So much to do in so little time...

We're moving.

Not to Saudi yet. We're relocating to Ottawa to be closet to my brother, the whole family has been grumpy and emotional packing up the house we all grew up in. 11 years in this place, it's been a long time.
I loved seeing things I haven't in years, embarrassed by so many pictures. It's a lot of cleaning to do. We're all tired, especially with this terrible weather. The snow came down last night and all day today, it's literally up to my knee out there so we're trapped.

Eliana is growing so much, she's 8 months next week and I can hardly believe it. She's been so chatty, she loves to eat by herself, and eats 2 or 3 meals every day which is surprising. I don't know how it happened, but it seems to make her happier. So far she's had apples, pears, banana, tangerine, orange, potato, sweet potato, cucumber, cheese, bread, chicken, oatmeal, rice, yogurt, and squash. She loves it all. She's still breastfed though, not drinking water, and eats about 6 times a day and 3 times at night.

She sits all day and plays on the floor. She prefers not to be on her stomach so I don't push it, she's not crawling yet but shes making funny movements on the carpet and rolls a lot. She does much better standing up than she does on her stomach, so in the morning I give her tummy time on my tummy and the rest of the day is free roaming.

It's extremely difficult moving with a baby. Oh god. Every time I get into cleaning or packing I am distracted by her constant need for me to look at her and play with her. It's adorable, but it's taking me forever to get things done.

The diet has been alright, the bike has been going well. I wish I could do more, but I haven't got the time or energy. I guess I'm doing a lot of moving around, let's hope it counts. I need to do another update.

The husband has been stressed and so have I, I'm hoping once we're moved and got money again things will be looking up. With time there is progress in our trying to get to his country, so in the meantime it's really just about day to day life and living with what very little we have at the moment.

I'll update when moved!

Almond Filled Kunafah

I made this last night and it was incredibly easy and tastes great.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Mine was still on the bottom of the release pan I used, as you can see the sides and top cover the filling like a pie.

The recipe:
Large package of Kataifi or Kunafah pastry
1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup sugar syrup
2 cups almonds ground
2 eggs
1/2 cup suagr
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup water
2 tbs corn starch
2 tbs butter softened

First separate and shred the kataifi dough, mix in melted butter and 1/4 cup of sugar syrup. Pack 3/4 of this mixture into a pie pan and create a rim. In another bowl add water, corn starch, and eggs. Mix very well. Add sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and almonds. Mix well. Add the almond mixture into your kataifi dough shell, an put remaining dough on top. Bake 40-50 minutes and check the colour. When still hot out of the oven, pour other half of sugar syrup over the top and let stand for 35 minutes, or until cooled.

Finding Humor in Marriage

Looking from the outside, marriage seems to be the butt of many of jokes. It's funny! There re shows, books, and countless movies on the topic... but what about real life?

I've seen very funny people married to other funny people, it's great from the outside- they have a chemistry and they complement each other, they are always smiling. Until my friend tells me "he doesn't take me seriously" or "he doesn't respect me". He might even have the same complaints. I think this has to do with the type of humor. Always being around a comedian can get tiring (even as a close friend), especially if the funniest thing in their life is you. Sometimes you don't want to be made fun of, they might take personal moments and turn them into jokes, then you withhold things to avoid all of the embarrassment.

There are some people who are strictly business in marriage, they may laugh occasionally  but tensions and issues between them make it difficult to open up. Laughing is the last thing on their minds and the love seems lack luster.

Then there is everyone else- a few laughs here and there, between fights, every day issues, serious transitions  and children. Sometimes we lose track of the last time we really laughed with our spouse, I often hear myself say after a bout of real laughter "I haven't laughed like that in a long time..." maybe I have. Maybe just not with my husband.

When we're goofy and in a lighter mood the fists go down and we're less likely to fight. It's like intimacy, when people are not intimate they get further and further away. Tension builds, and sometimes even resentment. He may get jealous hearing you laugh with your friend on the phone, you may feel ignored by him as he watches TV for entertainment.

We've had small vacations or outings where we were in bad moods, there was no laughter, and no real memory. Outings with children are usually so hectic you run and get things done rather than smelling the roses. It's sad, especially when you try your hardest not to take someone for granted like I do. I always want to keep all my memories in a jar for that sad day when I don't have that person any more, it makes me melancholy just thinking about all the times I couldn't laugh with my husband for some reason or another.

It's impossible to be happy all the time, I know that- but I'd like to bring more laughter into my marriage and bring back that 'friendship' we once had. I'm going to make a list and try to remind myself, because in my mind I think routines equal health, not only in body, but in your mind and spirit as well.

