Warqa!
Today’s project was warqa. It’s a North African pastry that is extremely thin like a crepe. It’s used in baklawa in place of phyllo dough. I’ve used commercial pastry but this was my first time making it myself. It’s normally a dough ball that’s dabbed on a hot pan. I did the easier ‘city’ version. I’d blame Miss Amanda for not getting me propane but this is far easier to master.
It’s just flour, water, salt and oil. It is disgusting like matzos. It’s just an ingredient. Nobody wants these scraps. I’m wanting to make bastilla with the warqa. Bastilla is a spiced chicken, egg pie. Since it’s best eaten soon, Miss Amanda will undoubtedly be my Guinea pig.
My first experience was with making birouat for Ramadan. Sidna tried to describe them to me in our unique way. They sounded like fried burritos, chimichangas. I made a more African filling and wrapped them like burritos. They were huge considering they are actually more like samosas. There was so little information. Culture and language was a fun barrier.
I served these odd burritos to people born in Mauritania and their families. They didn’t all understand the dish nor all spoke the same languages. The kids would’ve preferred a ‘real’ burrito from Taco Bell. 🙄 It was hard to please them all. That’s the fun of America though. We learn, share, laugh and love.
I also made American style tacos and used pita bread for the tortillas. That’s how they liked it so we fusioned everything. Whatever works and tastes good. I’ve also instinctively eaten salad with my hands around Americans which is a bit harder to explain as an American. Most people have learned to look around my peculiarities. Newcomers are told that it’s just Darcy.
I can’t sell anyone on Tuna Noodle Casserole though. That’s a once a year, poor, White trash comfort meal that is so horrible. I just need it on occasion. With the crushed potato chips making the sodium content almost pure sodium. I seriously should be dead. I am feeling a bit like a cockroach that will survive the apocalypse.
I am going to have a bit of riz bi haleeb with orange blossom and rose water. It’s a bit of summer in the winter. I’ll turn the heat up, imagining sitting on the beach at Tybee Island looking over the ocean towards Africa and the Middle East.
Inshallah we will all know freedom and prosperity soon. This too shall soon pass. Then we can celebrate with food and music from around the world! Inshallah!
Min sadiqatuk, Drsy.
From your friend, Darcy
