MyWorldMyLife

Ouzi is one of those dishes that always feels like a celebration. It’s the kind of meal that makes the table look full and festive. Traditionally, it’s made with fragrant basmati rice, warm spices, mince, peas, and a generous sprinkle of toasted nuts on top. This version is my own little twist; a plant-based, one-pot take that keeps all the beautiful flavours but skips the meat. I love that it still carries the same warmth and comfort, while feeling a little lighter and simpler to prepare. It’s the sort of recipe you make when you want something that feels special without spending the whole day in the kitchen. Hearty, fragrant, and made for sharing. And I hope that when you make it one day, it brings that same sense of celebration to your table, no matter the occasion. Ingredients For the Rice & Plant-Based Meat: 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed 1 lb (450g) plant-based mince meat 1 large onion, diced 1½ cups frozen peas 3–4 cups vegetable broth 2 tbsp olive oil ...

If you know, you know. The blood tests, the scans, the quiet moments in the waiting room. The deep breath before the needle or the scan, the forced smile at the technician, the casual small talk that feels anything but casual. The sound of your name being called, the shuffle of papers, the cool touch of the examination table. And then… waiting. Waiting for the call. The email. The portal update. Refreshing the page like it changes anything. Telling yourself not to overthink, but your mind runs through every possibility anyway. Trying to stay busy, but the thoughts sneak in between tasks, creeping in like an uninvited guest. This is scanziety… It’s the fear of the unknown, which keeps building from the moment I get the letter about my annual screening. The what-ifs that stir at 2 AM when the world is quiet but your mind is loud. It’s the mental tug-of-war between optimism and dread, between hoping for good news and preparing for the worst. It’s the exhausting cycle of reminding yourself...