RAKASA

Hello y'all. Happy Sunday.

Soooo... ped egg, yes or no? I know there's some folks here who have them, and I'm wondering how they work long term. After a while it seems like it would be too hard on your skin?

Pedi Egg - yes

#######????? I don't understand that. What if I'm in him??? Does anyone have experience transferring through Spain when they were with their SO? We have an overnight layover in Spain. I didnt expect that we could leave the airport, but.... ???

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm on the verge of a panic attack

say wha????????

Morning everyone! Beautiful day here!!

Tasha, before you know it you will be at the airport to pick him up!!

Have a good Sunday!

Jeanne you once mentioned that you use a rice cooker? What kind do you have and do you like it? Is the texture similar to when you cook it by boiling it?

Bridget - I just noticed your new siggy pic. Thursday is *not* the 24th... so which day is the fasting day? Thursday Jan 22 or Saturday Jan 24?

Also, on the rice cooker - I'd never used one til I visited Amal, then I got one when I got home. It's cooks just fine, except that I've realized the bottom must be oiled first or it sticks, sometimes it still sticks even oiled. I use it about half the time, other times I still cook it on the stove top.

Hi Bridget!

every time I hear this song, I think of you & Usama! I have ever since you mentioned it last year.

What a crappy day....

TGIF :dance:

wurd!

Jen/Rahma - I have a recipe for you in the cream cheese realm that your hubby will love - I have to find it, then I'll post it.

Yep! That looks like mine did too! It is *really* good. Tanya, I'm going to have to try the Manti. Thanks for the directions.

Ooooooh that looks delicious! I'll have to try it!

ohhh, I love Kisir! My SIL was here last summer and taught me her recipe. Very easy to make!

Here's a pic of mine:

Some Turkish recipes from my classes:

Kisir (wheat salad)

1 C bulghur (cracked wheat)

1 C hot water

1 T tomato paste (I like it spicier, so I used chili paste instead)

2 T veg oil

1/2 chopped green onion

1-2 chopped tomatoes

4 large lettuce leaves (optional - I'd leave them out & add to individual servings or use lettuce leaves to serve salad in)

Salt, Lemon juice, dry mint, black & read pepper

**we also added chopped (seeded & peeled) cucumber & chopped parsley and/or cilantro

Pour hot water on to the bulghur & cover; let sit 10 min. Chop onion, lettuce & tomatoes. Add oil & tomato paste into bulghur and mix. Let bulghur absorb oil & tomato paste. Add salt, spice, salad mixture, lemon juice & mix. Kisir is ready to serve and eat.

*This makes a lot! If you have leftovers & there is lettuce in there, it will be soggy and not so good later. That's why I suggest either omitting it or adding it individually.

Rajaa's hubby will be here in 6 days!!!!!!!!

Whats HAC?

It was (IMHO) that silly "club" flaunting your "Hot Arab" - I never understood or got into that.

Turia's glasses look hawt on her!

Morning everyone. Hope you all are doing well today and staying warm. It's chilly down here in ATL, but not too bad yet. It's supposed to be in the teens tomorrow morning. Soooo not my ideal weather to drag a baby in and out of.

BTW...TWILA!!!!! I'm impatiently waiting to see the bebes!!! Hope all is going well with you, Hicham and double trouble. Happy belated birthday to Hana and Zak!

got to see them on FB... so cute!!! really adorable and very healthy looking. Anxious to hear how mom & baba are doing, but she seems well.

and see, they even have internet, so it won't interfere with vj time!

Charles! That's not "internet" time, she's doing her taxes on Quickbooks!

congrats brni! that's amazing news :dance: :dance: Sorry I couldn't make the party last night, but it was a long day for me and I was tired. I'm sure y'all did just fine w/o me!

I'm really so excited for you.

I can't make it but hope you all have fun! Hubby has the whole day off today and just called to tell me he's cleaned the house and is making fatah for supper! He makes it soooooooooo good! I'm trying to get him to make another dish as well.....all part of my evil plan to have him cook 3x/week.

What's Fatah? I tried googling it and only got political responses on it in relation to Hamas. Couldn't find anything "food-related".

Me? I'm nobody, really, but I *do* love to cook!

Happy Tuesday! It's supposed to get up to 70 today. Where did winter go?

It came to Louisiana.... it's getting down to 29 tonite!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Sandrila.... thinking cap? misplaced it?

LOL

STAASHI....GOOD ONE

I love it when people have the balls to speak their minds and dont think 2x about reprocutions.

Now you are calling yourself "retired"??

lol

I am just TIRED

Actually, this was a joke that I copy and pasted...I wish I was retired.

I think Sandrila must have forgotten her thinking cap at home.............

Amal makes a mansaf!!!

Amal ~ How's your TSH? have you had it checked lately?

Last I checked, my tush was still there. ....maybe it's too early in the morning....I'm confused

TSH = Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Should have it checked to see if you are deficient in it, thus causing hypothyroidism = low metabolism, lack of energy and weight gain.

U know, I'm supposed to be taking Synthroid .....but I keep forgetting it lmao...

OK, Girl - I luvz ya and all but what the hell are you doing???? You need that!

and the pharmacist speaks AMAL!!!! Take your fooking medicine!

