Emily’s Blog Post: September 23rd, 2010

Lightening!

Lightening storm - view from our deck

Celebrating Lftor with fellow Americans - with Mom Messegee's cinnamon roll recipe!

Typical family room

On our way to a "baby shower" party...with the bread in tow

Birthday parties...a good excuse to hang with other volunteers!

Happy Birthday to fellow Peace Corps Volunteer Tina! (Mina here in Morocco!)

Sean eating the finished product (oops...photos are out of order :)

Folks, it is date season again! (pitting dates for the date bars)

Em making Gramma Lore's world famous date bar recipe (the crust)

So, Ramadan is over and, unfortunately, I didn't lose any weight, but there is always next year, right? J We didn't get any shots of the Ramadan "breakfasts" that we were fortunate to consume with various neighbors and friends, but keeping to my true form, I will let you know about the food. So, here we are waiting ALL day to eat…anxiously anticipating the call to prayer or "Allah-Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest)…did you hear it? Has it played yet? We listen through the open window…waiting impatiently…maybe…hmmm, yesterday the call to prayer was at 7:03pm…so, tonight it will be at about, approximately, 6:59am? And then the load speakers blare the classical Arabic, or foshah (sp?), "God (Allah) is the Greatest, God is the Greatest…" and Sean and I take a big gulp of cool water. Ahh…and we make our way over to whoever's house we were lucky enough to be invited, then we eat. Luftor, or breakfast (which is actually eaten around dinner time) consists of some of my favorite Moroccan foods (hence, the no losing weight situation). Pancakes, cookies, cakes, delicious bread stuffed with sautéed veggies, yummy nutty-buttery goodness (I just can't explain this one, but some of the ingredients are: almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds, olive oil, sugar…). Also, soup is served called Harrarah. Every household has their own recipe, but it is packed full of chick-peas (hummus beans) all kinds of spices and veggies. Dates are eaten with a creamy, buttermilkish drink that is sometimes flavored with citrus fruit or bananas. And of course copious amounts of mint tea is consumed…hmmmm…I miss Ramadan already!
Speaking of food…Mom Messegee, Sean and I will soon be traveling to Europe, to check out the scenery, but most importantly, to EAT! Watch out Italy, here we come! We are so excited to pick Mom up at the Casablanca airport day-after-tomorrow and give her a tour of Morocco and our humble Aoufous…many pictures to come!

Until next time, peace and love to all…
~em