Cumin and Cheese Bites

As always I’m posting a new fast and easy snack recipe. It doesn’t cost much and it doesn’t take a long time.

5-10 pieces

Ingredients
1- One cup of high quality flour.
2- Two eggs.
3- 30g of butter. I used one tablespoon of butter.
4- One tablespoon of instant dry yeast.
5- Half a teaspoon of sugar.
6- Half a teaspoon of salt.
7- Three tablespoon of cumin powder.
8- One tablespoon of cumin seed.
9- Some mozzarella cheese.
10- A cup of warm water.
11- A few spoons of milk.

Preparations
1- Bring a deep bowl and mix the flour, one egg, butter, yeast, sugar and cumin.
2- After mixing the ingredients well add some water to make the dough. You can use your hand or a mixer. I use my hands.
3- Keep mixing the dough with your hand and you can add more water if needed.
4- Add the salt to the dough and mix again.
5- After a few minutes you’ll notice that the dough feels smooth and doesn’t stick to your hand.
6- Bring the board and put some flour on the surface and put the dough on it and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.
7- Let it sit for 20 minutes.
8- You may use a rolling pin to roll the dough thin.
9- Use a knife and cut to into small pieces.
10- Put some cheese inside the piece and fold it.
11- Beat an egg in a different bowl and mix it with milk.
12- Use a kitchen brush and grease the top of the bites.
13- Add mozzarella cheese or cumin seed on the top of them.
14- Leave it for ten minutes.
15- Put it in a preheated oven 220c .
16- The cooking time 10-12 minutes.

I’m using an electric oven.

Baked Mashed Potatoes With Beef

Another delicious Egyptian dish, and it’s one of the many different ways to cook beef and potatoes.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1- 4-6 medium sized potatoes.
2- 300g of ground beef.
3- One onion.
4- One teaspoon of salt.
5- Two teaspoon of black pepper.
6- One egg.
7- One tablespoon of butter.
8- Few spoons of oil.

Preparations:
1- Boil the potatoes in a deep pot.
2- Use a different deep pot to cook the beef.
3- Cut the onion to small pieces.
4- Grease the pot and add the onion.
5- Fry and stir the onion for a few minutes until it gets golden.
6- Add the ground beef and stir well.
7- When all of the beef is brown add a small cup of water.
8- Add salt and black pepper to the beef. And leave 20-30 minutes to be done. Don’t forget to check on it.
9- After the potatoes are done, peel them and mash them.
10- Bring an oven tray and melt the butter in it to grease the bottom.
11- Put half of the potatoes on the bottom, then the beef in the middle and put the other half on the top.
12- beat an egg and add a teaspoon of black pepper.
13- put the egg on the top of the potatoes to give it golden color.
14- put the potatoes in a preheated oven 250 C.
The cooking time is from 20 to 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. I’m using an electric oven.

Snowman

It snowed a lot today, my husband and I made this cute snowman. Eyes and nose made from cookies and hair from pine needles. It was a lot of fun.

The Best Christmas Gift - Gir From Zim

I'm married to one of the most talented men. Last Christmas my husband made a model of Gir from Invader Zim and gave it to me.

Gir is my favorite character in the show so my husband made it of paper mache, wires, tin foil and spray paint. Isn’t it great?

Pumpkin Custard Pie- Aar Asaely

This pumpkin pie is perfect for parties, family dinners and winter nights. It's one of my favorite Egyptian desserts. Serve it warm.

Serves 2-4 people.
Ingredients:
1- One pumpkin.
2- Three tablespoons of custard.
3- Two cups of milk.
4- Sugar.

Preparations:
1- Cut the pumpkin to small pieces.
2- Put it in a pot and cover it with sugar.
3- Turn the burner on low heat.
4- Leave it until the pumpkin loses some water.
5- After the pumpkin is soft, turn the burner off.
6- Keep the pumpkin’s water in a bowl and the pumpkin’s pieces in another bowl.
7- Pour the milk in a deep pot and add the custard. Low heat.
8- Use a whisk to stir the custard.
9- Add the pumpkin’s water to the custard.
10- Keep stirring until the custard is thick enough.
11- Bring an oven tray.
12- Add half of the custard in the bottom of the tray.
13- Add the pumpkin.
14- Pour the other half of the custard on the top of the pumpkin.
15- Place the tray in a preheated oven, 240 C.
16- After 30-40 minutes it will be brown and done.

