Five Foods

Denise Krebs12 Comments

I seem to have slices of delicious food on my mind this March, so here comes another food post.

I (and you) have been invited to a favorites party by @Teachr4. The party happens at your blog, and all you have to bring are your five favorite things.

If I could, I would give you my favorites not only here on the blog, but I’d have you come over to my house. That way we could have our favorites party in person. I’d share with you my favorite foods since coming to Bahrain.

  1. Hummus and Turkish bread from Al Abraaj – I’ve always loved hummus and bread, and I could eat this every day! The Turkish bread is hot out of the oven, thick, chewy, and absolutely delicious. (Want to try it?)
    My favorite table at Al Abraaj. #cy365 #t365project
  2. Hammour is the premiere fish here. It’s a kind of Grouper; it’s attributes include: “Extra lean, firm texture, white meat with large flake and a mild flavor.” Exactly. Need I say more. (Are you ready?)

    Hammour from Al Abraaj
  3. Halloumi Cheese, yes, that is really cheese, browning in a pan. Melty, but firm. Have you ever had halloumi cheese? You are in for a treat! (Book that plane now.)12_halloumi

    Halloumi picture by Lamerie (CC BY-NC 2.0)

  4. Pani Puri is an Indian street food, but we have to go to a restaurant for it here. These little crispy cups filled with veggies and legumes come ready for you to top them off with watery chili and/or sweet tamarind sauces, according to taste. I go for heavy on the sweet flavor. Here is my sweet daughter, (who goes heavy on the chili sauce) and my future son-in-law enjoying pani puri in Bahrain. (We have an extra room for you!)
  5. Dates have always been a favorite food of mine, and I had never seen so many varieties before coming to the Middle East. I’ve really never met a date I didn’t like. (So, check your calendar and set a date!)

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Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Denise Krebs8 Comments

Bread. The staff of life. Our daily bread. My favorite food.

On Friday, Keith and I went out for lunch after church. (The weekend here is Friday and Saturday.) Whenever we go out, I check out the bread page of the menu. This time, I ordered something I hadn’t heard of before: Kashmiri naan. I was not disappointed. Though the menu (see image below) said it had “dried fruit”, I guess they were out because this was loaded with finely diced fresh mango, grapes and cashews. There was also an orange glaze lightly added to the top.

Kashmiri Naan and Butter Chicken
Just one restaurant’s bread menu

At least once a week we also walk down to our neighborhood bread baker and buy 5-10 large pieces of freshly baked bread (roti) for 100 fils (that is 27 cents U.S).

One of the wonderful things that Bahrain does for the people here is that they subsidize bread to keep it very inexpensive. It is a gracious and generous act. It’s a beautiful way that people are given their daily bread. Everyone can afford fresh bread in Bahrain, and every neighborhood has a bread oven similar to this one:

Bread Baking Oven

On Saturday, when we came up to the window to buy bread, Keith asked for “ten breads.” A friendly man waiting for his order at the window asked, “Do you want bread? The cold store across the street has bread,”as he formed his hands into a loaf. “Here they sell roti.” Then we had an interesting conversation about all the different names and subtle differences for what we often just refer to as bread.

After three years of conversations like the one above, and experiences with many different delicious breads from a variety of countries, we are starting to understand the differences and similarities between the names. Here are some pictures in a Google image search to see these various kinds of bread: kuboos, the swirly, flaky and buttery Kerala parotha, naan, roti, chappati, appam, papadum, and so much more!

Bread hot out of the oven
These large pieces of roti are also used as the plate for your food in this traditional restaurant–Haji’s Cafe.
Turkish bread, hummus and tabbouleh
Appam

More to Read

Bon Appétit “The Etymology of the Word: ‘Bread'”

Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris. It’s just a simple children’s book of photographs of people all over the world with their own versions of bread.

I’m Too Old For Football #sol17 Day 11

Denise Krebs7 Comments

Today I went to a workshop on teaching English language learners. We practiced some useful activities to help students plan and pre-write during writers’ workshop.

My Brainstorm Sheet

We first considered different experiences we have had that fit into each of the emotions listed on our chart–happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, hurt and embarrassed.

We had to choose one we wanted to write about. Note to self: Make sure you tell the students this will be a “public” writing experience when they are choosing their topic. First, I had chosen my sadness story, when as a child I eavesdropped with my sister on a conversation about my dad’s death.  I changed my idea when I realized we would be playing Musical Share your Stories.

First, we walked around during the music, and when the music stopped, we found a partner and told them quickly the beginning, middle and end of our story. The music started again and we walked. Stop. New partner. Repeat. Up to five times.

There was potential each time to help the storyteller improve their story. The teacher could give directions to the storyteller (“Now, add a new adjective to this retelling,” “Add a simile” or any other thing the class is learning) or to the listener (“Ask a clarifying question after you hear the story.”)

Anyway, after doing the above activity, acting out the story and drawing and labeling the beginning, middle, and end, we were ready to write.

I must admit I had much more to add to the writing when I finally got around to putting pen to paper.

Here is my story of why I’m too old to play football.

