Feeding the Starving Children of Af.....no, America?


I was watching one of my favorite shows on the Foodnetwork recently: Chopped! I love watching pros try to make heads or tails from an unlikely combo of steak, chocolate icing, chard and whatever! 


However there was a recent episode where the show hosted a bunch of "Lunch Ladies" from various schools around the US. Many of them were talking about the BackPack Program. I was surprised to learn that many public schools send backpacks of food with hundreds and thousands of American children every weekend. Apparently these children don't have access to food other than what is served at lunch at school during the weekday!


I am still in awe, the richest economy in the world has starving children?


for more information go to http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/child-hunger/backpack-program.aspx

Home Made Baked Goods

Better For You Cinnamon Rolls

I used one recipe of All Purpose Dough. and a mixture of white and whole wheat flour (that's why its better for you!)

I rolled the dough into a rough rectangle and spread half a stick of softened butter. Then I sprinkled brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Rolled everything like a cigar and cut and baked!

I made a the icing by mixing soft cream cheese, condensed milk and some lime juice. Pour over hot rolls! You can thank me later!

Feta Cheese Buns

These buns I stuffed with a teaspoon of Feta Cheese you can use any filling you want. Brush with egg wash or better yet with cream or evaporated milk, I hate that eggy smell! Sprinkle with sesame seeds or nigella!

Friday Cooking Extravaganza

Ok so when you have a full time job and a family to feed, you need to up your game re meal planning, shopping and preparation. This week I chose to cook on Friday, I usually cook when I have the strength, will power and groceries.


This week's menu:

• Pizza
• Pasta
• All Purpose Marinara Sauce (which I use for the above)
• Braised "Roast" Beef (veggies I will make later in the week)
• Chicken Curry (I used Jamie Oliver's recipe see below)
• Lemon Basmati Rice with Mustard seeds
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Roast Chicken Breasts for hubby's weekday salad

The coolest thing though was trying out a new all purpose dough recipe that I've seen a lot on other blogs: 

The 10 Minute Dough Recipe:

Adapted from Arabic Bites, who I looove!!! http://arabicbites.blogspot.com 

2 cups warm water.
2 Tablespoons yeast.
4 Tablespoons Sugar.
5 cups flour
1\2 cup oil.
2 teaspoons salt.


1)"for sponge" Mix the yeast, Sugar, and water, Mix in 2 cups flour. Cover the bowl and let rise for 10 minutes.

2) Place all ingredients +"sponge" in the bowl of mixer, beat 10 minutes to make soft dough.

the dough is now ready to be used for pizza,  fatayer, flat-breads etc...I even used it for cinnamon rolls. 

Feta Cheese Buns, great for lunch boxes and snacking

Better for you Cinnamon Rolls with Creame Cheese Icing

Jamie Oliver’s  Chicken Curry 

from Happy Days with the Naked Chef, 2002

• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons black mustard seeds 
• 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds 
• 3 fresh green chillies, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 handful of curry leaves
• 2 thumb-sized pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely grated
• 3 onions, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 6 tomatoes, chopped (or one large can tomatoes)
• 1  14 oz can coconut milk
• salt
• 4 chicken breasts, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed

Heat the oil in a pan, and when hot add the mustard seeds. Wait for them to pop, then add the fenugreek seeds, fresh green chillies, curry leaves and ginger. Stir and fry for a few minutes. Using a food processor, chop the onions and add to the same pan. Continue to cook for 5 minutes until the onion is light brown and soft, then add the chili powder and turmeric. Using the same food processor, pulse the tomatoes and add these to the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add 1 or 2 wine glasses of water and the coconut milk. Simmer for about 5 minutes until it has the consistency of double cream, then season carefully with salt.

Stir-fry the chicken strips and coriander seeds until lightly colored, then add your sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with steamed basmati rice.

Ok so American Idol...

Anyone who knows me...will know that I'm an avid Idol Fan. I know what you're going to say...Idol isn't the same without Simon! I agree 100% however I still need my AI fix.

No one said this is a serious blog...I can blog about anything I want!

So Top 13, I think America did get it right! Thank God for Jimmy Levine, right? I mean thoses judges are just too damn nice! Here are my thoughts:

• Briel belongs on Jersey Shore or that other reality show about New Jersey
• Bieber wannabe will definately hear from Adele: she will write a song about how Eben wronged her when he sang her song. Plus did you see that shirt he was wearing?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiay2v4eQSM dont watch the whole vid. How can this floppy haired castrato rep SWAG?
• Non descript black dude....I got nothing
• Fat Gokey with the hankey, the tears, the baby, the Cordon Bleu blah blah....don't you know tricks are for kids? You suck! And...you do not get to say that you have a large black women inside of you...sorry Aretha! I won't even delve into his monomer: White Chocolate?
• Korean Kid: ur a funny dude but please with the wack songs!
• P.P: reminds be of Bruce Springsteen, how come no one brought that up?
• Bailey you are so pretty...thats it!
• Joshua, Jimmy's right...tone down the Gospel...or you'll end up like Jacob whatshisname.
• Deandre: ur so pretty too...at least you can sing...no more EW&F. You're just a kid!
• Thank God they got rid of most of the  country kids, last season met the hick quota thankyouverymuch!

Everybody else ...until we meet again!

Candace is a Kushite Name?

The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient Nubian state centered on the confluences of the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara in what is now the Republic of Sudan. Kushite kings ruled as Pharaohs of Egypt for a century, which is an insignificant slot of time historically, however I am very proud nevertheless.

The Kingdom was a prosperous land ruled from the capital: Meroe. They farmed, traded with Greeks and built the Pyramids that are now a UNICEF world heritage site. And get this: the Kushites revered women. In fact women often ruled on their owns. Kushite Queens were called Kandakes. They were worriors who led their nation to war.

A very famous Kandake was "Candace" of Meroe was the queen of Nubia at the time of the conquests of Alexander the Great. According to legend, Alexander encountered her when he invaded Nubia. In fact, Alexander never attacked Nubia, and never attempted to move further south than the oasis of Siwa in Egypt.

The story is that when Alexander attempted to conquer her lands in 332 BC, she arranged her armies strategically to meet him and was sat regally on a war elephant as he approached. Talk about showmanship.

Having assessed the strength of her armies, Alexander decided to withdraw from Nubia, heading to Egypt instead. Another story claims that Alexander and Candace had a romantic encounter, there has to be a movie here.

The whole story of Alexander and Candace's encounter is unfortunately what legends are made of.

The name "Candace" is actually a form of the title "Kentake", and not the actual name of a person.Try explaining that one is Smalltown, USA to a bunch of Candy's...