An introduction to Moroccan Cuisine - essential ingredients

Hi there

A friend who recently visited Morocco returned with the gift of a cookbook of authentic food from the region. Some of the methods and recipes go back thousands of years long before the birth of Christ or Mohammed. From the cradle to the grave, ancient traditions accumulated down through the centuries - one example being where newly weds are given a dish for their breakfast consisting of a dish of rice cooked in milk and a steamed sheep's head. The bride "pure as milk" will thenceforth be able to run her household while "keeping her head about her".....

Obviously this is not a dish for the dinner party my friend is hosting on Saturday evening. Her email read "Never cooked Moroccan – what would be some examples? Want to keep very simple. Going to the races on Sat – won’t be home till about 5pm. Not that it’s an issue really – I rarely start cooking till about then anyway."

Ten essential ingredients
Spices and Herbs
Cinnamon - added to soups and tagines or used combined with sugar to dust pastry.
Cumin - used frequently in soups and tagines or combined with other spices such as Paprika in "charmoula" (coating on food before cooking.) Saffron and Tumeric add colour and pungency, with Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Black Pepper adding fire or piquancy, Flat leaf Parsley and of course, Coriander, Almonds chopped or flaked, Chick-peas, Couscous, Honey, used in sweet and savoury dishes, Olives, Harissa - hot chilli spice sometimes used, and Preserved Lemon .

You don't have to have all of those ingredients before the races, however, you might want to try your hand at the Chermoula coated fish or chicken or perhaps a Moroccan Leg of Lamb.

Chermoula is a marinade for cooking fish etc, which includes garlic, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, fresh parsley and coriander, white wine vinegar, lemon juice and oil. (Or for days when you are going to the races, you can buy a readymade Moroccan Seasoning, say Masterfoods, which will do the trick when you add some herbs. Sprinkle generously over beef, lamb or chicken before grilling, BBQing or baking, after coating food with oil and rubbing with crushed garlic. Add a little Apricot jam to the gravy.)

Roast Vegetable Salad and a Couscous Salad with Flaked Almonds and Olives, would be great to accompany the lamb - recipes to follow tomorrow.

Orange and Date salad is one of my favourite desserts and good for this time of the year. Even the keys of my laptop are hot today.

Thanks for being my first follower

Celebrations - Multi multi thanks for being my first follower R. This is sooooooo important to me to know that someone has actually read my blog. A very good reason why it would be a fabulous win/win idea to somehow co-blog - perhaps a new term and I am not quite sure how it would operate but I love it.

Your lovely creative friend who is encouraging you to blog and be part of 'etsy' sounds very special.

A big relationship day for me today - future weddings have the capacity to stir up the past - which is happening. Even when one has the best of intentions, a phone call can undermine everything and bring it all to a whole new dimension.

Perhaps it is a time when everyone has to set aside the past and focus on the new positives.

Snowstorm V Firestorm

Hi R
It is great to hear from you - the contrasts are stark - your vacation in your snowed-in cabin, making beautiful bracelets, with mine spent in Victoria where the devastating bushfires of 'Black Saturday' took place, a year from today. Yes I vividly remember January in Wisconsin as I arrived in the middle of it and wondered why I was being banished to this place. I read on your site that the ground hog saw his shadow - only six weeks to go! Your work is fabulous - I too still talk about you and how creative you are. The etsy concept is interesting to me.

It is truly amazing how we can communicate and learn so much about our lost 30 years, not only through email but by our web sites and blogs. Thanks Facebook!
There is so much to say but I will let www.babyboomerconnections.com.au
do the talking for me. (Early days with this site - I published this week but am having technical difficulties so can't iron out layout problems etc and republish until they are sorted.)

I would love to blog together- nothing would please me more - I am targeting Babyboomers obviously but the key words will include fashion or whatever we focus on. I'm still learning how to blog and amazingly I chose Blogger too so we might be able to help each other.

The saying was something like "You are most likely going to look and feel as good now, as you ever will." Good reason to live in the moment.

Love Clara

Happy New Decade

Hi Fellow Sages
Beginning the New Year on a non technical note
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22 Faith in the future is your greatest asset and you need it to move you forward. Uranus, planet of revolution, finds you restless as old ambitions are satisfied. 
A new career challenge arrives whether or not you stay in the same field. Dust off your neglected talents and show the world another side.

Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22 The Sagittarius full Moon is a message that it is time to end one chapter and start anew. You have a rare chance to renew your life: what are you happy with and what do you think has outlived it's purpose? Be clear about what you do and don't want.
You're starting a wonderful new cycle so leave your baggage behind.

What better way to start the new decade but with anti-technology. Every now and then I find a prediction which seems to be written exactly for me.
I start this new decade with faith in the future, a determination to use the talents I have, along with the awareness that renewal may mean that some baggage needs to be left behind.

Happy new decade
Clara

Support Teachers Don't Target Them

Get it right Julia - Either "Shine a light on some schools that need a helping hand" Versus the SMH article "Tell off deficient teachers"

What needs to be done is give support to your teachers to do the difficult task they do. The job is complex and multi-layered.

The following horrifies me as an ex teacher.
"Teachers identified as underperformers by the Government's new school rating system should expect to be roused at by disgruntled parents, the Education Minister, Julia Gillard says today."

Do you expect to attract and keep teachers under this regime? Are you are wondering why they hear the 'Alarm Bells Ringing'?

The policy, I believe, requires modification. Teachers are an essential in our society - what is needed is not to target those who are having difficulty in handling the complex society we live in. What is needed is to ask "How can we understand and support teachers and children through the difficult waters?"

I left teaching a decade ago - the class I had at the time was difficult - as the blend included a diverse group of "integrated Students lovely kids but a very stressful situation. One child was moved to the "other" class when her parents were unhappy with the climate of the mix(and threatened to take it further). She was replaced in the class with a new arrival from Russia who didn't speak English, and a student from a Behaviour Management School who had behavioural/bowel problems but needed 'Integration' into the normal classroom.
They had been chosen to be in my class because I was good at dealing with difficult situations but if you had taken the results of the Basic Skills Test with this group, perhaps I would be targeted today as a deficient teacher.

This was the total opposite of the situation and on a personal level, after more than a decade of being away from teaching, I still have recurring nightmares re getting it together (or not) in the classroom. In other words, the job is so stressful already. Think about how you can support your teachers!!

Passionately Clara

Technology had to be the winner this trip

Hi Babyboomers
I hope you had a great festive season and holiday.

We are back from holidays spent motoring down south - Victoria and Sth Australia.

We live in a huge dry continent; driving for days on end with a few towns and small cities breaking up the endless 360 degree horizon. The open road has it's own charm and rhythm if only for it's vastness;...... and then the spectacular contrast of our coastlines.

Technology, though has to be the winner for me this trip.

I was behind the door when a sense of direction was given out, and am a super careful driver who admits to avoiding some traffic conditions. The last time I drove my son to Central Station was "Mother's Last Drive", after he stated that I shouldn't be on the road. I agreed with him - on that occasion - where I ended up in the wrong lane so many times it was embarrassing and dangerous.

However - do you know that even if your inner GPS never did work, that there is hope!

I got to know 'Gypsy', the GPS I gave to my husband for his birthday. He has such a natural sense of direction that one of my pet names for him is 'Tracker', but even he has embraced this technology. Gypsy tells you (after you have given her your destination) "Prepare for a roundabout in 100 metres - take the first exit", or "You are over the speed limit!" - or as often happened on this trip since this was familiar territory to 'Tracker',........ "Destination Recalculation" - where she becomes quite agitated, suggesting "Turn right then turn back where possible - Turn back - Turn back!" - then when he doesn't, she settles down and accepts the new route. Gypsy has the honour of being the only woman he obeys!

Cheers Clara

New Year Resolutions

Hi Gentle Boomers
Prime time for bloggers to start tapping away, as the year draws to a close.

I actually like New Year better than Christmas, which has far too many expectations for my liking. New Year's Eve provides me with a greater sense of hope for the future, as one door closes metaphorically and another one opens with fresh new good intentions. Speaking of which, my New Years Resolution is to lighten up and release my 'Inner Dragonfly' - Prosperity and harmony - skilful action while maintaining a free and joyful sense of being. I attempted this process last year but I am new at this retirement stage and am not quite there.