If you want to make a homemade custard. Use 2 tablespoons of butter, melt the butter, add 5 tablespoons of flour and use a whisk to mix them well for 3 minutes. Then add the milk and keep stirring until it get thick.

Konglish?

Found in a supermarket.

Photo: Ian Porell

Chicken and Mushrooms Lasagna With Bashamel Sauce

Just made it for last night dinner and it was so delicious, it took about an hour and a half to be done.

Serves 2 people

Ingredients:
1- A half a pack of lasagna pasta
2- Two chicken breasts. Sliced
3- One onion. Sliced
4- Some mushroom. As desired.
5- Mozzarella
6- Oil

Bashamel:
1- Five tablespoons of flour
2- Two tablespoons of butter
3- A bottle of milk
4- tablespoon of butter

Preparations:
1- Boil the lasagna. Don’t make it too soft.
2- Use a frying pan and fry the chicken, onion and mushrooms.

For the bashamel:
1- Use a deep pot and melt the butter. Medium heat.
2- Add the flour. Use a whisk and stir for 3 minutes, until the flour mixed well with the butter.
3- Add milk and keep string until it’s thick enough, It shouldn’t be so thick.
If there are some lumps you can use a screen and use the liquid only.

The Lasagna:
1- Use an oven tray.
2- Add some of the bashamel in the bottom.
3- Put down a layer of lasagna.
4- A layer of the mix, chicken, mushrooms and onion.
5-Then some mozzarella.
6- Do this twice.
7- On the top a layer of lasagna, bashamel and mozzarella.
8- Preheat the oven 250 degree. I’m using an electric oven.
9- And cook it until it’s all golden. It took about 25 minutes.

Be Al-hana We Al-shafa

From inside

Feast Of The Sacrifice-Eid al-Adha

The Islamic world celebrate Eid al-Adha every year at the 10th,11th,12th, of Dhu al-Hijjah month, the last month of the lunar Islamic calendar.

While growing up in Cairo I’ve always thought that Eid is one of the best holidays ever, not because we get new clothes and some feast money from the parents, but because it’s all about giving and sharing, and making the poor happy. I’ve always been proud of the feast.

After I started my travels, I’ve met a lot of people from different religions and nationalities. Unfortunately I’ve met some western people who were racist and hate Muslims just for the sake of hate. Those people have called Muslims savages because of we sacrifice an animal “cow, sheep, camel, goat” to feed the poor.
I had a conversation with an American woman who eats meat, that conversation showed me how hypocrite some people can be, and how some westerns have double standards. I explained to her why we sacrifice an animal.
She “I’ll never kill an animal to eat.”
I “ you aren’t vegetarian, you love meat.”
She “ yes, but I wouldn’t kill an animal.”
I “so buying beef from a supermarket isn’t the same thing?”
She “of course not.”

So killing the animal in butcher shop then send it to the super market is better than killing the animal to feed it to the poor.

One of my favorite memories in Egypt is the first day of the feast, I saw rich people sacrificing an animal and gave it to the poor, all of the poor people who couldn’t afford buying meat, they smiled and were happy, their face were bright, they knew that they will go home and have good dinner. If that is barbaric I don’t know what’s noble is?
I’m so sick of people who hate Muslims just because we are Muslims. I’m a Muslim woman, I’ve traveled to 5 countries with different religions and cultures, I respect all of them.

Around Korea part 6- Gyeryongsan And Autumn’s Colors

Gyeryongsan is located in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do province. Such a beautiful place to enjoy the autumn foliage, and walk on a colorful path.

There are a lot of Korean and western restaurants along the way to the mountain.

Apple Custard Pie

An easy dessert for your family. Can be eaten warm or cold.

Ingredients:
1- Four apples.
2- Three tablespoons of custard.
3- Two cups of milk.
4- Sugar.

Perpetrations:
1- Cut the apple to small pieces.
2- Put it in a pot and cover it with sugar.
3- Turn the burner on low heat.
4- Leave it until the apple loses some water.
5- After the apple is soft, turn the burner off.
6- Keep the apple’s water in a bowl and the apple’s pieces in another bowl.
7- Pour the milk in a deep pot and add the custard. Low heat.
8- Use a whisk to stir the custard.
9- Add the apple’s water to the custard.
10- Keep stirring until the custard is thick enough.
11- Bring an oven tray.
12- Add half of the custard in the bottom of the tray.
13- Add the apple.
14- Pour the other half of the custard on the top of the apple.
15- Place the tray in a preheated oven, 240 C.
16- After 30 minutes it will be brown and done. The cooking time is different between gas oven and electric oven. I'm using an electric oven.

