Ramadan Special: Time for spiritual growth

The Holy Month of Ramadan is the perfect time for spiritual development. Apart from fasting and performing daily prayers and reading the Holy Quran, it is also time to do a good deed. From donating to charity or helping a person in difficulty there are many ways to do a noble act. It is also an opportunity to appreciate our loved ones and be grateful. When we engage ourselves in acts of worship our relationship with God strengthens further.

Iftar Recipe
Crispy Deviled Egg Boats

Ingredients
Crispy garlic crumbs:
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
1 clove garlic, mashed with fork
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Egg filling:
8 eggs, hard-cooked
2 tablespoons very soft butter, divided use
2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped sundried tomatoes (not oil-packed)
1 tablespoon minced pickled jalapeños (regular or tamed, or minced dill pickles if preferred)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
12 inner romaine heart leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation

Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan. Remove from heat and stir in garlic and salt; let stand for 10 minutes. Return pan to medium heat and add breadcrumbs, folding until well-coated. Toast until golden brown, stirring and watching to prevent burning; this will take about 3 minutes. Scrape crumbs onto a large plate to cool; wipe out skillet, reserving for further use.

Slice 6  hard-cooked eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks to a large plate. Smash yolks with a fork until very smooth and scrape into a medium bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, tomatoes and jalapenos, blending thoroughly. Stuff into cavities of egg whites and smooth top with a butter knife to make an even covering of filling over the entire flat surface (there will be extra filling; reserve it.) On the same plate that yolks were smashed, coarsely chop and finely smash the remaining 2 hard-cooked eggs. Fold into the reserved excess filling, add vinegar and remaining butter and set mixture aside.

Place flat sides of stuffed  eggs on top of the crispy garlic crumbs, coating well and leaving on a plate until all are coated (do not coat rounded sides.) Return the large skillet to medium heat and brush remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the pan bottom. When hot, place all eggs in the skillet, crumb side down, and fry until browned, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.

Cut ends from romaine leaves to make 5-inch long ‘boats.’ Spoon and spread the remaining filling mixture over bottom lengths of romaine boats and arrange on a serving platter. Sprinkle  with chives.

Fasting has lasting benefits
Fasting is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that has many lasting benefits. It enables a person to develop sustained consciousness of God, helps one to choose a healthier lifestyle by small but meaningful changes in the dietary habits, and helps to make a person more humble and purposeful in daily life.