Acquainting kids with Ramadan

This holy and sacred month of Ramadan affects the life of Muslims all across the world.  Ramadan is full of blessings, hence every Muslim try to take benefit of it in order to adorn their after life with good deeds. In today’s busy life, Ramadan for kids stands as a pleasant reminder of Muslim traditions. Importance of Ramadan for kids is not only based on religious reasons but also because it brings a pleasant change in their social life. It gives them a chance to meet up and eat together with their friends and extended family following the Muslim mode of life.

It is very necessary for the parents to acquaint their kids with the real essence of blessed Ramadan and to teach the importance of Ramadan for kids. InRamadan for kids whole charm lies in waking up in the middle of night to eat sehri and then a large variety of delicious dishes to eat in the evening for aftari. The responsibility falls on elders to make kids aware of the purpose of fasting. Ramadan for kids means whole family sitting together and eating a large variety of dishes. Kids have a very inquisitive mind which is filled with several questions regarding fasting. Parents must address those questions first then make them observe fast. It is not correct to enforce fasting on them but prepare them psychologically so that when they reach to age of 12, which according to Islam is the right age of fasting, they realize the importance of Ramadan and observe fasting willfully not forcefully.

Fasting gives them a feeling of being grown up. They proudly share with their friends and cousins that how many fasts they observed in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan for kids is also like a competition with their siblings or friends. Making their favorite dishes for aftari serves as a token of encouragement and appraisal as well. In the month of Ramadan, inviting their friends for aftari is also an endeavor that would encourage them. In Ramadan, parents or grand parents should keep telling small religious stories to kids so that they get to know teachings of Islam. Reciting Quran-e-Kareem and going to mosque for Tarawee with their elders also teach them about Islamic teachings.

Finally Eid-ul-Fitr is the biggest reward of all for Muslims. Kids also wait for Eid and observe fast in order to get more eidi and new clothes. Kids get attracted very easily. It is the responsibility of elders to tell them about Islamic teachings through reward system as it is the exactly same way which Allah has chosen to make us choose the right path. Parents can make Ramadan for kids’ pleasantly spiritual experience.

Deal With Dehydration during Ramadan

Ramadan brings a bundle of blessed fruits and foodsfor Pakistanis. For a person fasting in Ramadan here is a wide range of healthy meal available to keep him healthy and active for day long fasting. But, there are many a men who get dehydrated as the half fast passes away. Here are given some simple but useful tips to deal with dehydration during Ramadan. Follow them at iftar and sahari time and combat your dietneeds.

Never skip sahari:
Sahari is the most important time for person wishing to fast in Ramadan. It is the time when you can do best for your body to keep it efficient.

Some people have wrong faith to skip sahari and eat huge meal in night before sleeping. They think the meal consumed will save them whole day and keep them working and walking. The fact here is that during sleep half of our brain keeps working and utilizes energy reserved in our body, so by the time we wake up in morning we are already hollow.

Make a habit to get up in sahari and have proper sahari meal. By doing so you will get sufficient electrolytes and vitamins that will work for your body till aftar time. Moreover, in this way you will follow sunnah as well.

Meal for sahari time:
Take about two glasses of fresh water when you wake up in sahari. It regulates blood in body and provides sufficient amount of oxygen to beat dehydration. Then have healthy sahari meal. before fajar prayer again have two glasses of fresh or luke warm water. This good intake of water deals with dehydration during Ramadan.

Healthy aftar meal:
No one can stop hand from grabbing a hot samosa and dipping it in heavy sauce, eating mouthful of pakoras and gulping frizzy drinks in a breath. Healthy aftar meal does a lot for combating dehydration.
Always intake soft drinks at aftar time and that in small sips so it may not attack your kidneys direct. But the best to be taken immediate after aftar is hot lemon tea, green tea, or any sort of hot drink. It relieves thirst and has healthy impact on digestion system.

Intake fluid after aftar:
Take 1 glass of fresh water, any fresh juice or milk after about half hour of aftar and then keep on drinking 1 glass of fresh water after each 1 hour. This is the best and easiest way to deal with dehydration during Ramadan.

Instant dahi badey

Take gram flour(besan) add salt nd baking powder. Add water and make a THICK paste of it. keep it aside.

Take curd add abt same amnt of sugar and salt jst to make da curd RIGHT dat is not too sour. add som water beat it so its quite runny. ( make sure u hav gd amount of curd prepared coz its mostly absorbed up by baddeys.

Then deep fry ur baddeys on medium flame u dnt want it to b uncooked frm inside.
Put the baddeys straight into the curd and make sure its dipped inside the curd properly.

Then for Tadka...heat oil and add lots of curry leaves, whole red chillies and cumin seeds. then put the tadka over the dahi baddeys and add fresh chopped corriander leaves... :)

RainboW dahi papri chat

Candy Fiz RECIPE:

Ingredients:
corinder chutnii..
imli chuttni ..
red chilli powder
salt
chaat masla
nimko
papri
tomatoes 2
onion 3 sliced
chick peas 1 bowl
boiled potatoes 3
yogurt 1 kg
pholkiyan 2 bowl .. boil water .. add thm when get soft drain water..