Come And Visit Seoul

This is a guest post written by Rohan Willis.

Can you recall the plots of “겨울연가 (Winter Sonata)”, “ 풀하우스 (Full House)”, or “꽃보다남자 (Boys Over Flowers)” that kept you at the edge of your seat with compelling characters, a setting that took your breath away, and essential elements of Korean romance? Have you ever wondered what brands of cosmetics Song Hyekyo, Yoon Eunhye, or Kim Taehee use?

Come visit Seoul! At first glance, you may think that it’s just another city in Asia. However, I can guarantee you that it’ll all change within half an hour. You’ll start feeling as if you have walked into a Korean drama setting. What you will experience is not Beijing, Singapore, or Tokyo. It’s Seoul!

It is difficult not to notice how the females meticulously maintain their beauty. From their hair styles, foundations, concealers, eyeliners, mascaras, eyeshadows, lipgloss, lipstick, earrings, accessories, handbags, shoes, clothes…etc., the ladies care about every single detail. In Seoul, you’ll discover numerous affordable ways to make yourself look elegant and gorgeous. You won’t find many expensive European cosmetic brands in Seoul. In fact, you will be able to find a large number of domestic branded cosmetic and beauty product on every street/road in Seoul.

Within a day, you’ll be able to understand why Seoulites are proud of their city. Seoul, soul of Asia!

Writing A New History

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As Egypt is celebrating the victory of 6 October, there is a photo going around on Facebook. The photo is supposed to be the cover of a newspaper.

In this photo the writer of the article and some union workers are congratulating Mohamed Morsy for the anniversary of the victory. Not only that, the writer claims that Morsy was one of the military leaders of the war. Morsy wasn’t in that war. Morsy didn’t serve his country and wasn’t part of the victory. 

Some people made comments on Facebook and said “that photo is fake and Photoshopped.”

Morsy might want to rewrite history and erase Mubarak’s legacy. Mubarak is a hero of war and peace. No one can change that. Morsy didn’t fight and had nothing to do with this photo. That shows how hypocritical the media is. If this photo is Photoshopped and someone posted it on Facebook, it means someone wants to make fake history. The coming generations will not know the real story.

 

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In this video below Sadat said “Mubarak didn’t just fight in the war, Mubarak was one of the factors of the victory. And that’s why I chose him to be my vice president.” 

Budget Traveller Diaries: Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most crowded countries in the world, and it is very international. We could find any ethnic food we liked.

In order to save money we stayed at a hostel. The room was very tiny. My husband and I couldn’t both stand up at the time, the beds were very narrow, everything in the room was white. The room looked exactly like an x-ray room.

One of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong is Ocean Park. It’s a theme park with a zoo and an aquarium. I highly recommend visiting the park. 

Red panda is the cutest animal ever.

 I've never seen anything like this before.

Our trip to Hong Kong was short - just 3 days long - but we had a lot of fun.

Around Korea part 5- Ulsan

Ulsan is pretty much looks like Busan, I liked Ulsan a lot, it’s big, beautiful, have nice beaches and quieter than Busan.

This was one of the most interesting sings in Ulsan, I took this photo and I thought to share, I’ve heard that this bar is for Koreans only. Foreigners aren’t allowed. 

Grilled Chicken with Vegetables

The recipe is so easy to prepare but the cooking time is about 90 minutes to 2 hours using an electric grill. The cooking time will be less if you use a gas oven. It’s very delicious and worth the time.

 Serves 2

Ingredients:

1- three chicken breasts

2- one onion

3- one lemon juice

4-one tablespoon of vinegar

Spices, to taste

5- salt

6- black pepper

7- chili powder

8- cinnamon

9- one potato

10- one carrot

11- mushrooms

Preparations:

1- use a deep bowl.

2- slice the onion.

3- cut the chicken in half.

4- mix the onion with chicken and spices.

5- leave in fridge for 6 hours at least. I leave it overnight.

6- slice the potato, carrot and the mushrooms.

7- wrap the chicken, onion, potato, carrot and mushrooms with foil.

8- place it on the top of the electric grill.

And leave it to cook, and check it every 30 minutes until it’s done.

