It’s halfway through Ramadan. In Cape Town, we have a sweet tradition of having boeber at iftar on the 15th. There’s also a mountain analogy: We’ve reached the top of the mountain and these last two weeks is the downhill climb. May you continue to make the most of this month.

In today’s diary, I want to talk a bit about Ramadan, my dad, and the Qur’an.

My dad passed away on 15 Ramadan 1420 (it was December 1999 on the Gregorian calendar) so when this month comes around, I think of him more often than I usually do.

The best gift

I’ve been thinking a lot this year about how he gifted me something I’ll always be grateful for. When I was in primary school and we were learning juz Amma (the last chapter in the Qur’an) he’d ask me what surah we were memorising that day and I’d tell him. We’d go over it together line for line and then come prayer time he’d recite it so that it could become easier for me to learn. He’d recite that surah at every prayer he led for me until I knew it. And then the next surah would come and he’d recite that. You get the picture.

One of the things I miss most is walking into the house after school and hearing my dad reading the Qur’an. The sound of his melodious voice reciting verses from the Qur’an as I’d go to find him.

So the gift I’m most grateful for is the help he gave me with my Qur’an lessons. I’m also grateful for the memories he left me with.

He was not a materialistic man. He’d have given away his last to someone he thought was more deserving. I think he’d be pleased that I cherish these memories of him more than any material/monetary gift he could have given.

As we reach this halfway mark in this blessed month of Ramadan, I pray all your good deeds are accepted and that all your worries are eased and that you overcome whatever hardship you have been going through.

Keeping things simple

We’ve still been keeping things pretty simple in the kitchen this year. Over weekends I’m able to do a bit more and so I’ll bake something to share with family. Here are some pics if you want some iftar inspiration.

I made these cinnabuns over the first weekend. I’ll share the recipe on the blog soon.

These apple cakes were made on the same day as the cinnabuns. It’s a basic sponge with added canned apple. The topping is made from dessert cream, sugar and caramel essence boiled together.

A very simple iftar.

I made this one night because I needed to use up some mushrooms.

I added some chicken pieces (great way to use up leftover chicken) to these bhajas and they were such a hit. Find the recipe here. Just add chicken.

How has Ramadan been for you so far? Tell me in the comments below.