JORDAN-Land known for Karam

                                                                           
 

Although I have never traveled to Jordan, my husband was lucky enough to spend several weeks on a work trip in 2007. He came back with the most beautiful stories, pictures, and memories. By far the one thing that stayed with him the most, was the hospitality and generosity of the Jordanian people. He told me stories upon stories of meetings with Jordanians that treated him like royalty. The love shown by hosts to their guests was something he never experienced in any of his travels. He also was pleasantly surprised how different ethnic and religious groups lived in harmony. Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, and Protestants.

                                                         

 

   

It is felt even by walking around the streets of Jordan where the phrase "ahlan wa sahlan" ("I welcome you") is heard nearly everywhere a person goes. There is an old Jordanian proverb that shows the important tradition of hospitality in Jordanian culture that states:

 "The host must fear the guest. When he sits and shares your food, he is company. When he stands and leaves your house, he is a poet" (Lazim al-mu’azzib yikhaf min al-dhayf. Luma yijlis howa dhayf. Luma yigum howa sha’ir). How beautiful is that?

 

                                                                       

Some of the traditions of hospitality come from Jordanian Bedouin culture. For example, often, the host and his/her guest are to share a cup of black coffee. The host drinks out of the cup first, ensuring that the coffee is the right temperature. The guest then drinks what remains of the first cup. A second cup is served to the guest, and then a third. The host also serves the guest copious amounts of food and is careful to make sure the guest is comfortable and stays as long as he/she would like. Such displays are referred to as karam, the Arabic word for "generosity" or "hospitality" that also has implications of "nobility," "grace," and "refinement."

                                                            

 

The Nabateans built the capital of their ancient Arab kingdom, Petra, in what is now Jordan between 400 B.C.E. and 160 C.E. From Mount Nebo in western Jordan, many people believe that Moses saw the Promised Land. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed after four hundred years of rule, Britain divided up the Fertile Crescent, and modern Jordan was born.

                                                                               

One of the best known groups from Jordan’s population is the Bedouin. As they are known in Arabic, the Bedu, or “desert dwellers,” endure the desert and have learned to survive its unforgiving climate. It is difficult to count Bedouins, but it is generally known that the majority of Jordan’s population is of Bedouin origin.
                                                                               

Some Jordanians are of Palestinian origin, having been forced from their homeland during the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel. Jordan was the only Arab state to grant all Palestinians the right to Jordanian citizenship and many have exercised that option. This decision plays a very important part in the political and economic life of Jordan. Some Palestinians continue to live in one of the 10 refugee camps scattered throughout the West Bank and Northern Jordan, where the United Nations Relief Works Agency(UNRWA) is responsible for the welfare of the refugees, including their education and health. Today there are an estimated 1.4 Million Palestinian refugees registered in Jordan. Although massive influxes of refugees have taken a toll of Jordan's economy, Palestinian Jordanians have made significant contributions to the health and prosperity of their new homeland.

 

 

The differentiation between Jordanians, Bedouins, and Palestinians is clear in this society. Jordanians are defined as residents who have lived east of the Jordan River since before 1948. Palestinians are defined as residents whose birthright extends back to areas west of the Jordan River. People of Bedouin descent are considered to be of the purest Arab stock.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In deserts with little vegetation and water, Bedouin families have lived in the traditional way for thousands of years. They roam freely and pay little attention to borders. Bedouins form the core of the army, occupying key positions, even though their political influence is diminishing. Palestinians are typically referred to as educated, hard-working people, and their influence in Jordan has resulted in a greater emphasis on education and the development of a richer, global economy. Jordanians who no longer espouse the Bedu nomad lifestyle are gradually accepting the standards of the modern Arab world.

Arabic is the official language of Jordan. English is taught to all students and is widely spoken.    

                               

                                                                                 

 

The Jordanian flag has black, white, and green horizontal stripes with a red triangle on the hoist side bearing a white seven-pointed star. The flag of the Palestinian people is identical but does not have the white star.