One of the highlights of the elementary sports day is the student-teacher football game. The 5A boys and the 5B girls were the champions in the elementary tournament that had taken place earlier in the day, and they got to be on the student team. Any teachers were invited to join the teacher team and, of course, I did.

In the whole of this short game, I had exactly two opportunities to get at the ball. The first time the ball came at me, I didn’t even see it. It found me, though. It made a direct hit on the pouch I had over my shoulder (with my phone and money inside). The ball broke the strap and sent my bag flying like a jet at takeoff. It also sent the football in a nice pass to my teammate. After the other teachers praised my great play, I scrambled off to reclaim my bag.

A little while later, I got a chance to get the ball again. It was coming at me, slowly. I ran to it and gave it a kick. As I did, I fell. I felt a little like Charlie Brown when he falls every time Lucy pulls the ball away from him. In my situation, though, I did manage to kick it, but down I went. I hit my behind, and continued backwards, the back of my head bouncing twice on the hard ground behind me.

I stood up shaken and wondering if I was hurt. I figured my pride was hurt more than my head, but they took the “When in doubt, sit them out” approach. I was happy to leave the game actually, and spent the rest of the time taking pictures of my teammates and students finishing the game.

I was thankful for no permanent damage to either my phone or my head.

Will I play next year? Of course, I will. I’ll forget by then that I’m too old to play football.

Grade 5 first place beat the teachers.

A post shared by arsgrade5 (@arsgrade5) on

Here is my table group from today’s workshop.

My Carrot Cake Memories

Denise Krebs9 Comments

Inspired by yesterday’s Slice by Erika Victor, I will write about carrot cake memories today.

It seems like I grew up eating this recipe of carrot cake, but I’m not sure when my mom’s cousin Lorraine first found the recipe. It might have been when I was a teen, possibly somewhere in the 1970’s.

Here is my recipe card that I copied from the family cookbook sometime in the 80’s.

This is the only picture I have of the recipe card. I took a blurry image when I digitized my recipe collection before moving overseas. Oops, should have focused better.

This recipe holds so many memories. Too many to name, but a few include enjoying it with my family as a young person, introducing it to my future husband, and then helping my mom bake it for our wedding cake in 1983. We baked it for our daughters’ first birthday cakes, their baptism celebrations, my husband’s 40th birthday, graduations, and so many more that we have lost track.

When I told my husband about this post, he reminded me of the time we were at a fifth grade track meet with my youngest daughter on his birthday. My oldest daughter stayed home and baked him a surprise carrot cake. It was her first attempt, and although a bit crooked, it was delicious and full of love.

We’ll be making more memories when it comes time for my daughter’s wedding in May. The tentative plan is they will have a variety of cupcakes, and surely this will be one of them.

Over the last 40 years, we’ve made some 21st century adaptations, and we like it just as well. The adapted recipe below with reduced fat and sugar is by no means a healthy cake now, but it’s a little better than it used to be.

I hope you will take either the recipe above or below and adapt it for your purposes, making it even better.

Carrot Cake

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Sift together:

  •         2 cups flour
  •         1 t. baking soda
  •         ½ t. salt
  •         1 ½ t. baking powder
  •         2 t. cinnamon
  •         1 ½ cups sugar

Add and beat well:

  •         1 cup oil
  •         4 eggs

Add and beat again:

  •         3 cups grated raw carrots

Optional, fold in 1 cup walnut pieces

Pour into a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake at 180 degrees C for 25-30 minutes (convection oven) or maybe 30-40 minutes in a regular oven. Check it at 25 minutes to see if a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream together 250 grams of cream cheese and 50 grams of butter.

Add 1 t. vanilla and a pinch of salt.

Gradually add about 500 grams of powdered sugar and beat until creamy.

Thank you, Erika, for your memories, which sparked my memories.

What recipe holds special memories for you?

Stones Like Hope

Denise Krebs5 Comments

Today my friend, Lisa, posted a quote on Facebook. It was from the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller:

“I think every conscious person, every person who is awake to the functioning principles within his reality, has a moment where he stops blaming the problems in the world on group think, on humanity and authority, and starts to face himself. I hate this more than anything. This is the hardest principle within Christian spirituality for me to deal with. The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest.”

It was good for me to read. I have been quite vocal on Facebook and Twitter and this blog about my disdain for the man residing in the White House right now. When I’m reminded of my own responsibility in the matter (that ‘needy beast of a thing’ inside me) it’s good. It’s good to be reminded. I am not without sin, so I shouldn’t throw stones. (John 8:1-11)

I wrote this response to Lisa on Facebook:

Wow, that is a powerful quote, Lisa. It’s good for me to remember. I’ve been complaining a lot about the past election. It, and the months following, have been a mirror for our country to see what we have become.

However, as Donald Miller reminds us, real change is when each of us deals with “the needy beast of a thing” within ourselves.

