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Author Archives: Alison Norquist

Egg or Dairy Allergy? Try Vegan Basbousa

By: Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Likely originating in Egypt, basbousa is a semolina cake soaked in rose water syrup. Going by many names throughout the Middle Eastern region. The sweet combination of semolina flour, butter and yogurt, and almonds or other nuts has been a Ramadan staple for centuries. This basbousa recipe, … Continued

The Moroccan Fish Pie “Seafood B’stila”

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer The Moroccan fish pie is a millennium-old sweet and savory pastry that has been declared a staple of Moroccan cuisine. Made up of a buttery, flaky crust enveloping moist spiced chicken and nuts. All while being covered in a light dusting of powdered sugar and cinnamon. In … Continued

Labneh Stuffed Figs

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Figs have been a staple food in the Arab world for centuries. As one of the first cultivated and domesticated food crops in human history, figs provide a delicious, sweet addition to any recipe it is part of. The fruit is high in natural sugar, is a … Continued

“Girls of Riyadh” – A Review

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Considered to be the “Sex and the City” of Saudi Arabia by the New York Times, Rajaa Al-Sanea’s novel follows the love lives of four friends in the refreshing format of an email newsletter by an anonymous writer. Set in the capital of Saudi Arabia, the four … Continued

Al Sadu – Traditional Bedouin Weaving

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Twice now UNESCO, the UN-founded program to save the cultural heritage of populations at risk of being eradicated and their customs, have found that Al Sadu, more commonly known as Sadu, is an artistic, cultural practice worth preserving. The Fiber in the Desert The various tribes of … Continued

Escape to Aswan – A Review

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Following the events over a five-day trip to Cairo, Egypt, Amal Sedky Winter weaves a gripping tale of political intrigue and human emotion that is impossible to put down. Set throughout the country of Egypt in the fall of 2014, the world that surrounds the story is … Continued

International Women’s Day is March 8th!

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer March 8th, 2023 marks the annual celebration of women and girls. This international holiday is a recognition of not just women’s triumphs but also the continued struggle that women face each and every day. For over 100 years, the United States has marked its calendar for the … Continued

March is National Women’s History Month

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer Women, of course, have been around since the beginning. Without women, humans would cease to exist. Everything about them was created to give and sustain life. To nurture. But women are more than just mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. They are the strong foundation upon which civilization … Continued

Black History Month: Modern Afro-Arab Writers to Celebrate

By Alison Norquist / Arab America Contributing Writer For more than a millennium and a half, when Arab traders and Islamic missionaries came to Africa, there has been a mixing of not only ethnicities but also cultures. Throughout the Northern half of Africa, there are varying degrees of Arab influence. In modern times, that has … Continued

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