MyWorldMyLife

This dish brings back memories of family gatherings, with my Mum's Mahashi always stealing the spotlight. There’s something special about these stuffed courgettes and aubergines... they look impressive, but they’re surprisingly easy to make! Traditionally, they’re filled with rice and meat, but I swap the meat with plant-based mince beef.  In the Middle East, Mahashi is a must-have for big family meals and special occasions, the kind of dish that brings everyone together. Every region has its own way of making it, so it’s always exciting to try a friend’s version and see how they put their own spin on it! Ingredients: For the veggies: 10 small courgettes (zucchini) 10 small aubergines (eggplants) For the stuffing: 1¼ cups long-grain rice 1 cup plant-based mince (or mince beef) 2 tbsp tomato paste 1½ tsp seven-spice mix 1 tsp salt 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp cinnamon 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp dried mint 1 tsp olive oil For the cooking broth: ¼ cup tomato paste 8 cloves garlic, crus...

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew life was about to change. Surgery, chemo, radiation... it all sounded terrifying and exhausting. But through all of it, one thing kept me feeling like me: moving. Before cancer, I was always busy; work, gardening, the gym, weekend runs. I didn’t sit still much. So even when treatment wiped me out, I still felt this itch to get up and move, even if it was just to the end of the street. On my hardest days, resting felt worse than being tired. Just getting up and moving, even a bit, brought back a glimpse of the old me. In September 2023, halfway through my chemotherapy treatment, I signed up for Cancer Research UK’s Shine Walk and walked a half marathon — 21.1 km — with my husband. It was hard, but also kind of amazing. It wasn’t about speed or performance; it was about proving to myself that I was still strong, still capable. And in the hope that someday cancer treatments will be kinder, more effective, and a whole lot less brutal. Eating ...