Agitating Action

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Some of the social action projects I’ve heard about lately got me thinking: How can we start more intelligent discussion about issues going on in the world? Recently my friend and I discussed her distaste for a shoe company that donates shoes to a poor child every time you buy a pair of shoes. She felt not only was it not really addressing issues, it was addressing problems superficially. I am all for socially a conscious business that promotes a good cause, but the question becomes what these types of projects really do? I am sure you have heard the expression “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Given that it’s a metaphor, what if you are teaching a man to fish and he lives around no bodies of water? Or what if he knows how to hunt and you want to teach him how to fish? Too many accepted “helpful” ideas follow this flawed logic.

I am one for pushing the envelope and expanding peoples’ minds, maybe even creating a little bit of controversy. If handled correctly, these moments have the largest potential to create change.

I am a fan of movies that throw in a twist in the concluding 5 or 10 minutes--the ones that make you go back and rethink the entire movie. And in a way I think social action projects should do the same to provoke us to think outside the box of what we know. Don’t give because you see people are poor--examine and question the system that allows this to occur, and maybe even challenge your own sub-conscious thoughts that people are poor because they are uneducated or not smart enough.

Social action projects have the ability to raise our awareness. I recently learned about the Ghana think tank which takes “first world” problems to the “third world” to solve these problems. I love this idea.  This challenges the old sentiment that those in the “first world” are the only ones capable of fixing problems for those in the “third world.” People’s capabilities are often limited only because of the rhetoric and social conditions used to keep them marginalized.

So what does this have to do with food and conflict? Well, for one thing, those who know me know that I can literally include food in almost every conversation I have. Secondly, solutions to conflicts are too often oversimplified. It’s like putting a tiny bandage on your arm when you have a gaping wound on your foot. Raising awareness of issues of conflict is wonderful, but minimally effective if it doesn’t push people to start asking questions. Unfortunately, there is no lack of international conflicts going on in this world, so as global citizens we need to start thinking about engaging in a meaningful way. Well, you know what I propose--that we start the process with food, discussion, and action.

Did you know . . . that some of the most important work done in high-level negotiations happens during the meals that conflicting parties eat together? In honor of the connection food creates let’s all eat hummus. It is debated where exactly hummus came from in the Middle East, but I can assure you all different kinds are delicious!!

Recommended Movie

The Other Son (Le fils de l'autre)

What we see as fact may be much more fluid than we think. The idea of permanency in belief may be challenged when life makes us question what has been true to us for so long. Sometimes life hands us the opportunity to open ourselves up to humanity and see another who has seemed like an enemy for so long as a possible friend or even a relative. The Israel/Palestine conflict has been one of the long-standing conflicts that seems far from resolution. The movie The Other Son (Le fils de l'autre) is a story of two boys--one Israeli and one Palestinian--who were switched at birth whose families finally find out what happened when they are in their late teens. It raises two major questions: Are we really so different from one another? What happens when our reality is longer valid? This film explores these issues with both power and sensitivity.

 

 

 

Hummus Recipe

(makes 2.5 cups) 

Ingredients

• 1 cloves of garlic
• 1 (19 ounce) can of garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of tahini
• 1 clove of garlic chopped
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions

1. In a blender, chop the garlic. Pour garbanzo beans into blender, reserving about a tablespoon for garnish. Place lemon juice, tahini, chopped garlic and salt in blender. Blend until creamy and well mixed.
2. Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with pepper and pour olive oil over the top. Garnish with reserved garbanzo beans.

(Recipe from allnewrecipes.com)

 

Jalapeno Hummus Recipe 

Ingredients

(makes 2 cups)

• 1 cup garbanzo beans
• 1/3 cup canned jalapeno pepper slices, juice reserved
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 3 cloves of mince garlic 
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 curry powder
• crushed red pepper to taste     

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor, mix the garbanzo beans, jalapeno peppers and reserved juice, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. Season with cumin, curry powder, and crushed red pepper. Blend until smooth.

