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2018: The Year of Government Shutdowns

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by TMO Staff

As we slept, the federal government was shut down due to long-term budget deal. This was the second time in three weeks that a government shutdown has taken place.

The reason behind this shutdown is related to the shutdown that took place in January. Congress had agreed to keep the government running for a couple of week, but it was a short-term deal. On Friday, at 12:01 a.m., the government ran out of funding which led to this recent shutdown.

So, what is this deal that has slowed down Congress to a point of not working?

Well, it is a bipartisan budget deal that is supposed to increase budget caps so that the government can spend $300 billion more on defense and domestic programs over the next two years. Republicans like this deal because they get an increase on military expenditures. Some Democrats like this because of the increase in spending on domestic programs that would help disaster relief efforts and health care. However, other Democrats oppose this deal because it does help the DREAMers or undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

Since President Trump had terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Democrats have been trying to create legislation that will protect the DREAMers from deportation.

Earlier on in the week- on Wednesday- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, took the House floor for eight hours in protest of this budget deal. Pelosi and other Democrats believe that the budget for the next two years should include pathways to citizenship for DREAMers.

There are many aspects to this government shutdown that make this situation a very confusing one. Since Friday, Congress has voted to reopen the government and shortly after, President Trump signed the budget deal, which he enthusiastically tweeted about.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has agreed to have open immigration debate next week. From what it looks like, next week will determine the status of millions of people.

 Cancer Care for the Children of Gaza

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by Susan Schwartz

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), the world’s largest charity dealing with the medical needs of Middle East children, has long been the subject of articles in The Muslim Observer.

The PCRF provides many services which include- but are not limited to: medical missions; summer camps for the disabled; hearing aids; customized wheel chairs; a Gaza mental health project and medical services in the fields of pediatric cardiology and pediatric oncology.

Two years ago, we told readers of the then latest project of PCRF – a pediatric oncology unit in Gaza.

Steve Sosebee, the CEO of the PCRF has told The Muslim Observer that the Center is nearly finished. What is holding up the final completion is, not surprisingly, the Israelis and their refusal to grant permission for medical equipment permits so that this essential equipment may enter Gaza from the Israeli side. This of course is impacting the progress of the project.

The Department will be named the Dr. Musa and Suhaila Nasir Pediatric Oncology Department after the two founders, one the former Chairman of the PCRF.

The couple worked tirelessly during the 25 years since the PCRF was founded for the well being of children in the Middle East, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In the early days of the organization, they housed ill or injured children and without them the PCRF would not be what it is today.

In April of 2013, a Pediatric Oncology Center opened in Beit Jala Hospital in the West Bank. Named The Huda Al Masry Pediatric Cancer Department after the late wife of PCRF CEO, Steve Sosebee, the Department provides comprehensive cancer care for afflicted children. Huda Al Masri was a social worker, the heart of the PCRF, and a fierce warrior for Palestine, particularly the children. Al Masri herself died of cancer, and it was her final wish that the PCRF would direct its work toward the care of children with this dread disease.

Most of the money raised for this project have been from private donors. Those wishing to learn more about the vast expanse of the work of the PCRF or to donate, please access their web site at: www.pcrf.net

Delicious Brownie Addition to Your Eid Treats

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by Noor H. Salem

The days of Eid are here-as the ten blessed days of Dhul Hijjah come to an end- pictures of delicious treats, buffets of candy and treats, and greetings are shared amongst family members and friends. Nonetheless, it becomes a time of indulgence, as many options of sweets and treats are in your surroundings. Your children end up having too much candy and sugar, causing them to become hyperactive prior to falling into a sugar crash. For that, I’d recommend experimenting with including healthy options, such as this delectable brownie bite recipe, to include alongside your traditional Eid favorites.

Dates are high in potassium, fiber, iron, and are great for your digestive system. Contradictory to what many believe, dates also balance your blood sugar spike. It’s perfect for Eid, as it’s a much better option for your children to be consuming than candy and desserts full of corn syrups. Best of all, dates were eaten often and loved by the Prophet (peace be upon him). The beans in this recipe replace the need for flour, and boost the protein, fiber, and vitamins in such a delicious treat. I advise you to soak the beans overnight, as it removes the phytic acid- which is what causes many to have trouble digesting beans to begin with. I’ve had many of my clients try this recommendation and they are now excited at the relief of getting to enjoy consuming beans and legumes. I share many more health benefits of dates, black-seeds, honey and many other super foods you should add to your kitchen pantry in my book, Sunnah Superfoods! I also share essential information regarding the best dates or black-seeds to purchase, how to store and consume them properly, and plenty of more recipes for you and your family to enjoy. Try making this scrumptious brownie bite recipe for any Eid celebration and you will have a presentable addition to your Eid dessert buffet.

