A Little Luck For You

Moroccan Good Luck Hands

I came across this symbol when I was looking up some art projects for Morocco and it seemed perfect for us to do this week.  I mean who doesn't want more good luck?  Not me, I could use all I can get!  The symbol is called a Khamsa (Hamsa) and is a open right hand that can be decorated any number of ways. They are commonly made from precious metals, like silver or gold, and can be worn as an amulet or hung over doorways. 

They serve both to give the owner good luck and protect from the "evil eye".  You know, the "evil eye", that malicious stare that will (supposedly) cause illness, death or awful bad luck to the recipient.  Bad juju.  So it's better to be safe and make your very own Khamsa in case you run afoul of some big meanie giving you a bad look.  Lucky for you, you read this blog :)  See the good luck is already coming.

Khamsa
For the project you will need:

• aluminum foil (unless you have some extra silver or gold lying around)
• skewer or pencil
• markers
• glue
• scissors
• glitter or gems (optional- we didn't use)

1.  Take a piece of aluminum foil that is about 12 inches long and spread a thin layer of glue around it.  Fold the foil in thirds making sure that it's big enough to trace a hand on.  The glue will keep the layers of foil from separating once it's dried.

2. Trace your (or your kid's) right hand onto the foil with the skewer.  Or you can use a pencil or pen.  Cut out the shape.

3. Decorate your Khamsa with spirals, eyes, hearts, whatever.  I used the skewer first and then colored it in with the markers.  I think it gives a nicer texture and more dimension.  Or it would look pretty with some glitter or gems glued on. 

4. There, now you are protected and safe and have a cute little handprint keepsake. 

You're welcome.  Have a wonderful day!!!

On the Menu: Moroccan Food

Delicious and makes your house smell so good!!

That's what I would have to say to describe the Moroccan recipe I have for you today.  Moroccan food uses a lot of exotic spices from all over the Mediterranean, African, and Arabian areas that surround it.  Their cuisine is renowned for it's wonderful flavors and I couldn't wait to try it.  

I would have loved to go to a traditional Moroccan restaurant and maybe eat sitting on comfy cushions around a low table, drinking sweet mint tea but this week is a busy one so I cooked our meal at home.  In the slow-cooker, while I was doing a million other things! 

They use a type of slow cooker in Morocco too, called a tangine.  It's a clay vessel that you use in the oven and it keeps the meat and other ingredients moist by keeping the steam and juices inside- like a crockpot, right?  So while I was getting presents ready for my husbands birthday (Happy Birthday Darling!) and making cupcakes our house was being filled with the most delicious smells!  Try it, you'll see.

Moroccan Chicken with Apricots and Olives
Recipe adapted from one found on www.foodandwine.com  
For the recipe you will need:

• 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 small onion cut in wedges
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 3/4 cup green olives
• 1 cup dried apricots
• prepared couscous or rice to serve with
• toasted sliced almonds (optional)

1.  Combine your chicken, onions, and spices in the bowl of the slow cooker.  Make sure the spices are evenly coating the chicken.  

2.  Add the bay leaf and the chicken broth and cook on HI for about 2 hours or so.  I think mine was closer to 2 1/2.

3.  After 2 hrs add the garbanzo beans, half of the apricots and olives.  Stir it all around and cook for another hour on HI or turn it to low and give it a few hours.  

4.  I wanted a thicker sauce so about 15 minutes before I was ready to serve dinner I drained the sauce into a saucepan and reduced it on the stove.  I added a few more dashes of the spices and the rest of the apricots.  Once the apricots had plumped up and the sauce was a little thicker I added it back to the crockpot and cooked my couscous.

This was a very tasty dish.  I wasn't too sure about olives and apricots together but somehow it worked.  The chicken was super tender and the sauce soaked into the couscous wonderfully.  The spices weren't overly strong, very delicate but flavorful!!  I'm sure my kids would've really enjoyed it if they weren't too full from the cupcakes they had before dinner (bad mommy).  They ate couscous.  Are you familiar with couscous? 

It is a very small, quick cooking pasta that seems more like rice to me.  It's super easy to cook.  All you do is add it to boiling water, remove it from the heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes.  Then you fluff it up and serve it with anything you like.  I recommend serving it with Moroccan Chicken w/ Olives and Apricots!!!! 

Week 50!!! Morocco

WOOHOO!!

It's week 50!!  Only 2 more weeks to go and we are done with our adventure... I think I can.  I think I can.  Oh, who are we kidding?  We can totally do this.

This week's adventure will be to Morocco!   This country in Northwestern Africa is one of a few countries that have coastline on both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.  It is the closest African country to Europe and is only separated from Spain by a thin waterway known as the Strait of Gilbraltar.  Because of this strategic location the area that makes up Morocco has been invaded and ruled many times over the millennia.  The native Berber people have been ruled by Arabs, Romans, Spaniards, and the French at some point, making the culture of the people very rich and diverse.

Wow, what a beautiful beach!

The geography of Morocco is also very diverse.  The coastal areas have beautiful beaches, rich soil and plentiful rainfall for healthy crops.  The middle of the country is very mountainous, with three different mountain ranges- the High Atlas, the Middle Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas mountains. 






In Southern Morocco you'll find the Sahara Desert and some of the most harsh and inhabitable areas of the country. 

Needless to say, most of the population live near the coast.  The capital of the country is Rabat (34.02°N/ 6.83°W), but the most populated city (and perhaps the most famous) is Casablanca, where the famous Humphrey Bogart movie was set. 






The country is run as a Constitutional Monarchy and the current king is King Mohammed VI.  There is also a parliament in place but, unlike some other monarchies, the King has the ultimate power to pass laws or decrees.  He is not just a ceremonial figure.




I hope to find some interesting tidbits about Morocco and hopefully we have a fun week!  The food is supposed to be pretty good and I know they have beautiful architecture and mosaics.  I can't wait :)