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On Seeking Home & Freedom

On Seeking Home & Freedom

“I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

– The Bible
Exodus 2:22

The story of Passover is a commemoration of the exodus of the ancient Israelites from slavery to freedom. It’s about the journey of a group of people wandering difficult landscapes in search of a place to live with dignity — in search of home.

As an Iranian-American Jewish Woman, my relationship with religion is complex. But what I appreciate about the holiday is the universal themes of memory, optimism, humanity, family and our responsibility to each other. 

This passover, as done for generations, my family sat at a long table and performed symbolic rituals in a specific order, reading from a Hebrew and Farsi prayer book. At the core of this process is the retelling of the exodus story. A 3,000 year old tale repeated every spring, for thousands of years. Why is this story different from other stories?

Storytelling performs an important role in human societies. Aside from broadcasting social norms to coordinate social behavior and promote cooperation, stories are our human super power. We tell stories to survive, to build and to thrive. To remind us that we are not alone in the world. We construct internal narratives to make sense of the complexities of life and we tell chronicles collectively to find certainty in an uncertain world.

Given that, one has to contemplate the merit and utility of a story that has lasted for three millenia. The biblical story of Passover is the ultimate story of human perseverance, of faith, of humanity surviving against improbable odds, and ultimately, it is the story of freedom.

In Farsi Passover is referred to as the Holiday of Freedom (“eid-e azaadi”). Today this resonates more strongly than ever in a world embroiled in a refugee crisis with millions of innocent people displaced, wandering, and in search of stability. People from Syria, Afghanistan, Central America, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine and beyond. Not to mention how the Covid-19 Pandemic exasperated many of society’s inequalities and displaced vulnerable communities in other devastating ways. 

This year, the notion of fighting for Freedom rings evermore clearly for the people of Iran as they bravely demand basic human rights from an evil regime which will go to unthinkable lengths to maintain power. Today Iranians are fighting for the right to live and love openly, and they bleed on the streets for agency over their lives. They’re fighting for women, for life and for freedom. The protests in Iran resonate with me personally. After all my parents escaped those same circumstances, aptly naming my sister “Azadeh” — meaning one who has been freed in Farsi — when she was born shortly before our painful departure from Iran. Forced to leave the only home they had ever known. And while my own childhood memories are heavily pained by that exodus, I know this saga is not unique to Iran and Iranians.

The malign powers of the regime in China, the world’s most populous dictatorship continues to ramp up censorship. Individuals in North Korea live in the dark. Long standing conflicts continue in Libya, Yemen, Ethiopia and Azerbaijan – to name only a few – forged on by greedy authoritarian leaders to resolve petty political disputes. I will not pretend to be an expert in the complex dynamics of these affairs, but I know millions of innocent people are kept hostage, their freedoms reduced to nothing at the whims of egocentric dictators trying to hold on to power. Or as Carl Sagan put it “think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become momentary masters of a fraction of a dot in the universe.” Sadly this history continues to repeat all over the world.

The story of Passover is also central to America’s conception. You can see how the themes of the exodus have inspired various American leaders. From the founding fathers, to abolitionists, and civil rights leaders in the last century. America is the “promised land” my family traveled to from the atrocities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and an eight-year Iran-Iraq war that senselessly destroyed everything for nothing. Even in modern western societies today, we are politically more dramatically divided than the biblical Red Sea in ancient Egypt which Moses had to part for the escape route from slavery.

So the exodus story lies at the heart of who we are as people. We have all been a stranger in a strange land. Misunderstood, lost and in search of a home where we can be free to be ourselves, without punishment and perdition. The 3,000 year old story of seeking freedom reverberates in the spirit of many nations, and in the heart of every human being. It echos the dream of leaving subjugation to find freedom. Rebelling against tyrants to obtain the power to act, speak, or think as one wants without restraint.

We may not have the solutions to these issues today, but we can talk about them, at our dinner tables and elsewhere. Stand up against modern-day pharaohs, with our disapproval. I hosted a Passover seder at my NYC apartment this year. I had the luxury of stressing over the menu, not enough folding chairs, and if the brisket would be ready before sundown. But I grew up in Iran and I know from generations of discrimination and difficulty, how so many others are spending this holiday across the globe – life challenges far bigger than the timeliness and contents of a meal.

