"How to Make Pilau" by Neema M

 

During some year in the 90s, that I cannot for the life of me remember, my father, Acquillahs Muteti, came to America from Kenya in hopes of establishing my family’s future. A few years later, in the year 2000, my mother and two older brothers immigrated here as well. Four years later, I was born. Although I was born in the United States, I’ve rarely felt disconnected from my heritage. This is for many reasons. On one hand, I have spent basically my entire life going to a church solely dominated by other Kenyan immigrants. Seventeen years surrounded by my extended family, bonded not through blood but through that shared experience of being far from home. On the other hand, my mom’s home-cooked Kenyan cuisine has always helped me to feel tethered to that part of who I am.

 

She told me once how when she first moved she experimented with all kinds of ingredients she found in the grocery store to recreate what she came to know as familiar back home. Eventually she had an “American-grocery-store-friendly” recipe down for every old favorite. One of my personal favorites is a Pilau, a seasoned rice dish. Pilau, in particular, is a staple in any Kenyan household. And honestly, for good reason. It’s really good. Whenever a friend of mine wants to try Kenyan food, the first thing I think to make them is Pilau. Mostly because my family makes it so much that at this point it is quick and easy, but also because I have never met a person who didn’t love it, which may sound like an exaggeration but I swear it is not. There’s no better word for it than classic. You can tell a lot about a person from how they season they’re pilau while cooking. The staple seasoning in Pilau is Pilau Masala. It's a fine brown powder packed full of different spices and it’s hard to find in store in America. My mom gets hers from Amazon. Let me know and I’ll hook you up.

Within my own family, every person’s pilau tastes different. My brothers still haven’t completely mastered the art of seasoning pilau, but they’ll never know because my mom continues to hype them up for their efforts. Ultimately, she’s the expert but I’d like to think my rendition is a close second. Give this recipe a shot. Try something new.

Prep time: 15 minutes

 

Cook time: 45 minutes

 

Ingredients

 

●      1 small onion or ½ of a large onion

 

●      3 cups of Royal Basmati Rice

 

●      ½ lb of beef

 

●      1 heaping tablespoon of Pilau Masala (my mom gets hers from Amazon)

 

●      2 tablespoons of granulated garlic or garlic powder

 

●      3 tablespoons of pureed tomato or tomato paste

 

●      Salt to taste

 

●      Garlic salt

 

●      3 tablespoons of Canola oil

 

●      5 cups of Boiling Hot Water

 

Tools

 

●      Medium sized pot

 

●      Wooden mixing spoon

 

●      Measuring cups and spoons

 

●      Electric Kettle (or a second pot)

 

●      Knife

 

Step 1. Add water to your tea kettle and turn it on to boil so it’s ready for later. Step 2. Cut your onions into small pieces and put into a medium size pot

 

(in swahili, a “sufuria”). Cut the beef into small cubes and place that on the side for later.

 

Step 3. Add canola oil to the pot as well and turn on the stove to medium heat. It should be just enough oil to cover the onions

Step 4. Periodically stir the mixture with your wooden spoon to prevent it from burning. Cook until it starts to brown

Step 5. Once the onion starts to brown, add beef, Pilau Masala, garlic powder, and tomato puree.

 

Stir the mixture and allow the meat to cook for a few minutes.

 

Step 6: Add 5 cups of boiling water to the pot and stir the mixture. Also add both regular and garlic salt to the water. Feel free to taste the mixture and continue to add those two salts until it tastes really good. Don’t be shy.

Step 7: Make sure the water is at a rolling boil and then add your 3 cups of rice. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Allow it to steam for about 15 minutes.

Step 8: After 15 minutes, check your rice. Taste the rice to see if it is cooked. If not, allow it to steam for another five minutes. Once it's cooked, you’re all done!

The rice should look similar to the picture below once done, minus the parsley (unless you’re feeling fancy, I guess)

I really hope you enjoy it!

 

" What is a Friend ?" by Mya B

 

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” An inspiring quote by Walter Winchell. By definition, according to Oxford languages, a friend is “ a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.” However, I would say the definition has a deeper meaning to it.

