Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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Find out who we are at Family Flavours!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Taste of Today

We want to hear from you!

What is your favourite kind of weather?
Rainy? Sunny? Snowy? Windy?

Answer by posting in your comment box below!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Taste of Today

Do you have a pet? Tell us about him/her.

Leave a comment on this blog or visit our Facebook page!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Contests from Family Flavours!

Win a complimentary one night stay for two at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea!
If you are 18+, simply tell us about your winter vacation days at the Dead Sea by writing to:
ourmailbag@familyflavours.com
............................................................................
WIN
A Miraculous Make-Over
Do you know an overworked mama that would love to be pampered and indulged? Win her a professional make-over, which we will share with you on
our pages! In 250 words or less, simply tell us why she deserves this special treat
by writing to us at
ourmailbag@familyflavours.com

Please note:
Unfortunately, this contest is open to only those who reside in Jordan.
............................................................................
Calling all kids and teenagers ages 6 to 16!
Have you ever been to a restaurant only to find that the children’s menu is too boring and limited, but that the adult menu is too complicated? Are you looking for an exciting, easy-to-read menu? If so, let us know.

We want to hear YOUR ideas for the Tala Bay Beach Club Aqaba menu! Simply write in and tell us which 10 meals you would like to see on our menu and you could WIN a two-hour professional scuba diving and snorkelling session in Aqaba! The runner-up will win a meal at the Tala Bay Beach Club worth JD100!
Send your suggestions to
ourmailbag@familyflavours.com
............................................................................
Win 40 JDs from Hamley's!
What are you waiting for? Hurry up and send us your entry!
Celebrate Halloween by sending us your best spooky story or spooky drawing!

The Power of Pink: Breast Cancer Essentials

Have you browsed through our stylish, sweet, and sassy breast cancer essentials?

Click the photo gallery on our homepage or pick up the October issue of Family Flavours!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Family Chefs: Sudanese Delights!

By Sheela Sheth

A large country with geographic extremes ranging from forests to deserts, Sudan values hospitality as much as we do here in the Arab world. Throughout history, Sudan has been influenced by people of many backgrounds—and this is reflected in its cooking. Showing us how to prepare authentic Sudanese dishes, fit to serve any guest that may enter your home, are Nazik Makkawi and her three daughters: Sarah (12), Samar (10) and Noon (8).
Aseeda and mullah are the most popular Sudanese delicacies, made from powdered dry okra (okra is dried and then ground to a powder) and minced meat. In Sudan, aseeda and mullah are eaten together as a main course as they both complement each other, providing a nutritious meal. Okra is known to help control blood sugar, prevent acid reflux, cure dysuria (painful or difficult urination) and is useful for plasma replacement and as a blood volume expander. Its rich calcium and potassium content help in delaying osteoporosis.
Aseeda
Ingredients
1 cup white flour
1 cup yoghurt
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste

Directions
  1. Whisk together white flour and yoghurt.
  2. In a pan, cook it on a low heat, stirring continuously.
  3. Add salt and beat until mixture comes away from side of pan and forms a smooth ball.
  4. Add oil and stir until smooth.
  5. Set aside.

Mullah
Ingredients
300 g minced meat
2 onions, grated
1 tsp coriander powder
4 tbsp dry okra powder
3 tbsp tomato purée
½ cup water
Salt and red pepper powder to taste
Directions
  1. Brown onions in oil.
  2. Add minced meat and cook until slightly browned.
  3. Add tomato purée, salt, coriander powder and red pepper powder, water and stir.
  4. When the mixture boils, add the okra powder and stir for five minutes.
  5. Arrange the aseeda in the centre of a platter, surrounded by the mullah.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Take It To the Top!

By Rima Amer

At one time, rock climbing brought to mind images of daredevils hanging precariously over the edge of cliffs—no wonder, then, that it was considered to be an extreme sport. Nowadays, however, introducing your child to the fun of rock climbing is easier and safer than ever.

All about climbing
For beginners, indoor rock climbing is considered safer—it takes place in a controlled environment. Here, your child can safely learn how to climb under the supervision and guidance of qualified instructors.

Climbing walls are constructed to be mimic real outdoor structures, such as mountains and hills. In addition, the walls have special holds for hands and feet and places to attach climbing ropes. With difficulty levels to suit all ages and degrees of expertise, you are bound to find something perfect for your child.