 

 

This week we will cook the national dish of Jordan called Mansaf. Mansaf is lamb cooked in dried yogurt called jameed and served over fragrant rice with almonds, pine nuts, parsley, clove, and spices. We will serve this with a traditional Jordanian dessert called Mouhalabieh-which is a  milk flan made with rosewater, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds.

                                                                   

 

【和楽器バンド】天樂 Tengaku 【VOCALOID】

和楽・千本櫻 Senbon Sakura Mirror Dance

【BadApple!!】 傷林果 【Japanese Traditional Dance】lyrics & Romaji

JAPAN-Dinner is Ready!! Plus Fun Facts

Our Japanese Dinner is Ready! We cooked Beef Yakitori with Sirloin Marinated in Ginger, Soy, Scallions, Garlic, Sugar, Sesame seeds, and Lemon Juice. Then we grilled it over charcoal. It was heavenly! Definitely satisfied the Japanese discovered taste of  Umami, meaning pleasantly savory. We also prepared Ebi Chili Shrimp. This was my favorite dish of all. The shrimp were lightly stir friend in ginger, scallions, and corn starch then covered with a fiery sauce made from Sweet Thai Chili Paste and Hot Sriracha chili sauce. So delicious! We served this with traditional Japanese Sticky rice and Komatsuna no ohitashi (stir fried mustard spinach) with red pepper flakes, sake, sesame oil, and garlic. This was my favorite week by far. I cannot believe we are already done with 20 countries, 32 to go! Here are the recipes we used to prepare our Japanese meal.

 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/beef-yakitori

 

http://norecipes.com/recipe/ebi-chili-recipe/

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/sushiforbeginner/r/sushirice.htm

http://www.savoryjapan.com/recipes/vegetables/vegetables.html

 

Fun Facts

 

 

1. Crime rates are particularly low in Japan.    The country enjoys the second lowest homicide rate in the world, behind only Monaco which is about half the size of New York’s Central Park.  It is illegal to own a handgun, and even ceremonial swords must be registered with the police.If you ever have the misfortune of standing trial in Japan, however, you can be almost certain that you’re going to jail; indeed, the conviction rate is said to exceed ninety-nine percent (the career of a judge can suffer greatly for handing out acquittals).

 

 

2. Japanese place great importance on the concept of wa, or group harmony. The value of the common greater good is more important than valuing one's own needs. This principle is applied in schools, as well as social groups and, later in life, the workplace.

 

 

3. The inferior partner in a relationship, whether personal or business, must allay their own wants, thoughts, and opinions to that of the superior, so as not to cause the superior to lose face or be humiliated. The appearance, or tatemae, is more important than the reality, or honne. Although this may appear as hypocritical or negative to the eyes of westerners, to the Japanese this may be completely normal

  

 

 

4. Although the Japanese are known for their industrious work ethic, the stereotype of the boozy businessman is not that far from the truth.  Marathon drinking sessions are often seen as a cornerstone of the Japanese business model; corporate relationships are forged over gallons of sake. That said, it’s also relatively easy to nurse a hangover. The Japanese business culture values an employee who naps on the job.  “Inemuri,” as it is known, is a quick cat-nap meant to recharge the batteries.  It is seen as a sign of hard work and commitment.

 

5. Despite the exponential population rise seen throughout the world, the Japanese are slowly dying off behind an aging infrastructure.  Compounding the problem is a growing problem: the shut-in “hikikomori.”  Although  every society is home to a small number of people who could be described as “reclusive”— most of these recluses tend to be older individuals, marked with mental illnesses such as depression and agoraphobia.  

Japan’s hikikomori hermits, on the other hand, are decidedly young. They’re mostly disaffected teenagers and twenty-somethings, withdrawn almost completely from society.  There is no precise explanation to account for the rise in hikikomori, though there are several known contributing factors, including the rise of the internet, intense academic pressures, and parents willing to shelter their children well into adulthood.  Psychiatrists (many of whom are forced to make house calls to visit their patients), have only recently set upon the task of helping the group dubbed by some as “the missing million.”

