Ramadan 2016. Day 30

To my dear family , friends and followers ...

Due to the long hours of power cuts and stress caused by our country's political instability to say the least . I regret that I could no longer post anything as I  am deeply saddened by the state our beloved people are in . 

To choose food even for my own family with the inflation rate we continue to survive through, knowing many citizens with large families would not be able to afford as their salaries cannot be cashed is indeed a desperate time ! 

My only personal choice for having survived this holy month was through "Traweeh" the nightly prayers . 

I now wish all Muslims in the world 

a Happy Eid and hope that our fasting be accepted and Allah answers  our prayers for peace and and the unity of our beloved Libya .

Please keep us , Libyans living in Libya in your prayers . 

️Blessings 

Ya Rab 

RAMADAN .............

Ramadan Libyan Style!
*I wrote this in 2010.....

Ramadan is supposedly the month of forgiveness, good deeds, prayers, soul searching, reciting our beloved Koran ,feeling the hunger of the poor when fasting…
But in Libya, it is a completely different story! It saddens me that when I see crowds of people who shop for an enormous amount of food which will then go to waste due to fasting thus cooking more than required.,Household items are bought; from carpets to kitchenware, ovens, refrigerators.

It is all a show of copy cat functions at its best. Neighbors, family, relatives distance ones and near, all speak the same lingua that of an imaginary checklist in which the more checked items the more experienced and respectful a person will be judged and valued.
This is a Libyan DNA issue. It’s in our people’s blood and it gets worse come Ramadan every year.

The fasting month should also be one to feel the need of the hungry and upon breaking the fast consume little food so as to concentrate the prayers not feeling bloated with a look of being 7 months pregnant. This is the case for the average Libyan woman or man in general.

Food is the main topic of the day. All that is shared is the food. Neighbors share. Food is placed at nearly all mosques for the poor and needy to have great food to enjoy, here again also goes to waste due to lack of organisation.

I went shopping and told a friend who said I was “brave”,in doing so,this the latter was what I experienced and interested me, that of something I’d never seen before due to the fact of having no idea where all these people had derived from. Most were Libyans obviously. So I’d chat some up just out of curiosity where they were from as their faces were by no chance familiar. Sure enough I was correct. They came from the outskirts of Tripoli – from as far as Zuara.

So the first part of Ramadan’s mainly focus is the food, new recipes are experienced from the famous “Fatafeet Chanel “being the latest craze in town! Even at the Taraweeh Prayers recipes are exchanged between a prayer and another. At times the imam would have to shout out to the women to plainly be “be quiet”.

Every time I’d want to go to the mosque for the prayers to find myself starting to never go back again the cause being :the recipes and chit chat being whispered from woman to woman. This upsets me causing me to lose concentration thus alternation my focus on what is being gossiped or criticized!

Many young ladies go the mosques during the holy month of Ramadan to be seen and asked for. The mother isn’t approached, only the daughter is; if she fits the groom’s future wife which is usually white and tall, to which I find sickening as the bride is looked upon as a fridge!

Such mentalities need to be changed for us to become more organized and literate of what is expectations we are to have not only as Muslims but as decent open minded humans who value life and what is given us for appreciation to take place.

The last days of Ramadan are spent with the buying (yes, buying again) of the “Eid” clothes. Now we switch to the “shopping of clothes revolt”. A revolt it is if you could see what families go through to get the right outfit for all members of their family.The screaming kids with their no end tantrums who should be in bed as its way past their bedtimes! Libyans just love crowds and starring (fanassing).The more crowded the better .
Pushing ,pulling and grabbing everything in sight..

True enjoyment is derived from having spent so much time for specific good/foods in question.
When my kids were young I’d always organize myself so I’d not need to buy any clothes in Ramadan as I’d have made due with buying 3 – 6 months prior to the holy month.

Creativity what is that? There’s just no place for it for we are copy cats of one another – nothing more, nothing less.

With this last note I end and please dear reader ,do not take my post personally for I am a true Libyan who criticizes positively for better awareness of this crazy attitude of ours.

May Allah help us through this holy month of Ramadan in being safe as well the latter due to the fasting and late nights thus minimum sleep leading to accidents which quite often at times are fatal....
………
When one fasts one becomes alive and laziness decreases .An alertness to all that surrounds is also noticed, even the sense of smell is awakened as aromas are triggered from a distance though we may be smokers or caffeine addicts.
Fasting is by no means to blame for the fatal accidents that occur during the holy month of Ramadan. But late nights, lack of sleep and an over indulgence of food are the sole reasons which trigger the many deaths which occur during this holy month. From the last research done into death caused by car accidents Libya came second in the world, first was Saudi Arabia!

Again I wish all Muslims in the world a safe, happy, and healthy Ramadan filled with great blessings in hope that our prayers be answered.

