Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Middle East and North Africa	It's SATURDAY!!!	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 27 2007, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone know how to get permanent marker out of something white? I accidently washed something with a marker in the pocket and now it has a few black spots on it. I'm going to try bleach but I just thought I'd ask to see if anyone knows of something else that works miracles? I drop sharpies on white shirts all the time... bleach pens always work for me.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-27 23:22:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	Happy Thursday!!!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-25 09:30:00
Middle East and North Africa	Wednesday	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 31 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (allousa @ Oct 31 2007, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 31 2007, 11:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 31 2007, 07:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 31 2007, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They can't get their Christmas presents today! It's Halloween! Oh look, it's the holiday police. I must be the holiday general then! I get so IRKED when Christmas decorations come out before Thanksgiving is even over. I KNOW that everyone does not feel the same, but AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH...that drives me NUTS!!!!! I understand. I was so annoyed when I went to Costco about a month ago and saw Christmas decorations. All I could do was shake my head! I went to the mall on my lunch break ( ) and Macy's has decorations up too!!!!! I love Christmas... but even I get irritated when they're putting decorations up this early. I don't mind when they're up for Thanksgiving, but before Halloween?!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-31 12:20:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday in MENA	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 18 2007, 11:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 18 2007, 10:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (hollyw @ Oct 18 2007, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Speaking of the cheesecake factory, have any of the boston area folk been out to the natick mall since they finished the renovation? it's nuts! No, but they just put in a Cheescake Factory at the Northshore Mall, so I'm pumped. I usually hate chain restaurants but I make an exception because of the cheescake factor. I hope that we'll go for some work lunches, but everyone here seems to think that it's really hard to get a table there. I've never had a problem getting a table quickly there. Not that I would plan to go on a Fri or Sat night. Pumpkin Cheesecake: They did??????? Gosh you can tell I haven't been there in a while!!! The girls keep making me go to the Burlington mall since that's where the Hollister store is. Actually we're going there again this weekend to buy their winter coats but whenever we're there we end up eating at the Rainforest Cafe. I love love love the cheesecake factory's chinese chicken salad but I equally adore the salads at the Rainforeset cafe so they always win out. There's a Rainforest Cafe in the burlington mall??? no way... I obviously haven't been there in a while The chinese chicken salad is also one of my favorites at the cheesecake factory... I soooo wish that I could have that for lunch	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-18 10:19:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday in MENA	QUOTE (mybackpages @ Oct 18 2007, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sara535 @ Oct 18 2007, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I guess I am a freak but I am not big on the pumpkin spice flavor thingys. however MBP I would be very curious to see that lasagna recipe, pretty much anything that includes butternut squash sounds pretty good to me right off the bat. I will definately look for it. It was sooo good. One of my favorties along this same line is butter nut squash ravioli. I can buy that at teh market- pricey but sooo good. I was just going to mention this, in the fall it's one of my favorites too - especially with some sage cream sauce. The fresh pasta store down the street has pumpkin varieties too, but I haven't tried those yet.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-18 09:50:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday in MENA	QUOTE (77Maureen @ Oct 18 2007, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A pumpkin latte?? I never heard of that. Is this a drink that only comes around during Halloween time? I might have to try it. There is not a Starbucks near me, I wonder if Tim Hortons sells it?? I hope everybody has a great Thursday!! Pumpkin flavored anything is usually a seasonal flavor I think... and I love it... yum! We've had Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee at work lately and I love love love the pumpkin latte at starbucks. One other thing I love that should be in season now... the pumpkin pecan cheesecake at the cheesecake factory... oh man... Speaking of the cheesecake factory, have any of the boston area folk been out to the natick mall since they finished the renovation? it's nuts!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-18 09:24:00