Be Al-Hana We Al-Shifa

Around Korea part 4-Funny signs in Deacheon Beach

We had a great time in Deacheon beach, beautiful views, gentle breezes and the smell of the ocean.

Along by the shore there were a lot of funny signs, here is some of them.

Not sure why hanna will make you a bad ass.

That restaurant had a great food, maybe the best there. However, they should check the spelling in the menu.

There was another sign in front of seafood restaurant “anything but a mermaid”. Unfortunately couldn’t get the photo. 

Grilled Fish

Fish is one of my favorite dishes. It’s healthy and delicious. Today I’ll share my special recipe, and it’s a15-20 minute meal.

Serves 2 people:

Ingredients:

1- One mackerel fish.

2- One lemon.

3- Fresh parsley.

4- One tablespoon of smashed garlic.

5- Two teaspoon of cumin powder.

6- One teaspoon of salt.

7- One teaspoon of chili powder.

Preparations:

1- Bring a deep bowl and mix the garlic with spices.

2- Wash the fish and cut it into two halves.

3- Then rub the fish with the spices and keep it in fridge for an hour.

4- Slice a lemon.

5- Wrap the fish, lemon and the parsley with foil.

6- Place it on the top of the electric grill.

 And you will smell the delicious smell of the fish and after 15 minutes it’s done.

 

Grilled Green Apple

A recipe for good health, takes 10 minutes only, and it could be a light dinner, snack or a side dish.

All what you have to do is:

1- Slice the apple.

2- Wrap it with foil.

3- Place it on the top of electric grill.

4- Leave it for 10 minutes.

And Be Al-hana We Alshafa

 Be careful you might get addicted to the delicious grilled apple.

Mahshy Kossa- Stuffed Zucchinis

In Egypt we have many kinds of mahshy, today I want to share mahshy kossa recipe with you. Stuffed zucchini is one of the many Egyptian zucchini dishes and mahshy is the best way to eat it. It’s delicious and healthy.

Serves one person.

Ingredients:

1- Four medium-size zucchini

2- One cup of rice

3- Tomato juice or two spoons of tomato paste

4- One onion

5- Fresh parsley

6- Teaspoon of cinnamon

7- Two teaspoons of salt

8- Two teaspoons of black pepper

9- Oil

10- Chicken soup (optional)

Preparations:

1- Remove the hearts of the zucchinis using a coring knife and wash from inside.

2- Chop the onion to small pieces, grease the pot and fry the onion until it gets golden, then add the tomato juice on medium heat.

3- Add the parsley. Leave it on the fire until the tomato gets thicker, then turn the burner off.

4- Add the rice, salt, black pepper, and cinnamon. Mix it very well.

5- put some black pepper inside the zucchinis.

6- Then stuff the zucchinis with rice.

7- Grease the deep pot and put the zucchinis in it.

8- Use another pot to boil water or chicken soup and add a teaspoon of salt and black pepper. Once the water boils, add it to the zucchinis in the other pot. Cover the zucchinis halfway with water.

9- Turn the burner on medium heat and the mahshy will absorb the water and the color of the zucchinis will change. Reduce the heat and taste one.

Feed The Poor Campaign: Fast And easy Egyptian Recipes

Helping the poor and those who are in need to eat, and to fill their hunger is one of the best things you can do. Starting from today to the next Friday all of Fast And Easy Egyptian Recipes sales will be used to buy meals for the poor.

Buy the book and learn how to cook like an Egyptian, and in the same time you feed people who starve, you will help them to survive and smile and sleep well without the pain of hunger. All you have to do is go to Amazon.com and buy the book. Do a good deed in less than a minute.

http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Easy-Egyptian-Recipes-ebook/dp/B007CDZ9FE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4

Egyptian Street Culture That No One Will Tell You About Trailer

Mahshy Pidingan Stuffed Eggplants

Stuffed eggplant is one of the many Egyptian eggplant dishes and mahshy pidingan is one of my favorites. It’s delicious and healthy.

In Cairo we make mahshy pidingan with long white eggplants. In the countryside and Upper Egypt they make it with white, black and purple eggplants.

Serves one person.

Ingredients:

1- Four medium-size eggplants

2- One cup of rice

3- Tomato juice or two spoons of tomato paste

4- One onion

5- Fresh parsley

6- Teaspoon of cinnamon

7- Two teaspoons of salt

8- Two teaspoons of black pepper

9- Oil

10- Chicken soup (optional)

Preparations:

1- Remove the hearts of the eggplants using a coring knife and wash the eggplants.