(Recipe from allnewrecipes.com)

 

 

Open Minds and Open Hearts

I had the pleasure of traveling recently. If anyone knows me the one thing I am successful at when traveling is finding good food. Yes, I do like to see ancient ruins and stand in buildings that are a part of history, but what I like most is meeting the people and trying the food. You will not see me on a main street eating in a tourist area. I will most likely be found walking down a small random side street, compelled to stop and try something new.

You may ask what does food and people have to do with conflict resolution. . . .the answer is EVERYTHING!!! I traveled with my mother recently who loves to stare at the beauty of nature, museums and historical buildings for hours. Well, my short attention span does not allow for me to do that. I like walking around random streets, watching the people, seeing new places, and most of all slipping into a restaurant on a small street and talking to the people. I will walk for hours looking around until I feel at that moment I am in the right place. This led me to a small Cape Verdean/Angolan restaurant in Porto, Portugal. At the time the restaurant was mostly empty and I walked in with my broken Portuguese asking if they were serving food. Luckily they were, and I had some of the best food I had in Portugal. But what was more important was that I spent hours talking to one of the owner’s friends. Though the owner and I could not communicate well verbally her sweet disposition drew me to her quickly. She is one of those women with such a warm energy surrounding 

her that I immediately tried to get her to adopt me as a daughter. I was successful!

That night we went back to her place for music and dancing, and she once again greeted me with love. As we sat, my mother and I watched her hold a random customer’s sleeping child for an hour as though it was her own. The following day I came to say goodbye and gave her a huge hug and we exchanged our information. She glanced around the bar looking for a gift, and handed me a bottle of wine as a present. In our last embrace she cried. Why am I telling you this long story? Because I think we too often miss our chances to connect with other people. We are so stuck in our own world that we don’t realize that we are visiting places where there are wonderful people all around us. Had we chosen to stick to the path that most tourists travel we would not have a sense of who was around us.

Too often people become “others” to us. We don’t see them as within our group, therefore they become somehow in our minds less than we are. This is a long-standing problem in international conflicts. Many conflicts happen because groups dehumanize another group of people. And once a person no longer seems human the capacity to cause that person great harm is unleashed. But it is within us is the ability to have personal connections.  To take interest in a stranger or someone we see as “other” allows us to break these barriers. And then we can re-humanize a person, letting them be a complex person with many layers, not just apart of a group. Identifying with a social group is important to all of us. It is apart of what makes us feel protected. There is not a problem with that, but when we see another group as less than ours, the problems begin. We are all different, but we have more in common than many people think. People like Eva, the restaurant owner, remind me that some people still exist with a genuine sweetness that melts your heart. And once again, through the gift of food, another friendship (well, really I found a new mother) begins. Stop missing out on everyone around you and try to open your heart through the gift of food!

In honor of my recent travels and the lovely people of Barcelona and Porto, Portugal that try some Caldo de Peixe (Cape Veredean style). A simple but delicious fish soup! Recipe is at the bottom.

DOCUMENTARY: Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies A People

How many different groups of people are villainized through the media? Sometimes we don't realize the influence images we see can have on the way we think of “others.” This specific documentary shows how the the image of Arabs have been portrayed in the media overtime. Think about how there are so many groups the media exploits and the negative images that are portrayed that subconsciously stay with us.
 

Caldo de Peixe (fish soup)

Ingredients:
6 white potatoes
3 sweet potatoes
l bunch fresh parsley
l green pepper
l red pepper
3 medium onions
2 medium tomatoes
4 scallions
3 lbs. fresh, whole, cleaned saltwater fish (examples: tautog, cod, bluefish or sea bass).

Cooking Instructions:
In a large kettle, gently saute chopped onions, tomatoes, scallions and green and red peppers in oil. Next, add fish cut into small pieces and water. Cover and bring to a gentle boil. Add peeled potatoes and chopped parsley to kettle. Reduce heat and simmer. A little may be added to make a thicker broth. 

