ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married
"She" is actually a he, and I hope they will explain what they're talking about.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-06 11:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married

mena guys want to get married thinking they can have better grip than fiancè route. fact!

i don't get your point here, at all. what are you saying?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-05 23:51:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married

As a muslim, i am curious to know where you read about people here being irreligious or nominally christians? my wife is a christian, and i would take it very offensive if you called her irreligious as you know nothing about her and her christian background. I take it as you are not a practicing muslim and pribably most likely pray on during ramadan and skip the rest of the year critizing christians on here. Is this what Islam has tought you? to be sarcastic against others who come here asking for help? I truly hope my wife learns nothing from you here. I dont like what you write here.

you didn't understand a word i wrote.
i don't care one way or another if anyone on this forum is the most atheistic atheist that ever was, or the most christian of all the christians that ever was. but like it or not, it is not orthodox in the christian faith to get married in a masjid, under any circumstances. it is just as unorthodox in christianity to get married in a masjid as it would be for a muslim to get married at st. peter's in rome.
i don't care if you don't like that. or if your fiance doesn't like it. it's not my business, and i'm not making it my business how religious either of you two are. but no matter how much you pitch a fit about it on the internet, or throw around baseless accusations about me, it still remains unorthodox for christians to get married in masjids. like it or lump it.
and since i became a member here in 2006, it's been my observation that there are a whole lot of women here who are christian but married in masjids. but i don't know of a single muslim male married to a christian who has been married in a church. it's an interesting phenomena, with likely a whole lot of varied reasons.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-04 22:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married
no idea, but then i don't understand the big poufy dress thing at weddings, or stupid cakes and all that nonsense. weddings and people's preferences for certain things at weddings are nutty, imo.
you hit on a really important thing there, re. some women on this forum throwing out their religious preferences for that of their spouse's at weddings. some people are irreligious, but nominally christian, and don't care one way or another. but that many?
there's a trend on vj mena anyways, from my observation. as a muslim it's not like i'm advocating for muslims to get married to their christian spouses in churches, but i wonder why it's so often my way or the highway for how lots of mena guys want to get married.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-03 20:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married
Perhaps the issue is that the Justice of the Peace will probably not be Muslim? But the officiant at the Egyptian embassy is more likely to be? Who knows.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-03 18:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married

no one is dogging her here... I asked, she answered, no need for you to be condesending as usual to most of us here.

She said on the first page they had both agreed to not get married by their respective faiths' officiants. What's condescending is telling other people what issues they should or shouldn't have, religiously, because your family was cool with what you did. You are not her. your family is not hers. Another family's objections to that kind of a wedding ceremony does not inevitably mean they have issues with her marrying a Muslim in the first place either, it could be a myriad other issues or reasons!
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-03 17:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married

I too come from a strong christian family but they all understand one thing, and that is we all believe in the same God no matter where we attend our christian services, so marrying in a mosque should not be the issue with a christian family unless of course they have issues of you marrying a muslim to begin with.

Two years ago tomorrow,, I married my loving husband at the mosque by an Imam and witnesses. The Imam spoke of marriage in great detail and the importance of marriage. Our marriage is valid, and its also recognized in Morocco due to the fact we were married by a muslim and not the courthouse.

Best of luck...

There are plenty of Christian religious issues that can arise from a marriage taking place in a masjid, involving a Christian that have nothing to do with "issues of you marrying a Muslim". What squares away for you religiously might not for someone else. What you did is certainly not orthodox by any means, religiously. No one is hassling you about that, and they shouldn't, but it's weird the way you're dogging her here.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-03 16:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married
" We will be marrying as soon as he arrives."

Really, people.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-02 23:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestions about Getting Married

I'm sorry my first post was not very clear. My fiance and I want to be married in the United States of America. He would like to be married in the Egyptian Embassy, which is also in the United States.

Yes, we've met. I have visited him 3 times in Egypt, and on one of those trips we also traveled to Turkey together. We do not want to marry in Egypt at all. My questions are regarding getting married at the Egyptian Embassy or an Egyptian Consulate--all of which are in the US. I'm not sure if that is possible or even how to do that. He tells me it is possible, so I just want some information on where to start figuring out how to make that happen.

It's not you, it's them. Your original post was clear as day.
"My fiance and I are beginning the talk about how we will get married in the United States"
I don't know how it gets more clear than that, but oh well.

Edited by sandinista!, 02 February 2013 - 11:45 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-02 23:41:00
Middle East and North AfricaMoroccan K1 approval?