2- Chop the onion to small pieces, grease the pot and fry the onion until it gets golden, then add the tomato juice on medium heat.

3- Add the parsley. Leave it on the fire until the tomato gets thicker, then turn the burner off.

4- Add the rice, salt, black pepper, and cinnamon. Mix it very well.

5- Then stuff the eggplants with rice.

6- Grease the deep pot and put the eggplants in it.

7- Use another pot to boil water or chicken soup and add a teaspoon of salt and black pepper. Once the water boils, add it to the eggplants in the other pot. Cover the eggplants halfway with water.

8- Turn the burner on medium heat and the mahshy will absorb the water and the color of the eggplants will change. Reduce the heat and taste one.

Around Korea part 3: A road trip to Taean National Park

Last weekend my husband surprised me with an amazing trip to Taean. We rode the motorcycle all the way there; it’s about 3 hours driving from where I live.

Taean is a very beautiful city full of friendly people, but we couldn’t find any western food there. Fried chicken and pizza were the only things that weren’t Korean food.

We stayed in a pension called Pension Bronze our first night there. The owner was an old lady. She was really friendly and the pension was 2 minutes away from the beach and had a very cute pink room. The only problem there was the hot water.

On the following morning we visited Taean Temple, which is very beautiful but the roads need to be improved. Then we went to the forest. And the last stop was Anmyondo island, which was totally worth the visit.   

Buddha's huge statue.

 

At that night we stayed at Don Beach motel, for 40,000KW we've got a room with ocean view, air con, cable and DVD.

On the last day we went to the Anmyondo Jurassic Park museum. The museum is located on the top of a hill and has a beautiful view.

Dinosaur and a naked Greek statue?

Photos are copy righted to Ian Porell 

http://www.anmyondojurassic.com/ 

A New President For Egypt The Muslim Brotherhood area

After years of thirst for power and seeking the big chair, the Muslim Brotherhood finally got what they desired for so long. Mohamed Morsi, an active member of The Muslim Brotherhood and the leader of the Freedom and Justice Party, became the fifth president of Egypt.

Morsi won 51.7 percent of the vote while Shafiq received 48.3. According to Al-Dostor newspaper, Morsi’s victory was a political decision, a deal with Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the chairman of the supreme council of the armed forces of Egypt. And the victory is fake. Morsi didn’t win people’s hearts, he didn’t win the streets. After Morsi and some of his supporters promised to shed blood and burn Cairo if Shafiq won the election, Tantawi made a deal with Morsi.

I’m not concerned about whether Morsi’s victory is real or fake. What I’m afraid of is the future of my nation.

1- Women’s rights: female circumcision will be forced on girls aged between 6-12. Girls who are so young, who don’t know the damage of this barbaric surgery. In most cases it is performed by a barber not a doctor. It has caused a lot of death, little girls have bled to death.

Forcing women to wear hijab. The previous Brotherhood candidate, Abu-Ismail, said he would make all women wear hijab. And he said that women belong to the house, not in the field or in the office. I don’t know if Morsi will do that or not but it is the policy of the party.

Work and Education. There is a lot of talk that the Islamic government will prohibit women from working in the same office as men, and girls won’t be able to sit in the same classroom with boys.

2- Freedom of speech: will the new government allow freedom of speech? The Brotherhood’s history proves that they don’t accept others’ opinions.

3- Christians’ rights: for many centuries Christians and Muslims lived in peace side by side, brothers and sisters, but now I’m worried about Coptic Christians. They are Egyptians and they have the right to live and pray in their churches.

4- Tourism and the pharaohs’ legacy: tourism is a huge part of the Egyptian economy. Will Morsi allow tourism while many members in The Brotherhood are against tourism?

And the thing I’m worried most about is the pharaohs’ legacy, the pyramids and the ancient temples. Our great history might be in danger.

5- Hollywood of the East, what we call Egypt’s silver screen. Now that industry might be in danger too.

A few months ago there was a lot of talking from The Muslim Brotherhood party about fighting in a holy war to free Palestine and fight against Israel.

Morsi resigned from the membership of the Muslim Brotherhood party and from the Freedom and Justice party immediately after winning. And he also said he will honor all of Egypt’s international treaties including the peace treaty with Israel.  

Has Morsi realized that he can’t break the peace treaty with Israel and that’s why he resigned or it just another game? Is it a conspiracy? Is America really supporting the Islamists?