Middle East and North Africa	MENA/USA marriages	I don't really eat pork anymore. I'll eat it if I'm out in a restaurant, but we don't cook it at home. I had to get used to checking on ingredient labels for pork. I also don't see my friends as much, but I think that's mostly because they're all in the city and I'm outside of the city. i still see my guy friends, although most of them are gay. I think the biggest adjustments for me aren't cultural, just adjusting to married life. i have had to learn to COMPROMISE	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-07-11 13:04:00
Middle East and North Africa	Dramatic MENA MILs?	I can't say that my mother in law is very dramatic, for the most part she's pretty laid back (at least as far as mother in laws go). She does, however, get very dramatic whenever my husband is there visiting and it comes time for him to leave. She starts crying about a week before. IMO that's a bit much. My mom and I have a fantastic relationship and I don't think she's ever cried once when i've left and I haven't lived at home since I was 15 (boarding school, college, etc). That's not to say that she doesn't miss me, but it's just not very emotional. So maybe it's just me not being used to it, but sometimes it's just like ugh. She also gets very upset that I don't call every week to say hi. Honestly, I talk to my husband's family more than I talk to some of my own... my family just isn't the kind that needs to talk to each other every day/week or whatever. With the time difference between here and there it's just not possible a lot of the time - I'm up at 6am to go to work (and I just can't wake up any earlier than that to call and chit chat) and normally I don't get home from work until after 8 or 9 at night, I get home, eat, and go to bed... I get a chance to call about every three weeks or so. So my husband gets an earfull everytime he calls home about how much I don't call. Does this happen to anyone else?? Am I the only one that doesn't call daily/weekly? I think some of it is that she just doesn't understand how much my job is a part of my life - she couldn't understand why I couldn't take off a month to visit with my husband. HA! a month! I don't even think I could have gotten a week right now... I'm sure it sounds like I'm being insensitive and I really do love her a lot and she only wants me to call because she loves me, but this is something I've been needing to vent about for awhile Edited by hollyw, 18 October 2007 - 08:47 AM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-18 08:46:00
Middle East and North Africa	speaking of breakups...	Good for you!!!!!! and Congratulations!!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-18 11:10:00
Middle East and North Africa	How Many Times Did you Meet Before Your Interview?	I didn't vote because the questions didn't really apply to me. We lived together in France for one year and I visited six times in the year following that (when I was living in the US). Then we went to Algeria and filed DCF. I was there when we dropped off the papers (because I was required to be) and there was no interview. The visa was approved and visa was ready a couple days later.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-22 19:08:00
Middle East and North Africa	Wake up sleepy heads!	QUOTE (amira_ordonia @ Oct 22 2007, 05:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Today sucks! I just dislocated my knee Anyone have tips on popping it back into place? Ugh, I dislocated my knee playing college soccer. NOT FUN. *Luckily* mine popped back into place almost as soon as it popped out, but it still killed. I was in rehab for the rest of the season... good luck!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-22 18:37:00
Middle East and North Africa	Duh, Monday	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 8 2007, 09:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's rainy here today. It's Columbus Day and I feel like my dept is the only one in Boston working. Traffic was very light though so that's good. We're getting ready for the year end financials and the annual audit so everyone is stressed out. I have work today too The rain was so heavy this morning I thought about calling in sick. But by the time I hit snooze 3 times I was awake anyways. The traffic was light on my way to work too ...the only good thing about working when everyone has the day off. I went up to VT this weekend and met my parents and some aunts, uncles, and cousins at our family's house... we went alpine sliding... SO FUN!!!!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-08 09:15:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 11 2007, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (hollyw @ Oct 11 2007, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (MrsAmera @ Oct 11 2007, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jeez I go shopping at the food talk occurs lol! I didn't make them yet! I ended up just making pizzas. I might go for it tonight but I think I'm going to make taco salads with the works. Did our eid shopping - spent too much money but Youssef is going to be so psyched!!! We were talking about clothes etc. the other day and he said "oh i'd really like a new pair of jeans, and shoes." So I got him a pair of Levi's 501s at Macy's for $10!!!!! I also got him a silk cashmere blend pull over sweater with a hood (he has wanted one for like 2 years and I finally found one!). The Usher cologne, some pj pants and a pair of more like sweat pants. Ohhh and a pair of Crocs lol he's been eyeing them up since he came and i got them on sale for $10 too! So I didn't wrap them but I put them into a big Macy's bag - and layered it, with his jeans and sweater on the bottom, Pj and sweat pants, them the cologne, crocs on top and THEN Khalil's eid clothes. LOL he's going