That's all well and fine and totally specific to your fiance. It could hardly be considered the default position for most guys in MENA though, so when you suggested the OP embassy shop, and try for someplace easier, maybe understand how nonsensical that sounds? 


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-05-17 00:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaMoroccan K1 approval?

 

Short answer: nowhere.

Maybe that place you have to go through a wardrobe to get to?


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-05-09 08:40:00
Middle East and North AfricaMoroccan K1 approval?

Move where? What countries are going to be faster/easier that guys in MENA can easily pick up and pack for? With equal employment opportunities/pay during the waiting period?


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-05-01 00:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat was it like to see him for the first time?
i was coming off of two overnight flights in a row, first from portland to ny, with an all day layover, and then from ny to casablanca, so subsequently i wore a big kangol hat and sunglasses, and didn't take either off until i'd had a chance to take a bath. my husband met my mom and me at the airport, and then we took a 3 hr train ride to marrakech. he helped us get to our hotel, and then went shopping for awhile so we could get unpacked and freshened up and all that good stuff. it sounds totally anti-climactic, but it was honestly one of the most fun, exciting, and sweet times of my entire life. even when he kept buying me flowers all the time that i had no free hands to carry them with, and felt like a total dork carrying around everywhere.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-23 17:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaRamadan Mubarack!

We usually just make our own 'feast'. We go to prayers in the morning and then come back home and open presents with the kids. Later my family comes over, and we eat a bunch of treats and stay up too late. The next day we'll usually go on an outing, like to the science museum. The main masjid here hosts a big meal on Eid, but it's segregated by gender, and we think that's nonsensical and aren't interested in spending that part of our Eid separate from each other. 

The masjid does coordinate a family day at the old amusement park here in Portland that was kind of fun last year. We might do that again if it's not stupid hot outside, like it's been.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-07-12 15:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaThe border is completely destroyed . Any suggestions ?

I'm so sorry I don't have any practical advice for you. I hope you find a solution soon. My prayers go out to you and the rest of Gaza.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-07-15 18:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaFallen in love with an Algerian man
They can. His parents too. Anything's possible in MENA, from the consulate not asking a single question about anyone's parents, to extensive questions and home visits of parents and neighbors.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-10-01 02:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaFallen in love with an Algerian man
The most popular baby name in the UK is OLIVER. Mohammed is like not even top 20.
One of the longest, most heart breaking separations I've seen on VJ came from the UK. Also have seen a whole huge variation in how Muslim couples proceed with their relationships (self included!)on this website. No hard and fast rules there re. approval or relationship longevity anyways.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-09-23 16:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaSame sex k1 visa
You might find more info posting this in the south Asia forum. Regardless, best of luck, and I hope you have a hassle free visa process, with your fiance's privacy respected the whole way through.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2014-10-11 18:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen

Just brought this in off the grill... used fresh lemons and rosemary from the garden...
 
Naked Chicken
 
This is an easy recipe from this month's Cook's Magazine - basically take a whole chicken, remove the backbone, then butterfly it and de-skin it and stick skewers through the legs to keep them from flopping around.  Marinate for an hour in a strong salt-sugar bath.  Finally slather with a lemon-herb rub, then cook it fast with more lemons on a hot covered grill.  Finish with a lemon-herb-butter sauce.
 
This turned out very very juicy and tender - not at all what you would expect from skinless chicken on the grill. 
 
 
w6umb.jpg
 
https://www.cooksill...asp?docid=42325
 
 
 
 
 
 



















Spatchcock!! That looks and sounds amazing!!
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-28 20:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen

cheap sumac has the seeds ground in too, which makes it gritty. better grade does not have the ground seeds.
i think penzey's sumac is good. if there's not a penzey's near you, you can order online. williams sonoma has good quality sumac too.

