Moroccan Cuisine – A Foodie’s Delight

Cooked Moroccan tajine
Cooked Moroccan tajine – ready to eat. Photo courtesy of Catherine Lee

During the first 12 days of our two-week tour of Morocco, we sampled a flavorful array of Moroccan cuisine.

From the historic cities of Casablanca, Fes and Meknes, across the vast desert of the Sahara, to the villages of the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, we ate local specialties at each stop.

The main ingredients in Moroccan cooking are surprisingly simple:

Flour, vegetables, meat or fish. Sometimes cheese or butter, often olives. Occasionally dates or raisins. And, once in a while, a surprising sweetness where our Western palate would expect a savory taste.

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JIUFEN – A Mountain Jewel in Taiwan

View of the coast from Jiufen, Taiwan
View of the coast from Jiufen, Taiwan

Last month we spent several days in Taiwan, sightseeing, shopping and taking care of a couple of important errands.

Most of our stay was spent in Taipei, but we did manage a day trip to the historic mining town of Jiufen, now a popular tourist destination in the mountains northeast of Taipei.

With scenic panoramic views, dozens of curious shops and galleries, and more eateries than any two people could sample in a month, the picturesque village provided a fascinating getaway from the urban bustle of Taipei.

Here are some of the colorful sights from our daylong adventure.

click on each thumbnail for more information about the image

Pumpkin spice: More than cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger

Fresh-baked pumpkin pie
Image by mtnlover610 from Pixabay

BALI, INDONESIA – Pumpkin Spice is back at Starbucks. And a week or so earlier, Dunkin Donuts announced the return of their own pumpkin spice coffee drinks.

Honestly, I’ve never tried either one of their flavored drinks. I prefer my pumpkin spice in its original form – fresh-baked pumpkin pie! It’s been my favorite dessert since I was a kid growing up in Ohio.

Since moving to Indonesia, I’ve discovered a surprising link between Starbucks, my favorite Midwest childhood dessert and a group of tiny islands in eastern Indonesia. Curious?

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Galungan-Kuningan: A feast for the eyes in Bali

Penjors line the street in Bali Indonesia
Penjors line the street in Bali Indonesia during the Galungan-Kuningan holiday

BALI, INDONESIA – Galungan gets underway this week here in Bali.

A major holiday celebrated by Balinese Hindu people, Galungan marks the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness). It’s a time when the spirits of the ancestors return to the Earth and are present among the living.

The ancestral spirits will return to the afterlife on Kuningan day, at the end of the 10-day holiday period.

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