2009 to me, doesn't merit any more discussion except that we seem to have gone full circle and that the world in general will benefit from a correction.
I scanned the papers for inspirational articles of which there were plenty. I'll leave all the really important events to others and concentrate on the ones which caught my eye (dragonfly like.)
'First Flush of Boomers Line up for Pensions', where our rapid ageing is causing general panic (what about us - we're the ones who have to put up with all these ageing emails which graphically describe our ongoing downward spiral?!) I am going to put a ban on such emails because to be quite honest the older I get the less amusing they are.

I have already outlived (agewise)the women in my family ie my maternal grandmother, my mother and my sister, with the paternal side of the family holding out more hope of longevity with my grandfather receiving a telegram from the queen when he turned 100. I don't even feel much older and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! So, my state of denial is working very well thank you. Besides with stem cell procedures such as "Cells that turn into teeth spell doom for dentures" who knows what will be available in our lifetime.

Then the article in the SMH re "Man-cave manoeuvres" which highlights 'Because males process information internally they benefit from a place for quiet contemplation' - and informs us that real estate agents recognise the need for a special room to accommodate all of his manly belongings, an update of the study. Apparently, according to Hugh McKay we are increasingly staking our own spaces, as if the Information Revolution hasn't transformed our lives enough with people spending more and more time on computers, email and mobile phones and less on face to face relating.

Our relationships with each other have tended to become more complicated - "Court upholds parenting orders for lesbian partner" - the court found that the de facto partner was not live-in at the time of the artificial conception - and ordered that the mother have sole parenting responsibility but that the child spend time with the ex de facto partner.

Finally, the advice on "Learning how to use leisure well" seemed topical, "We engage in activities that do not bring us enjoyment and lasting satisfaction", and suggests we give more thought as to how we make the most of it. Pursue your passions and interests by doing the things we most value and enjoy - watch less TV, give shopping a miss, instead read a good book, visit new places, meditate and get plenty of physical exercise. Sounds good so get off the computer Clara.

Hope you all have a relaxing, satisfying holiday pursuing your passions and interests, and may 2010 be a better year for us all.

Cheers Clara

Parenting v Grandparenting

Hi there
You know what? Parenting has to be considered one of life's most amazing experiences.

To decide or otherwise to have a baby and go through the steps to make it happen, is perhaps the most important / significant decision couples or singles will ever make in their lives. We did it for whatever reason - BB's had the role modelling of the 1940's where the model was changing - 'The notion of what jobs a woman could do, expanded from nuturers who had no other destiny but to get married and have children. Up until then it was considered a woman's duty to have children in order to populate the nation.'


Grandparenting is equally an amazing role, where we have layer upon layer. We are no longer the major controllers / influencers of either our children and their children and yet we are there as role models, carers etc A sensitive space in which to find oneself.

A week of balancing a single/separated situation where I am in the middle as the Nonna, is rewarding / exhausting. And then they go home.

Hi to Babyboomer Women

Hi Babyboomer Women and others
Welcome to this new blog site <

There are many of us out there with the same questions -

"How can I achieve a satisfying sense of purpose as I approach / embrace retirement?"
"How can I still feel important and valuable?"
"How do I deal with loneliness?"
"Where do I now fit in this society?"
"When will I able to gracefully accept that I am no longer young / gorgeous / virile etc?"
"What strategies will help me to remain positive and "young at heart?"
"How did I get to be a grandparent and what makes a good one?"

What most of us, are striving for, is to give this time of our life a sense of meaning and purpose, whereby the uncharted territory, in a youth-oriented patriarchy, can make us feel and look invisible.
We can sometimes feel at a loss, without the blueprint, as we face new challenges such as accepting the ageing process as positively as possible, adjusting to retirement, or perhaps facing loneliness or isolation.

My hope is that you will:- share your ideas; reflect on the future; review present and past generations; be connected to positive, useful services; read reviews on anti-ageing ideas / products etc
(Not necessarily gender specific, men welcomed - just not particularly targeted.)

There are now over 45 million women on the far side of 50, becoming visible, influential and numerous. Never before, in recorded history have there been so many women with so much competence, experience, independence and resources.

" Babyboomer women are powerful mentors in today's society. We are the Matriarchs - the female elders - the holders of the wisdom for the next generation. There is dignity and strength in this position."