 

Throughout our lives we have gained and also lost many friends. There are some friends we feel can tell anything too, there are some friends that we have an unbreakable bond with,and there are some friends that soon became like family. On the other hand, there are many friendships that we have encountered that only lasted for a short amount of time. At that moment we knew there was a certain meaning to what a friend is.

 

A friend is someone who motivates you towards success. A friend is someone you can depend on and won’t let you down. A friend is someone who doesn't change in front of other people. Most of all, a friend is someone who never leaves your side when times get rough. Not everyone you meet in life is going to be your friend, and the sooner we begin to accept, that the easier it is to recognize the fake people around you. There are many people that will smile in your face, but behind closed doors is praying on your downfall. There are some friends that you have to let go

because they are holding you back from your future. Did you ever notice the change in your friend groups from middle school to now? Do you remember thinking you and your friends were always going to be close but are now complete strangers?

 

Overtime we begin to grow and mature as individuals. You begin to look at everyone around you differently. You realize they don’t have the same goals, they’re not genuine, or that you guys may not see eye to eye anymore and that is totally fine. It is okay to end your friendships with people. We have to learn to be comfortable with being alone sometimes. Because it is always better to be alone than be surrounded by the wrong people. Surround yourself with those that want to see you do better. Never settle for less and always remember your worth.

 

Friendships are valuable. The people you surround yourself with can heavily influence your future. Throughout life we are going to encounter different types of people. Some are only there for that moment and some you have created a connection with. But, there are a few amount of people that stand out from the rest. Those individuals that make you happy and that you trust. Those are the ones that you build lifelong friendships with. All in all, the definition of a friend is endless, but overall it is someone who loves you for who you are.

"Kahk El-Eid (Egyptian Eid Cookies)" By Anastasia L

            With Coptic Orthodox Easter and Eid El-Fitr^[1] around the corner, I have to tell you about these amazing Eid Cookies cookies^[2] or, as they are traditionally called, Kahk El-Eid. Kahk is believed to date back to Egypt during the Pharaonic times; it was found in the pictures drawn on the temples and buildings of Egypt. In present time, it is a symbol and tradition of celebration for both Muslim and Christian communities in Egypt.

 As a Christian, my family gathered and made Kahk, usually twice a year, for Christmas and Easter. The making of these cookies is simple but it brings great unity to all of the members of the family. Even after coming to America, my mother kept these traditions and made these cookies every year to bring the family closer together. To me, Kahk is a symbol for family, happiness, and celebration all in one. Because it is a celebration that brings all family and friends together, usually, every year I would make a large amount of cookies and share them with my classmates and teachers at school; however, since the pandemic is still ongoing, I share this with my co-workers. I always enjoy sharing my happiness with others because it makes the occasion 10x better than it already is. This is definitely my favorite dessert and I’m glad to be sharing this with you. I hope you enjoy this recipe and may it bring you much joy like it does to me!

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Ingredients and tools:

➢   6 cups of flour

➢   2 ½  cups of hot butter

➢   3 Tbsp of sugar

➢   3 Tsp of yeast

➢   ½ cup of room temperature milk

➢   Agameya (special honey filling) , walnuts, loukoums, and pistachios(optional)

➢   Powdered sugar

➢   Spatula

Recipe:

1. Put 6 cups of flour in a bowl. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Then, add 2 tbsp of sugar and mix together.
3. On high heat, put 2 ½ cup of butter in a pot and wait till it gets hot melted but be careful, do not burn it.
4. After the butter is melted and hot, pour it carefully bit by bit and mix with your favorite spatula. While pouring the butter, it should make bubbles like this:
   
   
   
   
5. After mixing it carefully, the dough should look like this: 
   
   
   
   
6. Leave the dough for about 30 mins to cool off completely.

Notice: The dough needs to be room temperature because the yeast will not activate if the temperature of the dough is high.

7. Separately, Mix ½ cup of room temperature milk with 3 tsp of yeast mix evenly.
8. After 30 mins, pour the ½ milk with yeast in the dough and knead the dough thoroughly.
   