A million questions are in the air. Will Morsi be a good president? Will Morsi be an extremist president? No one knows and no one can predict the future and there is no way to know what the coming days have for us. Morsi is the president now. I don’t support him but I hope he proves me wrong and I hope he is a good president because the worst type of dictators are the religious ones.

I’m Muslim and I’m very proud of my religion. The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t represent Muslims.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Morsi 

Potato Kofta

Kofta always means meat fingers and meatballs, but this is a recipe for vegetarians and potato lovers.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1- four potatoes
2- one onion
3- one carrot
4- teaspoon of salt
5- teaspoon of black pepper
6- one egg
7- two tablespoon of milk
8- soft breadcrumbs
9- oil

Preparations:
1- boil the potatoes until they’re at least 80% done.
2- after the potatoes are done drain them, peel them and smash them until they are soft.
3- shred the onion and the carrot.
4- mix all of them very well.
5- roll it into fingers or balls.
6- beat the egg in a different bowl and add two tablespoon of milk. and salt and black pepper and mix it well.
7- put the potato fingers in the egg.
8- then put them in the breadcrumbs and cover them well.
9- fry the fingers in deep oil.
10- keep stirring until it’s done. It takes less than five minutes to be done.

Enjoy and Be Al-hana We Al-shafe

Pasta With Fried Beef

A different taste for pasta cooked with beef and vegetables.

Serves 2 people.

Ingredients:
1- 300g of beef, small cubes.
2- One onion.
3- Spicy colored pepper.
4- Few spoons of oil.
5- Half a pack of pasta 500g.
6- Three or four table spoon of tomato paste.

Preparations:

1- Grease a frying pan and place it over medium heat.
2- Slice the onion and put it the pan.
3- Stir it till the onion turns golden.
4- Add the beef cubes and stir.
5- When the beef turns brown, add the colored pepper.
6- Keep stirring till all of the ingredients have the same color.
7- Taste it. If the beef isn’t done yet, you may add some water. Once it absorbs the water, taste it again.
8- Use a different bot to boil the pasta.
9- Add the tomato paste to the beef.
10- Add a small cup of water to the beef and tomato paste and stir it.
11- When the pasta is done turn the burner off and drain the pasta.
12- Once the tomato get thicker add the boiled pasta to it and stir again.

Be Al-hana we Al-shafa

The Fall of Democracy

Yesterday was a sad day for millions of Egyptians. Yesterday democracy and justice fell and unfortunately the judge, Ahmed Rifaat, proved that justice is just a word. I couldn’t find any words to describe the feelings of anger and the disappointment of the people.

After a lot of rumors of corruption and stealing the people’s money, Mubarak and his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, were acquitted of corruption charges. And yet the judge sentenced Mubarak to life in prison for a false crime.

The crime is that Mubarak and el-Adly, the minister of the interior, “did not act to stop the killings” during 18-days of mass protests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEjw71ePW1I

In the above speech, Mubarak promised to investigate the killing of the protesters and promised to punish the ones who are responsible for it. Mubarak also said the protesters have the right to say what they want as long as they were peaceful.

Mubarak didn’t run away, his family didn’t run away. He stayed in Egypt because he believed in justice but unfortunately he wasn’t judged by justice.
“Rifaat described Mubarak's era as "30 years of darkness" and "a darkened nightmare" that ended only when Egyptians rose up to demand change. Rifaat should have described Mubarak’s era as 30 years of peace with Israel, 30 years of achievements, 30 years of building new cities and schools and hospitals. Mubarak fought terror and ended it in Egypt. Suzan Mubarak fought for women’s rights and helped in making laws to protect women and children. I didn’t know all of those achievements were “nightmare and darkness.”

"They peacefully demanded democracy from rulers who held a tight grip on power," the judge said. And again the judge is trying to win one group of people by saying what they want to hear. The protesters in Tahrir Square weren’t peaceful; they had rocks, weapons and Molotov cocktails.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6QjFjR7h5U

June 2 -2012 a day will be remembered in history and the judge, Ahmed Rifaat, will be always remembered as the judge who sent an innocent man to jail.
http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-mubarak-sentenced-life-prison-100619336.html

Spicy Fried Beef

This recipe is very delicious and very easy. It’s a 20-minute meal.

Serves 2 people.

Ingredients:
1- 300g of beef, small cubes.
2- One onion.
3- Spicy colored pepper.
4- Few spoons of oil.