(recipe found at http://www.healthy-life.narod.ru/wor_ek38.htm) 

Here is a second option for Caldo de Peixe recipe as the first one is simple, but the second one sounds a bit more delicious.

Ingredients:

Fish, moray grouper,
 1 onion
 2 peeled tomatoes  
 2 garlic  cloves 
 1 laurel leaf
 1 sage 
   paprika at will  
   flour 
1/2 kg  manioca 
 1 kg potatoes
 1 kg American potatoes  
1/2 kg yam
1/2 kg green bananas 
1/2 kg pumpkin
   oil at will  

Preparation:
 
Let the fish flavor together with garlic, oil, salt and laurel. Put the sliced onion, garlic, laurel,

 paprika, peeled tomatoes, sage and olive oil in a big pot. Let it brown and add chopped 

potatoes, bananas, manioca, yam (something like a potato) and pumpkin. Let it flavour and 
let it boil. When all is almost boiled, add the fish.When it is ready,  taste the broth: if it is too 

weak, then add a spoonful of flour, in order to make it thicker. You must mix it with a wooden 

spoon, so as not  to let the soup adhere. The caldo de peixe may be served with some rice, 
or with polenta, this is the way I like most.

(recipe from http://www.caboverde.com/rubrique/gastro-e.htm)  

 

Inflexible Identities?

Are we all really that different? Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why so many people choose to only stick to a certain group. I understand wanting to stay within your comfort zone, but does something such as language, the religion you were born into or identify with, or your ethnic background really mean that you don’t have something in common with someone who is different? It seems most people are scared of what they do not understand. It is easy to fear something that you do not know anything about and label and make stereotypes. But what happened to those fearless days when we were little--when we did not see the differences between people? In our minds was there really such a thing as religion, gender, ethnicity, or race at three years old? My mother told me that when I was three I used to walk up to total strangers and ask them if they liked my tights. I probably wouldn’t consider doing that now, but it shows the fearlessness of a child. Children have a lot of wisdom that we often times overlook. Why can’t we be inspired to do the same?

I have had my fair share of awkward moments stepping outside the community and group of people I grew up around. But it has only brought me blessings as I have found like-minded people from all different backgrounds. And what I have realized is how much more I have in common with some people that were raised in totally different circumstances. I will definitely say that food has played an integral role in this, as often these friendships start over a meal. We have all experienced joy, pain, heartbreak, love, and hate. Our differences should not stop us from realizing that at the core we are more alike than different.

So many international conflicts have started over how people identify themselves within a group while labeling another group with negative traits. Even those who had formerly been living peacefully together have become deadly enemies.

As many of us come from different backgrounds what responsibility do we have to other groups or individuals who identify differently? Because physical or mental borders separate us from another does that mean we still do not have responsibility to them?

In honor of moving beyond our comfort zone and breaking borders, let us eat comfort food, something simple and sweet. I have shared this recipe with many people it is a Brasilian Passion Fruit Mousse (recipe at the bottom).

DOCUMENTARY:

The Dark Side of Chocolate

DO YOU EAT CHOCOLATE?? 

Synopsis: A team of journalists investigate how human trafficking and child labor in the Ivory Coast fuels the worldwide chocolate industry. The crew interview both proponents and opponents of these alleged practices, and use hidden camera techniques to delve into the gritty world of cocoa plantations. Written by Andrew McGraw-Herdeg

  

Passion Fruit Mousse or Mousse de Maracuja

 Ingredients

• 1 cup (250 ml.) whipping cream
• 1 cup (250 ml.) sweetened-condensed milk
• 1/2 cup (125 ml.) frozen passion fruit juice concentrate
• (optional) one fresh passion fruit

Instructions

Put all the ingredients in a blender, and blend at low speed until the liquid becomes light at fluffy. Pour the mixture into a serving bowl, or individual dessert dishes. If fresh passion fruit is available, spread a small amount of pulp, including seeds on top of the mixture. Chill for at least 2 hours prior to serving. Serves 4. 

