Ethiopia+-+FCP+-+PD3+-+SP11

__Ingredients__

 * 1 cup buckwheat pancake mix
 * ¾ cup all-purpose flour
 * 3 teaspoons baking powder
 * 1 cup club soda
 * ½ teaspoon salt
 * 1 beaten egg
 * 2 Tablespoons butter

__Instructions:__

 * 1) Mix buckwheat pancake mix, all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder together in a medium bowl.
 * 2) Add egg and club soda, and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
 * 3) Melt about 1 Tablespoon of the butter in a skillet until bubbly.
 * 4) Pour in about 2 Tablespoons of batter and cook for 2 minutes on each side until the bread is golden brown on both sides.
 * 5) Remove the bread from the pan carefully to a plate.
 * 6) Repeat, stacking the finished loaves on the plate to cool.


 * Ethiopian Cheese Dip:**

__Ingredients:__
 * 1 lb fresh goat cheese or 1 lb sheep's milk cheese, farmer's cheese or 1 lb pot  cheese
 * 1/4 cup  plain yogurt
 * 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 3 tablespoons  cilantro
 * 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon  dried basil
 * 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon  dried oregano
 * 1 -3 teaspoon grated  lemon, zest of
 * 1 teaspoon  salt, about
 * 1/4 teaspoon  ground black pepper, about

__Instructions:__
 * 1) //1// Combine all the ingredients.
 * 2) //2// The mixture should be thick enough to maintain its shape.
 * 3) //3// Serve with injera (Ethiopian pancake bread) or pita bread.


 * How is that society's food a reflection of the culture's beliefs? behaviors?**

Ethiopians are devout in their religion, ranging from Muslim to Orthodox Christian to Jewish. These individual religions calls for specific "rules" to be adhered to, and these rules transcend into the food in Ethiopia. Fasting is done on special religious holidays and specific days of the week, so that certain meats can not be eaten. This religious devotion divides food even within the countries. Regions in the South (which is predominantly Muslim) never prepare pork, thus calling for more of a substitution of poultry and more diverse vegetables. In the North (inhabited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christian), fasting is common on Wednesday, Friday, and multiple religious holidays. Due to this, many of the dishes in the North are vegetarian. Even with division, the cuisine in Ethiopia is in direct relation to their religious practices. Ethiopian cuisine involves many sauteed vegetables and spices which are produced and harvested locally (due to an agriculturally driven society). Ethiopians believe that animals are sacred, and thus pray while sacrificing animals for the meals they prepare. Meals are prepared to crisp freshness (due to the abundance of fresh produce from farming) and are also traditionally diverse in their vegetables and spices due to the sporadic use of meat (to keep close with their religious practices).


 * In what way does food represent the cultural norms of the greater region?**

Ethiopia is a landlocked country, and since the geography of the region made travel difficult, in terms of food, their culture has thrived. Like other cultures in the region, spices and seasonings play a large role in the cuisine as a whole. Berbere, a local spice, is a combination of chile powder and other local spices. Ethiopian food is known for this spiciness, which originated to help preserve meat when refrigeration was nonexistent or rare. Plus, Ethiopians as a whole are welcoming and warm to their friends as well as neighbors. This friendly and generous nature is displayed when eating. No utensils are used in serving food from dishes, and diners eat directly from their plate. They use their right hands and large pieces of injera to scoop food. After a meal is over, a hand washing ritual usually takes place that everyone participates in. These traditions are important, as to Ethiopians they show friendship and loyalty to each other.


 * List 4 cultural dishes and why they reflect that society's culture?**

**1) Injera** **//://** a spongy unleavened bread made from teff grain, is the staple of every meal. Injera is the backbone behind each Ethiopian meal. It is created by grains and wheat created by local farmers, and is also used to dip into sauses and stews. It reflects Ethiopia because it shows the use of local ingredients and herbs (like the prevelant herb berbere). This bread is broken apart and shared between guests at a meal, showing the reflecting upon the idea of building relationships by sharing.

**2) Mitin Shiro:** lentils, and chick peas; a mixture of beans and berbere. This meal shows the Ethiopians use of grains and herbs that are harvested in their country. They use chick peas, just one of the many vegetables which are produced in Ethiopia. It reflects Ethiopian culture by providing an easy-to-prepare dish, which allows Ethiopians to eat quickly and devote other time to things like farming. This dish is used during religious ceremonies, reflecting the Ethiopian's devotion to traditional culture in their cuisine.

**3) Tibs:** portion of grilled meat; hot dish with vegetables (salad) mixed in. This meal directly shows Ehtiopian's culture because it is used in traditional customs to show respect for someone. The dish reflects the society's simplicity, but also incorporates a "spicy" essence in flavor. The use of vegetables is common in many dishes, but meat like steak is not found due to religious fasting. Thus, using a combination of steak and traditional herbs shows a high level of respect between Ethiopians.

**4) Nitir Kibe :** another Ethiopian basic, Nitir Kibe is pure clarified butter seasoned with several condiments and used in traditional sauteing. This dish reflects the diversity of the culture in Ethiopia. To prepare, Nitir Kibe uses a unique variety of spices and herbs ot help enhance the exotic cookery. Overall it uses traditional harvested herbs (like Berbere), but uses and mixes it in a way which reflects the diversity of food in the country. It is a soft food commonly used during Ethiopian dinners, and reflects the culture's use of simplicity (but with a powerful flavor).


 * Why is food important to that culture?**

In Ethiopia, food time gatherings provide for the foundation of the culture. Many times, food is used as an important part of religipous ceremonies and holiday celebrations. To begin, the coffee ceremony is often held. This ritual is initiated by starting a fire and roasting unrip coffee beans, while frankincense is burning. After the beans have been adequately roasted, they are ground into a powder and placed into a traditional black pot, referred to as a jebena. Wate is then added and the mixture is brewed. As can be seen, food plays a pivital role in the ceremonies.

A dditionally food is incorporated in Ethiopian religious beliefs. In Southern Ethiopia, most individuals are Muslims, which means that they do not eat pork. The only acceptable meat that these individuals consume is beef, lamb, and some poultry. In Northern Ethiopia on the other hand, the majority of the population are Orthodox Christians. As a result, during lent, the Orthodox Christians are forbidden from eating any products that come from animals.

Food in Ethiopia is also used to bring people together and show the status of relationships and friendships. When dinning with friends, a piece of injera is ripped off, dipped into sauce, and rolled into a friends mouth; this is known as a goorsha. This is used to signify the bonds of loyalty and friendship. In Ethiopian culture, "the larger the goorsha, the stronger the friendship."


 * Works Cited**

"Culture of Ethiopia - Traditional, History, People, Traditions, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family." Countries and Their Cultures. Web. 02 June 2011. .

Easy Simple Recipes. Web. 02 June 2011. .

"Ethiopian Cuisine - Recipes Wiki." Recipes Wiki - Cookbook for Chicken Recipes, Dinner Party Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Seasonal Soups and More. Web. 02 June 2011. .

"Food in Ethiopia - Ethiopian Food, Ethiopian Cuisine - Popular, Dishes, Recipe, Diet, History, Meals, People, Make, Customs, Country, Bread, Vegetables, Bread, Drink, Eating, Stew, Different, Fried, Kind." Food in Every Country. Web. 02 June 2011. .

"Introduction to Ethiopian Food." Ethiopian Restaurant -- The Ultimate Guide. Web. 02 June 2011. .