I aim to provide an online Forum for Babyboomer Women to share our wisdom, experience and strategies for the future. By the way, have you noticed that even the anti-ageing articles in magazines only take you as far as 50?!! At their peril!!

What we have to pass on to the next generation and to the world situation is valuable.

Women, traditionally, have met and communicated, in groups to make a quilt, or meet a community need. We "liberated" ourselves but have we really? We still yearn for the old fashioned / meaningful chat especially when we are older, because, being 'herd animals' we need the village spirit. We had a foot in both camps, our mother and father's generation giving us our basic roots with the Women's Movement changing the whole scene.

How can I share my ideas or how do I blog?

The ability to add your voice and connect with others is via blog, short for "web log". - just write your ideas in the provided space, and then press 'publish'. Many people are more comfortable when they adopt a pen name but that is a personal choice.
In the words of Evan Williams, who created the Blogger platform and co-founded Twitter, “I’ve come to really believe that if you make it easier for people to share information, more good things will happen.” Taking his statement further, to the human value of sharing experiences and insights and emotions with others, BabyboomerConnections offers a forum where connections to the past and future can be communicated along with the joys and challenges of everyday.

I hope BabyboomerConnections will help provide stimulus for a chat forum to you and others who are sometimes struggling to move forward and to share some fun ideas such as what we wore and ate then and now......Clara

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Which Generations Do I Relate To

Hi there all you BB's

Because we were all born into one particular generation (18 years according to MacKay) and our parents and perhaps children, are part of adjacent generations means that we most likely adopted some viewpoints from the range of generations as well, or at least know how they function. The significant cultural shifts that occurred to create the differences in my lifetime, span three different phases:-

A wartime baby, second girl of two, (supposed to be a boy), I include myself in the Babyboomer generation even though I am actually on the cusp of the Builders ("Lucky") Generation and the Boomers. I definitely fit into the "Stress Generation", with my roots and values largely from the "Builders Generation" as that was the generation to which our parents belonged. True BB's would have a slightly different beginning - one embedded in a climate of hope.

Generation X is represented by our children so we have excellent insights into their characteristics!!!!!!

When we were born must have an enormous influence on who we have become. However, the jury is still out re Nature V Nuture so .............

Clara

ps I'm waiting for you to find me on the net. Can't wait to hear your ideas.

"Lucky" Generation Born 1927 - 1945

Characteristics - So named because they have both clear values and comparative wealth - our parents

Builders - Having lived through the hardship of the Great Depression and World War 2, they learned values like loyalty, saving, the work ethic and patriotism. Their later years, in contrast have seen great prosperity, having benefited from low taxation. (Certain values, perspectives, theologies, and priorities were definitely passed down to me via my parents who, if they were still living, would be concerned about declining moral values and loss of community.)

Babyboomers Generation 1946 to 1964

Characteristics - Called the "Stress" generation - needing instant gratification and without a clear moral framework

Boomers - Born into an environment of economic prosperity and the danger of nuclear extinction are major factors that combine to make Boomers feel unsure of themselves (high ideals, broken relationships, working wives, rebellious children) and work (expectations, unemployment, restructuring, demands).

Mackay says that Boomers have turned away from religion and have instead adopted the 'gods' of sex, travel, food, information and personal growth. They love to be reminded of the promise of their youth and hope that if they keep on going, something will turn up.
The boomers are aging. This enthusiastic generation that loves size and quality and achievement, and has introduced a new dimension of professionalism (and consumerism)

Generation X 1965 to 1983
Characteristics - Busters have lived through constant change and therefore believe in keeping their options open - our kids.

They don't lack energy or passion, they are just patient, remaining as non-committal as possible for as long as possible. Goals seem incongruous. They are also the first generation to grow up without having a moral framework espoused by their parents, so they test the limits.

(However, being exposed to everything so young creates boredom and depression for some.) They want to be more relaxed than their boomer parents and are less driven. As products of fragmentation, diversity and unpredictability, they, as Mackay says, pride themselves on their individualism and independence, but in fact they are the most financially dependent generation of young people in our history. They are used to being looked after. They take pride in their flexibility and openness to possibility, but are generally pessimistic about the future.

Information based on (Generations, 1997) Mackay