(recipe from http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com/2009/10/recipe-passion-fruit-mousse-mousse-de.html)

Habitual Hatred

Lately, I had a few encounters that left me quite disturbed. And the reason is that I  met people with  a profound hate for my religious group and anyone who identifies with it. This not to say they disagree with my personal views on religion, but they hate me based on the faith I was born into. Growing up in the United States, I did not encounter this sentiment much, but being in Europe I have experienced prejudice. The scariest part has been that these people approached me and openly had casual conversation with me about their deep and profound hate for my religion. They are totally unaware of what religious group I am associated with, and  some times they have even approached me under the guise of being interested in me romantically.  This got me thinking: in a situation where there is a threat to my identity, what do I do? I did feel a little unsafe, but I felt it was important to tell this person who had minutes before been complementing me, that I was, in fact, a part of the group that he felt was responsible for the downfall of the earth. So,  I told him we could never be, because how could we agree which faith to raise our imaginary unborn children?

How are we supposed to handle a conversation with someone who has already decided they hate whatever group we belong to, without endangering ourselves? When  I left the conversation and told him calmly that we obviously disagree on some very large issues, I thought to myself, did I do the right thing, or did I just potentially put myself in danger of violence? We cannot change other people’s ignorance, but how can we stand up for ourselves in a way that makes us feel a difference, and leaves ourselves feeling empowered, and not in fear of another?

I wish I had an answer to this, but I don’t.  Too often we hear about people’s cultures and identities clashing and resulting into violence. But are we all really that different that we cannot live and respect another person’s right to being also? It was obvious to me after this conversation that the man who had talked to me had no concept of what it is to identify with my religion or be from my community, nor understand anything about who I am as a individual. I am sad for him that he has put such limitations on his life, by living in a rhetoric of closemindness and hatred.

I did, however, come to a few conclusions after having this really awkward and somewhat disturbing conversation. I wanted to understand where he was coming from. I did feel a little scared for my safety, but I was more interested in addressing where his hatred came from and what it was based on. Secondly, I didn’t see the benefit in addressing him in an upset way, I felt like it would shut the person off. Unfortunately, we were limited by the fact that he was not fluent in English.

We must keep in mind that the continual support for, and silence around these sentiments have helped spur propaganda and rhetoric for large scale conflicts that have ended in extreme violence.

I think these types of interactions are difficult when we feel our identity is being attacked, and how we respond to the attacker.  It is important to think about our safety, but also think about how disempowering it can be to not respond, and also it gives us the option of better understanding these sentiments in the world. So in honor of challenging habitual hatred let us eat some Mahshi Malfouf- Stuffed Cabbage (Origin can be argued so let's just say Arabic style!)

Recipe at the bottom

FILM: PARADISE NOW

SYNOPSIS: "In Nablus, on the West Bank, there live two friends who have known each other for years. Said and Khaled, two Palestinian people, who have experienced living under another nations rule for their whole lives. They feel oppression, humiliation and consider themselves prisoners in their own land. As soon as a friend presents to them an opportunity to avenge their way of life, the filmmaker follows their steps as they prepare themselves for their final act of resistance, a suicide mission in Tel-Aviv." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445620/synopsis)

I highly recommend watching this film.

Mahshi Malfouf Recipe

(recipe from http://homemade-recipes.blogspot.com/2009/11/malfouf-recipe-mahshi-malfouf-rolls.html)

This recipe of mahshi malfouf rolls (Stuffed Cabbage) is very delicious, you should try!