This year Nowruz, Passover, Easter and Ramadan all coincided. The universal themes of all of these holidays are the same: renewal, faith, freedom, sacrifice, charity and community.

Just as in the Jewish tradition, all of these holidays are about coming together and meeting adversity with optimism and generosity. The similarities in the human quest for meaning are not a coincidence. The observers and rituals may be different, but the common denominator is a festive meal to cement our values of humanity and hope. With these shared values, we can all come together and learn from one another. It is an opportunity to celebrate kindness and foster understanding and respect. Of course symbolic foods play a role in all of our celebrations as we break bread, break barriers and build bridges.

The shared meal is an act of love. No matter what your style, customs or origin story, when we gather to enjoy a meal, we are unified in engaging in a tradition as old as humanity — one which transcends national borders and cultural divides.

Wishing for Freedom and joy wherever a human heart beats, with hopes that good people all over the world have the opportunity to gather with their loved ones, just as we did this week.

Can I get a hallelujah?

“Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen.
Not any religion or cultural system. I am not from the east or the west, not out of the ocean or up from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all.
I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or the next, did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story.
My place is the placeless, a trace of the traceless. Neither body or soul.
I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner,
only that breath breathing human being.” ~Rumi

~ Musical Inspiration ~

Louis Armstrong, Go Down Moses.

American abolitionist, former slave and “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman (known to many as “Mother Moses”) used spirituals such as “Go Down Moses” to signal slaves that she was in the area, and would help any who wanted to escape.

Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah

Gather

Gather

Hanukkah, Christmas, Festiuvs, Yaldaa or surviving 2017: No matter what we  just celebrated, we sent off last year with a bang and welcomed 2018.

New beginnings are a good time to press the wellness reset button, but healthy living can be a year-long lifestyle and need not be limited to new year resolutions. As we begin the year, I remind myself to set achievable goals, eat nutritious but delicious food, learn as much as possible, be kind to myself and others, let old wounds heal, practice gratitude, and make life as colorful as possible.

Last year was certainly colorful. 2017 tested me. But as I reflect on the last twelve months, I realize the positives outweighed the challenges and there was much to be grateful for. Mostly, the incredible people I have in my life and the extraordinary experiences we shared. Not surprisingly, many of those occurred around the table as we broke bread together, told our stories, laughed at our fortunes, waxed poetic about the future and perhaps even learned a bit about ourselves along the way. “Without the sense of fellowship with men of like mind,” Einstein wrote, “life would have seemed to me empty.” Indeed.

I have written about gathering around the fire. Today, on a cold snowy day in NYC, I sip hot chai and reflect on the warm memories of last year. I smile remembering the gorgeous tables we gathered around, the delightful food we ate, and the marvelous people who’s company I had the pleasure to keep. Michael Polan says “the shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization: sharing, listening, taking turns, navigating differences, arguing without offending.” It is also a place where our fondest memories live. Where we receive the gift of love by those who prepared those meals for us. It is where we are reminded of the power of coming together.

My memories of this gift begin in Naz year zero. My parents have always been extraordinary and generous hosts. Bringing people together and creating countless memories is an art form they have mastered a thousand times over. The loving energy created around their tables, is my eternal source of inspiration. I wrote more about that here.

In the meantime, I want to point out the only difference between the first two photos in this post are 37 years and geography. Otherwise, in both photos you see my beautiful Mother at the head of the table of her loving home, and me really excited about what we’re about to eat! Just a bit of role reversal in who’s serving whom.

Happy new year from Basil and Roses! Below are a few of our favorite “gatherings” of 2017 and the recipes they inspired.

Wishing you a colorful and meaningful year!

