vegetables. He managed to slice onions (tearing up!) and potatoes into fine pieces.

So, I offered if he wanted to have a go at cooking it - and he took it up.

So, he cut, peeled and sauted for two minutes in the oil to present this.

Alhamdhulilah. Here's to a great start for a lifetime of heartfelt culinary moments and experiences, my children!

Ameen. :)

42 Days To Ramadan

Assalamua’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakathu.

Grateful for life and all that Allah has written for us this far. Alhamdhulilah, and certainly very glad to be back on this writing space.

A couple of new changes in our lives have filled our homefront last year - and literally a new house to call home along the way too.

Everyone of us in the family have settled in quite fairly quickly; ZY and ZD are now both in preschool; with ZY in his year of graduation. Parenting has kept AZ and me on our feet, and my parents are finding new joy in caring for the boys everyday.

Children are really good teachers, in their own ways, Masha-Allah, With AZ being away for most of last year for work  trips (which partly explains my absence from writing here), the kids and I have learnt a lot about ourselves and one another, and I dare say, ZY grew into a matured child during those moments.

Honestly, with these things and more in mind, and I really felt 2022 was a year of reflections - in so many forms. Finding myself coping with family, work and all the trials that came with selling and buying a property, awakened realisations about relationships with friends and family, grappling with managing financial commitments.

A new job back in the organisation that nurtured my earlier career years; similarly for AZ, a whole new experience in a new sector.

In a nutshell, the time span over these two years have had me with one consistent dua - for peace.

Praying for the same for everyone reading this post. Ameen.

With that, I have found strength to prepare myself for Ramadan... counting down to the blessings of the blessed month. 

And keeping all our brothers and sisters in duas at this very moment.