Bethlehem: Beautiful Resistance Recipes

by Abdelfattah Abusrour, Manal Odeh

The beautifully spiced “upside-down” dish, Maqlouba, and rosewater-scented ma’moul date cookies are just some of the perfect dinner party recipes in Bethlehem that have been handed down through generations of Palestinians. From healthy, warming soups to mouth-watering, syrupy “helwa” sweets, the authors have gathered recipes and interviews from the residents of Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem to give the reader a glimpse into daily life there as Palestinian land and culture is being rapidly eroded. This beautiful cookbook features the well-loved Palestinian recipes for breads and pastries; meze salads and dips, vegetable dishes and a range of interesting ways to cook and stuff leaves such as vine and mallow leaves. Includes metric measures.

Genres: Cookbooks

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Holy Saturday. This uniquely orthodox Christian ceremony is celebrated on the Saturday before Easter Sunday--aka today! It is known in Arabic as the “Saturday of light” because of the annual miracle of the holy fire which, in a miraculous sign of special favor to orthodox Christians, is believed to be spontaneously kindled inside Jesus Christ’s tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Because Israeli restrictions on travel mean that only a few Palestinian orthodox Christians are able to attend the celebrations in Jerusalem, many wait in their towns for a lamp burning with a holy flame to be brought to them. Bethlehem is no exception. A procession of scouts playing bagpipes and drums, along with clergy members, herald its arrival and the flame is distributed among the candles, which every member of the crowd is holding.

This “Saturday of Light,” I believe that many ARE waiting in their towns for a lamp burning with a holy flame to be brought to them. “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” We all have the opportunity to march in the procession of beautiful feet, heralding the arrival of Truth! We are the light of the world, and we have been called to distribute the flame of good news among awaiting candles, which every member of this crowded world is holding. We are all sent to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven!

So break out your cookbooks and reach for a recipe and celebrate this Holy Saturday!