In my experience too, the brands I've found at local Arabic/Mediterranean stores have not been the best. Is that where you got the gritty sumac?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-04 16:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
did you try to make your own pomegranate molasses out of pomegranate syrup? it's easier to just get the molasses. it's just the right consistency.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-03 20:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
cheap sumac has the seeds ground in too, which makes it gritty. better grade does not have the ground seeds.
i think penzey's sumac is good. if there's not a penzey's near you, you can order online. williams sonoma has good quality sumac too.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-03 20:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
Like Toum?
Fast and Easy Toum Recipe (Lebanese Garlic Sauce)
Ingredients
5 cloves of garlic
1 egg white
Juice of 1 lemon
A good pinch of salt
1 cup of iced water of which you will use around 2 tbsp
1 cup of neutral oil, canola or vegetable oil (Edit: Since this recipe was published, I’ve come to understand that seed and commercial vegetable oils are highly inflammatory and largely contribute to heart disease and diabetes. I suggest using oils low in Omega 6 and high in monounsaturated fats. As neutral oils go, a high oleic sunflower such as this one would be a good option.)
Method
Put the garlic cloves along with salt and 1/4 of the lemon juice in the blender
Blend on medium and scrape the sides down when the garlic goes flying everywhere
Add the egg white and blend on medium
Add half the oil in bit by bit. A thin stream is not necessary, but don’t go crazy. A reasonable, fine, steady pour is good
At this stage, the emulsification should have taken place. If it hasn’t and the sauce looks like it has split, then something has gone wrong. You may need to remove half the amount, add another egg white, whizz away and re-pour what had already split. But if you take it slow without pouring the oil too quickly, it should be fine
Switch to a slow blend, and add the rest of the lemon juice in slowly too
Add the rest of the oil in the same fashion
Add 1 or 2 tbsp of water. You will see the consistency change into something wonderfully creamy and light. Water seems to do wonders for the texture, I’m not sure why
Taste it, praise the Lord, and write back and tell me how amazing I am
http://thefoodblog.c...uce-recipe.html


Hi MENA ladies (and men),

I'm hoping you can help me with my food cravings....

While living in Kuwait, I feel in love with Lebanese food. Now, back in the USA, I've resigned myself to the fact that if I want it, I'll have to make it myself (haven't had much success at the local Arabic restaurants).

The thing I'm having the most difficulty with is the garlic paste/sauce. The times I have tried to make it have been utter failures - yellow, thick and putrid garlic. What I would like is something super-light (almost foam-like), and a refined taste to the garlic. Not the burn-your-mouth, tongue-curling, just-ate-raw-garlic taste.

Does anyone have some experience/help to offer?

Thanks!!


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-24 15:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
this narrows it down a bit-
http://www.visajourn...app=forums&st=0

Edited by sandinista!, 06 June 2012 - 11:53 AM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-06 11:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
never tried the ikea tagine, but i've seen it there, and it looks nice. it's a nice size too.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2010-11-13 18:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
the curry book sounds awesome! i looked up the dungeness crab and blackberry cobbler one on amazon and found this description that made me laugh.
The eighth in the Knopf Cooks American series, this volume proves that there is a lot more to Pacific Northwest cooking than Agent Cooper's cherry pie and coffee.
i liked the twin peaks reference. and it's got lots of northwest recipes, so i might have to check it out. i've heard really good things about that no-knead bread book too. good luck choosing, and i hope you enjoy them when you decide.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-12-16 17:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
that sounds really yummy squeakster's mom. i like the idea of having that for dinner tonight, but need to soak the beans overnight... maybe tomorrow then.

afaik, alcohol isn't/doesn't have to be listed as an ingredient in cooking sprays because of the quantities it occurs in, but you have a higher standard re. alcohol than the fda does. i know that mazola and crisco cooking sprays say on their websites that theirs do not contain alcohol, but other brands, i don't know.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-12-15 17:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
alcohol is commonly used in a lot of cooking sprays as a propellant.
why would someone demand their food not be cooked with butter or oil? i like to carefully measure out the amounts i use so i don't overdo it, but i can't wrap my head around eliminating it altogether.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-11-10 11:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
the only thing we really do different is two turkeys, one halal and then one my mom picks up from the regular grocery store. with our turkey, i brine it overnight in vegetable broth, spices and a whole jar of honey, and then smoke it for 8 hours. we eat that turkey, and then everyone else eating the regular turkey usually can't help themselves from trying some of ours too. my husband has never asked for anything moroccan at thanksgiving before, he just asks me to make an extra pan of sourdough stuffing that he can have to himself for the next couple of days after. and he flips for cheesecake. i made a pumpkin cheesecake the year before last that he still raves about. i think i will do it again this year.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-11-05 16:43:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
gum arabic is used in food as a stabilizer, like in candies, syrups, etc. you can buy it here.



gum arabic trading in senegal, 1890 (i just thought it was kind of a cool picture)
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-09-09 18:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
awww, honey pie! that looks like a much better recipe meriem.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-08-26 16:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
QUOTE (Henia @ Aug 24 2009, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What is everyone cooking for iftar?

tonight, el indio cooked for me-fajita burrito de camarones. but tomorrow night, my husband wants me to make him some ziti.

QUOTE (Astarte @ Aug 25 2009, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So I see some old posts re: sabayah but Somali sabayah is different than Yemeni. Does anyone have a recipe with instructions on how to make Yemeni sabayah? It's layered and usually served with honey on top.

i found this...

