The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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Dish of the Week: Pumpkin Pie

cairo Dish of the Week egypt Kar' Assaly Mood of the week Pumpkin Pie
Dish of the Week: Pumpkin Pie
written by
Nelly Ezz

Hello, Dish of the Week readers; welcome back to another dish of the week after the much-needed holidays. Some time off was exactly what the doctor ordered; appreciating the Eid holidays without thinking about work or deadlines whilst enjoying our morning coffee was the therapy we all needed. After the hustle and bustle of Ramadan and Eid holidays, we could say that the work-week rhythm is slowly going back to normal. Last week was relatively slow regarding deadlines and tasks as we are gradually picking up the pre-Ramadan productivity pace. And what better item to perfectly embody this relaxed but enjoyable mood than a good old classic pumpkin pie?

Since it’s pumpkin season at the moment, we couldn’t help but notice how making and enjoying pumpkin pie closely relates to this week’s overall mood. If you don’t know much about pumpkin pie, fear not; we will break it down for you. Pumpkin pie is very popular in the United States and Canada, particularly during Thanksgiving. However, the origins of this pie go back to writings in the Mediaeval times, sometime before the 1500s, when many scriptures mentioned stewing pumpkin with sugar and spices while being wrapped in pastry dough. Interestingly enough, we have our version of the pumpkin pie in our very own local cuisine, “kar’ assaly”. This classic Egyptian dessert consists of cooked pumpkin mixed with lots of sugar, butter, nuts, and raisins – the dessert is then topped with béchamel for an innovative creamy twist!

Kar’ assaly and its American cousin both take more than a couple of hours to perfect, which is understandable. Making this delicious splendour takes time as it stews, boils, and bubbles to create the perfect bite. Similarly, our energy and productivity levels are also taking their sweet time to reach full capacity. The proverb “slowly but surely” fits the situation quite well as some things one cannot simply rush. Making the perfect seasonal pumpkin pie or kar’ assaly takes time, but we cannot leave it to bake more than it should or else it will spoil. This goes for all of us well; yes, we deserve to take our time to pick up the work-pace but taking too much time may result in a sluggish, unproductive attitude. So if you find yourself struggling to go back to that pre-Ramadan work mode, try to pick up any energy-boosting activities like the gym, paddle tennis, or even swimming – enjoy the little things. Just like eating a piece of pumpkin pie, life is better enjoyed in small indulging bites!

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