 

6. Coffee is very popular and Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee production.

 

7. Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.

8. Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan. Thinly sliced and eaten raw, it is called Basashi.

9. Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside, they are called "packers".

10. Many couples in Japan celebrate Christmas like Valentine's Day.  It is definitely more of a "lovers" holiday in Japan.

11. Japan is home to many different forms of martial arts. Karate, Judo, Sumo, Ninjutsu, Kendo, Jujutsu, and Aikido to name a few.

12. Sumo is recognized as the national sport of Japan, although the most popular spectator sport is baseball.

 

http://www.facts-about-japan.com/interesting.html

http://http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/japan.htmliml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring01/Newsome/culture.html

http://listverse.com/2011/03/13/20-interesting-facts-about-japan/

JAPAN-Land of the Rising Sun

                                                                   

 

This week we are studying one of my favorite gastronomic destinations of all, Japan.  Japan is referred to by the Japanese as  Nippon which literally means "The Sun's Origin". To me, thoughts  of Japan  evokes images of  Mystical Beauty, Tradition, Honor, Paradoxes, and Progressiveness. This enchanting island nation, known as the land of the rising sun, has held onto so many long standing traditions while pushing the envelope in very progressive and modern popular  cultural as well. No other country in the world seems to have experienced such a  confluence of tradition, technology, and circumstance.

 

Japanese culture is rich and diverse, dating back to 10,000BC when the Jomon people first settled in Japan.  It is widely known for its traditional arts as well as its contemporary culture.  A sophisticated cuisine, unique social customs, and refined performing and visual arts also contribute to a culture which has drawn in many visitors.

  

I remember at age 15, reading one of my favorite books of all time, Memoirs of a Geisha, and thinking what an unique and mysterious land Japan really is.  Japan's culture is full of paradoxes and is unlike any other, especially between old and new, traditional and modern. Today in Japan you can still walk the streets of Kyoto and observe Geishas in traditional kimonos just as they were 100 years ago, shuffling down the street with umbrellas overhead.                                                               

 

 

Sumo wrestling, a centuries old tradition is still taken extremely seriously in Japan.  Sumo originated in Japan many centuries ago, and today it is the only country where it is practiced professionally. It is generally considered to be a modern Japanese martial art. Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes many ritual elements, such as the use of salt purification, from the days when sumo was used in the Shinto religion. Life as a wrestler is highly regimented, with rules laid down by the Sumo Association. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal "sumo training stables" known in Japanese as heya where all aspects of their daily lives—from meals to their manner of dress—are dictated by strict tradition.
                                                                             

                                                                             

Tea ceremony still plays a vital role in modern Japan. The first documented evidence of tea in Japan dates to the 9th century, when it was taken by the Buddhist monk Eichū  on his return from China.It is still very common to see tea houses all over the island no matter how remote the town and tea ceremony is practiced in many Japanese families today with high reverence.  

  

                                                                   

However, at the same time, you can go to the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo and see the super modern Harajuku style girls, Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles.  Many young people gather around Harajuku Station and engage in costume play, dressed up in eccentric costumes to resemble anime characters and punk musicians. It seems that modern Japanese entertainment  which is heavily technology driven is an escape for the contemporary Japanese from the problems of an industrial world. When asked how they spent their leisure time, 80 percent of a sample of men and women surveyed by the government in 1986 said they averaged about two and a half hours per weekday watching

television, listening to the radio, and reading newspapers or magazines.

                                                                

 

                                                              

                     

Many anime and manga are very popular around the world and continue to become popular, as well as Japanese video games, music, fashion, and game shows;this has made Japan an "entertainment superpower" along with the United States and the United Kingdom.

In the late 1980s, the family was the focus of leisure activities, such as excursions to parks or shopping districts. Although Japan is often thought of as a hard-working society with little time for leisure, the Japanese seek entertainment wherever they can. It is common to see Japanese commuters riding the train to work, enjoying their favorite manga, or listening through earphones to the latest in popular music on portable music players. Game centers, bowling alleys, and karaoke are popular hangout places for teens while older people may play shoji or go in specialized parlors.

