There is no more dramatic a condition than that of war. War is the antithesis to love which makes war the most extreme backdrop for a love story. We are in awe of the struggle for the very thing that keeps us human and sane during a time that pushes humans to their breaking point. Sometimes love prevails and cushions the harsh realities of war and at other times it succumbs. In either instance, when we read a book or watch a movie, we will cry. We cry when love succeeds through the strength of the individuals and we cry when it cannot endure, when the price of love is too high.
After a small survey of coworkers and friends we found that some of the most popular love stories set during wartime are: Atonement, From Hear to Eternity, Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zhivago, The English Patient, Pearl Harbor, South Pacific and, of course, Casablanca, which must be one of the most popular romantic movies of all time.
Set in Morocco, during World War ll, Casablanca is not only the name of the movie but of the city in which it was set. Casablanca was an important and pivotal port during World War II. The movie brings us to an exotic location, teaming with peoples from many nations, many waiting to find passage to another country, away from war-torn Europe. The stage is set for the story of love and war.
Casablanca is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, silently “saying” the dialog with the characters. And, we found out, it is a movie that men, out of earshot of other men, will admit to enjoying.
With many couples looking forward to dinner and a movie on Valentine’s Day why suffer the crowded restaurants and movie theaters when you can create a romantic evening without leaving your home.
Bring the exotic flavors of Morocco into your kitchen. Seek table linens that echo the colors of the Moroccan bazaar and create a romantic mood with lanterns and candles. Serve a delicious meal easily prepared in a tajine and perhaps even served in decorative tajines to enhance the mood. Turn on Casablanca, curl up next to your loved one and relax into a romantic evening.
Set up the Shot:
1. Moroccan Tea Glasses and
Tea Cups
2.
Moroccan Tea Pot and Glasses
3.
Moroccan Tea
Beef and Carrot Tajine (Australian Good Food Magazine)
Ingredients
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground chili
1 lbs beef chuck steak, trimmed, cut into chunks
4 tbsp butter
2 white onions, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 large carrots, cut into large chunks
14 oz can chopped tomatoes
2/3 cup pitted dates, halved
2 tbsp honey
1 cup beef stock
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups couscous
2 cups boiling water
Directions
1. Combine cumin, paprika, ginger and chili in a bowl. Add beef and toss to coat. Set aside.
2. Melt butter in a flameproof casserole pan or tagine on high heat. Cook onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes, until golden. Add carrot and beef and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, until beef starts to brown. Add tomato, date, honey, stock and cinnamon. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 1 ¾ hrs, until beef is tender.
3. Meanwhile, place couscous in a heatproof bowl. Stir in boiling water, cover with plastic wrap and stand for 5 minutes. Fluff up couscous with a fork.
Moroccan Mint Tea
Ingredients
10 fresh mint sprigs, plus 4 for garnish
3 teaspoons green tea
3 tablespoons sugar
4 cups water
Directions
Boil water. Pour a small amount in teapot and swish around to warm the pot. Combine the mint and green tea and sugar in the teapot, and then fill it with the rest of the hot water. Let tea brew, stirring the leaves once or twice, for 3 minutes. Pour tea through a tea strainer into glass teacups to serve. Garnish with remaining 4 sprigs of mint.
Photo Information
Mint Tea
Marco Mayer
ApertureFNumber: f/5.6
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3S
ExposureTime: 1/160
FNumber: 56/10
ExposureProgram: 1
ISOSpeedRatings: 100
MaxApertureValue: 1/1
MeteringMode: 5
LightSource: 0
Flash: 0
FocalLength: 50/1
Tajine
Margouillat
ApertureFNumber: f/4.5
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 7D
ExposureTime: 1/125
FNumber: 45/10
ExposureProgram: 1
ISOSpeedRatings: 100
MeteringMode: 2
Flash: 16
FocalLength: 50/1
smitten by food
February 12, 2012 at 9:37 pm //
I feel refresh ald after looking at your pictures…. beautiful website =)
myfudo
February 13, 2012 at 7:50 am //
Thank you Smitten by Food = )
Katie @ Epicurean Mom
February 13, 2012 at 3:32 am //
Mmmmmm, I love mint tea! Sounds so refreshing and your beef and carrot tajine looks divine!
myfudo
February 13, 2012 at 7:51 am //
Hi Katie, we sure do love our tea, but mint holds a special place, do you have a favorite tea? Thank you so much for commenting.
