sholeh zard no more!

Balatarin
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sholeh zard no more!
by Multiple Personality Disorder
27-Oct-2009
 

I recently came upon some sholeh zard, given to me by a dear friend, in a 48 ounce, blue color, non-porous, non-reactive, glassware that could go from freezing refrigerator temperatures directly to a microwave, or a conventional stove, without causing food to lose its aroma or flavor.  If I did not restrain myself I would’ve eaten the whole content of the dish in one sitting, but I had to stop myself at some point before I was overwhelmed.  Allow me to describe what it was that I ate that was so delicious.

From aesthetic aspect of it, it was fully decorated; the top center of it was seated with green pistachios, not crushed but halved perhaps, in the shape of a cart wheel, surrounded by two other cart wheels made from white almond shavings.  In between them, circles of cinnamon powder, za'faran stigmas, and topped with an aromatic oil.  Below the top layer laid the sa'faran yellow rice with its magnanimous array of different textures, some as smooth as creamy pudding, some still as mushy rice.  I marvel at the site of it and contemplated where to began.  The thought of disturbing the serenity of it was un-heartening.  But began to eat, I must.  I started at the one corner, as delicately as I could, not to disturb the beauty of the almond flower too suddenly.  I took a small amount at first, too hesitant to take too much at once.  I let the first bite delight my tongue and mouth for a while.  I gave my taste buds ample time to remember how it was when I was a kid, longing for the days when a person would die so I could eat some of that good stuff.  I closed my lips and sucked all the air out of my inner mouth till there was nothing left in there except sholeh zard.  I let it stay in my mouth as long as I could bear it.  I allowed it to spread over my tongue, on the side of my mouth between my teeth and my inner cheeks.  Then, when I lost control over my will, I swallowed it and marveled at the delight.

Soon after I ate some from the top layer an aroma of rosewater, or the memory of it, began to let its presence known.  I mixed some of the rice pudding with the cinnamon powder and to my surprise I found more almond shavings mixed with rice pudding inside.  I marveled at every bite I took, and took as long as I could, till I could no more.  The ecstasy was overpowering.  The pleasure unbearable.  Either I had to stop at a quarter, or I was going to eat the whole thing in one sitting, which I was willing to do except if I did there would be no more for another day.  As difficult as a task it was to stop, I stopped.  I even marveled at the pleasure of not eating anymore, since I know there would be another day that when I came home there would be the rest of the treat waiting for me.

I am depressed now.  After eating the rest of sholeh zard three more times, it is all gone now.  Gone as the days when the news of the demise of a Saint would spread through our street and I would rush to grab a bowl and run to the house where they were giving away the delicate treat.  Gone as the days when I was oblivion to my surroundings when I had to wait in line for my turn to get a bowl full of sholeh zard.  Gone are the days when I wish more Saints would die soon so I could eat more.

When will it be when I’ll have the pleasure of eating sholeh zard again?

Balatarin
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Multiple Personality Disorder

No need for apology amongst friends, just an explanation,...

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Fri Oct 30, 2009 01:22 PM PDT

...a friend of mine said long time ago.

Take care my friend,


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Don't worry....MPD

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Thu Oct 29, 2009 06:57 PM PDT

is cool with it. :o)

He's a cool guy!

 


  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:39 PM PDT

Hi! MPD,

     Sorry for my insensitive posts! Sorry! I hope you will accept my apology, I am totally different from the people who called you "sexist". My apology is real.....I read the link you provided, wow, it is interesting, but my case is very different. My situation is that I spell better in English than my native language, but I speak better (without accent) in my native language than English. It is kind of strange! I failed high school test in my native language, but managed to pass the English test, maybe because I could spell a little better....sorry to get carried away with my previous posts. I hope you can accept my sincere apology.

thanks,

Best wishes always! 

 


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

Yolanda, I swear I changed it yesterday

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Thu Oct 29, 2009 08:32 AM PDT

 

I swear I changed it yesterday, I don’t know why it didn’t update.  Also, I noticed in my previous comment it says “Okay, I missed it.” Instead “Okay, I fixed it.”  It must be a Freudian Slip.  Now, I can see how my comment looks rude instead of being funny, but don’t you worry, it’s all part of Hotel California.  I made sure “bowel” is changed to “bowl” this time for sure.  If you want to change your comments, it’s fine.  I’ll go back and change mine also accordingly.  We can say nice things to each other if you want in the changed comments, but you have to hurry up before someone clicks on “Reply” button.

I suggest you read this blog called “Can you read this?”

//iranian.com/main/blog/majid/can-you-read

It explains why people don’t see what is actually written down and why a lot of misspelled words go undetected.

In the future, always assume I have the best intentions.


  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:43 AM PDT

Hi! MPD,

        Thank you for the beautiful and flawless article! Sorry for being so brutal with you. I promise you that I won't do it again! Sorry!!! Should I take down more posts? Please let me know.      ...My English is terrible, I got C's for English in college....I am a big loser and I know that....

