Ramadan 2014 Preparations

I’ve been quite busy for the past few days trying to put together what is needed to welcome the arrival of the Holy month of Ramadan. Knowing that once I’m fasting I won’t be able to be as active, the weather was 52 C hot yesterday, I tried to finish up as much as I can before the start of Ramadan with the general idea being to hide at home and never venture out except to go to work and back. Now let me show you around my humble preparations.

Now lets see, two element that define my Ramadan iftar time are Arabian Coffee and Arabian perfumes. Starting with the coffee, which is the fuel to fasting muslims in Kuwait after a long day of fasting in the smouldering heat, I usually relay on others to bring me coffee or purchase it from Dallah’s bakery. Sometimes attempting to make it at home but to all my efforts and different mixes and methods, it always turns out horrible. Even though I’ve never succeeded in making Arabian coffee the aroma it spreads around the house as it cooks slowly on the stove is maddening and very Ramadan-esque so this year I’ve set out to get me one of the newest inventions of the Arabian Coffee world: the Yatooq Automatic Arabian Coffee maker.

I know Yatooq has been there since last year but it wasn’t available per say. It was always sold out and ordering it online didn’t guarantee anything. I’m glad I waited though for I was able to get the 2nd version of Yatooq coffee maker not the first one which reportedly almost always malfunctioned according to everyone who used it. Its also available in most major Supermarkets, I’ve seen it in Saveco and Al-Salam Co-ops but I’m not sure which version I saw.

The plan was not to use Yatooq until the first day of Ramadan but my dear husband didn’t wait for me and used it on the very next day of us purchasing it. However, it produces a much better version of coffee than the one I usually make but still not the best ever Arabian coffee like my friend Habooshi’s. Yesterday after Iftar we started the coffee machine up and the aroma was maddening

Now for the second element of my definition of Ramadan. I have a huge stack of Arabian perfumes and I tend to top them up every now and then but this year I received two amazing packages from two distinctive perfumes makers in Kuwait: The Acrylic Dhow Perfumes set from Ayar Perfumes and this lovely box set from Al-Marshoud Perfumes. Thanks to both Ayar and Al-Marshoud, I am all set for the rest of Ramadan and beyond, perfumes wise.

Muslims usually break their fast with dates and water, my husband loves dates and makes sure he has a newly purchased packet of dates residing on our dining table all through Ramadan. I personally don’t like dates and wouldn’t know one kind from another so its my husband’s job to buy and prepare his own dates. We bought so many kinds this year, I don’t know why!

And because one bow of dates isn’t enough, we went to Saveco and got some more varieties of stuffed dates from a Saudi brand Al-Alwani. Some dates are individually packed and can be taken with you wherever you go, another one came in a big clear bowl that I’ve placed on my Hirfa Ramdan tray along with other hidden goodies beneath the silver and gold lids.

Last minute shopping was done last Saturday. I went to the co-op and Sultan centre during the afternoon where I thought no one would bother going, it was too hot! To my surprise, the co-op was a battle field and I barely made it out of there without strangling anyone. I did get enough food to last me two weeks so I wouldn’t have to go out again.

I also found those interesting looking foil pans that would prove useful for sending out food during Ramadan especially food that needs reheating. I hate it when people send food in their actual pans and expect you to bring them back because it is considered extremely rude to bring them back empty and whatever they are returned with must be home cooked so you can understand the predicament. Use those people, thank you!

Walking through the Avenues for a last minute shopping spree, I also found these gorgeous colourful bishts. Most women of Kuwait wear a traditional embellished dress called “Dara’a” during the holy month of Ramadan and every year dara’as made by local girlies skyrocket in prices. I don’t personally wear Dara’as but I love bishts which are like a cape you can wear over a dress or jeans and you wouldn’t look out of place. Bishts are not cheap either, but these ones I found were lovely and cost only 30 KD, 25 after haggling and 20 KD if you buy more than one.

I got me two, in my favourite colour green and in pink. You can find them in the old souk of the Avenues mall.

Of course returning home I sat down and started preparing my Ramadan samboosa, I’ve posted about them before but in case you couldn’t find them here is how I prepare the Ramadan samosas.

Oh and what is Ramadan without a version of Kuwait Mill’s newest cookbook in your hands? Yes, there is a new one that I bought as soon as I heard about and its called “Lugma” which is Arabic for one bite.

The book is in both English and Arabic languages and I had a fine pre-Ramadan weekend sifting through its recipes while sipping tea in my favourite mug and eating a melting soft ice cream sandwich.

On the first day of Ramadan, as expected, getting to and from work was a complete disaster. All roads where blocked up with cars even though I get off work one hour after all government workers do. Yesterday, it got too hot while driving my car temperature meter read 58 C! Needless to say all I can do once I return home is crash into bed and sleep off the heat stroke I’ve suffered while driving.

And with that I think I’m done! Its now the first day of July and day 3 of the holy month of Ramadan and time is sure flying fast! Traffic, heat, and thirst but the moment you break your fast you know and you feel deep down in your heart that you are thankful and blessed to be surrounded by people you love. I have a couple more posts regarding Ramadan I’m preparing, then I will be posting about other things so you don’t get very bored. Wishing you a lovely peaceful Ramadan.