Take a look at my new year's peas!

Here they are in all their multi cultural glory! There is a pepper from Lebanon, cabbage from Kuwait, garlic cloves, fresh ginger and some tumeric, cumin all lovingly put in a crock pot with a healthy tomato paste base! I started my peas on New Year's day but the soaking took most of the day. By the time I started the cooking, it was too late to have them to be ready to eat, but I ate a few anyway to ensure good luck this year! I think they are beautiful and I love drinking the juice. Everything is fresh as possible. I also add some coriander, fresh, on the top when I serve it. Fresh herbs add a delicate and fragrant touch!

Goodbye to Starbucks and all that!

At least for me.

This is a great place to read the three newspapers, Arab Times, Kuwait Times and Al Watan. But it is impractical to go there everyday and the newspapers do come out everyday. What to do--I am a news junkie. Starbucks over here is new and more expensive than in the USA. Us expats have to pay more because of who we are! And it is not nearly as good as what you can get in the USA. We have local bakeries and during the last two years I have tried almost all of their offers. Usually sharing with a friend to control the calories or having a little crumb in a tiny paper cuplet at their coffee seminars. Cheesecakes are good in any country but the brownies and chocolate cakes are no match for stateside treats. I will say good bye to those starbucks extras for sure, will order only a short cup of daily coffee with a touch of cinnamon (short not listed on the menu, guys, but they have it) and definitely not any white flour or sugar things. The only exception will be the dark chocolate expresso coffee beans. Maybe once a year.....maybe. At least they dont give me heartburn like those zataar croissants do. In case you dont know what zataar is a lovely combination of spices from wikipedia:

Spice mixture
Za'atar is generally prepared using ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, or some combination thereof, mixed with toasted sesame seeds, and salt.[4] Some varieties may add savory, cumin, coriander[5] or fennel seed. A Lebanese variety of Za'atar usually contains sumac berries, and has a distinct dark red color.

It is fabulous. Sometimes eaten for breakfast as a dip using olive oil and bread. Havent done it this way, though.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Today in one of the three English newspapers, an American lady made the police beat. Seems she was using her American friendliness to a Banglideshi guard at the building where she was living and he misunderstood her attention. The headline of the story said he "got fresh" with her so she clocked him and sent him rolling down some stairs. He is nursing his injuries. Dont know any more than that, but those things are very interesting to read! Since I am new to blogging, I will see about how i can bring in the link. You can find it in the Arab Times, January 1, 2009!