Ingredients:

Black Bean Brownie Ingredients:

1 ½ cups black beans, soaked overnight

4 tablespoons raw honey or organic maple syrup

2 pasture-raised egg yolks and 1 egg

1/3 cup organic pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons organic cashew butter

1 tablespoon organic virgin coconut oil

¼ cup unsweetened carob powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

¼ cup dark chocolate chunks (70%+, or carob)

1 teaspoon black seeds, whole

From the Sunnah Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup pitted dates (balah or ripe dates)

3 tablespoons raw honey or organic maple syrup

2 tablespoons organic cashew butter

½ teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

2 tablespoons organic virgin coconut oil

Nut Topping:

24 whole cashews or raw walnuts

Directions:          

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease your mini muffin baking pan with virgin coconut oil.
  2. Place all brownie ingredients into your food processor and blend until very smooth.
  3. Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin pan and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  4. Let brownies set for five minutes and cool before adding the caramel.
  5. Place all Sunnah caramel sauce ingredients into your food processor and blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides.
  6. Add the caramel to the top of each brownie. Top each with a single cashew or walnut.
  7. Store extras in the refrigerator (assuming they last that long).

Try this mouth-watering brownie bite recipe, and watch as your children jump with joy with every bite. Eid Mubarak!

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.

 

Don’t Go There, It’s Too Dangerous

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by Amina Khan

“The more they tell me I can’t go somewhere, the more I need to see what it’s really like.” 

More often than not, tourists refrain from going to the Middle East because of the looming negativity illuminated on the news from these countries. In doing so, the portrayal of people who live in these countries is viewed with suspicion and wariness.

Alex Hill, a photographer, rejects these morbid assumptions and reveals the compassionate and humane side of the Middle East through his photography.

Hill has been volunteering for refugees in Istanbul, Turkey. For World Refugee Day he focused on the pure faces of refugee children marred by the horrors of war. The innocence etched on these portraits are threaded with catastrophes no child should witness at such a young age; yet, still shine brightly illuminating a sense of hope. It is clear the refugees in Istanbul and beyond are not letting war devour their ability to seek a brighter future. Hill reaches the heart and soul of these children through his photography to ultimately raise awareness to not forget a growing generation of high hopes.

In recognition of World Refugee Day, I’m posting some portraits (not all of which are traditional face portraits) of refugee kids we’ve been trying to help in Istanbul. Most of them are from Syria, but this city also has Iraqis and Afghanis fleeing from war. Feel free to share, comment, and use these images to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by refugees, especially children,” Hill wrote on Bored Panda.

In choosing to emphasize children for World Refugee Day, Hill exceptionally juxtaposes the harsh realities of war in order to summit the core of innocence and reason to be aware of what’s going on in the Middle East. It is clear in Hill’s photography and small but effective captions of each child, that the passion and grit enabled in these young children will get them to where they want to be.

War has painted Syrian, Iraqi, Afghani refugees as some alien breed that one can only feel sorry for. It is almost as if being ignorant on the matter means we have accepted that their doom only awaits them, completely rejecting that these are humans with a hopeful future. Hill captures the shining faces of refugees in order to purely bring awareness to the everyday life of a refugee and how it mirrors the everyday life of any child living in America, minus the morbid atmosphere of war and being enforced to labeled as a refugee.

Hill has also traveled to Mecca, in order to show the ordinary lives of Muslims roaming around their holy city. His photography instills a warmness in the heart to see a non-Muslim revel in and accept the beautiful religion of Islam with an open mind, amidst the negative portrayal in the media.

Instagram: @alexhillphoto 

Facebook: @alexhillphoto

 

Delicious Kids-Friendly Cookie Recipe

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by Noor H. Salem

We’ve been discussing dealing with picky children, and undoubtedly, children love their desserts. This cookie bar recipe is made with healthy ingredients, whipped together to make the perfectly delicious cookie bar. Feel free to add in dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and any other toppings you like.

You’ll easily be satisfying your child’s sweet tooth, without the consequences of sugar-highs. Using this recipe will result in a hydrogenated-oil, bleached flour, sugar and corn syrup free cookie!

Give it a try, and you’ll never go back to buying processed store-bought cookies again.

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cup organic unbleached flour (or gluten-free flour)

1 ½ sticks organic butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch Himalayan Pink Salt

¾ cup organic brown sugar (or coconut palm sugar)

¾ cup organic evaporated cane juice

2 organic pasture-raised eggs

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (alcohol free)

¼ cup raw cocoa

1 cup raw walnuts, halves and pieces

½-3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I like 70% cocoa or more)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Combine the flour, salt, cocoa powder, and baking soda in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
  3. Beat the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until well combined and fluffy. Do not overmix.
  4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla.
  5. Add the flour mixture; use lower speed while mixing. Don’t overmix the batter.
  6. Fold in the walnuts and dark chocolate chips (if using).
  7. Transfer the cookie dough into a 9-inch spring form pan (buttered).
  8. Bake for about 20-24 minutes, or until golden brown.
  9. Allow it to cool; slice into squares.

You can make these into individual cookies: scoop the dough into 2 inch balls and place onto a baking sheet. Bake for about 13-14 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Noor Hani Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.