It’s the reason I won’t ever leave Jesus, even when people were walking away from Jesus’ tough words in John 6. He asked his disciples if they wanted to leave too. Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Precisely! To whom shall I go? except to this one who not only convicts me of sin, but saves me from it. I’m the bigot, the fearful, the arrogant, the rich person trying to squeeze into the needle’s eye, the one who shouts at students and the one who ignores the needy. And that was just today.

I am a sinner through and through, and that should not be forgotten as I resist this president.

Since that comment, I have thought more about that inner beast. God save me if I had to start recapping all the crap that has shaped who I am over the past five decades. I’m ashamed of what I was, and I’m thankful to God for helping me to be better.

I have hope. Hope in God. Hope that people on both sides can face their demons. Hope in the Constitution. Hope.

I’ll try to throw more stones like hope.

God help me.

Perfect, Ugly Produce

Denise Krebs16 Comments

I’m a product of a grocery industry that determines the shape, size and color of the fresh foods I eat. That is ridiculous, isn’t it? Why do my tomatoes have to be round? Why do my carrots have to fit into a 10-inch long plastic bag? (Well, I guess we can’t blame the grocery industry, right? They are just giving the consumers what they demand.)

I grew up and lived in the United States for my whole life, so I never saw misshapen produce in the supermarkets. Unusual shapes and sizes came in the garden, and–I’m sure it’s no surprise–the flavor doesn’t change just because of the shape. I grew the carrots below in my garden, and they were tender, sweet and delicious.

I know in America we have a bit of idolatry surrounding perfectionism–even down to fruits and vegetables. That perfection worship became crystal clear when I moved to Bahrain, where perfect produce is not a value for most people. It was an eye-opener when I first saw so many misshapen and imperfect items for sale in all the stores. For three years, we have seen stores full of beautiful and crazy-shaped fruits and vegetables.

I purposely buy the craziest specimens I can find, for I want to make sure our supermarkets keep carrying these beautiful, perfectly ugly and healthy foods.

For More Reading

The Guardian “Half of all US food produce is thrown away, new research suggests”

Huffington Post “6 Billion Pounds of Edible Produce Is Wasted Every Year, Just Because It’s Ugly”

Imperfect Produce – Buy “ugly” produce for half the price in the Bay Area in California, and they will deliver it right to your door.

Just Eat It | A Food Waste Story – A documentary film

National Geographic “How ‘Ugly’ Fruits and Vegetables Can Help Solve World Hunger”

NPR – “To Tackle Food Waste, Big Grocery Chain will Sell Produce Rejects” – They may market them as the ‘underdogs’ of produce.

Healthier Choices in the Food Court

Denise Krebs4 Comments

Today’s Slice is brought to you by grade 5.

This morning I was told I needed to go on the field trip with one class of fifth graders. It was a last minute decision; I was one of two teachers going along with the 25 students, who were celebrating a contest win. Here are Sudha and I at Magic Island in the mall.

We had fun with wild and crazy running and playing. They had a two-hour pass that allowed them to play all the games, and they got their money’s worth.

When it came time for lunch, students were free to eat wherever they wanted in the food court. They had lots of choices. I wandered about the food court, too, open to eating anything. That is usually my M.O. I just order whatever looks good–Fillet of Fish, tacos, KFC, burger and fries, pizza, Diet Coke.

Surprise! Today, there was no junk food for me. Instead I chose fattoush (فتوش) salad with lettuce, tomato and cucumber (and crispy pita chips). I also had zucchini and cabbage leaves stuffed with a rice and tomato mixture. I had water to drink. And I enjoyed the whole meal! It was tasty, and it was real, unprocessed food.

What ideas have slipped into my head? I wondered.  I was free to eat a combo meal at one of my favorite fast food restaurants or even a Happy Meal, but I chose salad instead!

It’s unlike me, but I’m gradually changing. Since January, I have tried and often have made better choices–more fruits and vegetables, less processed foods. It’s paying off, and I feel healthier. I’ve also lost ten pounds, which is great, since my daughter is getting married in May.

Oh, yeah, and that ice cream cone from Jasmi’s for dessert was really small.

 

Who Knows? #sol17 Day 6

Denise Krebs8 Comments

I noticed the writing quote on the Slice of Life webpage today: “The act of writing stimulates thought, so when you cannot think of anything to write, start writing anyway.” (Barbara Fine Clouse)

This quote of the day spoke to me, so I just decided to come here and get started.

It doesn’t seem to be working though…

I just took a break and made that graphic above. But writing is not coming.

Betsy shared in the announcements that there was a new badge for those of us who are blogging alongside our students.

Yippee! That’s me! Is that badge-worthy?

Yes, I’m doing that.

 

Yes, I’m also new to slicing.

I’m exhausted.

I need a few more badges, maybe.

I’m struggling, but as I said in my first post, writing heals and keeps me sane.

I want to finish this month well, so I’m giving myself a few more badges. I’m going to be my own cheerleader.

So here are some more badges for me today.

And here’s to hanging in there!

 

When I started writing this post, my only motivation was to “start writing anyway” because I couldn’t think of anything to write. I entitled the post Who Knows? before I started because I had no idea where I was going. I published it before I remembered that was the title. Oops…