 

Natural hot springs known as onsen,  are numerous and highly popular across Japan. The Japanese believe the hot springs provide healing through their rich mineral content. Traditionally, the Japanese place great importance on the concept of wa, or group harmony. The value of the common greater good is more important than valuing one's own needs. This principle is applied in schools, as well as social groups and, later in life, the workplace.

                                                                   

                                          

 

 The cuisine of Japan has long been my personal favorite. It is all about quality of ingredients, texture, and extreme attention to detail. This week we will cook traditional  dishes eaten frequently in Japanese homes.  We will start with a very classic favorite especially among Japanese businessmen,   Beef Yakitori. This dish is made from  sirloin beef marinated in ginger, scallion, soy, garlic, and sesame seeds, then grilled on skewers. Sounds delicious!

 
We will also cook Ebi Chili, shrimp cooked in a spicy sweet sauce with Sriracha chili, Thai Sweet Chile sauce, ginger, and  scallions.

                                                                           

                                      

 

 

This dish was created by famous Chen Kenmim who emigrated to Japan in the 1950's from Szechuan province in China. Chef Chen Kenmim went on to become a TV celebrity all over Japan popularizing his Chinese  influenced cuisine. He is widely regarded as the Father of Japanese style Szechuan cuisine.  We will prepare sticky rice which is a common accompaniment to most Japanese Meals, and lastly for our vegetable Komatsuna no ohitashi -Stir Fried Mustard Spinach with Sake, Garlic, Sesame Oil, Chile and Pepper.

 
Sources: http://www.facts-about-japan.com/japanese-culture.html
 

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring01/Newsome/culture.html

ITALIA-La Cena è Pronta! (Dinner is Ready!) Plus Fun Facts

                                                              

 

 

 

Our Italian Feast is ready! Everything turned out beautifully. Our Risotto Milanesa allo Zafferano con Midollo alla Piastra (Risotto Milanese with Saffron and Beef Marrow), was superb. The savory beef marrow added a nice richness to the aromatic saffron infused Risotto. The girls loved it! Our Spaghetti Alla Norma(Named after Vincenzo Bellini's Heroine) was a delight as well. It definitely did Norma justice! I have never prepared this dish for my family. I really enjoyed the eggplant, it was earthy and added a nice contrast in texture as well.  Our Spinaci Alla Fiorentina(Spinach Florentine style) was a hit. The creamy béchamel sauce was silky and delicious. The nutmeg was a beautiful touch. I love spinach and had never heard of this dish prior to this week. We will definitely cook it again. As our last dish, our traditional Sicilian Insalata di Arance e Cipolle(Orange and Onion Salad) with black Olives in light vinaigrette was the perfect refreshing ending. Customarily it is made with blood oranges, though any small, juicy oranges will be delicious.The citrus and acid in this dish was the perfect way to end the meal. I hope you enjoyed this week in Italy as much as we did. Here are a list of recipes we used for this week's dishes.

 

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Saffron-Risotto-with-Marrow-236965
 http://www.food.com/recipe/spinaci-alla-fiorentina-spinach-florentine-style-356086

                                                        

http://italianfood.about.com/od/vegetablesauces/r/blr0019.htm

http://www.lidiasitaly.com/recipes/detail/910

 

 Interesting Facts

-Italy is said to have more masterpieces per square mile than any other country in the world.

-Almost four-fifths of Italy is either mountainous or hilly

-The capital of Italy is Rome (also known as the Eternal City) and is almost 3,000 years old.   It has been the capital since 1871 and is home to the Dome of St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, and the famous Trevi Fountain.

-The University of Rome is one of the world’s oldest universities and was founded by the Catholic Church in A.D. 1303. Often called La Sapienza (“knowledge”), the University of Rome is also Europe’s largest university with 150,000 students.

