Ramadan 2013 has officially started, while I was pouring through this magnificent photo essay in the Atlantic portraying the beginning of the month.

I am not muslim, and I never fasted throughout  but this time of year brings back memories of my time in Egypt that warm my heart. I miss living in a place where pretty much everyone fasted. I miss being conscious of the dawn and dusk, I miss going by the mosque after school and helping get iftar ready for the the poor community in my neighborhood. 

There was a reason to commune every night, every Friday there was another warm home to visit, sticky baklava and qatayef, kibbeh and kofta and oum ali. Eating together is something my parents always insisted on- it's how I become to close to all of my best my friends. 

Cooking and eating together is in my opinion the best way to become close to someone. 

I'm taking a challenge for this month to more thoughtful and the best friend, girlfriend and family member that I can be. 

Every week I will cook dinner for and with one friend, my mother or a member of my family. I will document with photographs, digital and film.
I'm challenging myself to learn new recipes, take better photographs and to spend more time eating well and eating in. I, for one am excited!

To everyone celebrating- Ramadan Kareem!

Want in on a secret? If you don't have a lot of time on your hands, if you have leftovers (I find tomatoes and the ends of french bread are always lying around my house.)- make bruschetta!

It's easy to make and mouth-wateringly good!

Ingredients to make just enough for one person

2 large or 5 small Tomatoes (I used the last of my Trader Joe's mini heirlooms that I buy every week.)

Extra Virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp

Balsamic Vinegar, 1 Tsp

Fresh Basil

Salt, Pepper to taste

French Bread

Extra EVOO

Garlic (I used ready minced)

optional

Finely grate some parmesan into the mix

Here's what you do.

Get the bread ready by slicing it diagonally, putting olive oil and garlic on it and toasting it in an oven preheated to 450 degrees (F) for 6 minutes.

While you wait for the oven to warm- remove the skin from the tomatoes by placing them in boiling water that's just been taken off the heat, leaving them for 1 minutes and then taking them out.

I prick the skin with a paring knife so I can grab the skin, but then it comes right off!

Get the seeds and juice out, slice into small pieces and mix in with the olive oil, chopped fresh basil, balsamic, salt and pepper and parmesan.

Once your bread is out of the oven- pile the tomatoes on top and chow down! The results are sweet, tangy, fresh and warm!

Voila! 

Hope you all had a wonderful week!

xo

Hats

I wore:

 We headed up to Eastern Market today because I hear so much about it- Norman has work at midday on Saturdays so our weekend activities are pretty much all breakfast and farmer's markets. There some really great parts of the market- these water colors, for example I will definitely be coming back for. I got samples from the cheesemonger inside of a Whiskey Cheddar and could not get enough of the meats they have for sale. In the end, we popped into Tunnicliff's for brunch. Between baked brie, french toast and $5 mimosas we were fans!

Today, N and I woke up to beautiful June sunshine, opened his birthday presents (He's 27 tomorrow!) and headed to the farmer's market here in Falls Church. We knew we wanted breakfast and I was hoping for flowers and we were super excited about the endless samples (better than Costco) and the gorgeous colours of produce. Our first stop was Mama's Mini Donuts, which is open all winter long and at 6 fresh, hot doughnuts for $3 you can't beat the "ooooohhhhh" factor. I honestly don't feel very strongly about doughnuts but these are the one thing I get every time I head out on a Saturday morning.

 Our next stop was Kate's Crepes, where we shared a ham,swiss, and maple syrup crepe which ran me $8, definitely delicious. I usually go for nutella, strawberries or lemon and sugar but I was so happy about the savoury  option. If you don't think peonies are flawless, you need to reconsider your stance on them. How perfect is this ligh pink bunch? *sighhh* I didn't have the extra cash so I passed on them. When I get my own house though you can bet I'll be saving my change for fresh flowers!

   

 We had a great morning, sitting on the grass people watching, joking and sharing great food. I am reminded of how blessed I am to have a partner who makes me laugh and to live in this lovely part of the world while I get myself settled. The Falls Church Farmer's Market runs every Saturday from 8 til Noon and it goes all year long. I love this market during every season and encourage you to stop by as well if you're ever in the area. 

I hosted a little Midsommar last night with my lovely new German friend, it's such a blessing to meet new people in this bright, vibrant city. Especially ones who agree to wear midsommerkrans enthusiastically. My family didn't start embracing our Swedish heritage until I was pretty much grown, as my mother's Swedish family was pretty much all in the US (Michigan) or gone, but during Christmas and Easter and Midsommar, we often had Swedish embassy events to go to and I learned to love the food and the traditions that accompany what are now my favourite days of the year. ...So when Midsommar rolled around, I made some gravlax, pulled out my endless store of rye read, stocked up on strawberries, potatoes and schnapps and invited a new friend over for food and drinks until the sun set (way to early but it's the mid-Atlantic, what are ya gonna do?) It was intimate but I had a magical time- just like you're supposed to!

  So, does anyone else do a Midsommar in America?