spices in arabic

[palilover 1]

that does sound good:) I love zatar with bread that you have for breakfast!! (or snack)

Ok saying something is in the family of something and but not the same as culinary something just confuses me ok?

[Nasturtium 500]

It's just basic biology-- Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species-- which I was kind of just glossing over. They are actually in the same genus. There are 2 things referred to by the word zatar-- an herb/spice/seasoning mix of thyme, toasted sesame seeds, sumac (sumaq/sumag), and salt... and then there is an actual herb which is classified as either Origanum maru or Majorana Syriaca depending on whether or not you are looking up the currect classification. Since you're going to Palestine, what you are talking about is likely the herb itself and not the mixture.

Culinary=used in cooking

I'm saying that the list Ash gave you is going to steer you in the wrong translation direction if you use it on those 2 items. We don't have those in our herb sections and what we have will not work in place of meramiya, but oregano will be somewhat close to the zatar.... but you're better off buying theirs. That's like trying to say a wolf is the same as a husky.

[Henia 11]

Anyone who is more familiar with an arabic kitchen, please can you tell me some spices and their english/arabic equivelents?

for ex: what is garlic in arabic? And mint in arabic? And other things they may cook with

What I'm doing is planning a budget trip to Palestine (haha) and what I want to do is bring my own food for me and my husband so we are not paying Paletsinian prices for food everyday. I'm going to bring tuna (in oil per his request), mac and cheese boxed, spaghetti.....any other ideas on things I can bring that are light to pack and something we wont get too sick of? I need to save all my money for plane tickets and running around in Jordan/Paletsine/Jerusalem....no money to splurge on food this time. Any other ideas? What I want to do is bring some things and I can cook with the spices there or something, but my husband does not know the equivelents of english words in arabic and of course the woman don't speak english so they wont know either:) So it's all me...I've got to learn how to cook FI ARABI!1

Hello Paliover!

Good luck on your trip ... but me, too I am wishing I had brought over some old American staples! Wishing you all my best!

garlic- thoum

mint- naa'naa

parsely- bad'enus

cilantro-kuzborra

sweet paprika- fil fil ahmar- heluwa

hot paprika/cayenne pepper- fil fil kharra

cumin- kamouun

bay leaves- warak ghar

basil- khabak

cinnamon- kirfi or some countries kirfa

ginger- zanjabeel

nutmeg- jawit el tybb

rosemary- eklil el jabal

saffron- za'afran

tyme- za'atar

turmeric- sometimes also called za'afran but real name for is karkem

rice- roz

potatoes- batata

tomatoes- tomatische

eggplant- badenjen

green beans- loobia

carrots- djazaa'r (but in NA called zordiya)

pasta- makarona

Some of my suggestions for foods to pack are:

Sorry this may sound really cheap but good for budgets plus MENA ppl seem to love them - ramen noodles

soy sauce (quick and easy stir-fry with little bit of meat, veggies topped on rice)

maple syrup (everyone who I gave pancakes w maple syrup to ... adored it!)

BBQ sauce (you can find this in MENA but is $$$ and you have to look for ... but nice and quick I know my husband LOVES BBQ!)

Ranch dressing powder (again something new to MENA ppl but everyone who tastes it loves it ... think salads or Buffalo chicken!!! Easy and for sure hit!)

Tortillas- probably won't find them or have to look but again expensive ... nice for any TexMex meal

Steak Grill seasoning - great on meats, fish as well as adding to any one-pot meal

Wanton wrappers and seasoning mixes (again something new and cheap)

But things to make while there easy and cheap like casseroles (anything with cheese topping), BBQ, Mexican,stir-frys and one pot meals. But also things they make in MENA like foul mudammes, hummous, baba ghannouj, canneloni bean dip etc are good choices for budget meals (just add salad, some boiled eggs and olives ready meal! MMM)

And BTW watch for theives, prostis are all too friendly to "help out" (really steal you blind) ... and in fact I suggest you pack few items to eat on your layover ... Romania is still in the dark age I think!

[Tunisia216 2]

I am really sorry if I gave you any wrong information Pali!!! I just thought it might help you to have your husband point you in the right direction while you are there. I had my husband look over the list and he said that Za3tar is more likely to be oregano (at least in Tunisia) and he also added coriander can be kizbra or tabel in some areas ... For anise he said yansoon OR bisbass . He said the rest of the list looks right to him and if it doesn't get you exactly what you are looking for, it will get you in the right area or let your husband know what you want!