Recipe
500 gr AP flour
1 TB dry yeast
2- 3 TB sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water (or 1 1/2 cups)
80-100 gr soft butter (or ghee)
_____________________________________________________________________
Mix :flour+yeast+sugar.add the water and mix to a soft dough.cover,let it rise for 1 hour.
Wet your hands and knead the dough, for 1-2 minutes, cover , let it rise again for 1 hour..
divide the dough to 5 parts, roll each one to a ball, let the ball rise for 30 minutes. Roll every ball tin, spread with butter or ghee, put one layer above the other.. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown in a hot oven =350F /180C .

Spread butter or ghee on every layer..

http://momsrecipesan...re_archive.html

scroll about 3/4 of the way down the page.






sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-08-26 01:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
i've never cooked with argan oil, just used it on my hair! is it tasty? enough to pay over $30 for cooking oil?

Edited by chemaatah, 19 August 2009 - 10:33 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-08-19 22:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
rapunzel has their own version of nutella that's really tasty too!

i want to make this cilantro mint naan tomorrow, and i think those lentils would be good with it. (the tarragon and thyme ones). thanks for sharing about the bouillon too, i've been looking for a better alternative to halal maggi.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-06-15 21:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Jun 5 2009, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am having a fabulous time making somali recipes from this blog. I made bur macsharo last night, and AbuS looooved it. The cardomon gave it an odd flavor for me - I'm not a big fan - but AbuS loves cardamon, so it was right up his ally.

I'm not sure about the amount of oil used. I put in enough the first time to cover the pan, but that made the first piece really really oily. For the second, I used very little oil. AbuS liked the oily one better wacko.gif

I can't decide if I should make muufo baraawe or sabayah this weekend.

thank you for that link! somali food is so delicious. i want someone to open a halal somali restaurant in portland, stat. but until then i'll see how i do with some of those recipes.

i would go for the sabayah. it looks really, really good, esp. the zucchini cilantro one.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-06-10 01:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
QUOTE (Henna Rose @ Apr 27 2009, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (chemaatah @ Apr 22 2009, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i heart.gif my le creuset tagine. it's cast iron on the bottom with a ceramic lid. it's great on the stove top or the oven. and le creuset has such great colors. mine's bright red smile.gif


How much are those? I was checking them out online, but no $$$ were listed...thanks !

around $150. i know williams sonoma does not carry them online anymore, but they might still be available in their stores. sur la table has them online, for the same price.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-05-02 16:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaSultan's Kitchen
QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Apr 22 2009, 08:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So tagines. I saw a silicone one at Marshalls the other day. Waste of money? Should I just invest in a clay or ceramic one?

it depends on what yr making in it. meat dishes no. they don't turn out good, and you have to use another pan to brown the meat first, etc, and i like washing as few dishes as possible. but i like roasting veggies in my silicone tagine. they turn out quite good in there. it was cheap too. my mom found it for me at tj maxx for like 10 bucks.

i heart.gif my le creuset tagine. it's cast iron on the bottom with a ceramic lid. it's great on the stove top or the oven. and le creuset has such great colors. mine's bright red smile.gif
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-04-22 22:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaReturning Petitions to the United States via 221g

Are you guys voting on getting this thread pinned? If so, that was done a few years ago... and is why it is always at the top of the forum http://static-forums..._DIR#/smile.gif

Your post, it didn't take...
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-12-04 18:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhat i can do if i got denied
what line of work is "fair techeken" anyways?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-03-07 13:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCanceling K1 and going CR1 Question..
QUOTE (KarimaG @ Dec 15 2009, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (me_4_musa @ Dec 15 2009, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Chica Yeyé @ Dec 15 2009, 10:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It is sad and irresponsible behavior, whichever way you slice it Karima.


ChicaYeYe, is it KarimaG or MouadsWife? Remember when she posted a farewell post on VJ (one of several) that she no longer needed VJ that she could figure out the visa process herself only to come back a day later undercover as KarimaG. ph34r.gif She thought she was slick! jest.gif
(great, now i got the Mission Impossible theme in my head).


Yeah I was going to leave to get away from you bitches. But decided to stay after talking to several other members who I became friends with on here... and opted just to change my user name so you guys would leave me the F alone. So actually thats pretty much how that went. But I dont give a ####### anymore..... Yeah but it its pretty pathetic how a person would 'have' to change there user name just you guys would leave them the hell alone isnt it? What more pathetic is some of you'all seem to have nothing more to do.

you are utterly fascinating from an anthropological standpoint.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2009-12-15 20:25:00