Shake Up Your Mornings (or Evenings!) With Pancakes

Apple & cinnamon pancakes 

Nutella stuffed pancakes 

Strawberry and/or banana pancakes

Banana oat pancakes

Lemon poppy seed pancakes 

Pancakes with caramelized peaches

Mint chocolate chip pancakes

Shareef devouring his share of apple & cinnamon pancake

Easy Apple & Cinnamon Pancake

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 apples, peeled and sliced

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tbsp white sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, egg, milk and apples

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar

3. Stir flour mixture into apple mixture, just until combined

4. Pour the batter into a heated lightly oiled frying pan, using about 1/4 cup for each pancake

5. Brown on both sides and serve warm

Perhaps you’ve heard this famous quote: “You can easily judge the character of a [person] by how he or she treats those who can do nothing for him/her.” 

Similarly, the moral character of society can be defined by the way it treats the most vulnerable. 

I know that when I teach my boys to have compassion and empathy for their furry, feathered and finned friends, I’m raising them to treat everyone, including those who are different from them, with kindness. 

Modelling compassion is the most effective way to teach and promote it in our children. 

Lemony Quinoa Salad with Avocado & Tomatoes 

A healthy irresistible salad for any occasion!

Recipe by Sonia Salfity - thank you sis!

Ingredients 

8 cups water 

5 avocados, diced 

4 cups quinoa 

10 medium tomatoes, diced 

6 green onions, diced 

6 lemons, juiced 

Salt to taste 

¼ cup olive oil 

2 magi cubes 

Directions 

1. Boil the quinoa in water and magi cubes for five minutes 

2. Simmer on low heat until all the water is absorbed 

3. Cool quinoa 

4. Add avocado, tomato and green onion to cooled quinoa 

5. Add salt to taste 

6. Add olive oil and lemon juice and mix thoroughly 

7. Adjust salt as needed and enjoy! 

Sonia's Avocado Tips 

Choose avocados that are soft to the touch but not too ripe. If they are too hard and need ripening, place them in a paper bag with a slice of apple and set aside overnight with the bag closed 

The best way to cut the avocado is to slice it down the middle and wiggle it so the two halves are separated, then remove the large pit and gently peal the skin off. Cut lengthwise, then dice 

Don’t cut the avocado until you’re ready to use it! Otherwise, squeeze some lemon juice on it to prevent it from discolouring

 

Partners in Education: 

The International Community School & Al Marji’ Publications Renew Partnership 

The International Community School (ICS) and Al Marji’ Publications renew their partnership for a second year to promote holistic development and inclusive education. 

“We are delighted to renew our relationship with Al Marji Publications. Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh are great magazines that will now continue to offer our students a wonderful medium to showcase their work,” says ICS Principal John Bastable.

The 12-month agreement was signed today by Bastable, ICS Marketing and Communications Manager Michael Nolan, Family Flavours Editor Laura Haddad and Al Marji’ Publications’ Publisher and Managing Director Hind-Lara Mango at the ICS. 

“We are proud to showcase the quality education ICS is promoting in Jordan, be it through its curricula, community service programmes or inclusion policies,” states Mango.

Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh, Jordan’s only parenting magazines, will publish educational articles by distinguished ICS educators. Students at ICS will also have the opportunity to get their work published in Al Marji’ Publications and the chance to interact with the team that publishes the magazines.

Your Best Line Of Defence 

When You Have To Go On The Go

I recently came back from a 13 hour flight where I had to use the airplane lavatory three times with appalling conditions, given the average of 50 people who use it. It was during this very flight that I remembered that in the June 2015 edition of Family Flavours I came across a new hygienic and convenient solution to my public toilet woes! 

Bad things lurk, especially on public toilet seats. Without proper care, you're at risk of being bedridden for days and weeks from illnesses from the common cold and stomach flu viruses to E.coli, a fecal-borne bacteria. Plus, I was surprised to learn from Birth and Parenting Educator Rula Qatami Abujaber (Family Flavours, June 2015) that women can reduce the risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections when using public restrooms by using Conelle’s waterproof funnel which allows you to urinate while standing up. 