Good luck and I'm sure he'll love whatever you cook

[Henia 11]

Thyme is called za'zatar but in MENA there is also a spice mix with the same name, full things like oregano, seasame seeds in it!

[palilover 1]

Hey I like everyone's suggestions! Thanks!

OOOHHHHHH so my zatar is differnet than the zatar everyone is talkinga bout:) Zatar is what they call a given spice like oregano and thyme?? hehe When someone says zatar to me, I'm thinking of what Henia said I think....the spice mixture. My pali neighbors used to put it on arabic bread, live oil...then bake it in the oven. And they used to eat it for breakfast or snack after school. I love it!

Ramen noodles...I planned on taking some with me because they are cheap and light. I was wondering about that though because I don't want to appear to "cheap" because that is not good in mena I think to be considered that way. Well, that is the impression I get from my sil though. But then again, that's her. The other palis I met were more humble (although troublemakers) but they never called me cheap if I did not spend a heap of money on something. But my sil is from a rich family in Palestine so.....maybe that's why she gives me attitude if I dont spend enough money? But I don't want her to find out I brought a bunch of ramen noodles and say "Oh look at your wife! She cant cook and those noodles cost .40 a pack! She's so cheap!" I hate in laws, really I do yep yep yep

For Romania, dude I wanna avoid that airport like the plaque! I went though it last time, wnot be going through it again. (I haven't ordered the tickets yet for next time). Dark ages.....OMG they dont even have ATM machines in terminals!! ANd to use the internet you have to have euros or their own currency, not debit card. And the Romanians would not let me go out and use the ATM machine in the airport (they forced me to stay in the terminal and kept watching me!!) and the currency changing palce would not accept the only dollar I had to change becaues "your dollar is too old" (I thought she was related to my sister in law with her attitude!!) I've never heard of such nonesense in my life as "your dollar is too old so we cannot giev you euros or our local currency". Um.....are you k,eeping my dollar as a souvenier? Are you putting it in a frame for all to see? You're going to freakng spend it so someone can wad it up and fold it in their pocket so why do you care how old it is????? SILLY ROMANIANS!!!!! Are they trying to make up for the lack of ATM machines in the country by only accepting new currency?? lol

hehe sorry I just HAD to get out as I havent vented about Romania enough:) After spending 1 of the 7 hours at that airport, I so badly wanted to get back to Jordan where I was treated nice!! An arab would let me use the ATM machine! Even if it is not in the terminal, the guys at JOrdan would have just kept my passport in immigration and let me back out and return my passport when I went back in the terminal. that happened to me because I had to go to the little girl's room in the Jordan airport. And the toilet in the terminal was broken (just my luck,)

I have nothing else tos ay further about Romania except in my last hour there, I spoke to a nice English man. I was in the cafe and he sat next to me as the seats were all taken up. And he was in Palestine before too! But he went in 2000 I think. Quite different now but he said he loved it too there:)))))

[Tunisia216 2]

I am not sure if your SIL would say something to them about the cost of Ramen, but if she did not how would they know? And also Jihed eats that stuff daily - I don't know why but since college days I've always kept in the house - I like to cook chicken breasts, shred them and throw them in, but anyway he found it and eats through it like crazy - I'm like uhh we have better food than that in the house, but that is what he wants to eat. I have lots of Egyptian friends here that are the same way - My girlfriend Amira's husband eats a ton of it as well!! I don't think anyone would say that and you might just find that your hubby really likes it - and you can do ALOT of different things with it - Add fresh veggies, meats, sooo much -

Check these out and pick the ones that don't have pork or that the pork could be substituted for something else and I think you'll have a hit on your hands! Just remember to buy the square packages and not the ramen cup of noodles.

Just wanted to add, I'm not sure what the cost of living is like where you live but here in Delaware the square packs of Ramen are 10 for $1.00 at Walmart ... I'm starting to think that's why Jihed is such a fan.. Cheapo!!!!

http://www.budget101.com/ramen_noodle_recipes.htm

Hey I like everyone's suggestions! Thanks!