to think i just went on a kids clothes shopping spree (which happens every month or so!) Yay! Awww, that's really cute!!! I haven't been celebrating Ramadan, but I wish I was with my husband so we could celebrate Eid! Is he in Algeria for Ramadan? Yea! He went home for a month..... after about one week he was ready to come home	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-11 19:55:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	QUOTE (MrsAmera @ Oct 11 2007, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jeez I go shopping at the food talk occurs lol! I didn't make them yet! I ended up just making pizzas. I might go for it tonight but I think I'm going to make taco salads with the works. Did our eid shopping - spent too much money but Youssef is going to be so psyched!!! We were talking about clothes etc. the other day and he said "oh i'd really like a new pair of jeans, and shoes." So I got him a pair of Levi's 501s at Macy's for $10!!!!! I also got him a silk cashmere blend pull over sweater with a hood (he has wanted one for like 2 years and I finally found one!). The Usher cologne, some pj pants and a pair of more like sweat pants. Ohhh and a pair of Crocs lol he's been eyeing them up since he came and i got them on sale for $10 too! So I didn't wrap them but I put them into a big Macy's bag - and layered it, with his jeans and sweater on the bottom, Pj and sweat pants, them the cologne, crocs on top and THEN Khalil's eid clothes. LOL he's going to think i just went on a kids clothes shopping spree (which happens every month or so!) Yay! Awww, that's really cute!!! I haven't been celebrating Ramadan, but I wish I was with my husband so we could celebrate Eid!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-11 14:49:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 11 2007, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (polarbear @ Oct 11 2007, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 11 2007, 01:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 11 2007, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 11 2007, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 11 2007, 09:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 11 2007, 12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Amera: Did you make calzone? How weird -- I made calzone last night! I am craving calzone! What kind did you make? I prefer calzone without tomato sauce or ricotta. Last night I put fresh basil, mozzarella, parmiggiano, mushrooms, and whole eggs (so the yolk breaks when you eat it, yum!). I kind of feel like making them again tonight actually -- what's up with the craving, huh? I'm hungry is what's up! Ever since I talked to Amera about calzone I have been wanting some. I have never heard of it with whole eggs, that sounds good! I'm just craving potatoes and more potatoes!!! That potatoe recipie sounds good and I think I'm going to have to try it tonight I also have a recipie for potatoe and parmesian covered chicken cutlets (my 3 favorite things) lol, looks like i'm going to the grocery store on my way home from work!! yummm!!! I can't decide between calzone or shepherds pie tonight with a mashed potatoe crust. yummmm shepherd's pie is one of my favorites. i make a very simple scottish version.. that sounds so good	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-11 12:37:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	thank god it's thurday. if it were any earlier in the week i might not make it through. i just had a phone interview for a job i applied to. the job sounds PERFECT. i would kill for this position. i was on such a high when i first got off the phone because it felt like it went really well. now i'm second guessing my answers and am worried about all of the oher applications that they are considering... i hate when that happens! i reallllllllllly need to get out of my current job.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-11 12:00:00
Middle East and North Africa	Eid menu	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 12 2007, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 12 2007, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's a no-go on my family recipe. We had my grandmother's lamb a couple of Easters ago and Wadi was less than impressed...especially by the mint jelly! I have to agree with him that mine is much better, though I'll never tell grandma! Ewww mint jelly! Ever since I was a kid and thought it was green jello I've never been able to stomach it.... Edited by hollyw, 12 October 2007 - 05:04 PM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-12 17:03:00
Middle East and North Africa	HUMP DAY	HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!!!	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-17 09:26:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday what's for iftar?	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 2 2007, 01:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (hollyw @ Oct 2 2007, 09:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tonight I'm making "slow-sauteed" chicken breasts over watercress, black eyed pea salad, spoon bread (like a corn meal souffle), and a raspberry cobbler. My husband's in Algeria (and already ready to come home!) so I'm having some friends of ours over. I guess it's not technically an iftar meal, since none of us are fasting, but it's a meal! Today I'm in a cooking mood, but our iftar meals (before my husband went home) were pretty sad.. pizza, leftovers, chinese takeout, california pizza kitchen (or as my husband calls it... california pizza chicken )... meh. That's funny. Hicham says "Pizza California Kitchen". I don't know why but I don't question it! hahah!! what's horrible is that I have started to saying california pizza chicken too...	