Preparations:

1- Grease a frying pan and place it over medium heat.
2- Slice the onion and put it the pan.
3- Stir it till the onion turns golden.
4- Add the beef cubes and stir.
5- When the beef turns brown, add the colored pepper.
6- Keep stirring till all of the ingredients have the same color.
7- Taste it. If the beef isn’t done yet, you may add some water. Once it absorbs the water, taste it again

Be Al-hana we Al-shafa

Why the Muslim Brotherhood And Salafi Shouldn’t be in Power

As an Egyptian and Muslim I can say that the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi know nothing about Islam but its name only. They are using religion as a curtain to cover up their true face. They are using religion to make people who don’t know their religion well follow them, and the history of Muslim Brotherhood is known to be full of blood and hate.

Before what’s called the Arab spring in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood didn’t have much power and we didn’t hear about Salafi before. Now, unfortunately, after Mubarak’s regime fell, they have come out seeking power and the big chair.

The majority of Egyptians don’t like the Muslim Brotherhood, but despite this they have won many seats in the parliament. Were the elections fixed? No one knows.

Here are the reasons why the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi shouldn’t have any power over Egypt.

1- The pyramids: in the Salafi agenda (if they win the coming election) the pyramids should be destroyed and all of the ancient temples, too, because the pharaohs used to pray to their gods in the temples.

http://sy-street.net/?p=8807

When the Islamic leader Amr ibn Al-as received a message from the Christian priests asking for help and to be saved from the Roman occupation, he came to Egypt and fought the Romans and respected the old history of the nation and didn’t destroy anything. Amr ibn Al-as built a mosque next to a church and a Jewish temple to say that the different religions should live in peace and harmony.

2- Female circumcision: it was illegal in Mubarak’s regime. The Muslim Brotherhood believes girls must be circumcised so the girls don’t feel horny and have sex before marriage. There is no phrase in the holy book or any hadith said that girls should have circumcision.

3- Women’s rights: for over thirty years the former first lady Suzan Mubarak fought for women’s right and now it’s all going to fade. A Muslim Brotherhood senator, who is unfortunately a woman, Azza Al-garf, wants to cancel the law against sexual harassment, so if a guy harasses a woman he won’t get punished. In fact, she blames girls for the harassment! She blames the victims.

*In Egypt we have a law saying if a husband divorces his wife for no reason and the wife has a baby, the wife takes the apartment. Al-garf want to cancel that law, too, so if a mother who is staying home gets divorced and she has no money her ex husband can throw her in streets.

*The Al Khool law: it’s one of the best laws in Egypt, giving women the right to get divorced. Many times the husband refuses to divorce his wife and forces her to live with him against her will. If the wife goes to the court it takes years and years, so we have that Al-Khool law. If the wife doesn’t want to live with her husband, she has the right to get divorced by giving the husband back the bride price he paid. And of course Al-garf wants to cancel that law too.

Al-garf wants to repeal all of the laws that help women and she supposed to represent women.


http://www.arabtimes.com/portal/article_display.cfm?ArticleID=26885

http://www3.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=569198&SecID=303&IssueID=168


4- A woman’s place is in the home: the Muslim Brotherhood says that women shouldn’t work and women belong to the home. In Islam there is nothing against working women. The Muslim Brotherhood are confused between religion and culture.

5- The Muslim Brotherhood is anti-peace and supports violence: they support violence and killing the innocent. They support the killing of Al-Sadat, the president of peace. He was killed because he signed the Camp David peace treaty with Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood is thinking of Khalid Islambouli and the other assassins as heroes not murderers.
http://www.masrawy.com/ketabat/ArticlesDetails.aspx?AID=131167&ref=hp


6- Christians’ rights: Coptic Christians won’t have any rights if the Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate wins the election. All of the high positions will be exclusive for the brotherhood. And some Salafi burned churches before.

7- Freedom of speech: it’s only words for them. They believe in freedom of speech only for themselves. They can say anything, but they forbid people to talk freely.