My visit to the Souk el Mushir ....

Its been over a year that i haven't been to the Souk as  we were at war. Things are improving but at a turtle slow pace ,sigh ! Anyways the shops are now open awaiting tourists.... 

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to be continued------ as net is quite a headache .... hope you all enjoy my pics...I have not thumbprint them as I believe it destroys the pics...

next stop -poetry !

                                                                   The Rose

A rose for the loved powers it does hold,

In it's petals soft and bold,

The rose, it's beauty, unconfined,

Branching out to bloom in mind.

Subtle heartbeats, blushing cheeks,

Pounding rhythms, nothing speaks,

Just the softness of the flower,

Mortal life, undying power.

Love and friendship, grief and pain,

Everything in our domain,

Summed up with a little seed,

That blooms to fill our silent need.

Graceful beauty, thorns of wrath,

Everything upon love's path,

Found inside a single bloom,

The sweetest smell of life's perfume. 

Desert Rose 2011

Happiness is....

Happiness is only real when shared...

A quote from a movie I have to mention due to relevance and comes in a nice sequence I would say,but Im getting ahead of myself,

The name of the movie is "into the wild " based on a true story of a guy that goes on to what he calls "the great adventure," and the path that lead him there,the disconnection with society,with the known world,with the preconceptions of society.I dont want to tell much about the road and his conclusions since I expect you to watch the movie and I dont want to spoil it .

But I do want to address his need to get away,to leave the preconceptions of society and its rules.Remember the anchors? Well it fits here; without them we are simply a leap away from the role he plays in the movie.;a person with whom one has at least one or two characteristics in common.At times having had the experience of that  little voice in our heads asking :what if I went?Would it matter? Would I find myself ?Well I'll leave the similarities between you and the character for you to deal with,but always  keep in mind that the movie is based  on a true story.

Be adventurous, feel life, and surround yourself by those who matter.Never let those bridges fade for they are your own definition. Seek happiness but know that it is only real when shared; a life time of accomplishments means nothing to an empty world,but do bear in mind that you need these accomplishments to share with those you find.

Life is a balance of wills and forces,the simple equilibrium of happiness will come from the simplicity of moments ,the ones you unknowingly share ;simple and pure.

The simplicity of acceptance,we are not simple,but life is.we usually complicate it,but in the end it comes out to the ability of facing oneself and simply stating this is me and that is my life.....

The Birthday Girls !

Haven't been able to blog due to the power cuts and extremely slow net. It is said that even Suda has better net than us ;and we being a so called oil producing country duh ?

 Anyways  many things have happened with the testing of the high schools students I teach and learn from .....their blogs have also had to come to a halt due to the same  consequences.

I truly enjoyed reading their blogs as it gave me and inside feedback being a new teacher at the school.

 My two first born grand daughters who are also cousins and not sisters born 12 hours apart had a small birthday party which I and my daughters basically cooked everything from scratch. Tiring it  was but nevertheless enjoyable. Pics will follow...on this blog and on my new cooking blog .... Enjoy !

I know I have not been able to blog as thought ,due to not having net and our unstable situation in Libya which resulted in war. I hope we say goodbye to 20011 with its horror to acquire peace; a high price our people have paid and still are as the filtering of Gadafist's still lingering around causing damage to whatever they can get their hands on..


Still we struggle with power cuts and long lines at the petrol stations topped with high prices of general goods and food.Unemployment is also a major issue as we depended on foreign companies and expats doing all our work for us.For safety reasons the Cooperates still keep a watchful eye on change for a safer existence in Libya to come back and resume their contract when safety measures are no longer a threat.


 Most of our students are not back in school yet in the Tripoli area... University of Tripoli has kept on initializing the semester then stopping abruptly then starting again .. A complete mess these past two months. This is mostly due to quite a number of lecturers being ex Gadafi supporters and still wanting to hold their previous positions ,while the students and the free Libyan people want them out !

Meanwhile, all the expat schools will resume the following scholastic year,   2012/ 2013 ...it is said.Cooperates will be coming in as soon as the monetary and safety issues are resolved ..Some say this will take another 3-4 months . We wait while we live this new democracy ,not knowing what awaits us yet in our hearts we hope and pray that the costly bloodshed be never repeated and also that we remember our martyrs and our veterans first and foremost for they have given their lives in order for us to be free.....


 The greatest change is that we can now speak our minds,something we had no power to do previously. In that respective ,we, still at having our say are not fearless of the fact of being taken into custody due to being threatened and silenced for so many years....