Ramen noodles...I planned on taking some with me because they are cheap and light. I was wondering about that though because I don't want to appear to "cheap" because that is not good in mena I think to be considered that way. Well, that is the impression I get from my sil though. But then again, that's her. The other palis I met were more humble (although troublemakers) but they never called me cheap if I did not spend a heap of money on something. But my sil is from a rich family in Palestine so.....maybe that's why she gives me attitude if I dont spend enough money? But I don't want her to find out I brought a bunch of ramen noodles and say "Oh look at your wife! She cant cook and those noodles cost .40 a pack! She's so cheap!" I hate in laws, really I do yep yep yep

Edited August 22, 2008 by Ash * Habibati

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

when i lived in jordan for a year the safeway (american) grocery store started carrying so many things that they didnt have my prior trip..

like...

mac and cheese

bbq sauce

canned corn

dannon yogurt

(tampons.lol)

betty crocker cookie mixes and cake mixes

taco doritos

salad dressings

tv dinners

and all of it was very reasonable

4 monthsafter i lived there my bestie sent me a "care package" filled with

little debbie brownies

gushers

chips and queso

real ramen

easy mac

and tabloids..i needed the american gossip...lol

needless to say i was in heaven for oh about...5 days

[palilover 1]

I am not sure if your SIL would say something to them about the cost of Ramen, but if she did not how would they know? And also Jihed eats that stuff daily - I don't know why but since college days I've always kept in the house - I like to cook chicken breasts, shred them and throw them in, but anyway he found it and eats through it like crazy - I'm like uhh we have better food than that in the house, but that is what he wants to eat. I have lots of Egyptian friends here that are the same way - My girlfriend Amira's husband eats a ton of it as well!! I don't think anyone would say that and you might just find that your hubby really likes it - and you can do ALOT of different things with it - Add fresh veggies, meats, sooo much -

Check these out and pick the ones that don't have pork or that the pork could be substituted for something else and I think you'll have a hit on your hands! Just remember to buy the square packages and not the ramen cup of noodles.

Just wanted to add, I'm not sure what the cost of living is like where you live but here in Delaware the square packs of Ramen are 10 for $1.00 at Walmart ... I'm starting to think that's why Jihed is such a fan.. Cheapo!!!!

http://www.budget101.com/ramen_noodle_recipes.htm

Hey I like everyone's suggestions! Thanks!

Ramen noodles...I planned on taking some with me because they are cheap and light. I was wondering about that though because I don't want to appear to "cheap" because that is not good in mena I think to be considered that way. Well, that is the impression I get from my sil though. But then again, that's her. The other palis I met were more humble (although troublemakers) but they never called me cheap if I did not spend a heap of money on something. But my sil is from a rich family in Palestine so.....maybe that's why she gives me attitude if I dont spend enough money? But I don't want her to find out I brought a bunch of ramen noodles and say "Oh look at your wife! She cant cook and those noodles cost .40 a pack! She's so cheap!" I hate in laws, really I do yep yep yep

lol I must be a cheapo too cuz I'm a fan:) Actually hm...well, at our grocery store near me a 12 pack of ramen costs $2.79 (not on sale now). But yeah at wal mart i bet they would be cheaper. Wal Mart is further away though, bus ride:/ Too busy for that:( Actually nowadays I get sick if I eat ramen and I cannot even finish one pack. But I dont know if that has anything to do with nerves or what. I think if I eat the same thing over and over I will be sick because last fri when hamburger went on sale, I bought hamburger and made my own kebabs. It lasted three days but on the third day, I'm like omg i wanna puke:( (nad I love kebabs how sad is that!!) But too many mood swings nowadays O i dunno....

I'l check that out. ONe of my favorite things to do with ramen is ramen noodle pizza!! Othrwise I just eat them plain (since I usually eat them at work nowadays since I'm always at work, nice and quick and filling when you et an entire pack!)