-There are two independent states within Italy: the Republic of San Marino (25 square miles) and the Vatican City (just 108.7 acres).

-Italy’s San Marino is the world’s oldest republic (A.D. 301), has fewer than 30,000 citizens, and holds the world’s oldest continuous constitution. Its citizens are called the Sammarinese.

-Vatican City is the only nation in the world that can lock its own gates at night. It has its own phone company, radio, T.V. stations, money, and stamps. It even has its own army, the historic Swiss Guard.

-At its height in A.D. 117, the Roman Empire stretched from Portugal in the West to Syria in the east, and from Britain in the North to the North African deserts across the Mediterranean. It covered 2.3 million miles (two-thirds the size of the U.S.) and had a population of 120 million people. During the Middle Ages, Rome had perhaps no more than 13,000 residents..

-Two Italians in particular contributed to the eighteenth-century's Enlightenment: Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794), whose essays on Crime and Punishment led to broad reforms in the treatment of prisoners and criminals, and Giambattista Vico (1668-1774), a philosopher, rhetorician, and historian who is often thought to have ushered in a modern philosophy of history

-The highest peak in Europe is in Italy. Monte Bianco (White Mountain) is 15,771 feet high and is part of the Alps.

-Though Italy’s economy lagged behind the rest of Europe during the first half of the twentieth century, currently it is the world’s seventh largest economy.

-In northern Italy, last names tend to end in “i”, while those from the south often end in “o.” The most common Italian surname is Russo.

-Italian is a Romance language descended from Vulgar Latin, the dialect spoken by the people living during the last years of the Roman Empire. Italian has more Latin words than any other Romance languages, and its grammatical system remains similar to Latin. Latin is still the official language of the Vatican City in Rome.

-Italian Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simon (1475-1564) was once thought to have painted in somber shades, but after his frescos on the Sistine Chapel were cleaned, it was discovered that he actually painted in bright colors, such as purples, greens, and pinks. Centuries of dirt and smoke from candles had toned down the bright colors. Some art historians argued that the restorers went too far in their cleaning efforts and removed the dark shadows Miche langelo intended.

-Known as the “Three Fountains,” Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374), and Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) are arguably the three most famous Italian authors of all time. Dante’s Divine Comedy (Divina Commedia) had tremendous influence on Italian literature, and he is considered the father of the Italian language.

-The pre-dinner passeggiata (evening stroll) is one of Italy’s most enduring leisure activities where Italians stroll about the streets to see and be seen.

-When European Jews were being persecuted during WWII, it was not unusual for some  to hide in Italy’s ancient catacombs.

-Begun in 1560 for Cosimo l de’ Medici, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the oldest museums in the world and contains famous works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and da Vinci.

-Approximately 85% of Italians are Roman Catholics, with Protestants, Jews, and a growing Muslim community making up the minority. 

-Soccer is Italy’s most popular sport, and the famous San Siro Stadium in Milan holds 85,000 people. Italy has won the World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), making the country’s team second only to Brazil's in number of wins.

-The first violin appeared in Italy in the 1500s, probably from the workshop of Andrea Amati (1505-1578) in Cremona. The city later became the home of Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), the most famous of violin-makers.

-The world’s first operas were composed in Italy at the end of the sixteenth century. Opera reached the height of popularity in the nineteenth century, when the works of Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868), Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), and Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) became hugely popular. The late tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) is a national celebrity, and Claudio Monteverdi (c. 1567-1643) is regarded as the father of the modern opera.

-The Arabs brought dried pasta to Italy in the thirteenth century (though fresh pasta was made before then). It was commonly eaten with honey and sugar; tomato sauce was not added until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The old-fashioned way of eating pasta was with the fingers, arm held high and head tilted back. Pasta traditionally was made by the mother of the household, who passed the precious technique to her daughters. There are currently more than 500 different types of pasta eaten in Italy today.

-The language of music is Italian. The word “scale” comes from scala, meaning “step.” And andante , allegro

http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/05/14_italy.html