Getting Your Kids to Love Their Vegetables

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by Noor H. Salem

When we look around, we see most junk food items like cereals and packaged snacks targeting at our young children. Whether it’s through receiving free stickers inside, their favorite cartoon character on the front package, or a toy in the cereal box, there is no doubt this makes it only more challenging for parents to feed their children healthy and nutritious meals. Children end up having sugar-loaded breakfast cereals, with most bursting in harmful food coloring too. When children eat meals from their school lunch, they’ll most likely consume more sugar, processed food, and a meal lacking proper nutrition. Your child may then come home and pick a fight at eating their broccoli, or reaches for cookies before dinner.

What can you do as a parent to deal with picky children who are simply distressed at even the thought of eating something healthy?

First and foremost, get your child educated! I can’t emphasize enough: don’t ever use pressure or force to feed your child a vegetable- it’ll only cause resentment. Instead, teach your child about their body and what effects food has on their mood, energy levels and even their academic achievement. Have your child make a journal, and track their meals, and how their day is- seeing the connection between food, their mood, and energy will open their eyes to making better choices.

Furthermore, allowing your child to take part in writing out the grocery list, or joining you to pick out the fruits and vegetables will cause them to increase their interest in tasting them. Allowing children to interact with preparing a snack, dinner, or simply a smoothie, will cause them to be excited about eating or drinking it. I’ve shared in depth-tips as well as plenty of child-approved recipes in my book, Sunnah Superfoods. Next time you’re whipping up dinner, let your child help wash the salad vegetables, stir the food, or take small steps in assisting you with it. Observe the difference in your child’s interest in eating healthier meals, without feeling like it’s by force or pressure.

Be sure to also read my piece on the fruits and vegetables that you should aim to buy organic and those you can spare the extra bucks and purchase conventional- without any harm to your health.  

Noor Hani Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.

Cancer-Causing Pesticides Are Loaded on Your Fruits and Vegetables

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by Noor H. Salem

In the past, we’ve discussed dealing with getting picky children to eat healthy meals. Often, parents find it extremely challenging to get their children to eat fresh fruit at breakfast, when the box of Froot Loops is screaming with drawings of their favorite cartoon characters. Feeding a family healthy takes time, and continuous effort. Getting children to go with you to pick out fruits and vegetables, or simply having them aid you as you wash a snack or prepare dinner, increases the likelihood of them eating from those items. Give it a try- and see how your child likes eating those strawberries after washing them for you.

Nonetheless, the vital question becomes: “which fruits and vegetables are essential to purchase organic when possible, and which ones can you purchase conventionally grown without any harmful effects to your body?” The Environmental Working Group, (EWG) releases an annual list of the produce highest and lowest in harmful pesticide residues. Some of these pesticides are cancer-promoting, while others affect fertility, disrupt your hormones, or even kill bees. It’s best to avoid these produce, and feed your family nutritious bursting ones instead.

In fact, the EWG mentioned in its 2017 report that just one single sample of strawberries showed 20 different pesticides! Spinach samples have been found to carry mold and DDT, which is a neurotoxic insecticide banned in the US to begin with! For that, I’d settle that you’re better off not eating any spinach, than to go for conventionally grown spinach! The list is in order of highest to lowest, with strawberries being the highest in harmful pesticides and potatoes being the lowest. The Clean 15 list is the very opposite: the produce you can be comfortable purchasing conventionally grown, as they are least likely to harbor any pesticide residues. Importantly, as I’ve discussed in other articles and in my book, Sunnah Superfoods, you want to avoid purchasing any non-USDA Organic certified corn or corn products. Much of corn sold in the US is genetically engineered, and comes with its own set of harmful health consequences. Thus, although corn is on the Clean 15 list, I would advise all my clients and readers alike, to purchase it organic.

EWG’S 2017 Dirty Dozen List:

In summary, the dirty dozen are the fruits and vegetables found to carry the highest levels of pesticide residues-harmful to your health in many ways. I’d highly recommend you avoid purchasing the conventional version of these produces.

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. nectarines
  4. Apples
  5. Peaches
  6. Pears
  7. Cherries
  8. Grapes
  9. Celery
  10. Tomatoes
  11. Sweet Bell Peppers
  12. Potatoes

EWG’s Clean 15 list:

As I’ve stated, the Clean 15 are the fruits and vegetables least likely to be contaminated with harmful pesticides. You can feel comfortable purchasing these fruits and vegetables non-organic, and be at ease that they’re not full of health spoiling residues.

  1. Sweet corn (But, remember, the issue with most corn being genetically engineered)
  2. Avocadoes
  3. Pineapples
  4. Cabbage
  5. Onions
  6. Frozen Sweet Peas
  7. Papaya
  8. Asparagus
  9. Mangos
  10. Eggplant
  11. Honeydew
  12. Kiwi
  13. Cantaloupe
  14. Cauliflower
  15. Grapefruit 

Noor Hani Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.