Recipe for papri :

i dnt remember frm where i read it but it was:
2 tb of sooji
1 cup of maida(flour)
salt to taste

Method:
take bowl put all the pholkian add chaat masla n red chilli powder n salt than add all the rest of the things .. add yogurt add the end n thn papri 3 tb of yogurt again n chat masala.. enjoy !!

Sweet Samosa

Ingredients
Khoya or barfi 250 gm
Sugar 3 tbsp
Cardamom powder ½ tsp
Desiccated coconut 2 tbsp
Almonds chopped 3 tbsp
Pistachio chopped 3 tbsp
Samosa Patti as required
Method
Mix together, 250 gm khoya, 3 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp desiccated coconut, ½ tsp cardamom powder, 3 tbsp almonds and 3 tbsp pistachio chopped, mix all well, fill in samosa patti and deep fry.

Mix vegetables samosa

Ingredients
Potato boiled and coarsely mashed 2
Carrots cut into tiny cubes and boiled 1
Peas boiled 4 tbsp
Onion finely chopped 1
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Turmeric powder ½ tsp
Salt 1 tsp
All spice ½ tsp
Coriander leaves chopped 2 tbsp
Green chilies chopped 1 tbsp
Ingredients for baghar
Oil 3 tbsp
Curry leaves few
Mustard seeds ½ tsp
Method
Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan, add ½ tsp mustard and few curry leaves, add 1 finely chopped onion, cook till soft, add 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp salt and fry well, add all boiled vegetables, mix well lastly add ½ tsp all spice, 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves and 1 tbsp chopped green chilies, mix and cool fillings, fill in samosa patti, sealed and deep fry.

Khageena samosa

Ingredients for filling
Eggs (beaten) 4
Salt ½ tsp
Oil 3 tbsp
Turmeric ½ tsp
Green chilies chopped 1 tbsp
Onion grated 2 large
Coriander leaves 3 tbsp
Method
Heat 3 tbsp oil, add 1 tbsp chopped green chilies, slightly fry, add 2 large grated onions, fry till transparent add ½ tsp turmeric, fry for 2 minutes, add 4 beaten eggs with ½ tsp salt, stir fast till cooked, lastly add 3 tbsp coriander leaves, remove, cool filling, fill in samosa patti and fry on medium flame till crisp and golden brown.

Chicken Samosa

Ingredients
Chicken mince 250 gm
Oil 2 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Black pepper ½ tsp
All spice ½ tsp
Crushed red pepper ½ tsp
Coriander leaves chopped 2 tbsp
Green chilies chopped 4
Ingredients for dough
Flour 2 cups
Ghee 6 tbsp
Salt ½ tsp
Water to knead
Method for filling
Heat oil add mince with ginger garlic paste, salt, black pepper, all spice, and crushed red pepper, cook for 10 minutes till done, remove in a bowl add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves and 4 green chilies chopped.
Method for dough
In a bowl add 6 tbsp ghee, add flour and salt, gradually add in water and knead to make a hard dough, knead well, make into small balls, roll into small saucer size, spread filling in centre and fold one side to form into a D shape Samosa, deep fry till light golden.

Aaloo Ka Samosa

Ingredients
Flour 2 cups
Solid ghee 2 tbsp heaped
Salt ½ tsp
Water to knead
Ingredients for filling
Potato peeled, boiled and coarsely mashed 4
Sweet corn ½ cup
Crushed red pepper 1 tsp
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
All spice ½ tsp
Raw mango powder ½ tsp
Method for dough
In a bowl sieve together 2 cups flour and ½ tsp salt and rub in 2 tbsp ghee, knead with water into a hard dough, cover and leave for 30 minutes.
Method for filling
In another bowl mix together coarsely mashed potatoes, ½ cup sweet corn, 1 tsp crushed red pepper, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp all spice powder, ½ tsp raw mango powder and keep aside.
To roll
Divide dough into small ping pong size balls, roll each out into an oval or round shape, cut in half from centre to give two parts from each round of dough, place filling in centre, brush edges with flour paste, deep fry on medium heat.

Spring rolls

Ingredients
Chicken boneless breast 2
Cabbage 2 cups sliced
Onion 1 sliced
Carrots 1 cup thinly sliced
Capsicum 1 sliced
Green onion leaves ½ cup
Beans sprouts ½ cup
Salt 1 tsp
White pepper ½ tsp
Soya sauce 2 tbsp
Ketchup 2 tbsp
Vinegar 1 tbsp
Spring roll wrappers 2 dozen
Oil 2 tbsp
Oil (for frying) as required
Method
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok, add 1 sliced onion and 2 chicken breast. Cook for 5 minutes, add 2 cup cabbage, 1 sliced carrots, 1 capsicum, ½ cup spring onion leaves chopped and ½ cup beans sprouts with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp white pepper, 2 tbsp soya sauce, 2 tbsp ketchup and 1 tbsp vinegar, cook for 5 minutes on high flame drain in a strainer, allow to cool and , fill in the spring roll wrappers , Seal edges tightly with flour paste, deep fry to a light golden color.

