Bachelorette

I am a Doha Bachelorette. There are a lot of "bachelors" in Doha (men here working on their own). Usually the term is reserved for the busloads of workers that you see on the many construction sites. There aren't a lot of ladies here fending for themselves - but there are a few (and by the way the ones I know here are pretty fearless & fabulous)!

I have successfully survived the four days on my own (so far). I have a good grip on the household chores and I even went grocery shopping. Granted, I only made it to Carrefour (for those of you who don't know - it is a 10 minute drive from my house and well within my 'driving bubble' because it is across the street from work). I lost the nerve to drive to Lulu Hypermarket on my own. But, karma was on my side because I found a parking spot by the door AND I found a cashier with no line. Why is this amazing? Because it is the last weekend before Ramadan.

This means shopping bonanza (especially for food) as people get stocked up with the essentials that they will need to make the special dishes they will prepare in the evenings. After breaking the fast, there will be fabulous dinners and people will go around and pay their respects to one another. They will also make meals and distribute to the less fortunate. It is a wonderfully festive time reserved for celebrating faith together.

I am still pondering fasting myself...I will have to abstain from eating and drinking at work, although those fasting will work only from 8:00-12:30. Those should be my hours too...but they won't be. Even after 12:30, out of respect I should not have any food or water so if I want to eat lunch I will gave to go home. Luckily I live close by. I will come home anyway to check on Jack, but whether or not I eat...we will see. I would like to try even 3 days to get an understanding of what it feels like. But, I also think it would be a big shock and since I won't have Ramadan hours it will be hard to continue at work. We will see. If not this Ramadan, then next for sure (at least for a few days anyway).

During this past weekend I have been cooking up a storm in preparation for the week. I have actually impressed myself in addition to reminding myself how much I love to cook. I have also been experimenting with vegetarian food and unless I go out to eat, I am trying to eat vegetarian.

Fellow Albertans - don't worry! I will always enjoy some AAA Alberta beef!

There are three main factors affecting this decision: 1) I don't really like the meat here, 2) I don't really like cooking raw meat and I sure don't want to BBQ when it is 50 degrees outside and 3) I can't drive to Lulu on my own and I don't like the meat at Carrefour! :P

On Thursday I made a quinoa salad with green & yellow pepper, cucumber and baby corn. The dressing was oil, lemon, red wine vinegar (called 'red vinegar' here hehe), cilantro and pepper.

Friday I made cornbread muffins with jalapeno and cheddar cheese. Tonight I made spicy tomato soup and a broccoli & swiss quiche with a crust made from brown rice (not flour, actually brown rice!)

So far, no major failures! It is all in the freezer and ready to be thawed when needed!

Recipe: "Sealed with a Quiche! From pg 68 "Eat, Shrink & Be Merry" by Janet & Greta Podleski (