Moroccan recipes

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following are of mine alone and do not reflect those of the U.S. government or Peace Corps.

Yes, I know what you're thinking: two blog posts in less than 6 months? This must be some kind of record! Well, you're right. It is. I admit I haven't been blogging as much as I should, considering I created this blog to help friends and family back home understand what it's like to live in Morocco (can anyone say PC Goal #3?). But I'm hoping to change that.

Last week I had the opportunity to fulfill one of my personal Peace Corps cross-culture experience goals: to learn some new and exciting Moroccan recipes. And being the good little PCV that I am, I've decided to help fulfill Peace Corps Goal #3: "Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."

And what better way to do that than to blog about it?


Recipe Numero Wahed: Msemen

Ingredients:

4 cups white flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
Vegetable oil
Warm water
Semolina

Butter

Directions:

1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in large bowl and mix well with hands. Add small amounts of warm water and mix well. Knead the dough thoroughly, adding small amounts of water until dough is slightly sticky. Add vegetable oil to the dough to keep it from sticking and separate it into 1 cup-sized balls.

2. Spread some oil on a large flat surface and put 1 ball of dough on it. Flatten the dough with hands, stretching it thin into a ten-inch square. Dribble oil on top and sprinkle semolina on top of that. Pat down gently. Fold one side of dough to the middle of square, then fold the other half on top. Dribble more oil on that and then sprinkle more semolina on top. Fold the bottom half to the center and then fold the top half on top of that so you have a small square of folded dough.

3. Repeat process with the other balls of dough.

4. Let it sit for about five minutes.

5. Melt a small chunk of butter in a skillet.

6. Stretch out dough squares into larger, flat squares and put in the preheated skillet with the melted butter. Lightly brown it on both sides and repeat the process with the other squares.

7. Serve with Moroccan mint tea for a lovely mid-morning/afternoon snack. It's also really good with Laughing Cow cheese or honey.


Recipe Numero Juj: Couscous

(Note: I have not personally made this yet. I watched a neighbor make it last week and took thorough notes.)

Ingredients:

2 cups raw couscous
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp saffron
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp Hokhla ? (I'm not sure what this is in English yet. It was mixed in with the ginger.)
½ tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp paprika
1 cup water
1 small bunch of fresh cilantro
2 small tomatoes, peeled, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
Raw chicken pieces

Additional vegetables: squash, pumpkin, bell pepper, carrots, zucchini
Small chunk of chicken bouillon
Couscous steamer pot
Large mixing bowl

Directions:

1. Add everything together in the bottom part of the couscous pot except for the additional vegetables and bouillon and let it boil for about ten minutes.

2. Cut the additional vegetables into large chunks and set aside.

3. Mix raw couscous in large mixing bowl with 1 tsp oil and ½ cup water and let sit for about 5 minutes.

4. Pour couscous in the smaller half of the steamer pot and place on top of the pot of boiling stew.

5. Let sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.

6. Remove couscous bowl and add vegetable chunks to boiling stew along with a small chunk of chicken bouillon.

7. Pour couscous into large mixing bowl and add a little water. Mix well, fluffing the couscous with hands. Return the couscous to smaller bowl and replace on top of boiling pot of stew.

8. Let sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 three times, adding a little salt and butter to the couscous on the third time.

10. Once the couscous is tender and the chicken and vegetables have been thoroughly cooked, remove the couscous bowl and pour into large, round serving dish.

11. Scoop stewed meat into the center of the couscous and pour vegetable chunks over it.

12. Top with the stew liquid.

13. Serve with a nice cold glass of buttermilk on a Friday afternoon. Makes enough for about four people.

Pictures coming soon...

That Spark of Adventure

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following are of mine alone and do not reflect those of the U.S. government or Peace Corps.

Last week was spent in one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Paris. It was my first time to France and I have to say, I've fallen in love with French culture. The food was amazing, the architecture was breathtaking, and the people were friendly and helpful. Of all the places I've been to in the world, I have to say Paris is, by far, my favorite.

I spent six full days in this lovely city with my friend Alex where we experienced everything from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame to the Catecombs (and that was just day one).

What surprised me the most, however, was how easy it was to return to Morocco. With less than six months left of my service, I've been eager to return to a place where I don't get stared at everywhere I go. A place where I feel I fit in and don't get called "Foreigner" all the time. Paris was such a place for me. Not a moment went by where I felt I didn't belong. It was a nice break from Morocco. And to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to coming back.

I'm not sure how or why, but upon returning, I felt like I was home. It was probably the first time in my service where Morocco has felt like home to me. I don't speak French at all and although most people I met in Paris spoke at least a little English, it was a relief to be able to speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic) again. I guess I'd forgotten what it's like to not understand anything that's being said. Not that I'm fluent in Darija, by any means (or even that good), but it was nice to hear a foreign language that I could understand.

But it wasn't just communicating that made Morocco feel like home. It was everything. I've gotten used to people staring at me, of the methods of travel, arguing with taxi drivers, the long waits at the bus stops/train stations/taxi stands. I feel integrated. I know this culture in sort of the same ways I know my own culture. I can go to a restaurant and order food in Darija without being self-conscious about my pronunciation (as much as I've tried, there are some sounds in French that I simply can't make). I know what to expect here (which is the unexpected). I know how to get from point A to point B. I know how to greet Moroccans in their native language. This country and culture has become familiar to me. It's to the point where I feel comfortable with my discomfort (if that makes any sense at all).

And, of course, there's that sense of adventure that comes with living here. In Paris (and even in America over Christmas), everything felt safe and reliable, like I didn't need to always be on-guard. Granted, it is exhausting at times, but that sense of adventure is what makes life here interesting. Every time I leave my house, I never know what to expect, who I might run into, if my favorite hanut will be closed, if my classes will be canceled because of something else going on at my youth center/women's center or if I'll even have work at all. I expect things here to be unreliable. I've come to expect the unexpected. Because in the end, for whatever reason, everything just seems to work out.

As strange as it may seem, to live in an environment where you can rely on transportation to be on time or expect things to get done in a timely manner just seems boring to me. Part of me likes not knowing if I'll be able to catch a taxi to Oujda or buy simple things like milk or baking powder.

I often wonder how long it'll take for me to get bored with life when I go back to America in November. Compared to Morocco, life in America is easy. And to me, easy is boring. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely looking forward to starting a life in America, but I know myself well enough to know I'll soon be looking for another adventure in some new and exciting culture.