Qeemy kay Pakory

Ingredients
Mince 250 gm
Gram flour 4 tbsp
Coriander seeds crushed 1 tsp
All spice powder ½ tsp
Crushed red pepper 1 tsp
Egg 1
Onion chopped 3 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste ½ tsp
Green chilies chopped 4
Baking powder ¼ tsp
Salt 1tsp
Coriander leaves 2tbsps
Method
In a bowl add 250 gm mince, mix with 4 tbsp gram flour, crushed 1 tsp coriander seeds, ½ tsp all spice powder, coriander leaves, 1 egg, salt, 1 tsp crushed red pepper, ¼ tsp baking powder, 4green chilies chopped, 3 tbsp onions chopped mix all well and deep fry in oil.

Moong ki Daal ky Pakory

Ingredients
Yellow lentil with skin 250 gm
Green onion finely chopped 250 gm
Coriander leaves chopped 2 tbsp
Green chilies chopped 1 tbsp
Salt ½ tsp
Red pepper crushed ½ tsp
Coriander seeds crushed 1 tsp
White cumin crushed 1 tsp
Baking powder ½ tsp
Method
Soak 250 gm lentil for 6 hours, wash well remove skin and grind well, mix in it 250 gm chopped green onions, 2 tbsp coriander leaves, 1 tbsp green chilies, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp crushed red pepper, 1 tsp crushed coriander seeds, 1 tsp crushed cumin, ½ tsp baking powder, mix all well, make into pakoras and deep fry till golden and crisp.

Fruit chat

Ingredients
Apples 2
Banana 4
Grapes 1 cup
Guava 3
Pomegranate 1
Potato 1 peeled, cubed and boiled
Boiled chick piece 1 cup
Lemon juice 3 tbsp
Chat masla 1 tsp
Caster sugar 3 tbsp
Roasted cumin crushed ½ tsp
Salt ½ tsp
Orange juice 1 cup
Method
Cut all the fruits in small cubes, add and mix with 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 cup orange juice, 3 tbsp caster sugar, ½ tsp salt, black pepper, 1 tsp chat masala, ½ tsp roasted cumin crushed and 1 cup boiled chick mix all well, remove in a bowl, chill for few hours and serve.

dahi phulki

Ingredients
Moong ki daal ka aata 1 cup heaped
Soda by carb 1½ tsp heaped
Water ½ cup or as required
Salt 1 tsp
Method
In a bowl mix together 1 cup moong ki daal ka aata, 1 ½ tsp soda and water, mix very well with hands, keep for 10 minutes, then heat oil in a wok and drop little balls into oil and fry on slow fire. When slightly brown remove, again put them back to fry on high flame to a golden brown, remove in a tray and leave them to cool, in another pan add water with 1 tbsp salt, put in the fried balls, let them soaked for 1 hour then squeezed out water from balls and put directly into yogurt mixture, serve sprinkle with dahi phulki masala.
Yogurt mixture
Yogurt 1 kg strain in a muslin cloth well and mix with half cup of caster sugar and ¼ tsp salt.

Corn chat

Ingredients
Sweet corn 2 cups
Sev 1 cup + 1 cup
Potatoes peeled, cubed boiled 2 cups
Tomatoes chopped into tiny cubes 2
Spring onions ½ cup chopped with leaves
Coriander leaves 2 tbsp
Green chilies chopped 2 tbsp
Salt 1 tbsp
Chili powder 1 tsp
All spice powder ½ tsp
Lemon juice 2 to 3 tbsp
Oil ¼ cup
Crushed and roasted cumin 1 ½ tsp
Method
Heat ¼ cup oil, add 2 cups boiled potatoes, stir fry for 2 minutes, add 2 cups sweet corn with 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp all spice powder, 1 ½ tsp roasted and crushed cumin, remove from flame cool slightly mix in tomatoes, spring onion, lemon juice.
To serve
In a serving dish, spread 1 cup sev then potatoes and corn mixture, again top with 1 cup sev, garnish with chopped coriander.

Khatti methi chana chat

Ingredients
Chick piece 250 gm soaked overnight
Soda by carb ½ tsp
Potatoes peeled, cubed and boiled 1 cup
Coriander leaves chopped 4 tbsp
Onion chopped ½ cup
Crushed papri ½ cup
Chat masala 1 tsp
Caster sugar 2 tbsp
Yogurt whipped 1 cup
Salt ½ tsp
Ingredients for chatni
Tamarind pulp 1 cup
Dates 8
Jaggery 2 tbsp
Sugar 1 tbsp
Chili powder 1 tbsp heaped
Chat masala 1 tsp
Salt ½ tsp
Whole red chili 6
Black salt ½ tsp
Method for chutney
In a sauce pan cook together 1 cup tamarind pulp, 8 dates, 2 tbsp jaggery, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp chili powder, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp chat masala, 6 whole red chilies and ½ tsp black salt for 15 minutes, cool and blend.
Method for chat
In a dish place the boiled chick peas, add ¾ cup chutney then spread 1 cup whipped yogurt, pour remaining chutney on top, top with crushed papri, ½ cup onion chopped, 4 tbsp coriander leaves chopped, serve warm.