MyWorldMyLife

Ouzi is one of those dishes that instantly feels like a celebration. Traditionally, it’s a Middle Eastern rice dish made with fragrant basmati rice, warm spices, mince meat, peas, and a generous topping of toasted nuts. While classic ouzi is often prepared with slow-cooked lamb or ground meat, this version is my plant-based, one-pot take -  all the flavour, none of the meat. This recipe is perfect when you want something comforting yet impressive, without spending hours in the kitchen. Using plant-based mince keeps it quick, hearty, and weeknight-friendly, while still honouring the rich spices that make ouzi so special. 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 1 tbsp vegan butter or olive oil Spices (or 2 tsp Lebanese 7-Spice blend): 1 tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground clove...

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...