Ingredients

• 1 Medium Cabbage
• 1 ½ cups ground beef or ground lamb
• 1 medium diced onion
• 1 cup short grain rice
•  Garlic you need few whole garlic cloves peeled and some minced.
• Optional, you may use whole head of garlic with the peel in between the layers
• 2 to 3 teaspoons of the following spices: Cumin, Caraway, Coriander, Cinnamon, Salt and Black Pepper. You may all the above spices or omit whichever you do not like to use.
• Cooking oil
• 1 cup Lemon juice 
• 1 cup water or as needed

Preparation

1. Wash and drain rice
2. Mix up the ground meat, diced onions and rice; add cooking oil and the spices (Cumin, Caraway, Coriander, Salt and Black Pepper) set aside.
3. Prepare your cabbage leaves by separating the leaves from the cabbage head. Cut away stems, save them and use them at the bottom of the pot.
4. Boil the leaves a few at a time in boiling salted water until they are soft enough to roll.
5. Prepare stuffing of meat, rice, salt, pepper and the above spices
6. Cut the leaves to form a cigar size roll. Place stuffing on each leaf, fold sides toward center and roll up from bottom into a cigar shape (similar with stuffed vine leaves). Do not over stuff; make sure that you have space for the rice to expand inside the cabbage rolls.
7. Press together firmly. Place layer of the saved stems
8. Place the whole garlic heads in between the rolled Malfouf.
9. Sprinkle with salt, caraway and cumin in between layers. Add water, boil then simmer for an hour to an hour and a half. Half way through the cooking time add crushed garlic on top. Let simmer. Simmer gently until rice is tender in barely enough water to cover. Invert your pot in a platter
10. You may serve this dish hot or at room temperature, depends on your personal taste.

Justifying Jealousy

I was recently inspired to write a blog on the role that jealously plays in our lives, after talking to my friend their family problems. The word jealous is usually associated with something very negative. But do we ever stop and think about why we are jealous of someone else? Does it have to do with what they have, or is it actually something we feel is missing in our own lives? I think jealousy is natural, but where we often fail is in recognizing our own jealousy, accepting it, examining what it says about ourselves, and then moving forward accordingly.

It seems more appropriate to keep our jealousy hidden, to deny it, and create negative thoughts, words, and actions towards others. How many conflicts are started out of jealousy? Do we really want another to suffer, or have less than we have, or do we just want to feel fulfilled ourselves? Does someone’s success remind us that we may not be where we want to be? We are all works in progress, but unexamined jealousy only stops us from moving forward. How many people do you know who are still consumed by their jealousy of another person?

We must learn to face jealousy, to take away its negative stigma, to be honest with ourselves, and then we will be able to have more real relationships with others. The Ten Commandments in the bible says “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods, nor his wife, nor his calf” but what if you do? How do we deal with exploring what jealousy really is? We are just told it is not good. Though I do not have an answer myself, I constantly try to figure where my feelings come from, and what they say about me rather than the other person.

Think about how many international conflicts start over what one group of people has, and what another group of people wants. How can we apply these ideas of jealousy to understanding large scale conflicts? It is difficult to pick an international conflict and say that jealousy is the primary reason why the conflict happened, but it is possible to examine how jealousy contributed to escalating different conflicts.

 Traveling to different countries and cultures has helped me access for myself what things are really important. It has also challenged me to reevaluate what I value, and appreciate the similarities and differences we all have. It can be difficult to accept that someone may be better at something than we ourselves are. By knowing our own strengths and valuing our own abilities we may be able to better appreciate other peoples’ strengths too.

So in honor of redefining jealousy (yes, I said it), and learning more about ourselves and others in the process, let’s eat some Mast-O Khiar (Iranian Yogurt and Cucumber Dip)!

Recipe is below

DOCUMENTARY: FOUR WIVES-ONE MAN 

SYNOPSIS: "Persson reveals the intricacies of the relationships between the four wives, their husband, their astoundingly free-spoken mother-in-law and their numerous children. Sometimes humorous and often heartbreaking, this film follows the daily lives of the wives whose situation has turned them into both bitter rivals and co-conspirators against their abusive husband. Persson’s camera unobtrusively and beautifully captures the range of the family’s interactions – from peaceful, pastoral scenes of a family picnic, to the temporary chaos caused by a broken faucet in the kitchen, to a furtive, whispered conversation between two wives about the latest beating. Avoiding sensationalism and sentimentality, this film provides unique insights into the practice of polygamy and its effect on the women involved."