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-02 12:50:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday what's for iftar?	Tonight I'm making "slow-sauteed" chicken breasts over watercress, black eyed pea salad, spoon bread (like a corn meal souffle), and a raspberry cobbler. My husband's in Algeria (and already ready to come home!) so I'm having some friends of ours over. I guess it's not technically an iftar meal, since none of us are fasting, but it's a meal! Today I'm in a cooking mood, but our iftar meals (before my husband went home) were pretty sad.. pizza, leftovers, chinese takeout, california pizza kitchen (or as my husband calls it... california pizza chicken )... meh.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-02 11:51:00
Middle East and North Africa	Need MENA guidance on some personal choices	What I would do, if you could figure out how to do it, is apply to the American University of Cairo and finish up your degree there. I know a couple people that have gone there and loved it. You could even just take classes that you know can get transferred to count towards your degree. My best friend finished up her degree in Scotland... you just have to make sure your current school will accept the credits so you actually get credits. I lived with my husband for a year and went to school in Paris, but then had to come home to finish up in Boston. I wanted to finish school and he lived in a different country. At the time finishing school was priority #1 for me. But if you can figure out a way to make it work i think it would be an awesome experience ETA I just realized i don't know if your husband lives in cairo, but that school is just an example of a place i know that americans have gone Edited by hollyw, 28 September 2007 - 02:50 PM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-28 14:49:00
Middle East and North Africa	Happy Birthday Sarah!!!!	HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaand i officially have too much free time at work.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-05 12:55:00
Middle East and North Africa	Friday	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 5 2007, 03:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (polarbear @ Oct 5 2007, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 5 2007, 02:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Oct 5 2007, 02:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Oct 5 2007, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What exactly is tiramisu? Jackie lady fingers with kahlua and marscipone cheese, mmmmmmmmm ETA: In Italian, it literally means "pick me up". Just a little trivia there....I don't think it's much of a pick me up, but it is darn good. The Trader Joe kind doesn't have kahlua, just coffee. I think. Oh gawd now I have to go check the box! I had one of those moments this morning.... I hate it when that happens. I seriously hope the Trader Joe kind doesn't have the alchohol. I found the box. It has Marsala Wine in it. Who the heck puts Marsala wine in their tiramisu?????? I'll have to toss it now. i have a fantastic EASY recipe for tiramisu without the alcohol. Easy Tiramisu Ingredients: 3/4 cup brewed coffee, room temperature 1 (8 ounce) package marscarpone, softened 3/4 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 2-3 tablespoons sugar 20 ladyfingers 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder Directions: In a medium bowl, stir coffee and half of the marscarpone together until well blended and all of the chunks are gone. In a different bowl beat the heavy cream and vanilla until it stiff peaks form (until it becomes whipped cream). Beat remaining marscarpone cheese into the whipped cream until well blended. Add sugar to taste (you want it to be sweet, but not too sweet it will ruin the tiramisu). Place 10 lady's fingers at the bottom of a bread baking pan. Pour half of the coffee mixture over lady's fingers. Smooth half of the whipped cream mixture over those. Repeat layer with the remaining ingredients. Sprinkle with cocoa powder. YUM... now, FYI, it's not really tiramisu cause its not made with espresso and there are no eggs in it... but its soooo easy and good. ETA... sometimes i brew espresso, but when im really lazy i just brew the coffee extra strong and it tastes fine Edited by hollyw, 05 October 2007 - 02:30 PM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-10-05 14:28:00
Middle East and North Africa	Slightly sensitive Muslim topic re: Ramadan :) (ladies only please)	I'm curious about something. I'm wondering how you ladies feel about the implication that you are somehow "unclean" during your period. I know that personally I would have a hard time accepting that, given that it is such a natural and God-given gift. I don't mean to offend, I'm just trying to understand. i have also had a hard time accepting this... when my husband and i were getting married we were going to the mosque to talk to the imam and my husband said "oh, but we can't go when you're sick.. we'll have to wait until next week." and i said... huh? i feel fine! and he said "well, we can't go when you're dirty" (i thought he meant cause i hadn't showered in a day ... or two... )..... i was totally clueless until he spelled it out for me.... and then i was pissed! in the beginning it also hurt a lot to know that, during that time of the month, he thought of me as unclean and sick. i had grown up believing that it was totally natural and all of a sudden, to him, i was dirty and i couldn't go to the mosque or fast or pray or hold the Qu'ran (even, at that time, i didn't want to do most of those things... the thing that bothered was i COULDNT if i had WANTED to... ). so it was hard... now i've basically come to terms with it, just like a lot of other things we've had to deal with. you adjust to each other's way of thinking just like everything else we have to adjust to. i learned not to get so pissed that he thought i was dirty and he learned not to refer to me as being dirty	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2006-09-29 15:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	It's Tuesday MENA! Wake up!	QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Sep 25 2007, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Happy Tuesday everyone! I wish I was in bed asleep until noon! Ditto. It was nice having a three day weekend. I should do that more often. Although, it made it harder to come into the office this morning.. i must have hit snooze like 9 times	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-25 11:16:00
Middle East and North Africa	Thursday	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 28 2007, 12:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> my 401k website on fidelity hehe... welcome to my world.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-28 09:00:00
Middle East and North Africa	It's Friday!	QUOTE (charlesandnessa @ Sep 28 2007, 02:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> winter is approaching - lower the thermostat and wear more clothes. i do this... saves a bunch on oil. i also have a digital thermostat and i set it on a timer so it goes off while i'm sleeping and off while i'm at work.. i can set it to turn on a little bit before i wake up/get home from work so the house isn't freezing when i get home	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-28 14:29:00
Middle East and North Africa	It's Friday!	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 28 2007, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 7) whatever you can stand buying in no name brands, do it and go to the cheapest ever grocery store you have. For me it's Market Basket shopping as opposed to Whole Foods. It's a joke with my daughters and I that when we head into Market Basket the kids go ,"uh oh mom's low on cashola this week!!!" 8) keep eating out at a bare minimum. Don't totally deny yourself but instead of a few nights/week make it a few nights/month and then it will seem like more of a treat. These two things have realllllllllly helped me save more money (and when I'm low on cash, I go to Market Basket too! it's the cheapest around here...). Some other things I try to do are: - use up unused/unopened lotions/chap sticks/body gels etc... I tend to go out and buy these things before i look to see if i have any at home and i have been able to live for a YEAR on the stuff that i already had under my sink - if i desperately need new clothes, only shop the sale rack. i also shop in my own closet. things that i haven't worn in year i suddenly love again. - bring leftovers to work for lunch, drink the free coffee, not the good stuff you have to pay for - eat EVERYTHING edible in my cabinets before i go grocery shopping - public transportation baby... if i can walk or take the train i do.. also, living in boston, it saves not only on gas but also $ for parking and is a lot less stressful - we don't eat out. we eat out about once a month. that includes take out - working at an investment firm in retirement services i should totally NOT be giving this advice or admitting that i do this, but when i'm really strapped for cash i reduce the percent taken out of my paycheck for my 401(k) by 1%... it's not much, but it gives you some room to breath... but you have to make sure that you put it back up when you're ok again if we were desperate for cash i would totally get a roommate. thats EASILY $600-$800 a month where we live AND you get to split the utilities with them. but then you're stuck with them if you emerge from your financial rut. but it might be nice to have someone around.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-28 13:30:00
Middle East and North Africa	Pity Party!!!	i wanna get in on this!!!!! today i dropped my husband off at the airport to go home for one month . the whole time leading up today i thought it would be fine for us to spend some time apart - we've both been really stressed lately with the move (we just moved and have a lot of work to do on the house) and with it being Ramadan and him working days AND nights it hasn't been easy. Then today i started feeling sad and LOST IT at the airport like i used to do when i'd have to leave Paris when we were doing long distance... it was horribly embarrasing, but i was past the point of caring. i came home, got into bed and fell asleep. then i woke up and huge chunk of a tiramisu. well like half - i ate half a tiramisu.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-24 22:19:00
