Moroccan Muses

Well my hands have finally recovered from this weeks ealier dissertation on Naples! I couldn't believe how much I actually wrote when I was finished with it! But do know that I have to keep a journal for study abroad documentation when I return to Philly U next semester, so the journal is as much for my use and it is for your pleasure ;)

I just finished another week of classes, pretty typical, except this week I didn't have any class on Wednesday since my professor was out of the country! So I had a very concise week and I got to sleep in yesterday! But I still was productive...I did 2 loads of laundry and it didn't even rain!!! Plus I got some letters sent out and I got to talk to Lisa :)

Also yesterday I made dinner (switched days with Lindsay). So I had all of my shopping to do for that. I attempted to make Moroccan lentil soup. I was very unsure though of how it would work since I couldn't find any of the right spices in the grocery stores...I couldn't even find cumin! So I still decided to try it and to just go crazy and add in my own spices :) Which is how I like to cook anyway. So besides adding what I had (the beans, chickpeas, lentils and some veggies) I added a lot of salt, pepper, chilli pepper and an exorbitant amount of cinnamon! I was very surprised when it turned out great! It smelled really sweet due to all the cinnamon but it had quite a kick to it from the chili pepper. It most likely tasted totally different than the original recipe, but my roomates both got seconds so I was happy! I also made a cucumber, tomato, red onion, and mint salad...a perfect compliment to the spicy soup. So it was a successful Moroccan meal and there was still plenty left over so I had some again for lunch today.

The other Moroccan part of my otherwise Italian day was at the produce market. It is the one I always go to, so I have written about it before. Well there are two arabic guys around my age who work there and they always play music. Yesterday was such a strange flashback because I swear that they were playing the same soundtrack as the Moroccan restaurant in Philly. For those of you have been there before I am sure that you can imagine what type of song it was. Plus, I am pretty sure it was one that the bellydancer danced to as well. It was just so weird to hear that at an Italian market but it was well suited music for my 'Moroccan dinner' produce shopping!

As for this weekend I don't have any set plans. Tonight though, we are having some people over for a dinner party, game night and movie! Leah and Lindsay are making chicken and eggplant parm and a salad. Some other girls are bringind the desert...so it should be a fun night! On Sunday I am going to try to go to one of the biggest market's in the city called Porta Portese. Which happens to be right in Trastevere so it is quite close. It is my goal to get all of my Christmas shopping done before my parents come in November so that they can take everything back with them! Does anyone have a wish list?

Hmmm...Speaking of wish lists...my birthday is in 9 days! I would like contact solution, degree deodorant (shower fresh), mint loose tea and 'Jelly Belly' jelly beans ;)