Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed”.

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls,took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text-book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, “I thought you were going to bed.”

“I’m on my way,” she said. She put some water into the dog’s dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV’s, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. “I’m going to bed.”
And he did…without another thought.

I received this email a couple of days ago and thought I’d share it with you guys..I know it will put a smile on the faces of the ladies. As for you guys, maybe it will motivate you to help out a little.

Mujadara is one of my favorite recipes. As you may have noticed I really like trying out different rice recipes. Adding different spices and ingredients to the rice can transform it from an average boring dish to a spectacular meal. Take mujadara for example, adding lentils gives you a different texture, the caramelized onions add the sweetness and the spices bring this to life.

I usually serve mujadara with tzatziki or a green salad and sometimes both. The tzatziki is a refreshing, cool accompaniment that is super easy to make..

Mujadara

1 cup short grain rice

1 cup lentils

Water

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon all spice

1/4 teaspoon dried coriander

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 big onion cut into strips

To make the mujadara

In a pan saute your onions in olive oil untill they are golden brown, drain and reserve the oil.

Wash the rice and soak it in water for 10-15 minutes

In a pot place your lentils and add water till the water level is 3-4 cm above the level of the lentils.

Bring the water to a boil and cook then lower the heat and allow to cook until the lentils are done.

Add the rice, spices, the oil you reserved from the onions and the salt.

Add enough water for the level to rise 1 -2 cm above the rice.

Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cover the pot untill the rice absorbs all the water

fluff with a fork.

Serve topped with the caramelized onions. 

Tzatziki

3 cucumbers cut into cubes

yogurt (preferably drained slightly or mixed with some sour cream or labaneh)

Dried mint

Salt

Olive oil

Mix your yogurt with the mint and salt.

Add the cucumbers and stir to combine

Drizzle with oil.

 A few tips mum taught me:

Drain the yogurt, this makes it more creamy and intensifies the flavor.

If you don’t want to drain the yogurt or don’t have time to do so, add some sour cream.

If you mix the dried mint and yogurt ahead of time, you’ll give the mint a chance to infuse the yogurt