Egyptian Hamam Mahshi or stuffed pigeons have been served for centuries. These pigeons are also known as squads. Squab is a small pigeon that is loved by many cultures including the Egyptians. It is not uncommon to see mud brick lofts which house the birds on the roofs all along the Nile. The birds were stuffed with a interesting grain called freekeh which is a cracked green wheat that has a unique flavor – almost nutty. Bulgur or rice could also be used. At home we like it stuffed with rice and it is one of my husband’s favourite dishes.
2- Place in a pan over medium-high heat with the chopped onion, pigeons hearts and gizzards and some salt & pepper and boharat to taste, Add the rice and mix well
3- Cool the stuffing first and then start stuffing the pigeons from the bottom and stuff the neck first but don’t over stuff
4- When finishing stuffing don’t close it firmly to allow the broth inside, just put a slice of onion, and then hold the legs together with a cooking string.
5- Once you are done with all pigeons prepare the amount of water that’s just enough to cover the pigeons, boil the water in a pot with the onion, bay leaves, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, boharat, cumin, salt and pepper (be careful with the salt you added some to the stuffing), when the water starts boiling add the pigeons and let it simmer over medium heat for about 20 to 30 minutes or till cooked without any cuts in the skin (you can check the skin on the end of the legs with a fork to make sure it’s tender enough).
6- When the pigeons are cooked, melt the butter in a suitable pan on medium-low heat and sprinkle some salt over the pigeons, then place it in the pan and place it on all sides from time to time so the skin gains the same color all over it.
With the rest of the broth of cooking the pigeons, I prepare a soup and also molokhia
About the Author: Marisa Lopez Chicote is an event planner and mother of 5, living in Cairo and Muslim since 1985, alhamdullah. She loves travelling and cooking.
“And one of His signs is that He has created for you, spouses from among yourselves so that you might take comfort in them and He has placed between you, love and mercy. In this, there is surely evidence (of the truth) for the people who carefully think.” (Surah 30, Verse 21)”
Allah (SWT) has created for each of us a spouse, and He explains that one of the goals of marriage is that both husband and wife find comfort in each other. The world is difficult and filled with trials and tribulations. Allah (SWT) made our spouses so that we can find support and comfort with them in times of difficulty. The idea of love how it happens can also be explained by this verse when Allah says,
“and He has placed between you, love and mercy.”
So what happens when difficulties do arise? Marriage is full of ups and downs and isn’t always going to be bunnies and rainbows. There are going to be times when things become difficult and you will need to rely on one another for support. How can one do this when they too are experiencing said difficulties? How can you be a supportive wife when you are feeling those same emotions of stress, anger and hurt as your husband?
In 2017 my husband was wrongfully terminated from his high paying position with the company that he worked for. I had been a stay at home mom for the last 8 years. There he was, hurt and angry, trying to process everything that had just taken place. He was worried about how we were going to pay our bills. Coming from a culture where the man is the breadwinner, and he was, he was embarrassed and ashamed at the thought of my having to go back to work while he stayed home. While he was going through a series of emotions, and rightfully so, I too was stressed, angry, thinking about how I now needed to go back to work in order to support our family until he found another job. How on earth was I going to be the supportive wife I knewI needed to be? I was just as emotionally distraught as he was. In fact, me being the over emotional one out of the two of us, I was probably adding more stress to his plate by crying all of the time. One of the hardest things for me was to pull myself together and be there for my husband as he went through this difficult time in his life. Rather than add more stress to his plate, I needed to love, support, and help him push through this.
Life is full of challenges, but as a Muslimah you have to be strong and ensure that no matter what happens you will be by your husbands side.
Allah tells us that:
We have certainly created man into hardship 90:4
Bear with patience whatever befalls you 31:17
No matter what, you have to let him know that you are there for him. That you will stick by his side no matter how rough things may get. Here are some things that we as wives can do to help the situation.
Pray for Him
One of the best ways that we can show that we love our husbands is to pray for them. When Allah loves a believer, He tests him, therefore pray to Allah so He may grant him strength and courage to endure any hardship that may come his way. Not only pray for him, but pray with him. Praying together helps you show and receive trust, and that strengthens the bonds of intimacy in your relationship.