8- Media and movies: Adel Emam is one of the most famous Egyptian actors. He is so popular and loved all over the Middle East. Adel Emam is facing prison now because of a movie he starred in in 1994 “The Terrorist.” It’s about a man who was fooled by a group of extremists and he became a terrorist, killing innocents without thinking. Later in the movie he realizes that the extremists are doing terror attacks for money and business and they are liars, and he realizes that he was wrong. He regrets all he has done and he wants to turn himself in to the police, but the extremists kill him first. Now, 18 years after the movie, the Muslim Brotherhood got a chance to control writers and actors in the media. They are using a law that prohibits people from depicting Islam negatively to prosecute him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rZ41gRfnbQ

Adel Emam used to speak against Mubarak’s government and he was never punished or jailed.

9- The Muslim Brotherhood’s empire: if the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate becomes president of Egypt, it will not be an Islamic country. It will be a Muslim Brotherhood empire. There will not be freedom of religion. They think Muslims who aren’t following them are infidels, so even Muslims need protection from the Muslim Brotherhood.

Around Korea part 2: Seoul lantern festival

We just got home from one of the most beautiful spots in Korea, Cheonggyecheon stream where is the lantern festival is taking place.
The lanterns are amazing and the weather was perfect.

For more information please visit the link:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?gotoPage=1&cid=1002416&out_service=

Culture Shock in South Korea

Korea was the first country I traveled to, Korean dramas in Egypt are very popular and that was the reason I loved Korea and wanted to visit it.
When I came to Korea I discovered that dramas are a thing and the real life is a different thing.

My first shock was the bathrooms had no bidets, I might sound silly but every house in Egypt has one so I thought they are everywhere in the world.

2- Korea's drinking culture: some people drink to have fun, some people get drunk and do something stupid but here in Korea people drink until they black out in the streets. I saw many men wearing business suit and they were lying on the sidewalk.

3- Spitting: usually spitting in street considered rude but not in Korea. People spit all the time in front of restaurants, in subway stations and everywhere.

4- Don’t get involved culture: this one is driving me crazy, Korean people are nice but when they see someone in trouble they act as if there is nothing, if they heard a girl screaming they will act as if they don’t hear anything.

5- Peeing in the streets: in many countries it’s illegal but in Korea it’s very normal especially at night.

6- Korean fashion: so the fashion here is kind of weird Korean girls wear very short skirts that showing their butts but they don’t show arms and cleavage. After three years in Korea I still don’t get it.

7- young men and purses: yes men are wearing purses and walk holding it in the streets, go work or to schools.

8- Korean guys and make-up: Korean guys wear face foundation and whitening powder to be pretty.

Korea is a beautiful country and the people are generally nice, and it’s like any other country has good and bad things.

Tomato jam my family's secret recipe

My mama's secret recipe of tomato jam. With lemon and cinnamon flavor. It's fresh and with no preservative and it's good for one week.

The recipe is in my cookbook Fast and Easy Egyptian Recipes.
http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Easy-Egyptian-Recipes-ebook/dp/B007CDZ9FE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4

Fried Kofta

In Egypt we have a thousand types of kofta and each of them has a unique taste and different flavor.

Fried kofta is one of my favorites. It’s very easy to make and very fast. It takes a few minutes to be done.

Serves Two
Ingredients:
1- 300g of ground beef
2- one onion
3- salt
4- black pepper
5- chili powder
6- cinnamon, spice to taste
7- one egg
8- soft breadcrumbs
9- oil

Preparation:
1- bring a deep bowl
2-shred the onion
3- add the beef and the spices
4- mix it all well
5- roll the beef and make it into fingers
6- use another bowl and beat the egg
7- put the beef fingers in the egg
8- then put it in the breadcrumbs and cover it well
9- fry it in deep oil
10- keep stirring it until it gets golden brown, and it’s done!

Egyptian Street Culture That No One Will Tell You About

Egyptian Street Culture That No One Will Tell You About

The book uncovers some of the modern culture of the streets and some of the cultural changes of the last 50 years.


The book is a different type of guidebook. It doesn’t say where to go. It says what’s going on in the streets and explains conversations happening around you in language you don’t understand or behind closed doors.


This book is a fascinating read for travelers and expats in Egypt, and it’s also a rich source of information about what people believe in and their way of thinking. It talks about how the ancient culture survived and mixed with the modern. The book is perfect for people who are interested in reading about Egypt and its culture.


The book has seven chapters and each chapter talks about a phenomenon, and explains how it started and why people are doing it. The topics include superstitions, cursing, the power of Envy, pick-up lines, and more.

http://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Street-Culture-About-ebook/dp/B0080NWBII/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2

If you don't have a kindle, you still can buy and read the book by downloading free kindle reader apps on your PC or laptop.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771