Gerlinde in Dallas
February 13, 2012 at 9:52 am //
Your tajine looks delicious; I’m hungry!
myfudo
February 13, 2012 at 12:52 pm //
Thank you so much for commenting Gerlinde = )
Nash at Plateful
February 13, 2012 at 5:57 pm //
Did I tell you how much I love your photographs, so professional! And yes, Moroccan tea and tajine is one of my family favorites. We usually dine out when we fancy Moroccan food. In fact, one of my Arab friends had gifted me a lovely earthen tajine pot, which I haven’t put to use. Yet.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 8:02 am //
Happy Valentines Day Nash, thank you so much for commenting. WE LOVE Moroccan Food, the Tanjine’s ability how it cooks with low or very little heat is amazing, right?
Baker Street
February 13, 2012 at 9:26 pm //
Your tagine looks beautiful and so delicious.
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 8:02 am //
The Tanjine is amazing with how it steams and cooks with very little heat. Thank you so much for commenting Baker Street.
Ann@Anncoo Journal
February 14, 2012 at 12:41 am //
Very nice presentation! Making me so hungry now :)
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 8:06 am //
Thank you Ann.
kitchenriffs
February 14, 2012 at 2:05 am //
I actually lived in Morocco for a time in the 1970′s. Boy was I excited to visit Casablanca – from the movie, it had to be exotic, yes? In reality it reminded me of . . .Indianapolis! A big, modern city with only a small medina (traditional city). Tangiers, however, was much like the Casablanca of my imagination. Anyway, the tagine looks super – cinnamon is a big ingredient in savory dishes in Morocco, and goes so well. Love the shot of the mint tea. Thanks for a great post.
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 8:05 am //
That must have been an amazing experience, Morocco has so much to offer. The ability the Tanjine has to cook with very little heat, or steam is genius. Admittedly, we grab a tea bag of mint more often than making it from scratch. Thank you so much for commenting.
sara
February 14, 2012 at 2:08 am //
This sounds fantastic! Super delicious, yum. :)
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 8:06 am //
Thank you Sara.
Pennie
February 14, 2012 at 10:36 am //
Well, being that my husband is Moroccan, mint tea is a staple around our house. Beautiful pictures. I found it interesting that your tajine recipe comes from an Australian magazine–it looks delicious!!
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 11:32 am //
Moroccan food is vibrant and enticing, the culture is bountiful. I bet your home smells wonderful with all the Moroccan spices lingering in the air. Your beau sounds like quite a catch. Thank you so much for commenting Pennie, hope you’ll visit again.
Christine
February 14, 2012 at 12:44 pm //
This looks amazing.
myfudo
February 14, 2012 at 1:33 pm //
Thanks Christine!
Alyssa
February 14, 2012 at 7:46 pm //
I love your idea of “tastily touring” some place. My husband and I have been playing around with the idea of a trip to Morroco. And I’ve had my eye on a tagine I found here recently, but didn’t get it because I wasn’t sure what I’d make in it. If I see it again and buy it, I will totally try your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
myfudo
February 15, 2012 at 8:18 am //
I think that would be a wonderful experience, I Hope you get to go to Morocco, it’s a beautiful country. We got our Tanjine for $15 I believe, we’ve been thinking of buying more to serve individually when having quests or getting one with a larger diameter. Thank you so much for commenting Alyssa.
Kiri W.
February 15, 2012 at 6:53 am //
Gorgeous pictures, and this looks like a wonderful tangine!
myfudo
February 15, 2012 at 8:00 am //
Thank you so much for commenting Kiri = )
ohkeeka [The Type A Housewife]
February 15, 2012 at 10:27 am //
What gorgeous photographs! Although I haven’t had much Moroccan food, Moroccan mint tea is one of my favorite drinks.
myfudo
February 18, 2012 at 9:44 am //
Thank you so much for commenting Ohkeeka! WE LOVE mint too as well and Moroccan cuisine.
Pradnya
February 15, 2012 at 9:38 pm //
Tagine looks super good
myfudo
February 18, 2012 at 9:44 am //
We love love Moroccan food Pradnya, thank you so much for commenting.
Jennifer Duncan
February 16, 2012 at 7:47 pm //
I love cooking in my tagine and am always on the look out for new Morocan recipes. I will definitely be trying this one this week end. :-)
myfudo
February 18, 2012 at 9:44 am //
Hi Jennifer, oh we’d love it if you could share some of your Tanjine recipes with us.