I dedicate this poem to you all :
To the outgoing year,2011

May the good times live on in our memories

And may we learn lessons from the troubling times

That will make us stronger to take on anything our way

May 2012 be filled with significant steps

For each and everyone of you,

Toward the fulfillment of your fondest wishes

In this coming New Year,

Let us focus on our goals with persistence

And work toward our dreams

Letting go of stressful negativity

Most important of all

Love one and accept one another

Appreciate yourselves and each other in the New Year
As I appreciate you now

Let’s focus on each other’s good points

While overlooking minor annoyances

To create mutual happiness and contentment in 2012 ! 
Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with Blessings,Prosperity,Health and Peace.

Marriage bliss, woes ,plural or renewable ?

Kahlil Gibran on Marriage

From Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

 Why does one get married? Is it because they want to commit to a partnership of a lifetime, have kids and live happily ever after, like endings of fairytales with the chosen so called soul mate? Or is it because of religious ,family  stress or friends getting themselves hooked so we tend to go forward with the concept ie all stuck with the marriage bliss where in actual its woes which we keep well hidden in our secret world of self denial.

Ask any woman if she’s happy being married and the reply would be that of yes  !Not showing the hell she’s in and wanting who’s asking  especially if single, to get into the darn bliss of marriage !

Ask a man and you’d get the look of …… you know he’d like to kick the person in the a.. for having told him to go through with it !

 Marriage Bliss no longer exists –

Maybe we should blame the ozone too! Weather changes do affect people’s attitude, no way can we deny the fact. When one is cold ,obviously having sex would take extra effort ,\and if hot  a cooling system would have to be incorporated ,which by the time is efficient the couple in question, may have lost interest altogether !

Now ,if we were to  explain affairs and how couples actually handle that , a complete story diverges into the following that of, interest ,high emotions ,being positive in all aspects, let alone of ones looks and care free attitude. Is the sinning affect to be responsible?Obviously depending on  different cultures; but even with the acceptance of living without a marriage license in the west ,or what is called an open relationship ,relationship ie with one partner ,observing the couple  closely we notice the love ,trust and happiness they share is not found in married couples..

We no longer see people who’ve been married for many years and still remain happy. My idea is that the ones who do stay in a long term relationship of so called marriage bliss is that they have throughout  the years developed either hearing or visual loss, or maybe both ie they can see the existence of their partner in their lives ,but not actually see or hear them.! All for the better, I think, for what can one portray every single day ,that would be of interest t his /her partner ? Ahhh we should portray and forget the rest? Should a married couple just be interested in their world and leave others out, pleasing themselves only falling into another trap and become self centered ignorants ?

Here plural wives may just come in handy ….

Women would compete with their sisters in marriage with the one husband they all share. At least she knows where he is and what hes up to !

As for the sisterhood of wives,who must be on accord to all household chores and the bringing up of children if any….and not forgetting the love and stability the give off to their kids.

Another thing is the pleasure of awaiting the turn ie a wife will no longer have the ususal headaches ,bet many a gent will have loved this last remark of mine !

 So all in all it really depends what one is looking for in a marriage : a fantasy , a solution to loneliness, a partnership , a soul mate ( last is usually either unobtainable ,or taken )family with male female ,or same sex family ,or plural ….

 Yes , many families now have either two daddies or two mommies or many of mommy’s sisters’ in a marriage. The most important fact lies not in what kind of sexual habbits the couple exercise but what  they offer as a family.Who is to say that marriages of this sort unlike the norm wont be a success ?

 On another note wish I could have a marriage expiration date ,this may sound weird or even crazy to some . But think of it  slowly and try to digest it without the negativity we jump to avoid  actually grasping the info transmitted and rejecting it without second thoughts.

 If a couple love each other for 5  years then they should renew their vows  or their marriage licence or whatever if not they simply go their separate ways and lessen the long years of desperate longing to improve on ones status and the never ending whining that of the spouse’s blaming one another of staying in a loveless marriage filled with only with rancor.

 A healthy marriage/partnership,gives off healthy stability ,respected and blessed union ,a supportive family whose partners are forever in love and never distrust or hurt the other no matter what.. I may be in dreamland or spaced out or even weird but why ?oh why ? is a perfect marriage/partner unobtainable these days ??

 It remains to be seen....

 as we have lost our way to love hence even have knowledge of what it is ..  I end with :

 1 Corinthians.13:4-13
Love is patient ,love is kind
It does not envy,it does not boast,it is proud.
It is not rude,it is not self seeking,
It is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,always trusts,always hopes,always preserves.
And now faith,hope,and love abide,but the greatest of these is love.

 Blessings..

Fish anyone ??

Nothing better than to start this new year with a fish recipe my family and friends enjoy .The recipe was passed on to me from  an old Libyan Jewish neighbor of our family in the old city...

