Letter to Julia 20111115

Well, it's about time that I cooked up those ribs I got from the Eid sacrifice. I should have boiled them, but I thought that pan-frying them twice would loosen the meat enough. So, I fried them once until the meat was cooked, then I put barbecue sauce on them then stuck them in the cooler to marinade. Then I fried them again in butter, adding more barbecue sauce and blackening them each time I turned them, which was about 4-5 times. I would have grilled them on a charcoal fire, but my grill disintegrated from all the rainfall. Thus, I had to create a similar effect on a frying pan. Nothing can replace the flavor of an open fire, though. Ah, I love beef bones. Next time, I'll boil the ribs first. Barbecue sauce? I think Malaysia has the edge on the USA when it comes to barbecue sauce. So many options to choose from, while in the USA it's always that same old tomato paste, spices and sweetener combo. This time, I used a tamarind and chilli base, for a sour spicy sauce. Ah, alhamdulillah. Even though I should have boiled the bones, I felt I had something good going when Chee Cheah went berserk while I was cooking. Of course, I gave my Dad a bone too.

So, I hope you are eating properly. Remember that as my girl, you are automatically an endorser of food products. Don't forget the basics: no pig, no blood, no carrion, and you must not eat food which is offered for pagan rituals, or food that in which the name of others than Allah has been invoked. Before the first bite say, "In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful," for Allah is the One who provides all sustenance, but is not fed. Just try your best with the circumstance that Allah has put you in, for Allah is Lenient and Forgiving, and knows all that you think, feel, and undertake. Perhaps in your spare time you are experimenting with cooking. I have a feeling you are. Just remember that I have a sensitive stomach, so please practise with pure and fresh ingredients, and a medium fire. Be patient, and avoid overly processed foods! I guess at this point you won't be able to cook in private, let alone go to restaurants without being observed. So please have fun while you experiment with food, but most of all, please eat properly, and be grateful to Allah for the great beauty that God has given you, by taking good care of your body. Please join me in Islam my beloved, and let's share our life and afterlife together.