How are Muslim Mumsnetters finding Ramadan?

[Wintersun]

I can't wait to eat! Just killing a few moments here....

[lazybluealien]

lol
i find it difficult with the kids as my head is pounding, and the kids ar efighting, and i just want some peace and quiet
today im not fasting so they are not being so loud?? why?

[fuzzywuzzy]

I'm looking forward to my holiday from work actually, the fasting coupled with traveling on the fabulous london transport(!) Is not a good combination, since ramadan started the overground train has been delayed back home every sodding single day!!!! I truly despise breaking fast on the train...

Other than that the days are flying past, we're on our eighth day of ramadan.... there is always so much to do. We've been sharing the Iftar with our neighbours, it's lovely way of getting to know them. And we have about a million Iftar invitations to attend/host looking forward to them I must say.

Ramadan Kareem to all

[admylin]

At dc's school half the mums are fasting and the first few days they turned up looking really tired and pale. Now they seem to have got into it and they look better.
My 2 dc want to do it since I taught them about it but they are too small and dh won't do it even though he was brought up as a muslim. Atleast their grandma won't be disapointed in me, I have atleast taught the kids what I can, later they will be able to decide.
So what is for Iftar tonight?

[fuzzywuzzy]

when we were little and pestering my mum to allow us to fast, she'd pretend like we were fasting, ie get us up for suhoor, and then at midday would make a small feast for us and anounce it was time for the children to break our fast as this was the childrens iftar time....!!! Obviously she only ever tried this on a weekend.

For iftar, is biryani, falooda, potatoe bites, onion bhaji's, and fruit loads of it... I have a request for strawberry jelly from my 3 year old (and no she is obviously not fasting and will not be for several years yet).

[littleducks]

mmmm falooda, maybe i should make that!

This Ramadhan is pretty special, my dd's first and my husbands grandmother and aunt have come from abroad for first time to visit, so i have spent this weekend with my in laws.

Last year i didn't fast i was poorly expecting dd but this year has been going quite well but i drink loads of water at iftar as i'm breastfeeding still.

Last night we had iftari at the mosque and it was lovely, no cooking to do and lots of people to share it with.

There were pakoras, egg fried bread (didnt try that), peas pilau rice, chicken and potatoe curry, chick pea curry and jaleebi. Yummy!

[admylin]

I think that is what is missing with us, we haven't got the community thing around although plenty of parents at school do fasting they are of all mixtures and nationalities and seem to stick together, my dh is not very sociable due to work but if we knew more people from his home land(s) it would be nice to get the atmosphere. Although I am willing to try all the customs and traditions dh won't do xmas at all but my family obviously do and send loads of presents but then again I can't get up a feeling for eid.
Still, the ramadan food is great. I had a recipe for a sweet dish, it was dates, chopped with banana and milk, a bitof coconut - served cold anyone know it? I can't find the recipe

[fuzzywuzzy]

sounds like the milk drink we make for eid.

admylin, maybe the other mothers are shy to begin speaking to you, do any of your children have muslim friends, you could try making friends with their mums, you'd get iftar invitations out of it if nothing else

[admylin]

Yes, there are so many muslim kids at school and ds has made friends with 2 so has dd and I speak to the mums but when they ask if dh is doing ramadan or which mosque he goes to and I say none they sort of think OK, not one of us or that's how I feel.
So how do you make that milk? Is it thickend or what are the amounts? I want to make it next week.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Ah perhaps they think you are not interested and may be offended if they made more of a thing about it.

OK when cooking I don't do exact measurements I tend to throw things in as I know quantity by sight (does that make sense??).

Ingredients
Raisins (the white ones not black)
Chopped dried almonds
chopped dried pistachios
(you can dry them by putting under the grill for a couple of minutes)
Chopped dry dates (you get dry dates in shops)
A small amount of roughly crushed vermicelli
1 tbsp poppy seeds
Sugar
Milk
ghee for cooking


Method
In a little ghee heat raisins, chopped dates, almonds, pistachios cook for a couple of minutes stirring all the while until raisins go round and fat, add milk and sugar (turn heat down to medium). Allow to come to the boil add poppy seeds turn down heat low add vermicelli and cook for a further 4/5 minutes. You can add cream or cook for longer if you want the milk to be really thick, I prefer it not to be too thick.