Getting started
At the beginning, your child will be taught how to use the safety equipment correctly. After mastering that, she will be taken under the wing of an instructor, who will direct her in the next steps of climbing. The climbs, of course, start out easy, getting more difficult as your child becomes more experienced. When your child becomes confident enough, she may want to try outdoor climbing as well. Wadi Rum in Jordan is a great place to go—the climbing is excellent and the scenery is breathtaking!

Benefits
Rock climbing offers your child many benefits:
  • It develops hand-eye coordination.
  • It develops mental and physical skills.
  • It develops flexibility and strength.
  • It can be practised all year round (in an indoor facility).
  • It is fun and exciting!

Things to remember
Rock climbing is more difficult than it may appear. It is a physically demanding sport that requires a lot of stamina—your child may tire easily at the beginning.


Where to go
Climbat Amman

For further information, please turn to page 128.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

October 16-17 @ The Children's Museum : “Prehistory playroom and archaeologist kit”

Bring your kids to The Children's Museum October 16-17 for a fun-filled, interactive workshop to learn about prehistory!

"In a country like Jordan which is situated in a region with one of the most ancient prehistory and archaeological ruins of the world we found it very instructive to hold this activity here with two objectives: that children get to know the progress of mankind and to do so with the awareness that Spain is a country with great researchers and archaeologists specialized in this field."
-Instituto Cervantes in Amman


Dates:
16/10/2010 (11:00 h)
17/10/2010 (15:00 h)

Location:
The Children´s Museum (Jordan) - Exposition Room
P.O.Box: 386
11831 Amman
(JORDAN)

Also Instituto Cervantes in Amman, the Atapuerca Foundation and the Embassy of Spain are for the exhibition Rainbow of Prehistory, in which the artist Fernando Fueyo illustrates the route of humanity from its ancient origins. This exhibition is from 16 October until 15 November.

Fernando Fueyo was born in 1945 in Spain and he is considered one of the most important illustrators of the Spanish nature. He collaborates with some magazines also. He has exhibited in Japan, Germany or Portugal. In this exhibition he exhibit watercolour paintings about the archaeological site of Atapuerca in Spain (you can find information in this web: http://www.atapuerca.org/ ).

See website for more event information: http://amman.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha66315_05_2.htm

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Flower Power

By Bushra Shakhshir


Leila Shamma-Shakhshir is a firm believer in the saying, “love is in the details”. So, whenever she hosts an event at her home, she spends hours upon hours planning every aspect of the evening—from the food and table settings to the music and decorations. It is the latter category, however, in which she truly outdoes herself. Being artistic by nature—a gift that, to her dismay, none of her children have inherited—she generally prefers to create centrepiece decorations from scratch. “This particular piece was a favourite with friends and family,” says the vivacious mama of two. “It is very easy to make and is guaranteed to impress your guests.”

Materials:

Scissors

Crepe paper

Flower tape, available at florists

Pencils

Ribbons

An old stand

Artificial flower stems


Directions:


1. Cut some petal stencils out of cardboard; two different sizes are needed.
2. Fold the crepe paper into approximately 20 folds.
3. Use the petal stencils to cut out the petals, as shown.
4. To make the flower’s centre, wrap the crepe paper with flower tape.
5. Add the petals to the centre, starting with the smaller ones.
6. Once the smaller petals are done, use ribbon to tie the petals to the centre.
7. Start adding the larger petals in the same manner that you added the smaller ones. Tie them at the stalk.
8. Add the green petals (the sepals) to the bottom of the flower.
9. Use a barbeque stick to shape the petals.

10. Attach the flower to an old stand you have lying around at home or to a stem from any old artificial flower. If neither is available, you can substitute a bunch of wires wrapped with flower tape.

Leila’s tips:


Here are some great ideas for some great centrepieces:

- Make sure your hands are clean before you start working on your flower—that way, you will avoid getting any stains on the structure.

- Try spraying your favourite fragrance on the flower; because of the nature of the paper, your flower will smell great for days!

- Consider giving the centrepiece as a gift instead of a usual bouquet of flowers. Your friends and family are sure to value the fact that your gift is hand-made!

