A Lovely Iftar with Friends

Assalamualaikum! I hope your days are going well. The last ten nights of Ramadan are here. The time flies so fast, it feels like we just started fasting yesterday. Alhamdulillah, I was blessed with the opportunity to have a small gathering of friends over for iftar. It was a night filled with conversation, laughter, and fun.

You know you're desi when your invite was for 8pm and people start trickling in around 8:45pm (and you're secretly glad because your prep is also running behind schedule). ;)

Today, I am sharing the iftar and dinner menu of the night for inspiration. With my husband's support and encouragement, I was able to put together this menu. Thanks, once again, to all of my lovely friends for joining us and please keep me and my family in your duas. Please let me know if you would like any of the recipes of the food items below. Enjoy!

Crescent and Star Shaped Rice Crispy Treats

Ramadan Kareem to all of my readers! We've almost reached the halfway mark of Ramadan, which always creates a bittersweet feeling for me. The end of Ramadan means no more huge amounts of reward for every little thing you do and no more bonding over iftar and suhoor. At the same time it means no more hunger pains in the middle of the day and no more crazy schedules. Even more, it means that my favorite holiday, Eid, is coming up. So it's a very sad feeling with a hint of excitement.

Mini Mushroom and Beef Sliders

The season of burgers, picnics, and outdoor activities is here! I'm joined once again by my mother to present to you the latest video on my channel - Mini Mushroom and Beef Sliders. This dish is simple but the flavors are perfect. The 2 to 1 ratio of beef to mushrooms makes this burger patty incredibly moist. Serve the patty up with your fave toppings and you'll have the perfect burger for this summer's festivities. Give it a try and I know you won't be disappointed. 
Mini Mushroom and Beef Sliders (makes 6-8 patties)
2 tbsp olive oil 8 oz mushrooms, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg white
burger toppings: (optional)  swiss cheese mini slider buns lettuce tomatoes pickles mayonnaise ketchup
Heat the olive oil in a medium sized pan. Then sauté garlic until aromatic. Saute the onions till they are soft and translucent. 
Add the mushrooms and sauté them on medium heat until they are wilted; then cook them on high heat just until the juices dry up. A pinch of salt at this stage will speed up the process.
In a large bowl, combine all of the burger patty ingredients with clean hands. Once the mixture has cooled down, form 6-8 patties. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. 
Cook them on a stove top pan on medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until browned. When there is only a minute left till they are completely done, add the cheese on top and cover the pan. 
Serve in mini slider buns with all your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

DIY Advent Calendar

Here's a fun way to celebrate the blessed month of Ramadan with your kids and count down till Eid!

My son is almost three this year and it will be his first year officially celebrating the month! His understanding of Ramadan is strong enough for him to enjoy the festivity that this blessed month brings into our lives.