I so wish if Palestine was going to have fresh veggies from his garden in October if I do end up going then!!! He said no, growing seasno will be over for him because the rain will come then or a month after and that is no good for his garden:(( He will have no tomatoes, no cumbercues.....((((( And I wnt get to hear him say cumbercue.....oh I get sad thinking about that, lol My ideas was to capitalize off of his garden:) (I'm from a farm, I know how to do that, lol) And I was going to make spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce!! (of course I would have to bring the italien spices i think)....but if there are no tomatoes in the garden, no fresh tomato sauce for him:( sniff sniff

[palilover 1]

when i lived in jordan for a year the safeway (american) grocery store started carrying so many things that they didnt have my prior trip..

like...

mac and cheese

bbq sauce

canned corn

dannon yogurt

(tampons.lol)

betty crocker cookie mixes and cake mixes

taco doritos

salad dressings

tv dinners

and all of it was very reasonable

4 monthsafter i lived there my bestie sent me a "care package" filled with

little debbie brownies

gushers

chips and queso

real ramen

easy mac

and tabloids..i needed the american gossip...lol

needless to say i was in heaven for oh about...5 days

lol @ tabloids:) I wonder what your in laws thought of them:)))

My husband said that the American foods (mac and cheese, creamer for coffee that is more like the American one..the pali one tastes different)...he asys you can find that in Ramalalh but it is very expensive. Even my sil told me you can find cream cheese but it is maybe $4 or something crazy like that. (I dont remember the exact price she told me and quite frankly, her once and only trip to palestine was 3 years ago so I doubt she remembers exact price:) American food you can find, but you will pay a huge penny for it:( That is why each time I go my husband has his own requests. He always requests American coffee with creamer (I forgot creamer this time and I heard about that, lol) and this past time I brought him a razor cuz I gtuess he likes the american ones better than the pali ones, lol

Oh as usual I'm on a tangent here. But speaking of taking things back, does anyone have any suggestions on what to bring someone who is diabetic? Does chocolate fly well cuz I know you can get diabetic chocolate. (for my mil). But I dont want to risk something happening to it on the plane and poisoning her.......!!! With so much work going into my husband, that is really the only thing I'll bring for the family is something for her. I cannot forget her because she did the nicest thing my first time I went htere. She gave me a ring out of her own jewelry box and handed it to me as a gift. Hm...thats got to be a godo thing right:) So I try to never forget her even though the rest of hte in laws are well....in laws!!!!!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

my FIL is diabetic. something he really appreciated was sweeteners that were diabetic friendly, i remember it being very expensive there...

[RAKASA 0]

my FIL is diabetic. something he really appreciated was sweeteners that were diabetic friendly, i remember it being very expensive there...

My niece in Morocco was also diagnosed as diabetic and one of the things I sent in a care pkg was a couple of boxes of Stevia (which is diabetic friendly). I explained it to my husband to translate to them, so I hope they understood how to use it.

[palilover 1]

what sweeteners would you recommend though? I've never uesd the stuff.

what sweeteners would you recommend though? I've never uesd the stuff.

[Tunisia216 2]

What about Splenda? My Dad uses it and he's highly diabetic and he has no adverse affects, but I recall hearing someone say before they were affected? I just googled around and most evidence seems to say it's okay and safe... But might be something to consider... I like it alot more than Equal or Sweetnlow because it doesn't have that bitter after taste!!! You can get the kind that comes in boxes, not just the little packets and she could even do some sweets/baking with it.

Also the Wylers Light things you add to the water - they are one box of 8 for $1 at Walgreens are 100% sugar free, 5 calories, and no caffeine. The cherry flavor is AWESOME!! I'm sure he has a hard time finding sugar free drinks there so that might make her smile and it's not expensive.

About Splenda & Diabetics :

As mentioned in the comment below, Splenda does not raise one's blood

sugar levels and should not affect control of blood glucose or

insulin. This is due to its unique chemical structure that makes it

not recognized as a sugar to be metabolized, even though it is sweet

like sugar.

An excellent source of material can be found at:

[ http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures...ralosebroch.cfm ]

Published by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.

From that page:

"Can people with diabetes use sucralose?

Yes. Clinical studies have shown that sucralose can be safely consumed

by people with diabetes. Sucralose is not recognized by the body as

sugar or as a carbohydrate. It is not metabolized by the body for

energy and does not affect blood glucose levels. Sucralose has no

effect on blood glucose utilization, carbohydrate metabolism or

insulin production. Products sweetened with sucralose provide

good-tasting, lower-calorie alternatives for people with diabetes who

are interested in reducing their caloric or sugar intake. As with any

nutritional concerns, people with diabetes should consult their doctor

or diabetes healthcare professional for advice on an individualized

dietary plan."

[palilover 1]

hm....I like the wylers idea for flavored water:) NOw that is something interesting and I bet they dont have it there;)