Recipe: Kid-Friendly "Coffee" Delight

Kid-Friendly "Coffee" Delight

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• simmer :

  to cook a food gently, usually in a liquid, until softened.

• stir :

  to mix together two or more ingredients with a spoon or spatula, usually in a circle pattern, or figure eight, or in whatever direction you like!

History of Coffee!

• A few legends, guesses, and evidence surround coffee's history. Evidence points to coffee trees and coffee drinking in Yemen in the 15th century, where coffee beans were roasted and brewed similarly to current methods. It is debated how and from where the coffee trees found their way to Yemen, but they may have been traded from Ethiopia across the Red Sea. 
• The main coffee-growing regions of the world are in Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, along the equatorial area known as the "Bean Belt."
• After harvesting the coffee beans from the trees, the beans are roasted and ground, then steeped in hot water. Coffee may be served hot or iced. Preferences vary as to whether sweetener, cream, or milk is added to alleviate some of the bitterness of the coffee. Many coffee drinkers take their coffee "black," meaning no milk or sugar.
• Coffee contains caffeine, a compound in coffee and tea plants that stimulates the nervous system. People can become dependent on it to wake up fully in the morning, and suddenly quitting coffee drinking can cause some mild withdrawal symptoms, like headache and irritability. Decaffeinated coffee is available for those who cannot tolerate caffeine, although a cup of decaf coffee may still have about 10 milligrams of caffeine.
• Coffeehouses have been around for over 500 years. Today, baristas prepare and serve coffee drinks of all kinds and flavors. Italian coffee drinks are especially popular. They are all made from espresso, strong black coffee brewed by forcing steam through the ground coffee beans. From espressos to lattes, they have no added milk up to having more steamed milk than espresso.

Let's Learn About Yemen!

• The Republic of Yemen is a country in West Asia. Yemen is in southern Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is on its northern border, Oman on its eastern, the Arabian Sea on a portion of its southeastern border, the Gulf of Aden on its southern, and the Red Sea on its western border. Several islands in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea belong to Yemen.
• Yemen has 1,184 miles of coastline. Its total area is 175,871 square miles, about 20,000 more square miles than the US state of California. Yemen has a population of over 40 million. 
• The major ethnic group in the country is Arab. Arabs constitute about 93 percent of the population. Yemen is also a tribal nation. There are five major tribal confederations and several smaller tribes and sub-tribes within each.
• Modern Standard Arabic is the official language, and Yemeni Arabic is the spoken language. In the Al Mahrah governorate, in the east of the country, many of the people do not speak Arabic. Non-Arabic speakers there usually speak a Modern South Arabian language called Mehri. 
• The government of Yemen is a unitary provisional republic. It has a chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, a prime minister, and a parliament or legislature. The state religion is Islam.
• There are 21 "muḥāfaẓah" or governorates (administrative divisions) in Yemen, each led by a governor. 
• Sanaa, in western Yemen, is the capital and largest city. It is in the Yemen Highlands and, at 7,500 feet, is one of the highest capital cities in the world. Aden, a port city in southwest Yemen, is the government seat. The country's currency is the Yemeni rial.
• The geography of Yemen consists of coastal plains, mountainous interior, and arid deserts. Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb is the highest peak in the mountains at 12,031 feet.
• Yemen's climate is arid in the coastal lowlands with light rainfall. The northern and eastern deserts are hot and dry, and rainfall is minimal. In the western and central highlands, the climate is temperate, with more significant rain and light snow in the winter. 
• There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Yemen. These include the 16th century Old Walled City of Shibam, the Old City of Sana'a (inhabited for more than 2,500 years), the Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen's capital from the 13th to the 15th century), the Socotra Archipelago (rich in biodiversity and endemic plant species), and the Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (the Sabaean Kingdom, possibly Kingdom of Sheba). 
• Yemeni architecture goes back to ancient South Arabia, when wealthy city-states existed. According to historical texts and archaeological evidence, large, elaborately decorated palaces were built in several cities, although most have not been conserved. The architecture in the fortified Old City of Sana'a has been better preserved. Traditional tower-houses, most with two to five floors, and some with up to nine floors, were built with mud-brick, stone, and timber. They exhibit superior craftsmanship and intricate geometric designs.
• Yemen was one of the foremost coffee producers for hundreds of years. Its coffee was exported through the Red Sea port city of Mokha from the 15th to the 17th century. Caffè mocha gets its name from the city, although Yemeni coffee does not include chocolate.
• It is customary to offer guests generous meals, which are often eaten sitting on the floor or ground. Many Yemeni kitchens use a "tandoor" (round clay oven) for cooking. 
• Onions, potatoes, and tomatoes are staple vegetables in Yemeni cuisine. Chicken, goat, and lamb are staple meats. Fish is eaten in coastal regions. Lunch is the main meal of the day in Yemen.
• "Saltah" is considered the national dish of Yemen. It is a stew made of "maraq" (meat broth), fenugreek froth, and "sahawiq" (chili sauce). Rice, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and vegetables may also be added. "Mandi" is a traditional dish made of chicken or lamb, rice, saffron, and spices, and is cooked in a tandoor. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Yemen? 

• Yemeni kids often live with extended family along with their parents. Families are very close, and the eldest male is the head of the family. Kids are taught to have proper respect for family members.
• Due to conflict, poverty, and damage to schools within Yemen, it is estimated that 40 percent of children do not attend school. Several non-profit organizations are working to help renovate schools and education programs in the country. 
• Kids play football (soccer), the most popular sport in Yemen. They may also play basketball and volleyball.
• Families enjoy traditional holidays and festivals, like National Day or Unity Day on May 22 and the Sana'a Summer Festival. They also celebrate religious holidays, like Eid al-Fitr. 
• Kids may enjoy visiting the national museum in Sanaa, the archaeological museum in Aden, or touring the Old City of Sana'a.  
• For breakfast, kids may eat "lahsa" (eggs, tomatoes, and cream cheese), "muqalqal" (stir-fried lamb dish) served with "mulawah," (a Yemeni flatbread), or "masoob" (banana bread pudding). "Cornflakes fata" is another option. It consists of a bowl of cornflakes with a mixture of honey, thick cream, and ghee (clarified butter) poured over them. Data paste can also be added.
• Kids may also enjoy "masoob" or "cornflakes fata" for dessert. Another treat is "bint al-sahn" (usually translated as "honey cake"), a flaky, layered pastry served with honey.