Middle East and North Africa	Its Ramadan time!	QUOTE (Jenn! @ Sep 10 2007, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Caladan @ Sep 10 2007, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A prof of mine at undergrad married a Muslim girl from India, and he reported that she remarked that it wasn't hard to observe Ramadan in a community where every evening someone would be hosting the food. It felt like cheating to go to the party but not fast. One Ramadan, we were visiting Wadi's aunt and uncle in France, and I was not fasting. I remember that feeling of participating in the celebration without having "earned it". I felt like a doofus. i agree... When we were living in Paris we used to go over to my husband's aunt's place a couple nights a week to break the fast. i felt like an idiot participating without actually having earned it, so that was the year i started fasting. i didn't do it everyday, but i did it maybe half of the days. last year i was here and my husband was in Algeria and i think i did it the first 2 or 3 days and then stopped I always get excited for the start of Ramadan and then after a week its like, ughhhhhh how many hours til we can eat???? Can't wait for a couple years when it's in the middle of the summer	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-10 12:49:00
Middle East and North Africa	RaMaDaN ReCiPe	QUOTE (amira_ordonia @ Sep 13 2007, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just found this online: I think it might be similar Title: Rice pilaf with apricots~ raisins & pine nuts Categories: Rice, Vegetarian Yield: 6 Servings 1/4 c Olive oil 1 1/2 c Rice, brown;long grain 1 pn Saffron strands; opt 1/2 c Apricots, dried;snipped into -slivers 1/2 ea Cinnamon stick 8 ea Cloves 4 ea Cardamom pods; lightly -crushed -Salt & pepper 3 c -Water 2 ea Onions; peeled & sliced 1/3 c Raisins 1/2 c Pine nuts;or slivered -almonds MMMMM-------------------------TO GARNISH------------------------------ Mint sprig Heat half the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the rice and saute for 5 minutes, stirring gently. Add the saffron, if using, the apricots, spices, 1 teaspoon salt and the water. Bring to a boil, then cover tightly and leave to cook over very gentle heat for 45 minutes. Then turn off the heat and leave covered. Saute the onion in the remaining oil for 10 minutes, until softened and lightly browned. Add to the rice, together with the raisins and nuts. Check the seasonings and stir lightly with a fork. Garnish with a mint sprig to serve. YUM	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-13 13:36:00
Middle East and North Africa	RaMaDaN ReCiPe	Too late to edit in my picture of the tagine.....	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-13 11:18:00
Middle East and North Africa	RaMaDaN ReCiPe	QUOTE (Jenn! @ Sep 13 2007, 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (hollyw @ Sep 13 2007, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Jenn! @ Sep 13 2007, 11:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 13 2007, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone know if semolina is the same thing as couscous? I've never heard of it but I want to make basbousa this weekend. No, it's not the same thing. Semolina is like Cream of Wheat. ETA: I think couscous is made from semolina. Can you use Cream of Wheat in place of semolina?? Cause one time I tried that and my bread turned out kinda funky... but that also might have been because of my horrible bread baking skills... I've never been able to find anything labeled semolina in the store, maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place Well, I don't know too much about it, but I think there are two kinds of semolina: the cream of wheat kind, and the kind used for making breads and pastas. that explains so much....	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-13 11:14:00
Middle East and North Africa	RaMaDaN ReCiPe	QUOTE (MrsAmera @ Sep 13 2007, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Looking for: 1 or 2 good Moroccan/Algerian/or Tunisian main dish recipes and a salad Let's face it ladies I feel like I've cooked every Moroccan dish there is and want to find something new. So if you ahve something that's not too obscure I would like it! Here's a simple recipe that my MIL makes... I guess that makes it Algerian? Lemon Saffron Chicken Tagine with Potato Crust Ingredients: A couple pieces of chicken (I use boneless breasts, my MIL used drumsticks) Some red bliss or russet potatoes, peeled, cut into wedges and tossed in 1 tbl olive oil and seasoned with salt Marinade 1/4 cup warm water Pinch of saffron 1 tsp turmeric Salt Pepper 3 tbl lemon juice 1/2 small onion, sliced Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pour marinade over chicken and let sit for two hours in the refridgerator. Arrange chicken in a casserole dish and cover with potatoes in a spiral pattern. Place dish, uncovered, in hot oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until potatoes are tender and a bit browned. Sometimes I also add green beans to this or some kind of green veggie if we're not having a salad. I also sometimes throw tomato wedges and onion slices into the mix.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-13 11:08:00
Middle East and North Africa	RaMaDaN ReCiPe	QUOTE (Jenn! @ Sep 13 2007, 11:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 13 2007, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone know if semolina is the same thing as couscous? I've never heard of it but I want to make basbousa this weekend. No, it's not the same thing. Semolina is like Cream of Wheat. ETA: I think couscous is made from semolina. Can you use Cream of Wheat in place of semolina?? Cause one time I tried that and my bread turned out kinda funky... but that also might have been because of my horrible bread baking skills... I've never been able to find anything labeled semolina in the store, maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-13 10:43:00