The Laughter List
(It may or may not even be possible to laugh this much, maybe we could laugh more. Tweak this over time.)

1. Watch a funny movie or comedy twice a week with spouse.
2. Turn what could become anger into humor. (Example: He's not paying attention, " There's a quiz after this, you know!" But remember it's very important not to make it sound sour or like sarcasm. Don't make fun of that person  to cover your anger, and don't hurt them with tasteless humor.)
3. Reminisce. Remember funny times together, don't always wait for that person to bring things up- do it yourself. Remember when is a good game when you're not remembering how that person hurt you one time or forgot something and so on...
4. Make memory space- ditch everything that you remember that's bad about that person or what they did at least once a week. You'll be better for it. Don't ignore warning signs though: abuse, cheating, lying...
5. Instead of getting frustrated at someone take a breath and be calm, make fun of them afterwards. Don't be cruel, and not all the time, but sometimes it will make you feel a little more calm dealing with someone else on a daily basis. 
6. Watch your children/pets together. Constant source of amusement- when they aren't crying. 
7. Share jokes. 
8. When you see them, smile. 

Preparing for the worst?

I've seen a lot of videos on youtube about Preppers: people who prepare for natural disasters, war, Armageddon...the end of the world. I'm addicted. It's amazing how much these people plan, stock, and train for serious life altering events. A lot of it is common sense our grandparents all knew but was somehow lost in our comfort. The other half of it is completely over the top.

It all started with videos on people's pantries. I love food, I love anything to do with the kitchen, so naturally I want to see what other people do to make cooking easier and more cost effective. I came across an American woman who had 300 lbs of milk products that could last her family of 7 for 3 years ( 25 lb boxes, number 10 cans, everything)- this included dry milk, canned cream, boxes of milk, freeze dried cheese(?), and cheese making kits. I'm a person who has never had boxed/canned/dry milk (I'm serious!), so the idea grossed me out at first. Also, to have such an excess of food stored in your home seems a bit hoard-y.

I watched more- people with bug-out (getaway) homes and land in other countries with more rural living in case of an economy crash, and thousands of bug-out dollars saved up so they could fly/drive anywhere to be safe. It all seems pretty smart to do, and they all seem so, so scared...

I'm all for preparation, it's sunnah & part of our religion to teach our kids survival skills. I don't however think it's worth all of the time, space, and money to save up 3 years worth of food when your home could easily be ransacked/burnt down in a disaster and leave you food-less AND penniless. That doesn't mean a small storage isn't smart, I buy in bulk when there are sales because Canada is constantly in a wave of inflation/deflation and the prices of things change all of the time with economy and season.

Here is what I would do to prepare for the worst, without breaking the bank or looking paranoid:

• Learn first aid
• Teach my children to swim, ride, drive, cook, and hunt 
• Learn basic medical skills 
• Learn how to survive in the wilderness/dessert 
• Learn to make a fire in as many ways possible
• Learn to find water (most importantly)
• Get in shape, get my family in good health
• Learn to fight and learn proper self defense(a lot of people believe that the collapse of order will create chaos, so it would be smart to learn basic defense)
• Learn basic homemaking- sewing, washing...
• Basic knowledge in what is edible or not in the wild
• How to build a simple shelter

I'd love to know these things and practice sometime, it seems important and I feel like it's wired in human beings to survive by any means possible- it only makes sense that as humans we prepare and are concerned about survival like any animal.

This also further shows life isn't about material goods (maybe some, to help you long). I'd much rather prepare with wits and knowledge than material goods.

Most of all, rely on god, be sane, don't panic.

Ha, ha. This is such a weird post. Anyway, if you ever want to check out the stockpiles these people keep in their homes, search preppers on youtube! It's amazing what these people do, it's a lifestyle!

German Chocolate Cream Cake

This is basically one of the simplest cake recipes I've ever used. I love it because if you leave out the cocoa and add 1/4 cup more flour, you've got a vanilla cake. It's so versatile, and tastes rich and expensive with real whipping cream. There is nothing better than a cream cake.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

The Recipe:
3 Eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tbs lemon
3/4 cup milk
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbs baking powder
1/4 cup oil or butter
3 eggs
vanilla to taste

Cream:
Quart of heavy whipping cream
vanilla
4 tbs icing sugar

In a mixing bowl place 3 large eggs and beat it for 3-4 minutes, or until it's frothy and yellow. Slowly add your sugar and beat for 5 minutes on high. Add oil, salt, and vanilla and lower the speed. Slowly add your cocoa and baking powder, and then your flour. When everything is thickened, add milk and lemon until the batter is smooth and well combined. Do not over mix.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake has risen and is bouncy to the touch.
Clean the bowl and place it in the freezer for 10 minutes. Cool your cakes for 20 minutes. When the time is up retrieve your bowl and add your cream, mix on high until it begins to stiffen, and then add your vanilla and icing sugar very, very slowly in small amounts. Do not lower your speed. When the cream gets as thick as it can get before turning to butter turn it off.
Use cream at your disposal, this cake is lovely. Be liberal.

