by Mona Ismaeil

Ramadan is a beautiful time of year filled with spirituality and connecting with family and friends. There is something in the air that just makes Ramadan so warm. You can feel the blessings. The best way to connect after a loooong day of fasting is to come together for Iftar. Hosting a successful iftar can make you feel overwhelmed. You want to be the hostess with the most-est. This can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 5 Tips to Hosting a successful iftar that will make you want to host more often!

1. Planning is Everything

You will make things much easier for yourself if you plan your meals far ahead. You should have a good idea what you will make as an appetizer, the main dishes, and your dessert. Also, if any of your guests will bring something with them, try to account for that so you do not end up both making the same thing.

2. Prepare Ahead of Time 

Do not underestimate how many meals you can prepare days in advance and freeze! Pastas and soups freeze quite well. Also, you can marinate your meats and cut up veggies to make cooking that much faster. Ensure you have purchased your drinks early and you can pop them in your freezer just a couple hours before guests arrive to chill.

3. KISS; Keep it Simple Sister!

Although you want to show off your Top Chef cooking skills, Ramadan is not a good time to try and make extravagant dishes. Remember that you will be tired and you can’t taste anything! So stick to meals you know you can cook well and quickly. Your solid “go-to” dishes will serve just fine. Prepare a great soup, salad, a meat dish, a rice, potatoes or pasta dish and lots of vegetables. Finally, have a lovely simple dessert to enjoy with some tea and don’t forget your fruit.

4. Makes Everything Accessible to Your Guest

The last thing you want to do is have to keep getting up from your meal to get different things for your guests. Think about what they might need and make it accessible from the start.

a. For meal time have a nice serving tray out with salt, pepper, other condiments or sauces, extra napkins and tissues on it.

b. You can have your dessert out on a table with coffee/tea, sugar and cream. This way guests can help themselves as soon as they are ready for their sweet treat.

c. Having a prayer area is helpful also. There you can have multiple prayer mats and prayer coverings.

d. In your bathroom, ensure you have enough toilet paper, soap and towels ready.

5. Ask for Help if You Need it

There is nothing wrong with asking a friend or family member to help you prepare. They could cook with you or help tidy the house. You can even ask a guest to bring something that perhaps they are very good at making. This will take some pressure off of you and they will be flattered.

Undoubtedly your Iftar will be very successful with a bit of planning, and lots of heart. Wishing you a blessed Ramadan filled with love, joy and so many blessings!

Food photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

 About the Author

Mona Ismaeil is  the Associate Editor of Muslimmoms.Ca. She is also an elementary  teacher turned blogger and writer. Mona is the proud owner of Modern Hejab and stay-at-home mom to a witty 3 year old girl and a sweet newborn boy. She loves to travel and see all the world has to offer with her family.