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but good tidings to the patient. Surat Baqarah 2:155
Do Not Complain
This can be difficult for me at times. When the chips are down, sometimes it is my first instinct to complain. Although my complaints are not necessarily directed towards my husband, it still affects him in a negative way only making matters worse. One of the characteristics of the believers is that they praise Allah in all the situations. No matter how difficult. Therefore, be courageous and try to remain calm. Stay strong and know that He will provide a way InshaAllah. Do not complain about the difficulties you’re in or what you are going through. Complaining doesn’t help. It will only make already existing tensions rise, and will also serve as a reminder of everything going on. Your husband does not need to be reminded of his problems. Trust me, he is already very well aware. He needs to be reminded that he is not alone, that things will be okay InshaAllah, that he is loved. So try to remain calm throughout the storm. Ask Allah swt to give you strength so that you can be the wife that he needs you to be.
Propose Some Ideas to Solve the Problem
Brainstorm. Try to come up with ideas to help. Even if you don’t have a solution, think of ways to help and or minimize the problem. Do not give up if option one fails, try to come up with as many proposals as possible. This will help him realize that you are equally concerned about his trials. This will also show him that you are willing to help.
Give Him Time/ Space
Quality time between husband and wife is crucial and very important especially if one of the parties is going through hard times. Let him know that you are there for him no matter what. It’s times like this, although they may not say it outright, but our husbands need us most. Take care of him. Try not to let him see you grieve too much. Trust Allah swt.
At times he may need his space and time alone. Respect that and don’t take it personal. Men are different from women. Whereas most women are more open to talking about their problems, a lot of men tend to shut down. Just be there, but don’t be too overbearing or pushy. If he knows that you’re there, he’ll come to you when he is ready.
Be his advocate
If he knows that you are behind him 100%,, he’ll be stronger and more able to tackle the world. It’s said that behind every great man is a great woman, and this should absolutely be true in a Muslim marriage. When times are tough, he needs to know that you stand behind him and trust him to make the best decisions for your family.
Listen to him
Although chances are he may not want to talk too much about what is stressing him out, let him know that you are there if he ever does. Sometimes just him knowing that you are there to listen, can help him to find some peace. Knowing that there is someone who cares.
Cheer Him up
It may be difficult but try to make him smile. Smiling to your fellow Muslim is Sunnah, imagine smiling to your soul mate, you don’t only get rewards but you also enjoy it as wife.
Trials will come. We will be tested. And when they do, remember to be there for one another. Ease the hardship for one another. By doing so you are not only fulfilling your responsibilities as a wife, but you are in fact strengthening your marriage.
May Allah grant ease to all the couples who are going through difficulties. Ameen
Sister Rebecca is a SAHM living in Houston Texas. Married for 13 years with two children, and a revert since 2014, her hobbies include cooking, reading, and spending time with family.
This dish has a Lebanese origin but we can find it in all Middle East countries as well.
There are several legends about the name of this dish, but the most accurate is that when Lebanon was under Ottoman rule then high-ranking officers were called basha; hence the name of this dish, after an Armenian governor or pasha (basha is the Arabic pronunciation since p as a sound does not exist in Arabic) who was appointed to govern the Lebanese territory.
Ingredients
1/2 kg minced meat.
2 chopped onions.
1 egg
Chopped parsley and fresh coriander
Bread crumbs
4 tomates.
1 tablespoon tomato paste.
Olive oil
Boharat (Middle East mix of spices)
Cinnamon
Salt and pepper
Elaboration:
Mix the meat with onions with egg, parsey, coriander, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, boharat and cinnamon.
Make small balls with the mix.
In a non-stick pan, heat oil over medium heat.
Stir and fry meatballs in oil on all sides.
Take off heat and set aside.
Blend tomatoes in a blender with water.
Dissolve tomato paste in a cup of water.
Fry onions and one clove of garlic till golden brown.
Add blended tomatoes and tomato paste, salt and pepper.
Add the fried meatballs and leave to cook for about 20 minutes low heat.
Ramadan is the quintessential month of charity and I would like to share with all of you a little tip that is not only valid for Ramadan but also for the rest of the year.
Sadakka (Charity) is not only about money, there are other small details that we can do for others that are also charity.
Yesterday I was lucky to meet 2 people who transmitted this feeling of non-monetary charity to me.
I went out from work and wanted to do some shopping in my office area, and I was looking for a store where it sells the konafa dough and the qataifs that is quite famous in Cairo. I asked a street vendor and a lady heard me and she offered to accompany me. When we got to the store it was totally full of people, the lady not only accompanied me but also got among all these people and brought me what I wanted to buy, all with a smile and a sweetness that really made my day.
