Writing 101, Day Ten Happy( Eid-al-Fitr meal)

Today’s prompt: Tell us something about your favorite childhood meal— the one that was always a treat,that meant”Celebration” or that comforted you and has deep roots in your memory.

Free free to focus on any aspect of the meal, from the food you ate to the people who were there to the event it marked.

Today’s twist: Tell the story in your own distinct voice.

Every year after a long fasting month, we celebrated “Eid-al-Fitr.” My mom was a good cook and my Dad was a fussy eater. We the kids, all twelve of us anxiously waited for the day which meant new clothes and delicious food.

On this day Mom cooked Chicken Korma, Spicy Mutton, heavenly Pilaf and Salad. The salad was prepared with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, thinly sliced onions and hot green chillies, mom took special care for making this one, she’d slice the vegetables, combined them and sprinkled lime juice in the end.

For my mom cooking was a pleasure, the chicken she cooked was not spicy, she used onions, garlic, ginger, salt, a dash of sugar, ground coriander, cumin, clarified butter and little pieces of cinnamon sticks, green and brown cardamom.When she had all the ingredients ready she’d put it on the stove, while the chicken was simmering, she’d turn her attention to mutton.

Mutton was the dish we all loved, it had all the hot spices, when it was nearly cooked, she’d add some sliced potatoes and tomatoes. All the dishes she cooked she always used yoghurt, let me tell you this ingredient  was the reason why the food tasted so good.

The last thing she cooked was pilaf, she used a special rice named Basmati.

My mom was an expert, she always completed her cooking in an hour. When all the food was cooked, the table was set and we all sat down to eat.This was a special meal for a special day for us it was heavenly and when the day was over we’d look forward to the next ‘Eid-al fitr!

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Food Image from wikipedia

DP Daily Prompt: Memories of holidays Past Ranu’s post

Eid celebration (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My most favorite holiday is “Eid al-Fitr. It is an important Islamic celebration.  I have incredible memories of this day. The festivities begin after the end of Ramadan. Parents have a lot of work to do before this precious holiday.

My Mom was responsible to buy materials for us. Then the tailor came to take our measurements .  He’d tell my Mom when the clothes would be ready. Most of the time the clothes were ready two days before this holiday.

We’d wait patiently for the day of the celebration. One ‘Eid Day”. The tailor brought the stitched clothes the day before. We were concerned ,we thought we’d have to wear our old clothes instead of   the new ones.

The morning of ‘Eid Day’ we’d compete who’d take a shower first. We’d wear our new dresses and wish our parents. We’d thank them for providing the clothes. My Dad would take my brothers to the mosque to pray. We’d wait for them to come home, my Dad would give us money. We’d be very happy and plan what we’d do with the money.

We’d gather together and have a bowl of Vermicelli, a sweet dish prepared by Mom. This day was full of activities. We’d visit our friends and families. We had to eat more of the same dish everywhere we went.  Mom always cautioned us not to say no.  We’d eat and were afraid we’d be sick.

Back at home, Mom would call us for lunch. We’d enjoy eating ‘Rice Pilaf’, ‘Mutton Korma’, ‘Beef Curry’, “Raita'( yogurt salad), she made vegetable salad with cucumber,tomatoes,onions, green chillies,sprinkled with lemon juice.  We’d thank God before and after for the meals with family and friends.

By seven we’d be in bed fast asleep. Mom couldn’t she served meals to the servants.  She’d finish her night time prayer and then go to sleep.

Those memories are still fresh in my mind as if it happened only yesterday!