Naz

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus

Pretty Pickled Onions

Roasted Cauliflower with The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

Beer & Basil Braised Brisket

Nani’s Classic Omelettes

Mama’s Mexican Fiesta (Fish Taco, Guacamole, Mango Salsa, Cabbage Slaw, Pico, Fresh Margaritas)

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannelini Beans

Persian Stuffed Peppers

Muffin Tin Egg Frittatas 

Shirazi Salad (or Israeli Salad or Mediterranean chopped salad)

Sesame Crusted Baked Salmon

Cindy’s Fabulous Holiday Rib Roast (Recipe coming soon)

Green Goddess Basmati Rice with Basil, Mint, Chive and an Unexpected Trip Home

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry

Other Top 2017 Recipes to try:

Nani’s Healthy But Decadent Butternut Squash Soup

Spicy Thai Basil Beef

Citrusy Chicken Skewers with Mint-Basil Sauce

Panko-Crusted Dijon Cod

The Best Steak Of Your Life

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Medly

Mint & Cannelini Bean Tuna Salad

Roasted Cauliflower with Tangy Tahini Sauce

Baklava

The Fire Of Our Lives

The Fire Of Our Lives

There is something uniquely special about the appeal of fire, we love being around the warmth and glow it creates. There is something that draws us towards the bonfire and the hearth. I believe our memories- conscious or subconscious, personal or collective are a part of that draw. Most of us have treasured memories of people who have cooked for us- Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, friends… We cherish these memories because they are a special reminder of the love and generosity we’ve received in our lifetime. We gather around the fire, and the hearth and our tables to pay homage to that gift. To quote Michael Pollan, “a good pot holds memories.

Tahran, Iran circa 1970

Most cultures have some form of grilling tradition which usually results in groups of people in the family or community gathering around a fire and sharing a meal together. Kebabs in the Middle East, Asado in Argentina, Tandoor in India, Churrasco in Brazil, Luau in Hawaii, Sausage Sizzle in Australia,  Gogigui in Korea, Hibachi in Japan, Chuanr and Char Siu in China, Sataay in Southeast Asia, Lechon in the Philippines, Braii in South Africa (for which there is apparently a national day and anthem). And of course there is the classic American Backyard BBQ which many of us enjoyed this past Memorial Day Weekend.

Each of these traditions have their own unique style and flavor, but the common denominator is the communal aspect of the tradition. The lyrics in South Africa’s Braii anthem go “We stand united at the bonfire. We raise our glasses to the clear, blue sky, tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine.” Gathering around the grill is universal. When we don’t have an actual fire, we gather in our kitchens. Near the hearth, near the source of the fire, around those whom provide for us sustenance and satisfaction. One of my personal highlights of the year is that moment when I bring the turkey out of the oven on Thanksgiving day. Surrounded by friends and family who applaud and cheer as if I just invented bread! I love that moment and appreciate their gratitude. Everyone wants to take a picture with me and the turkey- which incidentally works out nicely, it gives our bird the right amount of time to rest.

As an avid cook, I may be biased on the importance of cooking and how it elevates our experience. Beyond my personal passion, there is an important evolutionary aspect of cooking that may be represented in the fires we gather around.

Cooking is what separates us from our evolutionary cousins, what made us civilized creatures. Learning to cook elevated humans from lone animal to more intelligent beings. Some neurologist believe the reason humans have bigger brains than gorillas is because we learned to cook. By using fire to cook our food, we spent less time foraging and less time chewing our food. This allowed us to get more energy out of our food, allowing our brains to grow. Although the human brain is 2% of our body mass, approximately 20% of what we consume fuels brain activity. The more calories we consumed, the more our brains grew.  With more time spent around the fire, we spend more time together and learned from one another.  This topic is artfully covered by the fantastic Michael Pollan in his book Cookednow a stunning docu-series on Netflix. A visually captivating, poignant and educational series.

“The discovery of fire and its use with cooking completely change our evolutionary curve, enabling us to shrink our guts and grow our brains…The cook fire tamed us and socialized us by giving us the institution of the meal.” -Michael Pollan

This history of us is fascinating. Cooking plays a role in how we came to be creatures which have the capacity to enjoy life. A transformation occurred when we stopped cooking for survival, and started cooking for pleasure. So raise a glass to friends and loved ones who cook for you and who’s kitchens you’ve gathered around. Not only are they the source of many of our best experiences, it may also be that without them we would be a lot less intelligent!

I love to grill and summer BBQ’s are a wonderful way to gather around the fire for “old times” sake.

This week I’ll share my favorite grilling recipes with you. From the now (somewhat) famous
“Naz Burger”, to fun marinades for grilled chicken and fresh summer veggie recipes.

Happy Summer, my fellow humans!