Please keep in mind this film is not provided for judgement against Polygamy, but it is posted for those who watch to keep in mind the role jealousy plays in all of our lives.

Mast-O Khiar (Cucumber Dip Persian Style) 

Ingredients for Mast-O Khiar (Yogurt and Cucumber Dip) 

recipe from: http://www.justbestrecipes.com/egg-dish/mast-o-khiar-persian-yogurt-and-cucumber-dip.html

• 1 English cucumber, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 3 cups whole milk yogurt, drained (read intro)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup green onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped (NOT dried)
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill weed, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
• 3 tablespoons walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Garnish

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons fresh rose petals, cut into ribbons
• 1 dried rose bud

Preparation of Mast-O Khiar

1. Chop cumber and walnuts
2. In a serving bowl combine the cucumber, raisins, yogurt, sour cream, scallions, mint, dill, garlic and walnuts.
3. Stir mixture thoroughly and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cover and refrigerate dip for at least 1 hour before serving.
5. When ready to serve, garnish with the mint, rose petals and the rose bud, if using.
6. Serve with pita bread triangles, Arabic bread, crostini, etc.   

Evoking Humility

Humility is a word we say often, but do we always put it into action? As we all need our egos fed, we can find ourselves stepping on others to raise ourselves. I often wonder why it is so difficult for so many of us to remain humble. Sometimes I think our lack of humility happens when we do not feel appreciated, recognized as an individual, or valued as intelligent.  When these needs becomes too great many of us will go to great lengths to show others that we are better than the next person.

I will say that the more I travel, the more I meet people from different cultures, the more I have needed to focus on working on my own humility. There have been so many situations in which I have done something that was probably seen by others as inappropriate, or culturally insensitive. For example, when I visited Senegal I was placed with a host family that did not speak English, and I did not speak French or Wolof. The constant miscommunication could be frustrating at times. I tried my best to learn Wolof. I felt so inept like a child who was constantly trying, but could not achieve success.  When I finally learned how to tell my host family the phrase “I will see you later, as I left their house I walked down the street and looked back,  I yelled “I will see you later” in Wolof.  I had actually mispronounced a word and said “I am ugly.” I still laugh thinking of their faces and how stupid I looked screaming “I am ugly” while waving and smiling. But these are the situations that we must laugh at, and we must allow ourselves room to mess up and feel a little stupid. Our humility can be tested when we are learning something new.  I could probably write a book of all of the embarrassing things I have done and said while traveling.

We can’t assume we know everything, nor can we go into another culture and teach others about themselves. Even if we have read all the books on culture and history of another people, we still must understand that our knowledge is so limited. And we need the humility to learn from others almost like a child, asking questions and listening. This is especially true in Conflict Resolution or for anyone working in a foreign country or culture.

Recent events (such as the Kony campaign)  got me thinking about how someone can come in from the outside, and work within different cultures and communities in a helpful way, without disempowering the people around them. The two requirements I’ve come to so far are humility and collaboration. When we are in a new setting or culture, we need the humility to understand that no matter how many books we read on a culture, community, or country, that when we get there we really know very little about anything. And we must stay humble, because we cannot assume we know what is right for other people. We can however use our strengths and knowledge to find ways to collaborate with the people we work with. Almost like a yin and yang.

A formal education does not mean you have more ability or are smarter than anyone else. It just means you were blessed with opportunities that another person does not have. There is so much wisdom all around us, but so many people are too busy thinking about the next phrase they can say that will make themselves seem intelligent. Stop talking and start listening!

So in honor of collaboration, listening, and humility let’s make some Burmese Curry Chicken with Noodles!

