Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in 4 Steps

In Grade 10 English class, we read John Wyndham's apocalyptic science fiction novel The Chrysalids. Wyndham wrote the book during the Cold War, only a few years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As a young adult oblivious to the political relevance of the novel, the book for me was a coming of age story. In Wyndham's dystopian society, the young children David Strorm and Sophie Wender were required to conceal their true selves, and were instead forced to not deviate from the theological standards set by their puritan society.

In Grade 11 English class, we read J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. My friends and I instantly identified with the teenage angst and alienation the protagonist Holden Caulfield expressed in the book. He became our hero. He lamented that adults were phony, who failed to understand the true essence of a young adult. Salinger by creating Holden Caulfield, was able to describe the contradiction the young adults experience not only in how the parents are treating them, but also in their own personalities.

In my adolescence, being a hyphenated first generation Pakistani-Canadian, I also struggled with forming my own individual identity. Instead of seeing the hyphen as a bridge between my ancestry and my culture, I saw it as a division, barrier, and dichotomy. I felt my one identity was in contradiction with the other. I couldn't be both; to be one, I had to give up another. To celebrate one, I had to conceal another.

During my annual trips to Pakistan, on the rides from the Karachi Airport to my grandparents' house, I remember staring out of the car window, observing the people on the streets, and struggling to identify with them. Even though, I was more genetically similar to the people of Pakistan, my language, my culture, my identity belonged in Canada.

Almost 15 years after reading The Chrysalids and The Catcher in the Rye, and identifying with David Strorm and Holden Caulfield, I strongly feel the connection I have with Pakistan. The hyphen is now a bridge between my two cohesive identities. After my grandparents's passing I have not travelled to Pakistan in 6 years, but I am more aware of its presence in my life than ever before. Pakistan for me would always represent the love my grandparents had for me, and the reverence I have for them, and the country they sacrificed so much for. Their stories are part of what I teach my daughter, and what I cook at home.

My Dada (grandfather) who lived to be 91 years old, without any chronic ailments, enjoyed having oatmeal for breakfast. These breakfast cookies are a concoction of everything nutritious he included in his diet, with the exception of chia seeds :). I have inherited my love for healthy breakfast from him. These cookies are simple to make, and require just one mixing bowl, a good ol' spatula and a pastry blender. They are not only ideal for breakfast, but you can snack on them throughout the day without any guilt. They are packed with nutritious bananas, oats, raisins, nuts, and chia seeds. Give them a try and let me know how you like them.

Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Nutritious Breakfast cookies, containing bananas, oats, raisins, coconut, walnuts, almonds, tahini, and chia seeds. All the goodness without the bad calories. Full recipe: http://www.cultivateflavors.blogspot.com/2016/01/banana-oatmeal-raisin-cookies-in-4-steps.html
Posted by Cultivate Flavors on Monday, January 18, 2016

Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti in 10 Steps

The common misconception is that Bridesmaids was a groundbreaking film, because it was the first female-driven comedy of its time, and showed that women can be as funny as men. But, that is not the truth. Women are funny and they do not need a film to prove that. Bridesmaids was an important film because the premise of the film dealt with female relationships. It had nothing to do with women fighting over a guy, or seeking male attention, or investing all of their resources into exacting revenge on a guy, who has wronged them. 

In my opinion, unlike the recent plethora of the so-called "female comedies", such as Trainwreck, and The Other Woman; Bridesmaids is one of the few films that passes the Bechdel test, which examines whether a piece of fiction features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. The film showed how important it is to have kind female relationships. There is so much focus and energy that go into acquiring a sustaining male relationship that often times we neglect to foster compassionate female relationships. 

But sadly, thanks to the pervasive nature of the reality television, 'The Real Housewives' franchise, women are shown to be snarky, and harboring ill feelings for one another. Women are shown to be threatened by each other's success and looks. They undermine each other's intelligence by defining themselves using the superfluous barometers of wealth and male companions. 

We feel that we have to measure our own achievements in the light of another woman's failures. And, undermine another woman's success by pointing out her flaws. "Stay at home moms" are deemed as lazy and uninspired, for their lack of ambitions. Their accomplishments are undermined because after all they have too much time on their hands. Whereas, "working moms" are chastised for choosing their career over raising a family. Their accomplishments are undermined for all the "support" they have in the form of daycare. But in reality, both of these choices that women make are laden with self doubt and sacrifices. 

Being a woman in the 21st century comes with hard choices. Ever since the female emancipation, the role of women has changed so drastically that women are going through an identity crisis. But, we shouldn't be in competition with one another. We should realize that instead of finding excuses for another woman's success we should celebrate them. 

My accomplishments are my own, they shouldn't be glorified by another woman's failures. Failures should not be welcomed with petulance, but compassion.

So after much adieu, here is a recipe for Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti, which is pretty straightforward. The addition of egg keeps the biscotti very moist. Hopefully you will make them for the amazing female friends in your life. I know I can't wait to make them again for my best friends.

Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti
Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti. Enjoy the video!
Posted by Cultivate Flavors on Tuesday, December 8, 2015