Haraimi ( A Libyan Jewish Dish)

 Serves 5-6 according to number of fish slices.Time needed approx.1 hour 

 1 Large Dentice (Dentex) or Faruge (*Sea Bass)cleaned and cut into thick slices

¼ cup olive oil

1large onion chopped fine

1tbs. Red Cayenne pepper (fil fil ahmar har)

2-3 cloves of crushes garlic

1 tsp. cumin powder (camoun el hout)

1 Tbs heaped tomato paste

3 -4 cups water 

Warm the olive oil in a shallow pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onion ,sauté till onion is transparent . Immediately add the red pepper and other spices then add the tomato paste and water sauce must be of slightly thick consistency –

Bring to boil for 5 minutes then simmer for 20 minutes ie when you see the sauce is nice and thick and the grease has come to the top. Now the fish slices are added and left to simmer for another 10 minutes on low flame-never over cook fish ,so it doesn’t dry out and remains tender.

As soon as the fish is cooked switch off the heat and leave for yet another 10 minutes before serving. Haraimi is served at room temperature –never hot , with fresh bread …

 warm olive oil and add finely chopped large onion-saute till transparent

 add fil fil( red cayenne pepper)

 add the spices and tomato paste then water..

 cooked covered..

 clean,wash and cut fish

 add finish and leave to simmer covered on low flame

*Faruge(Sea Bass ) is the preferred fish as its big head ( and I am sorry if this upsets anyone who cant tackle the head image) The head gives off a thick gelatin that is the secret to a great "Haraimi ". Yes I gave you the secret for what is the benefit of keeping my culinary secrets to myself as I love to share??
Blessings

Happy New Year !

New Years's Eve Song -Auld Lang Syne 

The traditional song for ringing in the New Year in almost every English speaking country in the world is Auld Lang Syne. This New Year Song  generally credited to Robert Burns ,but earlier versions of the this ballade precede his time. Burns combined a common Scottish folk song with his own lyrics to arrive at  the version commonly sang on New Year's Eve.

What is the meaning of this New Year's Song ? Auld Lang Syn is about old friends who have parted and meet again. To celebrate their long friendship,they share a drink together and reminisce of memories from long ago. The basic message is that we should not forget our old friends but celebrate a reunion with them.

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.gather everyone together at your party or celebration to sing the New Year's Song and remember the good memories of family and friends from long ago....

 Should old acquaintances be forgotten,

And never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintances be forgotten.

And days of long ago !

Chorus:

For old long ago ,my dear 

For old long ago .

We will take a cup of kindness yet 

For old long ago 

We have run about the hillsides

And pulled the daisies fine,

But we have wandered many a weary foot

For old long.

We two have paddled (waded) in stream

From noon until dinner time .

 But seas between us broad have roared

Since old long ago.

And there is a hand ,my trusted friend, And give us a hand of yours,

And we will take good will draught (of ale)

For old long ago!

And surely we will pay for your pint 

And surely I will pay for mine!

And we will take a cup of kindness yet 

For old long ago !

Yes , Im back....!

New recipes will be posted soon ...

Have a lovely cappuccino ,croissant jam and chocolate to start your day -yummy !Diet ?what diet ???

Salam

My Eid El Fitr Table

 Menu :
Eid El Fitr

 Ifteera(eggless paper thin rolled dough similar to crepes used as bread)

 Haraimi (Jewish Libyan)Fish casserole made famous from our Libyan Jews

Imbatin (Libyan)stuffed and fried potaotes

Kefta(Libyan ) meatballs

Ghlaya (Libyan) organ meat of lamb spiced and cooked at slowly

Yahni Biselia (Libyan) Pea Casserole with lamb

 Arabic Salad



Sahten !

Eid Mubarek !

My Ramadan Table-Day 28 and Day 29

Menu: Day 28 (top) 

Fresh Mushroom Soup

Burick -(Turkish)Chicken and Olive
                                                    
Arabic Salad

Hummos (Middle-east)

Paella (Spanish )leftover

Slata Meshweeya(Tunisian)

Lasagna(Italian)




This day I never cook for the Iftar but use all my leftovers from my beloved freezer !I cook large amounts of foos for the Eid t hat is why and I bake my cookies all from scratch ...

Menu : Day 29 (leftovers)

Rishtet Keskas( which I made on first day of ramadan -divided into portions and freeze -I make a huge amount as always)

Lasagna

Bazeen bidesheshet foul(with split beans)(vegan dish)

Hummos ( I double recipe and place in fridge)

Arabic Salad

Slata Meshweeya (I double the recipe and place in fridge)

 Sahten and I wish you all a Happy Eid !Alahmdulilah I made it and I am so greatfull to all who supported me and asked me to continue. Thank you .

Salam

My Ramadan Table-Day 27

 Menu :

 Burick (Turkish) Chicken and Potato

Arabic Salad

Kawerma (Turkish)

Onion Rings (USA)

Paella (Spanish)

Sahten !




 Below is the paella I made for day 27 iftar -instead of rishtet keskas for the norm mosem day !