Mantu, Za'atar pies, Perogies

Mantu, Manti, Mintu... However you say it or spell it, I made it and it was delicious! I also made za'atar pies filled with cheese and... perogies (not remotely arab cusine, but we like them!) I'm going to tell you the recipes I used for all three.
In Canada we call a meal like this a hodgepodge! Ha!


For the Mantu:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
cold water
chicken mince
parsley
onions
peppers
cumin
coriander
salt and pepper
ginger
clove
chili

In a frying pan saute onions, chili, pepper until soft. Add chicken and cook until just browned. Add 2 tbs of water to the meat mixture and add your spices, use as much or as little spice as you want. Chop a handful of parsley and mix into the meat mixture.
In a bowl combine flour and salt, add water until your flour comes together- not a lot. The dough should NOT be sticky, wet, or soft. It's rather stiff. Knead for 5 minutes and let sit for 10 minutes before proceeding with the dough.
Cut the dough into half. Cut each half into half and keep cutting until you have divided your dough into even 2 inch pieces. Roll the dough into circles and fill with the meat mixture, sealing well.
Steam for 25 minutes, serve hot.

Za'atar pies:
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups flour + extra
Salt
3 tbs yeast
3 tbs oil
Za'atar spice (or you can just use sesame seeds)
Mozerella
One egg beaten

Preheat oven to 375. Mix oil, flour and salt together until the mixture is crumbly. Add yeast to warm water and let sit until frothy. Mix the yeast water into the flour and keep adding flour until it creates a soft springy dough. Let sit 5 minutes and then roll out, fill it with cheese. Beat an egg and wash the top of the bread, add your Za'atar and bake until golden brown.

Perogies:
2 Potatoes mashed
1 cup cheese, grated
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
Remaining Mantu dough
(same dough recipe)

Roll the dough similarly as you did for the Mantu and cut into circles, mix mashed potatoes with cheese and season the mixture well. You can add any spices you'd like. Fill the circles of dough and seal very well. Put a pot on the boil and slowly ass your perogies. The perogies are cooked when they rise to the top of the water. If you wish you can fry them with onions after, as I did.

Coconut Caramel Pound Cake

The recipe for this cake is incredibly easy to remember. Not only do most people have all of the ingredients on hand but it costs a mere fraction of the usual price (doesn't use butter or an insane amount of sugar) for a traditional pound cake- without sacrificing thickness, richness, or flavour.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Coconut Caramel Pound Cake with Custard and Tea!

The recipe:
1/2 cup coconut
1 cup yogurt
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
3 cups all purpose flour
3 eggs
vanilla to taste
1 tsp salt
1/2 tbs baking powder
2 tbs brown sugar

Caramel:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tbs butter or margarine

(We had it with caramel custard)
2 cups milk
3 eggs= 2 yolks and one whole
4 tbs all purpose flour
2 tbs sugar
vanilla

For the cake: add yogurt, oil, eggs, and sugar into a bowl. Mix until it becomes a very thick and yellow. Reserve 2 tbs of coconut and put the rest in a blender, blend coconut until it become a fine flour. Add vanilla, salt, baking powder, coconut, and flour and mix until incorporated. Do not over mix.

Find a dish to fit the batter and grease it well, put the batter in and spread it evenly on top. Place in the oven. We cooked the cake for 40 minutes and that was perfect, the middle should be risen and not moist- the cake should be fluffy and uniform. You will find the cake is quite brown, that's typical of pound cakes and cakes with yogurt. The cake will be very dense.

Separate 2 of the eggs and leave one whole, mix sugar, vanilla, and flour into a bowl and set aside. Heat up the milk until it's scaling and add a cup of it to your egg and flour mixture (hot)- whisk until it's smooth and the eggs are tempered. Add this mixture to your milk and continuously stir until thick and creamy.

Wash the pot and add your sugar and fat, cook until the sugar dissolves and starts to bubble. Add milk slowly and cook until bubbly. It will become only slightly thicker.

Pour half of the caramel on top of the cooled cake and sprinkle coconut and brown sugar on top, add the rest to the custard and whisk in.

This cake freezes very, very well for up to 3 months.

Pound cake should be served with custard on top and some tea.
Enjoy!