   
   
   
9. After kneading the dough evenly, take a small part of the dough and shape it into a sphere, then press the dough down with the palm of your hand.
10. If you want fillings in it, slightly press your thumb down in the middle of the sphered dough and put a small amount of your filling in it. Then close the dough by gathering all sides of the dough to the center, then shaping it into a sphere and press it down on your palms again.
11. After closing the dough, get a fork and press down slightly on the dough several times so the heat can be distributed evenly through the dough. It should look like this:
    
    
    
12. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
13. Get a cookie sheet pan and lay parchment paper on it.
14. Place the cookies on the tray with even space between them likewise:
15. Place the cookie tray in the oven and wait till the bottom of the cookie presents a golden color. The color should look like this:
    
    
    
    

16. After cookies are ready to take out of the oven, place on the counter to cool down.

 

17. After the cookies have cooled down, sprinkle powdered sugar evenly on top of the cookies.
    
    
    
    
18. That is all for the recipe, Enjoy! 
    
    
    
    

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The picture above should be the final result. Usually these delicious cookies are eaten with other homemade cookies and any type of tea. The cookie should feel soft and smooth and have a golden color to it. These are usually placed on a coffee table in a cookie platter for people to eat throughout the day and to remind them of the beautiful and holy occasion we are celebrating. One Kahk is about 160 calories and it is pretty filling, therefore, it is a very good snack. I hope everyone enjoyed the blog and to tell me how the cookies turned out (if you get to try the recipe). Thank you everyone for taking you time to read this recipe, Have a Wonderful Day Everyone!

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^[1] The celebration after Ramadan

^[2] Celebration cookies

"She/Her" by Chrissy L

4 years ago, I made a friend named Aden.

 

I met Aden amongst the flowers of a meadow one spring afternoon, that time where the sun glowed brightest and the birds sang their lovely, quiet tune of song. Aden greeted me with curiosity and I, with starstruck eyes. It was almost impossible to believe that a human could possibly look the way Aden did. 

 

Lean and tall in stature, Aden bore soft looking, wavy locks that resembled the night sky at midnight, covering just enough of the nape but stopping before the ear. Aden’s eyes were slightly concealed by what seemed like loose bangs, but were just enough to allow me to see the dark and alluring orbs staring back at me. Right below, followed a straight and well-defined nose with pink-colored, plush lips. The sun’s rays gave Aden a sparkling glow against skin made of olive. 

 

I gave Aden a soft smile.

 

3 years ago, I invited Aden to an outing just a few streets from my own home.

 

It was a get-together of people I hardly knew, the need for a familiar face becoming more apparent as the social anxiety kicked in. Aden got out of the parked car and came in, briefly glancing over the crowd before meeting my eyes, where I waved in excitement and relief. It was no mystery that Aden had caught the attention of most of the party-goers, who, just a few years older than me, had distinctly more defined features, cat-like eyes, and a sharp jawline. My friend walked towards me with such grace and poise, hands inside the pockets of black slacks, adorned with a white, unwrinkled T-shirt tucked in, and black oxfords. I felt my breath leave me.

 

Aden was beautiful.

 

2 years ago, I witnessed Aden cry for the first time. 

 

We dedicated a day free of school schedules to go shopping at a nearby mall not far from our neighborhoods. Aden's style had started to rub off on me, one of sophistication and resemblance of dark academia. I was very used to wearing brighter colors, short skirts, and delicate dresses, which was the opposite of what my dear friend wore. Aden was understandably much more mature, an intelligent and hardworking student who had recently started college and lived alone. I, on the other hand, was much more naive and dependent—a nervous sophomore who hardly knew anything about the real world. 

 

Aden helped me choose and pick out starting pieces, basics necessary for a new transition in style. We went back and forth, one moment we’re in the women’s section and in the next we’re back at the men’s. Aden and I had a lot of fun choosing different options with countless variations. 

