Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Man'oushe in the USA


After so many years of yearning to have Man'oushe in the USA, the dream is finally becoming a reality
(November 2013). To all my US friends, please make sure you get a copy. This could be an awesome holiday gift for your loved ones! Help me and others perpetuate our rich culinary heritage around the world!

Edition 2013 Interlink Publishers

Friday, May 17, 2013

The Messenger

Today I received this message from Kathy Freston's daily quotes / recipes. I want to share this with you my readers because I've had messengers in my life who have showed me the way a few times... because I was receptive to their message too...I want to thank them.

The Messenger (Kathy Freston)

Every once in a while you come upon someone who says that exact thing that changes the course of your life forever. You don’t know why you listen, or shift, at that moment but you do. It’s something about that person that has you in awe; perhaps it’s an inner strength or conviction you feel in their body language, or maybe it’s a light in their eyes that speaks of a courage you want for yourself. That person you happen to meet or hear or see is the messenger you needed to show you your next step. (This is unbeknownst and unplanned on their part). That person may stay for a while or disappear as quickly as they happened on your path, but if you’re wise, you’ll receive what’s offered. You’ll know this is happening when your imagination gets fired up, when the energy moving through you feels clear and good and creative. You’ll know it’s happening when your mind is suddenly expansive and ideas and meaning begin to flow effortlessly through you. There’s no need to attach yourself to this person, but inwardly thank them for bringing you to your next step. You were ready. You called for it.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Do What you Can

photo found in Pinterest
To build or not to build in a country that feels like a dormant volcano waiting to erupt...

I asked my friend and business consultant about this.

He said, "If you are not convinced leave the country forever.  If it's not someone like you who will build in Lebanon— who will?"

That said, I write these words with Israeli planes flying over our heads on a daily basis.

I choose to continue building, until further escalations... day by day...

Trust that little voice that tells you: "It can work, you have to try"

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Becoming a Vegetarian... Becoming a Vegan

I woke up early this morning. It's Sunday ... The man who brings me my brown bread for the children's weekly sandwiches can only come on Sunday morning at 8:00!!! It's hard but what can I do? For now, and for years, this has been my only choice. I do bake bread at home but it's not enough to feed the children the whole week. I take bread very seriously and bread coming from the Bekaa Valley made with wholesome ingredients produced for a good cause (to help needy children) is definitely worthwhile.

So folks, I've decided to become a vegetarian. It's been two weeks that I have not eaten meat or chicken. I feel good about this choice. I have more energy and I feel better as a person.

Looking into the matter carefully. I searched the internet to see the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan.

Here is what I found:

The difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that vegans eliminate all animal products from their diet, including dairy and eggs. (It will come, I'm sure!)

Those following a vegan lifestyle generally do not wear leather and avoid products made from animals such as wool, silk and down. Vegans' tremendous compassion for animals is an abiding, overriding conviction in their lives. (I never wear leather, and have been sensitive to this issue for a long time).

Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry but they tend to consume dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products but not eggs, ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy products and lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat eggs as well as dairy products. Vegetarians also do not eat products that contain gelatine or other meat-based products.

The vegan point of view is that animals are not here to be exploited by man, and that commercialization of animals necessarily involves a fundamental, inhumane component and lack of respect for basic life.

From a nutrition standpoint, the only difference is that vegans need to take a B12 and amino acid supplement, since they have no dietary source of these nutrients. You can get all the nutrients you need on a lacto-ovo (eggs and milk) vegetarian diet without supplements.

Luckily for me, the Lebanese diet is very vegetarian. In fact, I can eat almost everything without meat, except of course kebbeh made with meat. Vegetarian kebbeh substitutes are as flavorful.

I'm convinced for the animals,  for the planet, for my health, always knew it would made perfect sense...

I read a book which just made everything so right ( Kathy Freston's, Veganist).

It's an important book, everyone should read it.
Lebanese cow in spring....she's a vegetarian and look how strong she looks!

To recap:

Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle whose adherents seek to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans endeavor not to use or consume animal products of any kind. Vegans do not consume meat, eggs, milk or any food that is derived from animals.

Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes meat (including game and slaughter by-products; fish, shellfish and other sea animals; and poultry). There are several variants of the diet, some of which also exclude eggs. Vegetarians do not eat meat or fish. Some do consume dairy and some vegetarians consume eggs. Lacto-vegetarian: eating dairy products. Ovo-vegetarian: eating eggs. Do not eat gelatin or other animal by products.

Wish me luck on my new diet, a diet for life full of empathy for my fellow friends (animal kingdom) for I know that they feel everything and understand all...

It takes one person at a time to make a difference.

Thank you God for showing me the way...

Thank you mom for leading me there with your books and food philosophy.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Into the Wild Quote

Make a radical change in your lifestyle & begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances & yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, & conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, & hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new & different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security & adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning & its incredible beauty.” — Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Khebz w Meleh ma3 Barbara - Bread & Salt with Barbara



A video clip made by Independent Productions for a new show we are working on called Khebz w Meleh ma3 Barbara (Bread and Salt with Barbara). The basic idea is breaking bread, sharing food and friendship with people from Lebanon from all communities alike, while keeping our Lebanese culinary heritage alive. Toufic Trabulsi, the director of the video, was able to capture the essence of what I cherish the most in an artistic visual that makes me dream. I am very grateful. I hope one day to be able to find a suitable TV station, sponsor who will be interested to pursue this project. This is where my job stops!... too much of a dreamer to think about something called money and sales ...

NB: We borrowed the song from singer Feyrouz (one of the most prominent Lebanese singer), as this is a "pilot". We will not use it on the show, as it is not ours to keep. We will be working on a single later.

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