Burma/Myanmar is an ethnically diverse country with a complex history. It has been in Conflict for over 50 years, and has been ruled by a military regime up until 2011. There has been tight control over the media in Burma. There have also been reports of severe human rights abuses among them state sanctioned rape and torture. The documentary below captures rare images and stories of the abuses that occurred in Burma.

  

DOCUMENTARY: BURMA VJ

 SYNOPSIS

"Anders Ostergaard's award-winning documentary takes a rare look inside the 2007 uprising in Myanmar through the cameras of the independent journalist group, Democratic Voice of Burma. While 100,000 people (including thousands of Buddhist monks) took to the streets to protest the country’s repressive regime that has held them hostage for over 40 years, foreign news crews were banned to enter and the Internet was shut down. The Democratic Voice of Burma, a collective of 30 anonymous and underground video journalists (VJs) recorded these historic and dramatic events on handycams and smuggled the footage out of the country, where it was broadcast worldwide by major news organizations. Risking torture and life imprisonment, the VJs vividly document the brutal clashes with the military and undercover police even after they themselves become targets of the authorities."

Burmese Chicken Curry, and the Asian Grandmother’s Cookbook

BURMESE CHICKEN CURRY WITH NOODLES
From The Asian Grandmother’s Cookbook, by Pat Tanumihardja
Serves 6
3 tbs fish sauce (plus extra for topping, if desired)
3 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs chopped garlic (about 3 cloves)
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated (about 2 tbs)
2 tsp ground turmeric
2 lbs, boneless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
(make this vegetarian by subbing tofu. I’d use a firm tofu and rip it into pieces, rather than cutting it—the uneven edge will catch more sauce)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tsp ground paprika
3 13.5-oz cans of coconut milk (5 cups, total)
7 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup garbanzo bean flour (I’d recommend toasting briefly in a dry pan until fragrant), mixed into
(I couldn't find garbanzo bean flour, so I researched possible substitutes)
1/2 cup warm water, to make a smooth, runny paste
2 pounds fresh or 1 pound dried rice noodles
6 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices
4 tbs ground dried red chilies, pan roasted until dark and fragrant (optional)
1 large sweet onion, halved and cut into slivers, then soaked in water
1 cup cilantro, chopped
3 lemons, quartered
Combine the fish sauce, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and turmeric in a bowl. Add the chicken and mix well (use gloves if you want to protect your fingernails from being stained yellow by the turmeric). Set aside.
Chop two of the three onions
In a large pot, heat the oil until runny and shimmering (1-2 minutes). Stir in the two chopped onions and cook until translucent (3-4 minutes). Add the paprika and mix well.
Add the chicken and mix well. Raise the heat to medium-high and stir to cook throughly, about 4-5 minutes. Add the coconut milk and stock and bring to a boil. Still constantly to prevent curdling. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, stir in the garbanzo bean flour paste and return to a boil. Simmer until the sauce thickens (5-10 minutes). Taste and add more fish sauce or soy sauce, as desired. Reduce heat and keep warm until serving.
Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water and drain. Rinse and place in a large bowl, adding a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.
Drain the slivered onion and pat dry.
Divide the noodles among individual bowls and ladle the curry sauce over them (about a cup and a half). Garnish with eggs, chilies, cilantro, onion, caramelized onion, and lemon wedges.
Mix it all up, and then eat.

Enjoy!!

Welcoming Respect

Imagine you are sitting in a room, and someone walks by that you know. They stare straight at you, but do not even bother to greet you, or even worse turn their head away and ignore you. How does that make you feel?  In our daily life, most of us greet people multiple times in a day. In different cultures, different greetings are appropriate or considered normal. We need to be aware and open minded that we may be meeting someone with different cultural greetings than our own.

 The first time I realized how important greetings are was in Senegal. In Senegal, it is most essential that you greet everyone you know by asking them several times about themselves, their family, and their household. I enjoyed taking time out to greet people, as I am used to most people asking me how I am, and by the time I answer they are usually about 50 feet from me running in the other direction. 