 

Once we were both certain about our picks, Aden led me to the changing rooms right across from the store we were in. We were greeted by a woman who worked behind the desk needed for check-ins. She handed me a number and pointed at the assigned room in which I eagerly headed towards. I opened the door and turned around, only to find Aden not behind me. Confused, I rounded the corner where the woman was guarding the entrance to the women’s changing rooms. Before her stood my friend, Aden, looking distraught and deflated. Judging from the woman’s body language alone, I was able to tell that she was giving Aden an earful. 

 

“Is there a problem?” I asked timidly, approaching the two. The worker turns around and glares at me. 

 

“Tell your boyfriend that he can’t go in with you.” She scolds. The noticeable way Aden flinches breaks my heart. 

 

I shake my head angrily. “Aden is not my boyfriend. She’s my friend,” I emphasize. 

 

The woman only scoffs, looking to the side in disbelief. “You teenagers think you’re smart,” She turns to glare at Aden. “Boys are not allowed inside the women’s changing rooms. Simply just wait outside or leave the store.”

 

Aden’s body turns stiff, mouth in a straight line indicating distress. “Ma’am, I am a girl. I’m in the right section, so please let me through.”

 

“Well, you sure don’t look like one,” the worker spits out coldly, still guarding the entrance. I feel a gasp involuntarily leave my mouth as my heart completely drops. 

 

Aden quirks an eyebrow. “Excuse me? What do you mean by that, exactly?”

 

“Take a look in the mirror! You dress like a man and expect to be addressed as a woman?!” She yells in frustration. 

 

“Clothes have no gender, miss,” I snap. “What gives you the right to judge the way she chooses to present herself?”

 

The woman groans. “I know for a fact that normal girls don’t look like this,” she sneers at Aden. “You’re clearly confused. It’s not my fault I thought you were a man.”

 

The atmosphere had then turned cold and clouded. In a fit of rage I discarded the clothing I had in my arms and led my friend out of the store as quickly as I could. I remember her stoic expression and blank stare very clearly as we exited the mall and into the parking lot, something I was not used to apart from her usual bubbly self. It wasn’t until we were fully situated in the car that Aden broke into tears, hands covering her face shamefully in the driver’s seat. A part of me had nothing to say but everything to say all at once, but my mouth refused to move as I looked at my friend in shock.

 

‘I’m sorry,’ she chanted over and over again, and my heart died each time she muttered it.

 

1 year ago, I lost contact with Aden.

 

The pandemic had hit, and from there on everything changed. She and I lived our separate lives, school was starting to become more demanding on both ends, and naturally, we drifted apart.

 

But at the same time, we grew closer. The value of our friendship never left. Aden taught me courage and strength in a world that constantly pushed us over. And for that alone, I am eternally grateful. 

 

This year, I will become her. 

“Unless we base our sense of identity upon the truth of who we are, it is impossible to attain true happiness.”

- B.S.

 

"My Walk With God" by Malachi H

  

          As a kid I grew up in a Christian household, my entire family believed in God. So as a kid that meant I had to believe in God as well. I considered myself a Christian because my family was, but I never really decided on my own that I wanted to commit my life to Jesus Christ until two years ago. I attended Winter camp at my church, when I gave my heart to God. And when I did, I found out how good God really is.

         I was always a super shy and insecure kid growing up. When I got to middle school, my insecurity skyrocketed because I started getting bullied. My 7th and 8th grade school years were probably the worst. When I was in 7th grade my mom started making me go to Bible Study on Wednesdays at our church. I hated it so much, I would go, not listen and goof around with my friends. After a while, my friends stopped coming, but that didn't stop me from being on my phone and not listening to the youth Pastor when I should have been. My mom would pick me up from church and ask me what the lesson was about and I would just lie and make something up.

          When I got to high school my life took a turning point for the worst. My grandmother got really sick from cancer, my grandfather was hospitalized, and this affected my grades heavily. This was the most depressing time in my entire life so far, and after my grandparents sadly passed away, my parents got a divorce. My parents getting a divorce tore my heart apart, at this point in my life I wasn't even thinking about God or anything to do with him. I was struggling so bad in school that I barely passed my freshman and sophomore year. And I remember just sitting in my room playing video games all day and not eating. My family was worried about me. I was sad, I felt alone, and depressed for about a year until my mom made me start going to church again. This time when I went back even though I didn't  want to I would actually pay attention and get something out of the message. I slowly started to come out of my depression.