[admylin]

Thanks for the recipe, will try it out, my SIL made it when she came to see us from Bangladesh, it was yum!

[Wintersun]

Its definitely getting easier, isn't it?
What are people making for Iftari then?
I haven't been doing too much. We have our normal dinner and maybe a dessert. I tend to make a bigger deal of it on the weekends.
I'd really love to do Iftar somewhere like Edgeware rd or Southall. There must be such a good atmosphere.

[Mumma2005]

Salaamz all, i dont come on here much, do any of you go on bounty? Anyway, I'm Nasima from Canning Town London. I have 1 cheeky 10 month old dd. Fasting can be tiring if u dont get enough sleep, dd wakes up way early than i'd like! Other than that it has been pretty lonley this year, no family or friends around as we recently moved to this area. So it's just me dh and dd, or just me and dd most of the time!

[Wintersun]

Salaam Nasima.
Its usually me and little one most of the time too! I know what you're going through as I didn't know anyone in my area either when I first moved in.
I have made lots of friends now from going to playgroups. Have you tried any of your local ones?
Anyway, chat to us!
Do you get to see family and friends on weekends?

[Mumma2005]

Hiya, actually they all live in Northampton about 70 miles away! I have phone contact and visit every 2 monthls. I've already investigated groups and there are some but u have to work quite far and tbh i just cant be asked! Going out with lo is also such a mission, it's sometimes easier to stay at home! i know i know, im isolating myself but perhaps when lo can walk, cos now she wont sit in her pushchair and wants to crawl everywhere!

[Mumma2005]

AlsoAdmylin, just read on another thread that ur from BD ,im also bengali.

[admylin]

Hi, I'm actually British and dh's mum and 3 sisters and 3 of his brothers live in Dhaka, were you born in Bangladesh?

[Babadoo]

This is only my 3rd ever Ramadan since converting, not counting last year as I was breastfeeding a 2 mth old and getting up hourly overnight with him. I'm finding it really hard, much harder than I remember the other ones. Everyone else seems to be coping better than me, you know, everyone in the kitchen busy cooking in the last two hours whilst I'm curled up on the sofa ready to pass out!!!!! I'm worried they all think I'm lazy! Someone suggested sitting and reading the Qur'an for the last few hours and not standing in the kitchen, but you can't really when everyone else is. Any suggestions????

[lisalisa]

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[SANA]

Salaams to u all...........we r nearly half way there. I found the first 2 fasts a bit of a struggle but now in the swing of it. We have mainly had problems at Iftari as DS ( who is 19mths) is usually tired & playing up and normally I have just come in through the door after work & wants me to sit & play with him, & not be in the kitchen. We have already started making plans for EID, whats everyone doing?

Lisalisa, to answer your question the body is not deprived of any nutrients as really what u eat doesnt change, simply the times and most people get up really early ( what we call sheri) to have breky to kick start the day.

[lisalisa]

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[Highlander]

do you guys give cards for EID? All DH's muslim colleugues gace us Crimbo cards last year so I'd like to acknowledge EID for them. DH thinks they'll be too busy eating to notice

[Wintersun]

Highlander I think your husband is right .
Some people do give Eid cards and I think it is becoming more popular. A lot of shops in Asian areas stock them now.

We are going to the ils and then to my family's for Eid. Ds is still too young to understand but I'm sure he'll enjoy the presents, being with cousins and the food!(like his mum!)

[fuzzywuzzy]

Babadoo, what do you eat for sehri?? Everyone is different and finds differing levels of ease and hardship during ramadan. If you want to you should sit and recite the Quran for the last couple of hours before Iftar.

[Wintersun]

Recite the Quran for a couple of hours? That sounds like quite a long time!
Babbadoo I'd suggest that you do as much as you can during the morning/day while you have the energy (but obviously don't overdo it) and then just take it gently for the rest of day. Read the Quran, help out with little bits and spend time with your child.
Make sure you're drinking plenty of water at sehri and in the evening too.