Hello my friends,
As you all know, my sister came from Morocco to visit me here in the USA, she brought me a lot of presents from my beloved country that I would like to show you.
I thank her so much and I tell her : " I love you ".
First of all, let me begin with spices, Morocco is rich with spices.
Cardamom حبة الهيل او قعقلة : follows saffron and vanilla as the world’s most expensive spice, it has a pleasant flavor and aroma.
Cardamom coffee is a symbol of Arab hospitality. Cardamom seeds are either crushed coarsely or powdered finely before using. These seeds lose their flavor quickly when ground; and it is ideal to
buy only whole pods and crush them just before using.
Bay leaves
ورقة سيدنا موسى او الرند
Lepidium sativum
حب الرشاد
Cloves
القرنفل
Fenugreek seeds
الحلبة
Fenugreek powder
Nigella: حبة البركة Sprinkle nigella seeds over bread dough
before baking.
Mace (perfect for chicken and meats)
بسيبيسة
Mace powder
Cinnamon
القرفة
Nutmeg
الكوزة
Saffron used as spice and also for the color. Especially in tagines
Arabic gumm or gum acacia المسكة الحرة : beside the flavor,
it has a nice parfum, used especially for cookies and coffee.
Moroccan spices called "leachoub"or "Ras el Hanout" :
Ras el Hanout is the mixture of spices used for couscous and also
a large number of other dishes. Certain Ras el Hanout is elaborated combination of 37 spices, the others are less sophisticated. All contain nutmeg, ginger, lavender, cumin, hot pepper, white pepper, black pepper, macis, anise, cardamom, caraway, coriander powder and other spices in some proportion, some more, some less.
Dried mint (my mother dried it for me) النعناع اليابس
Caraway seeds (excellent for breads)
الكروية
Flaxseed
زريعة الكتان
Fennel seeds
الشمر
Lavender
الخزامى
Sage
السالمية
Whole wheat Couscous (not available in stores) this was made by my mother, recipe is already done, I still need to work on the
video.
Barkoukch : it's like couscous (not available in stores) also prepared by my mother, I will soon make a recipe with it.
بركوكش
Barley , recipe with barley coming soon.
البلبولة
Different kind of scents, used chiefly as incense and in perfumes.
الجاوي والند
Lythracees "Henna" حنة
Henna is the Arabic name of the shrub Lawsonia Inermis. The leaves of this shrub are dried and pulverized to obtain the powder henna.
It is from these dried and pulverized leaves that we extract a red dye called henna.It exists in wet zones of North Africa and the South of Asia. This powder, very popular among the women of the
Islamic countries, it is used in multiple manners, but especially for hair coloring, for temporary tattoos on the skin and for dying of finger nails and fingers, also for the occasion of
weddings.
Salvadora persica called "Siwak" " السواك " is extracted from the arak tree.
The souak is a plant native of the Maghreb. The souak is recognized for its antiseptic, astringent and healing propreties. It makes teeth whiter , eliminates the impurities and cleanses the
breath. It strengthens and also cleans up gums. Teeth are solid and more brilliant.
Argane oil & Castor oil /
زيت اركا ن و زيت الخروع
10 Oilten ( 100% natural perfect for the hair ):
-Almond oil
-Avocado oil
-Argane oil
-Wheat germ oil
-Corn oil
-Nigella oil
-Apricot seed oil
-Ricin oil
-Sesame oil
-Sunflower oil
Argane oil soap /
صابون زيت اركان
Lavender soap /
صابون الخزامة
Gel with Argane oil /
كريما بزيت اركان
Moroccan Clay called "Ghassoul" good for hair and face, it absorbs all the impurities, tightens pores and satine the skin. Rhassoul washes, revitalizes and
gives the volume to the hair.
The kohl is a black or grey powder. It was formerly used as eye drops. It is a true medicine against the conjunctivitis and it protects the eyes against the
reverberation and cleanses the white of the eye, the lens. It is a real symbol of the oriental beauty.
It stored in a small bottle which has a small wooden stick that is dipped into the grey or black powder "Lmerwed", then we make slide this stick between both eyelids starting from the outside to
the inside of the eye.
Red powder called " Leker el fassi العكر الفاسي " ( perfect for the face, it clarifies the skin ).
Silver Jewelry ( I love to wear silver jewerly especially in summer time ).
My favorites presents are these Moroccan handmade ceramic colourfull plates.
Original traditional Moroccan dresses called " Kaftan قفطان " or " Badiya بدعيا " for my little daughter Jenna-Aicha, she is two years old.
Check out those beautiful colors.
My sister didn't forget the famous Moroccan schoes called " Balgha بلغة "
Look at my daughter, isn't she beautiful in Moroccan dress ?
Hello my friends,
I would like to announce that my blog will be taking a break for about
a month.
My older sister (who is like a mother to me), will be arriving Saturday, May 30th from Morocco (Inchaallah), she will stay the entire month
of June in the USA. I am very happy to have her with me, especially
that it will be the first time in 20 years that I'm not traveling in Morocco in the summer to
see my family.
Anyone who lives far from their family knows exactly what I am talking about.
So I am going to stop posting my recipes until she leaves (in July),
and also because I want to take a break from blogging.
I promise you that I will return with new Moroccan and international recipes, I'll also come to visit you as usual in July and to leave you comments.
I will miss you !
Harcha is popular in Morocco, it's served warm at tea time and breakfast, with jam, cheese or honey and melted butter.
The recipes for harcha vary from family to family.This one is made with semolina and flour, it's very easy to prepare.
I invite you to watch the video.