- Never throw out leftover pieces of paper; they can always be used to make smaller flowers or for the flower’s centre. In fact, the yellow flower was made entirely out of leftovers!

Monday, October 4, 2010

October Issue



October issue should be out on the shelves by the end of the week! Get excite for the new articles!!!

Contests from Family Flavours!

Win a complimentary one night stay for two at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea!
If you are 18+, simply tell us about your winter vacation days at the Dead Sea by writing to: ourmailbag@familyflavours.com
............................................................................
WIN
A Miraculous Make-Over
Do you know an overworked mama that would love to be pampered and indulged? Win her a professional make-over, which we will share with you on
our pages! In 250 words or less, simply tell us why she deserves this special treat
by writing to us at
ourmailbag@familyflavours.com

Please note:
Unfortunately, this contest is open to only those who reside in Jordan.
............................................................................
Calling all kids and teenagers ages 6 to 16!
Have you ever been to a restaurant only to find that the children’s menu is too boring and limited, but that the adult menu is too complicated? Are you looking for an exciting, easy-to-read menu? If so, let us know.

We want to hear YOUR ideas for the Tala Bay Beach Club Aqaba menu! Simply write in and tell us which 10 meals you would like to see on our menu and you could WIN a two-hour professional scuba diving and snorkelling session in Aqaba! The runner-up will win a meal at the Tala Bay Beach Club worth JD100!
Send your suggestions to
ourmailbag@familyflavours.com
............................................................................
Win 40 JDs from Hamley's!
What are you waiting for? Hurry up and send us your entry!
Celebrate Halloween by sending us your best spooky story or spooky drawing!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Growing Pains

By Bushra Shakhshir

With the exception of Peter Pan perhaps, none of us can evade growing old. Faced with the uselessness that many believe comes hand in hand with old age, it is often seen as an incurable disease. Jamila Al Naber Haddadin, though, believes otherwise. "With some adaptations,” she explains, “this stage of one’s life can be as fulfilling as any previous stage. In fact, I find this stage the most rewarding."


Her best achievementSitting in her favourite armchair with freshly coiffed hair and a bright pink shirt, 86-year-old Jamila has a strong, yet maternal, presence. As a mama of 12 and teta of 29, Jamila considers raising her children to be her proudest achievement:"Part of the reason why I am so content and happy at this age,” she says, “is because I have such wonderful children.” Smiling proudly, she recounts the successes in their lives, telling about their support of her and of each other.

Challenges and how to overcome them“Growing old isn’t without challenges,” Jamila is quick to add. “There are some major changes that occur to your body, which you must adapt to.”
According to Dr Suhaila Twal, the most significant of these changes is the declining efficiency of one’s muscles. “This means your heart is less able to pump large quantities of blood around the body and your blood vessels lose their elasticity,” explains Twal. As a result, high blood pressure and heart problems are fairly common among the elderly.

Loss of bone density—a phenomenon more prevalent in women than men—is another important change to expect. Experts advise older women to take special care by following a diet high in calcium and vitamin D and testing for osteoporosis, especially if there is a family history.
“It is important to remember,” Twal reassures, “that the negative physiological changes that occur can be significantly minimised.” Such can be achieved simply by coupling appropriate exercise with a healthy diet. Jamila gets her exercise by walking around her neighbourhood—a part of her daily routine that she looks forward to.

Besides walking, Jamila’s favourite pastime is reading. She has read everything from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables to most of Agatha Christie’s novels. She also loves solving puzzles and crosswords. “These not only keep me entertained,” she explains, “but I think that they have played a role in the fact that I have an impeccable memory.”
Twal agrees: “Your mind is just like anything else in your body—the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.”

Mind over matterExplaining her approach to old age, Jamila quotes Mark Twain, saying, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” She believes that remaining positive and living life to the fullest each and every day is very important. “Besides,” she adds with a twinkle in her eye, “this is my time to truly enjoy life. I have worked hard most of my life and I am now reaping the rewards.”

When Jamila is not spending time with her family and grandchildren, she can usually be found planning trips to different parts of the world. “Right now,” she discloses, “I am planning a vacation to Turkey. I absolutely love to travel and I’ve been lucky enough to visit many wonderful parts of the world.”

It has been said that fear is the single most powerful agent in making what we fear come true. The best way to beat aging, then, is to embrace it—something Jamila is doing gracefully.