Muslim Relations in the US

(image courtesy of Wikipedia)

If the clothes were more familiar to what we wear at Christmas; if instead of Mrouziya, Seviyan, and Sheer Korma you saw turkey, dressing, and jibblet gravy, what would be the difference? The difference, if we must find one, is religion, which is no big distinction between people and their morality.
How exciting to gather with family and friends to celebrate! During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink each day from sunrise to sunset as a lesson in patience, humility, and spirituality. During this month, Muslims believe God's revelations to mankind are more frequent and noticeable, as this is believed to be the month God revealed the first verses of the Qur'an to Mohammad. At the end of Ramadan is Eid ul-Fitr, commonly known as Eid. On this day, Muslims hold a breaking of the fast known as the Iftar dinner (Farah Pandith, Secretary of State Clinton's Special Representative to Muslim Communities);
and, did you know that the US State Department holds an annual Iftar dinner? The first president to attend an Iftar was Thomas Jefferson (Wikipedia).

In several weeks this holiday will take place again. Much like Christmas and Hanukkah, on Eid in the US, the day of the Iftar, Muslims gather with friends and families in Islamic Community Centers and convention halls to eat and pray. Wealthy Muslims donate to the less fortunate and sometimes reserve amusement parks and skating rinks to host the celebration (Wikipedia).

Why not celebrate too? No, I know it may not be your faith, but how nice it would be to invite a Muslim to join for turkey and dressing. Why not try some traditional sweet and spicy Islamic cuisine?

Mrouziya
Ingredients 2 pounds of lamb chunks
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons Ras El Hanout
1/4cup of honey
1/4cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of whole blanched almonds, toasted
1/4 cup of raisins


How To Cook: Bring the oven temperature up to 345 degrees. Coat the lamb with Ras El Hanout spice. Place spiced lamb in a 5-quart pot covered with a lid. To the pot, add the water, honey and olive oil Bake for about 2 hours until the meat softens. Remove the meat from the pot and keep warm. Remove extra oil. To the pot, add the raisins. Boil until the raisins are fully cooked. Return the lamp to the stew. Boil for about 2 minutes. Decorate with the toasted almonds. Serve with warm bread, or with cooked Saffron rice, Raisins and Almonds.
(recipe found Here)