Then I went to another store to buy lasagna sheets and the saleswoman was also super charming and gave me all kinds of explanations on how to use them.
These people made me think on how important non-monetary charity is and the difference we can make to other people, who may be going through difficult times and need a helping hand to listen to them and smile at them.
Sometimes we are involved in our work life, home obligations and we forget to look around and be kind and supportive with others and especially with those we love the most. We forget to tell them how much we love them and that we are here for them, and we all love hearing these words of support.
Let’s not forget the little details that make the lives of others better, a smile, a thank you, Can I help you ? listen to those who need us, tell our husbands and wives and children how much we love them, they are all acts of sadakka non-monetary that is so necessary in this holy month.
May you have a blessed fast day and Rabbena yetakkabal
About the Author: Marisa Lopez Chicote is an event planner and mother of 5, living in Cairo and Muslim since 1985, alhamdullah. She loves travelling and cooking.
There is a legend about the origin of this dessert. Om Ali was the first wife of Sultan Ezz El Din Aybek. In Egypt, women were not allowed to rule but were allowed to be regents until their children were older to rule. When the sultan died, his second wife, Shagaret El Dorr, had a dispute with Om Ali over which of his sons would be the sultan’s successor.
Shagaret El Dorr hatched a plan by gifting her husband’s first wife with a maid of hers. While the first wife was in the hamam to bathe, she was beaten to death with a slipper by her own maiden. To celebrate her death, she ordered this dessert and distributed it all over her country.
OM ALI RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 package of puff pastry or phyllo dough sheets
1 cup of chopped pistachios
1 cup of chopped hazelnuts
1 cup of raisins
1 cup coconut flakes
1 and 1/4 cups white sugar
4 cups of milk
2 cups of whipped cream with sugar
Elaboration:
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Butter a mold (23×33 cm).
Place the puff pastry or phyllo dough sheet painted with butter or ghee in an oven tray and put it in the oven. Watch closely. When the top layer is seen to turn crisp and golden, remove them from the oven.
Preheat the oven to broil.
In a bowl, combine the walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, coconut and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Break the cooked puff pastry into pieces and stir it into the mixture of walnuts and other dried fruits.
Spread this mixture evenly in our mold or source.
Bring the milk and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour it over the mixture.
Beat the cream with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread it evenly on the plate throughout the mixture.
Place dessert under the grill until the top top is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Today I’m going to share a recipe that was passed down to me from my mother in law. Egyptian Mousakka is one of my husband’s favorite dishes from back home. Everyone has their own variation of this meal, but here is ours. Made with Eggplant, ground beef it’s delicious served with Egyptian rice.
This recipe calls for a pound of ground beef, ( we use about a pound and a half because it is a favorite) 2 medium eggplants or 1 large one, 1 can of chickpeas rinsed and drained , 2 small white onions diced or 1 medium to large, 4 to 5 garlic cloves minced ( we love garlic so if you’re not a fan, 2 to 3 will do) 1 magi cube, ( chicken bouillon) 1 tbsp of tomato paste, ½ cup olive oil ( to sauté the eggplant) about a tsp of salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp of ghee ( clarified butter)
Step 1:Peel and slice your eggplant into thin strips and soak in cold water for about 45 minutes.
Step 2: Drain the eggplant and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Add the oil to a 10 quart pot or larger (depending on how much your making) at a medium/ high heat.
Step 3: Add the eggplant to the hot oil and sauté until translucent. Keep it moving otherwise it will stick to the bottom of the pot. I usually cook them in two batches to keep it from getting stuck together.
Step 4: Once you’ve finished sautéing all of your eggplant place it on a few paper towels. This helps to absorb the excess oil.
Step 5: In the same pot add your ghee, onion and garlic. When translucent and fragrant, add your ground beef.
Step 6: Once the beef is cooked thoroughly, add your tomato paste and magi cube and stir to mix it all together well for about 6 or 7 minutes.
Step 7: Add your eggplant and drained chickpeas, salt and pepper. Again stir well and add just enough water to cover all ingredients.
Step 8: Bring everything to a boil and then turn down to a medium/ low heat, cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve with rice.
We had ours with some pickled veggies and pita bread and cheese. Really you could add any sides that you like but this is how we love ours. Enjoy.
