Blueberry French Toast (Sahoor in a Crock Pot)

Slow Cooker Blueberry French Toast

1 cup softened cream cheese
1 loaf of french bread, sliced into 1 inch thick pieces
1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
8 eggs, beaten
2 – 5 ounce cans of evaporated milk
2/3 cup of heavy cream
1 cup sugar
pinch salt
2 t vanilla
3/4 t cinnamon
Slice bread into 1-inch thick slices. After slicing bread let it sit out for 6-8 hours to dry out. (Do not skip this step, it is very important in having a non-soggy final dish).
Spray a 5 – 6 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Spread cream cheese on one side of each slice of bread. Place the bread, cream cheese side down, into the crock. (Stand them up and lean them against each other and allow them to overlap a little) Sprinkle the blueberries evenly over the bread, allowing some to fall between the slices.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Pour mixture over the bread and berries in the slow cooker. Gently press the bread down into the egg mixture. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes and then press the bread down again. Repeat until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 30 minutes.
Cook on low for 3 – 4 hours. The casserole will be slightly browned on the edges when done. If there appears to be any excess liquid, remove the lid and cook for an additional 30-60 minutes. Serve with powdered sugar or maple syrup.
Note: Don’t skimp on the evaporated milk and heavy cream. If you sub regular milk, there is a chance that it could curdle or clump during cooking.
*I switched evaporated milk for almond milk and coconut milk for heavy cream. I didn't use the cream cheese, but you can certainly add it. Also instead of leaving the bread out I baked it in the oven til it was crisp. Maybe 20-30 minutes on 325-350

Halal Barbecued Beef Sandwiches (Iftar in a Crock Pot)

Okay, I've got to tell you that we served these halal sandwiches for up to about 30 people last night for iftar. It was my every intention to get a pic, but after salat my mind went straight into serving mode. However, considering the fact that there wasnt one sandwhich left I'd have to say they were extra yummy! I got a half of a sandwhich and had to act fast in order to get that.

This sandwhich was adapted from a book called Art of the Slow Cooker By Andrew Schloss. We added our halal flair to the recipe and it proved to be a hit. Alhumdulillah!

3 pounds of halal roast beef (doesn't need to be exact)
2-3 Tbsp Beef Rub Seasoning (recipe to follow)
1 cup of Barbeque Sauce, homemade or purchased (make sure it has no corn syrup)


Halal Beef Seasoning
1 Tbsp sea salt
2 Tbsp paprika
1/4 rapadura or succanot (all-natural sugars)
1 tsp Hot Cayyene Pepper (African is Hot)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Mix and store

Instructions:

Season the beef with the spice rub and add to crock pot. Cook beef on low. When the beef produces a lot of juice, about 4 hours into the cooking, drain off ALLthe juice and add the barbecue sauce in with the beef. Allow beef to cook for approximatly 7-8 hours, or until beef is very tender and easily pulls apart.
Place barbecued beef on whole wheat buns or bread of choice with fixings of choice and enjoy!
Ramadan Kareem!

*This recipe serves 6. We had to adjust it to serve a crowd.

Halal Greek Meatloaf (Iftar in a Crockpot)

I got this recipe from a crockpot recipe book called The Every Day Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cook Book. We adapted it a bit, and it was a very tasty halal meat loaf.

Olive oil
2 pounds of halal lean ground beef
1 6-ounce package of crumbled feta cheese
1 small can black olives sliced

3 eggs, beaten
2 tsp oregano
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp dried minced onions
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1. Coat the crockpot with olive oil. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Transfer
mixture to the crockpot and form a loaf or a rounded mound shape.

3.Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Let loaf sit uncovered, for 5 minutes before serving.

Delicious, Nutritious Dates

Dates are a great way to give a big boost to your energy. Packed with 31 grams of carbohydrates, dates are the perfect food to break your fast with. It gives the body the jolt of energy that it needs from fasting all day, while bringing the blood sugar up to a more normal level. Dates also have the dietary fiber that will help the body in the elimination process. Rich in potassium, dates help to assist with muscle contraction, thus the heart is aided when you eat dates along with all the other muscles in your body. Dates, due to their high potassium content, also help to lower the blood pressure. Dates also help to relieve intestinal disorders and keep intestinal parasites at bay. Rich in antioxidant, dates also help to fight off cancers, and it is especially affective in reducing the chances for abdominal cancer.
I could go on and on about the health benefits of dates. No wonder it was one of the Prophets favorite foods, and the one chosen for us to break our daily fast with.