Conelle: Your first line of defence

Conelle is a waterproof disposable convenience cone that enables women of all ages to urinate in a standing position. It is a hygienic and convenient solution for using public restrooms. Conelle comes in an appropriately sized re-sealable pack to fit easily in your handbag. 

Where can you use Conelle?

With Conelle in your handbag at all times, you’ll be prepared for anything on the go. Whether you’re travelling this summer (airplane toilets are the germiest), exploring Jordan’s historic or natural wonders (don’t expect to find toilet paper and soap even if you’re lucky enough to find a functioning public toilet) or just using the restrooms at reputable malls and restaurants, protect yourself. Every time you are reluctant to use a public toilet, Conelle will be your solution of choice.

Where to buy

You can place an online order or drop by any of the following locations: 

Birth & Beyond

Miles

Rawhi Pharmacy 

Al Bawasel Pharmacy 

DNA Fitness Evolution

Walid Abu Rish with Munif and baby Sura Al'Anoud 

Jeffrey Scott Tynes with Jakob

Raj Palsingh with daughter Suniya

Mudieb Haddad & daughter Ayla
Amjad Aryan & daughter Naya
Sharif Faris Sharaf & daughters Jenna & Nour
Haethum Buttikhi & daughter Badwa
(Family Flavours, "Sparks of Love", June 2015)

Oliver Schwarten with Omar and Shareef

Francisco Chinchilla with his daughter Emma.
Emma has an older brother, Alex

Chad Feigenbutz with Claire and Caroline. Mama Casey says, "Our girls are so lucky to have such a loving, hands-on father"

Michelle Dawn Roberts with Wayne Longstreet. Michelle says, "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me"

Samir Haddad with Sonia, Mudieb, Taurik and Laura

This is as much a lesson for me as it is for most people I know. The older I get, the more I come to know and embrace this truth. It's not easy - requires unlearning decades of destructive messaging! 

Just reminded a friend of mine: "Do you really "need" to lose 10-15 pounds? Unless it's your doctor advising you for health reasons, you don't "need" to lose anything. Just focus on your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, without even getting on the scale, and you'll find that you'll feel and look amazing no matter what the scale would have read and what anyone else thinks or says."

I myself have flab, cellulite, stretch marks, twisted, enlarged varicose veins, droopy parts...but I'm not complaining. I love getting older because I find that I move closer to accepting and loving myself as I am. 

One of my favourite lyrics of all time comes from singer India Arie in her song "I'm Not Your Average Girl":

I’m not the average girl from your video

And I ain’t built like a supermodel

But I learned to love myself unconditionally.

My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes...

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me

Every freckle on my face is where it’s supposed to be

And I know my Creator didn’t make no mistakes on me

My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I’m loving what I see

Need more inspiration?

"To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero, you’re the beautiful one, it's society who’s ugly" 

Marilyn Monroe

"The next time you look into the mirror, try to let go of the story line that says you're too fat or too sallow, too ashy or too old, your eyes are too small or your nose too big; just look into the mirror and see your face. When the criticism drops away, what you will see then is just you, without judgment, and that is the first step towards transforming your experience of the world" 

Oprah Winfrey

In "Put on That Swimsuit" (The Huffington Post, 23 June 2014), Jessica Turner writes: 

“Your swimsuit does not define you. You are a mother. You are beautiful…I refuse to miss my children's high-pitched, pool-induced giggles because of my insecurities. I refuse to let other women's judging eyes at the pool prevent me from exposing my kids' eyes to the wonder of the sun glittering on the water. I refuse to let my self-image influence my children's. I refuse to sacrifice memories with my children because of a soft tummy. Because at the end of the day, it is not just about me. It is about my kids... I want them to remember that their mom was there, with them…I hope to encourage you to push your insecurities aside. Put on that bathing suit. Run through the sprinkler. Jump in the pool. Splash. Have fun. Your child will remember those moments and your freedom -- not how you looked in your swimming suit.”

With Omar and Shareef in Aqaba, splashing about and
letting go of body image insecurities to create lasting memories with and for my children