           I started to get more involved in my church community. I made lots of friends and felt more like myself. I got a better understanding of what it is truly like to be a believer in Jesus Christ and found out that I really was not living for Him. Two years ago my church had “Winter Camp” for the youth and attending this camp truly changed my life. At the camp they had all sorts of games and food, but the best part was that I decided to give my life to Jesus Christ. This was the best thing I could have done for myself. As soon as I surrendered my heart to God, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I could not wait to get home and tell my family about the decision and experience that I had at Winter Camp.

         My family and my church mentors were so happy with my decision to follow Jesus, and I felt like a different person. I was no longer sad, and I was no longer depressed. When we got back from winter camp, I started to really get involved with my church and I loved going every Sunday and Wednesday. After my experience with God, I started reading the Bible. I set up a daily devotional time for myself three times a day where I just sit, read the bible and spend time with God. This routine helped me  grow so much more closer to God. I remember sitting down on my bed and just thinking about how crazy and messed up my life was just about 2 years ago. I remember thanking God for fixing my life and loving me with all his heart.  After that experience, I became more confident in myself and more willing to put myself out there.

        Now I feel stronger and better.  Of course I still have my own problems and struggles, but God brought me out of the darkness and gave me a new life. I am so grateful and happy with the progress I have made with my life and relationship with God so far. I now know that I can not and will not live without His guidance. He is my best friend!

"Blended " by Savannah F

 

            I don't remember the exact moment when it happened. I don't remember how I felt in the moment. I don't remember how I responded. What I do remember, was the lasting effect it had on my life from that point on. At the time of my parents divorce, I was four years old. It was right before I started kindergarten. Because I was so young, I did not understand the situation. But as I got older, the challenges evolved from my parents getting divorced, to gaining two new parents and a sister. Through this journey, I have learned how to successfully integrate families.

            All four of my parents put aside their issues with each other to raise me. I know that this does not happen in every blended family. One thing I have learned throughout the process, is that my parents always put me first and that the child should be the main concern when going through a divorce and remarriage. The actions of parents weigh both positively and negatively on the children. There are many different books out on how to successfully blend a family, but none of them come from a child’s perspective. I want to share the steps to take to blend a family.

The most important steps when trying to integrate families are acceptance and communication. Acceptance is the most important step because it makes way for personal growth and open-mindedness. I believe that acceptance is the base of all successfully blended families. Without it, we would constantly be held back by the past instead of looking toward the future. At the time that my dad introduced me to my step-mom, I truly believed I had accepted the fate of my family. That being said, I thought that my family was going to be the same, except my parents didn't live together anymore.  As time went on, my step-mom became a bigger part of my life, and I soon realized that I had not yet fully accepted what my family was going to become. I did not want someone else in my life to act as a mother figure when I already had one. Through countless arguments and a lifetime full of great memories, I learned to accept her and the love she has for me. Looking back, I now realize that once we all accepted the fate of our family, we experienced the most growth.

Communication also plays such a significant role in the process of blending families. It allows for family members to express their emotions and for others to respond accordingly. We cannot know truly how someone feels without asking them. We also cannot expect for people to treat us the way we wish to be treated, when we do not tell them how. With that being said, we have to understand that talking is not the only piece of communication. To be effective communicators we also have to listen. Messages and emotions can easily be misinterpreted when we are not actively attempting to understand one another.

Accepting that my step-mom was going to be a part of my life taught me that there's no harm in having more people to love you unconditionally. Communication allowed us to gain an understanding for each other and build a strong connection. When I was younger,  I did not want to be the girl at school with the divorced parents. Looking back on that, I now know that I am loved more than I could ever imagine. My step-mom and step-dad’s family welcomed me with open arms. I learned that although my parents getting divorced wasn't ideal, my new family is what is best for me. I no longer judge a situation based on how it is in the moment, but how it will shape me into the person I am meant to be in the future.