 I always find it most important before I travel somewhere to learn how people greet each other. If you do not know how to properly greet someone, then how do you expect to have a meaningful conversation with them? Most recently, spending time in South America and Europe, I experienced many awkward greetings. It is almost like being on a date with an awkward first kiss. Sometimes no one knows what to do! After talking to my sister about our similar experiences with awkward greetings, she shared her philosophy of just going for it! So, when she is with a new group of people, she greets them in the most culturally appropriate way possible.

Recently, I witnessed a situation in which two people knew each other, and one chose not the greet the other. This was seen as the ultimate disrespect by the one who did not receive a greeting. Have you ever thought about the importance of the way you greet another person? Do you always greet someone by the way you feel is appropriate, or do you ever think about the way they greet people in their culture? No, we can not always get it right, and believe me I have many funny stories of greeting another person the wrong way. A few days ago I greeted my friend in Arabic and said goodnight instead of good morning, and she laughed and corrected me. But the point is that our efforts show that we are trying to respect, connect, and communicate with others. Have you ever thought about the ways that greeting and showing respect can correlate to conflict? Some scholars have argued that two of our basic needs are recognition and respect. And when those needs are threatened, the chances of conflict are increased. So take a moment to think about the way you greet others. Is there anything you need to change?

One of the most beautiful places I traveled to was Istanbul, Turkey. I was constantly greeted with kindness, hospitality, and a cup of delicious Turkish tea. In honor of wonderful Turkish meetings and greeting, let's eat some Turkish Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Aleppo Pepper!! The recipe is at the bottom.

WASTE LAND

Synopsis- "Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives." -http://www.wastelandmovie.com/synopsis.html

This documentary explores the lives of those in society who often go overlooked, by greeting, respecting, telling their story, and creating positive change.

 

  This is a delicious recipe I found online:

Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Aleppo Pepper

  Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons Aleppo pepper* or 2 teaspoons dried crushed red pepper plus 2 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika, plus additional Aleppo pepper or paprika for sprinkling
• 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek-style yogurt** (8 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 garlic cloves, peeled, flattened
• 2 unpeeled lemons; 1 thinly sliced into rounds, 1 cut into wedges for serving 2 1/4 pounds skinless boneless chicken (thighs and/or breast halves), cut into 1 1/4-inch cubes
• Flat metal skewers or Wood skewers (if you are using the oven)

Preparation

If using Aleppo pepper, place in large bowl and mix in 1 tablespoon warm water. Let stand until thick paste forms, about 5 minutes. If using dried crushed red pepper and paprika combination, place in large bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons warm water and let stand until paste forms, about 5 minutes. Add yogurt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper to spice mixture in bowl; whisk to blend. Stir in garlic and lemon slices, then chicken. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Thread chicken pieces on metal skewers, dividing equally. 

 Discard marinade in bowl. Sprinkle each skewer with salt, pepper, and additional Aleppo pepper or paprika. Brush grill rack with oil. Grill chicken until golden brown and cooked through, turning skewers occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes total. Transfer skewers to platter. Surround with lemon wedges and serve.

If you do not have a barbecue you may also put the skewers in the oven (use the wood skewers). Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Put chicken in the oven for 30 minutes.

*A slightly sweet Syrian pepper with a moderate heat level; available at some specialty foods stores and from wholespice.com.

** A thick yogurt; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores (such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods markets) and Greek markets. If unavailable, place regular yogurt in cheesecloth-lined strainer set over large bowl. Cover and chill overnight to drain.

 

Ingredient tip:
Aleppo pepper is sold finely ground or crushed into small flakes; either one will work well in this recipe.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com:80/recipes/food/views/Yogurt-Marinated-Chicken-Kebabs-with-Aleppo-Pepper-353832#ixzz1noKRZE7S

Zevk!

http://bewitchingkitchen.com/2010/01/05/turkish-chicken-kebabs/