Some Turkish recipes from my classes:

Kisir (wheat salad)

1 C bulghur (cracked wheat)

1 C hot water

1 T tomato paste (I like it spicier, so I used chili paste instead)

2 T veg oil

1/2 chopped green onion

1-2 chopped tomatoes

4 large lettuce leaves (optional - I'd leave them out & add to individual servings or use lettuce leaves to serve salad in)

Salt, Lemon juice, dry mint, black & read pepper

**we also added chopped (seeded & peeled) cucumber & chopped parsley and/or cilantro

Pour hot water on to the bulghur & cover; let sit 10 min. Chop onion, lettuce & tomatoes. Add oil & tomato paste into bulghur and mix. Let bulghur absorb oil & tomato paste. Add salt, spice, salad mixture, lemon juice & mix. Kisir is ready to serve and eat.

*This makes a lot! If you have leftovers & there is lettuce in there, it will be soggy and not so good later. That's why I suggest either omitting it or adding it individually.

Kadayif (shredded dough dessert)

***This is one of my faves - really easy & delicous, makes a nice presentation too!

1 pkg Kadayif (Kataifi) (shredded dough - found in most Int'l mkts where you'd find Phyllo)

2 C chopped walnuts (I've also used pecans and think pistachios would be good too)

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

Syrup:

1 T lemon juice (I like it lemony, so I use the juice of one lemon)

2 C sugar

2 1/2 C water

To prepare the syrup: place the water & sugar in a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 min. Then simmer for 15 min & turn heat off. Add lemon juice and set aside.

Mix the melted butter w/ the shredded dough. Then place half of the shredded dough in a tray or casserole dish evenly and press it down w/ your palm. Spread the walnuts on top evenly. Then spread the 2nd half of the dough and again press down w/ your palm. Preheat oven to 375 F. Place pyrex dish on middle rack. Bake until the top takes a light golden color (20-35 min). Immediately pour the lukewarm syrup all over evenly. Enjoy!

Patatesli Sigara Boregi (Potato Cigarette Borek)

1 pkg spring roll wraps (25 sheets)

Filling:

5 medium sized potatoes, boiled & mashed or grated

2 medium sized onions, thinly sliced

1/2 C veg oil

1/2 t red pepper

salt, pepper

1T tomato paste (for spicier version, use chili paste)

For Frying:

Veg oil

Saute the onion w/ oil. Add in mashed potatoes & the rest of the filling ingredients, then mix.

Put 2 tsp of filling on each sheet. First close both ends, then roll it up. Soak the open end in water and close it up.

After you've rolled up all the sheets, heat up the oil on the stove in a skillet. Fry each borek equally over medium heat until they take a light golden color. Don't leave the stove as they fry very quickly. Place ones that are done on a paper towel to soak up extra oil.

Lentil Patties (these are some of my favorites!!! this makes a LOT of them)

1 C red lentils boiled in 2-3 C water

2 medium onions chopped fine

2 C bulghar (fine grain #1)

2 T chili pepper paste

2 T tomato paste

crushed pepper flakes

juice of 2 lemons

parsley - chopped

green onions - chopped

After lentils are cooked, add bulghar, let sit until moisture is absorbed. Add mixture of tomato paste & pepper paste and all other ingredients. Roll into patties (or logs) and enjoy!

There's more, but that's all for now b/c Hubby & I are heading out to do a little shopping! Back later.........

I'm really cold here and it's only 51! It's supposed to get down to 35 tonight. That's flipping cold for LA.

Great, I'll be looking forward to them. If you take another class, could you ask your teachers for a good cookbook recommendation? They offer a few cooking classes here through the public school, but the husband said I could buy more cookbooks instead of taking the classes. Hmmm, telling a book horder they can buy more books, I wonder what I'll do

You know, cookbooks are great, but there is something to be said for watching them do it and then having them supervise you doing it as opposed to just reading about it. I'm a "hands on" learner for sure! Besides, the classes they've been offering are only $5/class and we get to feast after on what we made.

Ooo, post lots of turkish recipes, and any turkish cookboos that they recommend! I'll have to put turkish cooking on my list. I'm cooking my way around the world, country by country. I'm currently doing India, and then next is either Vietnam or the Carribean.

I've taken 3 classes w/ them so far, learning 3 recipes in each class. I'll have to get them typed up and posted. They've all gone over well so far and one of the desserts I've made several times - it's easy & delicious!

Jackie...

Read all of this and give me a two sentence summary of what it sez...

thanx....Mike

my fingers hurt from scrolling down!

no chit! I'm sorry, but I don't have the patience or the inclination to read all of that - I'll wait for Jackie's Cliff Notes version.

and pass the popcorn Charles & M4E!!!

Wow - I just made whole wheat pita bread & it is yummy! I've made lots of bread in the past couple of years, but never pita. It was easy. I know there is a recipe in the Sultan's Kitchen cookbook, but I had wanted to try this one:

http://www.bigoven.com/161058-Arabic-Bread...ee)-recipe.html

I couldn't sleep last night and decided to surf Big Oven on my iPhone and found this recipe. We've also tried a Harira recipe on here and it is one of the best we've ever made.