Red Pepper and Mushroom Quiche (Sahoor in a Crock Pot)

This recipe comes from the book, The Every Day Low Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook, by Kitty Broihier, M.S., R.D., and Kimberly Mayone. With these quiche dishes the sky is the limit. There's a seafood version, spinach and fetta, bacon and cheese, sausage, etc. This one is a meatless version. They taste delicious. :)

3 Tbsp butter, divided
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips, then strip cut into 1-inch lengths
1 10 ounce package mushrooms, sliced
1 Tbsp dried minced onion
1/4 tsp sea salt
10 eggs, beaten
1 cup light cream
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 8 ounce package shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite)

1. Grease the slow cooker with 1 Tbsp of the butter (leave excess in the crock pot); set aside.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm remaining 2 tabelspoons of buter about 30 seconds. Add peppers, mushrooms, dried onions, and salt; saute until pepper is soft and mushrooms have lost their water, about 5 minutes. Drain the vegetables,if necessary, then add them to the slow cooker crock.

3.In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, pepper and cheese, then add to the slow cooker crock. Stir to combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Do not overcook this dish or the quiche will be dry.

Great Bread Pudding In a Crockpot

Ma'shallah, so as you may have guessed I'm featuring crockpot recipes during this Ramadan. Their great because they save you time. This leaves you more time to do your extra prayers, Qur'an reading, charitable acts, teaching the children, visiting the sick, and so much more. Slow cooking meals allow you to economize on time, but not on flavor.
So last night was my attempt to salvage some old bread that was no it's way to being bird food. The results a great dessert after iftar, and tasty leftovers at sahoor. I've never been fond of bread pudding, but this one was a winner. (Alhumdulillah!)

Bread Pudding
Ingredients
• 8 cups cubed day-old whole wheat bread
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter,palm oil shortening,or coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavor
• ½ teaspoon coconut flavor
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins

Directions: Place cubed bread in a 3-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla, coconut and cinnamon. Stir in raisins. Pour over old bread; stir gently. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Great for sahoor or dessert after iftar Yield: 6 servings.

Note: I used 1/2 cup of coconut milk and 1/2 cup of almond milk
You may also add about 1 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut if your
a coconut fan like me. :)
We ate this at sahoor along with eggs, grits, and salmon patties. Yummy!

Halal Beef Goulash (Iftar in a Crockpot)

1 1/4 pound bonless halal cubed beef (Stew Meat)
1 can crushed tomatoes in puree
1 packet of onion soup mix, or any vegetarian soup mix. (2.2 oz. packet)
2 Tbsp sweet paprika
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp caraway seeds
3/4 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp of fresh dill weed or 1-1/2 Tbsp dry dill weed
1. Mix all ingredients except sour cream and dill in a 3-qt or larger crockpot.
2. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours until beef is tender. Stir in dill and sour cream.
Serves 6

Some Benefits of Fasting.

(Image by Rahhal)
Exerpt from Halal Healty Meals
Some of the spiritual benefits of fasting include that it accustoms one to patience and strengthens one‟s patience. It teaches self restraint and helps one to practice it. It places the gift of piety in the soul and cultivates it.
Some of the social benefits of fasting include that it accustoms the community to organization and unity, and the love of justice and equality. It causes a feeling of mercy and good character in the believers.
Some of the health benefits of fasting include that it cleanses the intestines and benefits the stomach. It also purifies the body from excesses and deposits, and it lessens the settling of fat and heaviness of the stomach with fat.

Sahoor in a Crockpot

During Ramadan we are truly trying to be focused on our spiritual growth and well being. I love to get up and do the early morning 'amals and prayers. Quite honestly, there are some mornings that I am so involved in my worship that I don't want to stop and tend to alot of cooking. It can become a distraction. At those times, its nice to have a hearty sahoor that's already going and needs little to no attention.

Apple and Raisin Crockpot Oatmeal

1 cup old fashioned oats
2 cups water
1 cup milk, almond milk, coconut milk or rice milk
1/2 small apple, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
2 tbsp succanat or Rapadura
1/4 cup walnuts

Add all ingredients to your crock pot except for the raisins and walnuts. Turn your crock pot on to low and cook for 8 hours approximately. Add the walnuts and raisins 5 minutes before its done and stir well through the oatmeal mixture. Serve with extra sweetner and milk. Makes 4 servings.

Variations: you can substitute honey instead of succanat/rapadura, and you can leave out the walnuts if you want. You may also add dates to this version, just add them at the time when adding raisins and walnuts.