    Thank you (MPD), Natalia, BN, Anahid and many other contributors for your great writings, that have brought me so much joys!

sincerely,

yolanda 

 

 


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

Darn it! Why can't they make "Spell Check" smarter than yolanda

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Thu Oct 29, 2009 03:00 AM PDT

Okay, I missed it.  Are you happy now!  Bowel my ass!  They all knew I meant bowl.

Don't change your comment, it's all for fun :O)

Thanks, 


  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:59 AM PDT

Hi! MPD,

      Thank you for the dramatic portrayal of the Persian dessert. If I have a chance, I will definitely try it. Sorry for causing all the troubles for you. I hope you understand that you have my utmost respect!!

thanks,

 


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

Okay, I got what it was in the oil

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:15 PM PDT

A little vegetable oil and a little butter, and tons of rosewater to make the sholeh zard.  I was smelling the rosewater, the butter, and the saffron, not to mention the cinnamon.


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Well, I have never had any

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:01 PM PDT

sure does sound positively sinful. I shall make it a point to have some one day. Thank you for sharing

 


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

I don't know what kind of oil it was

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Tue Oct 27, 2009 04:01 PM PDT

...I didn't cook it, I just ate it :O)  but I know the damn thing smelled wonderful.  If I ever find out what it was I'll post it here, but I'm guessing smell of all the ingredients must have fused together to create the aroma.

  •  
capt_ayhab

aromatic oil

by capt_ayhab on Tue Oct 27, 2009 03:21 PM PDT

Some prefer melted butter, my maman bozorgi[rouhesh shad :( ]  used to cook the entire thing with small amount of rose petal infused melted butter, topped with various shapes sprinkled from julian almond and Cinnamon. I personally prefer cold sholeh zard, and not warmed up. 

MPD; lovely read,  dahanam ab oftad hesabi.....

-YT <<<< Sheekamo drooling big time


  •  
Nazy Kaviani

Dear MPD

by Nazy Kaviani on Tue Oct 27, 2009 03:07 PM PDT

Thanks for the fun read! If ever you are in a bind and MUST have some more sholeh zard, or if you are nostalgic for religious ladies, you can follow this Mohajabeh Englishwoman's recipe. Bon appetit!


  •  
Little Tweet

"and topped with aromatic oil"

by Little Tweet on Tue Oct 27, 2009 02:48 PM PDT

what kind of oil do you pour on top of your sholeh zard?


  •  
Monda

MPD: hats off to your mindfulness!

by Monda on Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:17 AM PDT

I really appreciate your power of being so passionately zen-like/ in-the- moment with that sholeh zard (or while growing your sabzeh for that matter).

I must admit I have not experienced a sholeh zard as potent as the one your friend cooked. And I thought my grandma had mastered the art. Either that or I was just too young and stupid to feel the full effect.


  •  
Ostaad

Azarin, do you mean to say...

by Ostaad on Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:21 AM PDT

ANY woman who wears chaador, ends up in your "I don't like..." column? Have you ever gotten hold of pictures of your grand, or great grand mother(s)?!!! what are they wearing?

Based on you comments about "these black!" women, I guess they do.

You sure come across too bigoted, if you don't mind me saying that. Nothing that can't be cured, if you just try.

 


  •  
yolanda

.....

by yolanda on Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:34 AM PDT

Hi! MPD,

     You said:

I really need to cut down on visiting this website.

I don't believe a word you said...talk is cheap, you need to have some actions! You are an undisputed and peerless addict on IC!

thanks, O:))

 


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

Thank you for reading. I have to get some sleep now.

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:44 AM PDT

I really need to cut down on visiting this website.


  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:31 AM PDT

Wow! You are truly dramatic! I wish you took a picture of the delicacy for us before you ate it. I had no idea what sholeh zard looks like.....I did a search on Internet:

//www.grouprecipes.com/photo/?id=12532

The stuff sounds very delicious and tantalizing 'cause it has my favorite nuts: almond and pistachio.

Thank you for this beautiful and happy article! It is a pure joy to read!

yolanda


  •  
Azarin Sadegh

I never liked shole zard!

by Azarin Sadegh on Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:31 AM PDT

Don't be depressed MPD jan! In LA, you can go to any Iranian store and buy as much Shole zard as you like. You can eat Shole zard for breakfast and for the lunch, even for dinner.

Shole zard, or Halva, or all kinds of Aash...anything! You don't need to wait for someone to die...

But somehow, I've never bought shole zard. I've never been a fan of any food that reminds me of "religion", or death, or chadoris. BTW, this picture you chose, these black women...is just awful. I'm afraid that you might get sick if you eat that shole zard made by god and saffron. 

take care, Az.


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

Dear MPD,I like how you write about Sholeh Zard and the memories

by Anahid Hojjati on Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:56 AM PDT

Dear MPD, I like your description of the Soleh Zard that you ate.  Personally, I am more of a Halva girl but your write up tempts me to eat some Sholeh zard next time a saint dies and someone brings me sholeh zard.  I also like how eating sholeh zard takes you back to the days long gone.


  •