Middle East and North Africa	Friday!	QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 14 2007, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> aww Jackie sounds like you got some good medicine last night!!!!!! You are well on your way to recovery I think! Wish you could come over my house for iftar some night!!!!! I'll make the greek soup that I fell in love with last night! Here's' the recipe: http://www.kolias.co...s/greeksoup.htm Greek Avgolemono Soup Here is the recipe for that famous and delicious Greek Avgolemono soup (a.k.a. Greek soup, lemon soup, chicken and lemon soup, chicken and lemon and egg soup). It may be known by different names, but we often just call it THE soup. Ingredients: 8 cups chicken broth. 3 medium eggs. 1/2 cup rice. Juice from two lemons. Salt. 1. Bring chicken broth to a boil. Salt to taste. 2. Add rice, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. 3. Remove from fire. 4. In a blender, beat the three eggs, slowly add the lemon juice to the eggs. 5. Add one cup of chicken broth, do not stop blending. The constant blending is the secret to prevent curdling of this delicious soup. 6. When the eggs and broth are well mixed, pour this mixture back into the remaining broth and rice. 7. Stir well over heat, but do not allow to boil. Serves 6 I haven't tried it yet but it sounds exactly like the one I had last night. I'm cooking it tonight since I'm now addicted so I'll let you know how it is tomorrow. oh man that sounds like this egg drop soup i used to get at our friday night greek restaurant when i was a kid... sooooooo good. well, thank god it's friday. hopefully my husband and i will be all the way moved in and sleeping in our new apartment by Sunday. what. a. nightmare. it doesn't help that i married THE most obsessive compulsive person on this planet... and i thought i was bad... geez.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-14 08:54:00
Middle East and North Africa	Happy Thursday!	Happy Thursday everyone!! My husband and I are almost done painting our new apartment. Well... I'M almost done, my husband IS done. Since he works nights, I've been there alone everynight this week trying to get it done before we move in our furniture this week. Can't wait til we're finished! I'm exhausted... I didn't realize that I came into work this morning covered in paint. I haven't gotten up from my desk much today so no one's really noticed. I can't believe that Ramadan starts in a week!! I haven't had much time to think about it. I feel like there was a lot more excitement on the board last year leading up to Ramadan. Well, I'm excited!! I'm not muslim, but I like to celebrate with my husband and participate in the fasting when I can. I'm looking forward to dusting off my recipe box and using my new kitchen! Edited by hollyw, 06 September 2007 - 11:59 AM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-06 11:59:00
Middle East and North Africa	Happy Friday	QUOTE (amira_ordonia @ Sep 7 2007, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (julianna @ Sep 7 2007, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (amira_ordonia @ Sep 7 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm here...still eating soup....lost 10 lbs....I hate soup How long have you been a soup-eater? You only eating soup? Ammar just got promoted and a raise today, so it's exciting! almost 2 weeks now but I eat other stuff too. I'm just sick of the soup. Its beginning to have gaglike qualities. I've done that soup diet quite a few times... i know EXACTLY what you mean. After a while the smell of the soup used to make me wanna vomit. I used to get really excited about the baked potato day.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-09-07 14:53:00
Middle East and North Africa	Looking for work... Driving me crazy!!!!!!!	Yeah, Doodle, my husband is the same way. I'd suggest doing what I did, give him a map and run to a few places a few times using main streets.. once he can orient himself to main streets and then to your home or work, he's got it made. I'm getting him a mbta pass, and a map and letting him just go free. lol. i did the same with my husband and now he knows parts of boston better than be and i've lived here my whole life . one really FANTASTIC thing that my family bought him for xmas was this Not for Tourists guide to boston... it has really great stuff in it like T stops and bus stops and ATM locations and bank locations and gas stations, grocery stores, dunkin donuts, etc... it's great! it's divided into neighborhoods so everything is easy to find	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-07-30 12:06:00
Middle East and North Africa	Looking for work... Driving me crazy!!!!!!!	It seems like few of the husbands is interested in pursuing education here, why is that? We all live here and know that education and training is the fastest way to a successful career. Sure, it might take a small investment in the beginning, and time, but the pay off long term is far more substantial than scraping by to save money for a business. My husband started with a Business ESL program at UMass Boston last spring and this fall will finish the classes he needs to take (he had some credits transfered from university in algeria/france) to get his bachelor's degree - it has been WONDERFUL for him. Not only is he getting his education which is worth a ton and will eventually get him a better job, he is making friends, learning the language, getting around the city on his own, building his confidence, etc etc. If you go to a state school it's not a huge expense at all - about $100 a credit (at least in MA or at a community college). Most state schools offer night classes too so you can work around a work schedule. Edited by hollyw, 24 July 2007 - 11:52 AM.	hollyw	Female	Algeria	2007-07-24 11:50:00