You are Cordially Invited~

~For a Roman Dinner Party~

Theme: Wonderland-esque 'Tea Party' please dress accordingly.

Guest list includes the following worthy:

1.) Pomponia Suder

2.) Appia Elmore

3.) Quinta Ware

4.) Albina Truman

5.) Decima Strawder

6.) Publius Poling

7.) Servius Stuart

8.) Sextus Terwilliger

9.) Spartacus Scott

10.) Horatia Kyle

And the seating arrangement is ordered the following way:

The 7-course meal being served at this occasion will be served as following:

1st course:  Gustatio: Olives, lentils, mallows, broccoli, asparagus, artichokes, leeks, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, peas, green beans, radishes, cauliflower, onions, cucumbers, fennel, and capers served on Roman lettuce and other field greens drizzled with vinegar and salt.

2nd corse: Stewed and salted nails with truffle mushrooms and onions.
3rd course: Light cucumber soup lightly salted with parsley added. Served with wheat bread.
4th course: Pigs' ears marianated with garum on top of various fruits (grapes, figs) and cabbage.
5th course: Mullus covered in garum topped with parsley, lentils, radishes, and lemon slices.
6th course: Citrus platter including lemon and lime sherbet, sliced fruits served in water.

7th and final course: Wheat cakes drizzled with honey and covered in hazlenuts, walnuts, and almonds. Served with a variety of fruits such as figs, peaches, dates, and apples.

Watered-down, spiced wine will be served with all meals. Wine-like tea will also be served to keep in touch with the theme.

Don't forget to RSVP

School System in Morocco

     In Morocco children can enter schooling at the age of four. This is optional, for it is only pre-school education. The primary education consists of children ages six to twelve years old for six years. Students are required to pass Certificate d’etudes primaries to be eligible for admission in lower secondary schools.
    Once this is passed, students spend three years in lower-middle school. After nine years’ basic education, students enter general secondary education where they are offered three options: letters, sciences, or mathematics. Upon completion, they are awarded the Baccalaureat. They may also choose a technical path, leading to the Baccalaureat technique. This is where the drop-out rate is highest, and the gender rates contrast more significantly. 
     From ages fifteen to eighteen students attend tertiary education. This system consists of both private and public institutes. There are fourteen public universities in Morocco, in addition to a large number of private universities. The enrollment rate at this level is only 11%. Admission to public universities requires only a bachelor’s degree, whereas admission to other higher public education, such as engineering school require competitive special tests and special training before the exams. At all levels the basic requirement is a good knowledge of Arabic or French.
     Schooling in Morocco is quite similar to schooling in the United States, for both have three levels of education with similar age and gender rates. Also, a type of diploma is obtained once graduating the final level, with alike academic courses taken to pass. Private and public education is offered in both countries too. A signifigance difference in the two systems is the lack of extra curricular activities in Morocco. They are quite limited in the arts and sports, and focus more in the technical field.
      A typical school day in Morocco is 5.5 hours in the 1^st and 2^nd grade, increasing ever second year until the 9^th grade, when it reaches seven hours a day. Arabic is the main language during the first two years. French is introduced in the 3^rd grade, and then taught with more hours a week than Arabic. At the ‘high school’ level, basic literature, science, mathematics, history, and technical studies is taught throughout each day. Most students have dropped out by this point, so attending high school in Morocco is a great accomplishment.

Christmas in Morocco

Moroccan Qatayef (Arabian pancakes) Recipe:

Ingredients:

·         **To Make the Pancakes**

·         1/2 teaspoon instant active dry yeast

·         1 teaspoon granulated sugar

·         1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)

·         1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (wheat flour can also be used)

·         1/8 teaspoon salt

·         **For the Filling**

·         1 cup walnuts, chopped

·         2 tablespoons sugar

·         1 tablespoon orange blossom water (optional)

·         **For the Syrup**

·         2 cups granulated sugar

·         1 3/4 cups light corn syrup

·         1/4 cup orange blossom or rose water

·         1/3 cup warm water

Preparation:

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water inside the measuring cup for 10 minutes, or until proofs (become frothy). If your yeast does not proof, it means the yeast is bad or the water was not warm enough or too hot. Remember that yeast is a live organism and needs the proper environment to work properly!

In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the proofed yeast and sugar water mixture. Combine well, cover, and allow to sit in a warm area for 30-45 minutes.

While pancake mix is proofing, prepare filling. In a small bowl, mix walnuts with sugar. Add orange blossom water if desired. Cover and set aside.

This is now a good time to prepare the syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, add orange blossom or rose water. Stir well to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low and allow to sit until ready to use.

Preheat griddle or frying pan to medium high heat. Using a ladle, make a five inch pancake with the batter. Once the batter begins to bubble on top, remove pancake from griddle and set aside. Do not flip, you are only cooking one side. Repeat with remaining batter.

Preheat 1 inch of oil in a frying pan to medium high heat. While oil is heating, take one 1 tablespoon of nut filling and place it on top of the uncooked side of the pancake. Fold the pancake in half, to make a half moon shape and seal edges by pressing together. Repeat with remaining pancakes and filling.

Fry on each side until a light golden brown color (about 15-30 second each side). Drain on a towel lined plate.

Drizzle syrup generously over qatayef and serve immediately.

Christmas in Morocco facts:

1.)The exact start of Ramadan (their religious holiday similar to Christmas) is often never determined until just before the holiday begins because it is determined by a sighting of the new moon.

2.) Moroccans typically celebrate Ramadan for an entire month.
3.) During Ramadan, observers are expected to deprive themselves from food, drink, and other pleasures from dawn to dusk. Removing these comforts from daily routine is intended to focus the mind on prayer, spirituality, and charity and to purify the body and mind.

4.) Only children, pregnant women, and the ill are exempted from this holiday.

5.) Ironically, many people gain weight during Ramadan. They are more sedentary during the daytime, eat richer food than normal at the fast-breaking meal in the evenings, and get the majority of their daily calories at night right before they go to bed.