The souk, or marketplace, is the beating heart of Arabic cuisine and culture—this book celebrates the generosity of this rich food culture. The word mezze stems from the Arabic term tamazzaza—a single word that broadly embraces the idea of enjoying small portions of food and taking the time to indulge one’s taste buds, eyes, and nose by exposing them to a wide range of aromas and flavors. A complete mezze table is formed when many of these warm and cold dishes are presented together, as a meal in itself. The mezze culture originated in the Ottoman Empire and can be found in the whole of the Levantine Mediterranean: from Greece and Cyprus to Turkey, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria. But it is Lebanon, the cultural home of the authors, which has really developed and is famed for the richest, most extensive, and most sophisticated mezze culture. In addition to the 100 classic and contemporary mezze recipes, Souk also delves into the personal stories and reminiscences about this food tradition and the families and friends the authors meet along the way. Eating mezze is a social event, wrapped in warmth and coziness, and spiced with waves of laughter and noisy chatter.

This is the story of a family caught in the throes of war, a family with a 165 year tradition of service to their country. Sam is torn between his love for his family and his sense of duty to his country. His decision takes him from the quiet hills of Pennsylvania to the torrid jungles of Burma. While his family struggles with shortages and rationing, he fights to survive the terrors of war. This story is based on actual experiences and official records from World War II.

In recent years, the Middle East's information and communications landscape has changed dramatically. Increasingly, states, businesses, and citizens are capitalizing on the opportunities offered by new information technologies, the fast pace of digitization, and enhanced connectivity. These changes are far from turning Middle Eastern nations into network societies, but their impact is significant. The growing adoption of a wide variety of information technologies and new media platforms in everyday life has given rise to complex dynamics that beg for a better understanding. Digital Middle East sheds a critical light on continuing changes that are closely intertwined with the adoption of information and communication technologies in the region. Drawing on case studies from throughout the Middle East, the contributors explore how these digital transformations are playing out in the social, cultural, political, and economic spheres, exposing the various disjunctions and discordances that have marked the advent of the digital Middle East.

With the media blasting out horror stories about the Middle East and the Muslim faith, this American teacher went to work in Kuwait with fears and doubts most people in the West have about that area of the world. From the smells of the food to the goofiness of her friends and the experiences of mingling with an international community, the author recounts personal and spiritual exposure to a world that is often feared and misunderstood by the Western world.

Smallholder farmers are responsible for most of the food consumed in the world, as well as most of the investments made in agriculture. They operate largely in a range of local and national markets that are embedded in territorial food systems, also known as “territorial markets”. For consumers, these markets serve as key retail outlets for access to the foods needed for healthy diets, in particular fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and staple foods. However, despite their importance, data concerning territorial markets – such as the availability of food groups, food retailers and consumer profiles – are not often collected. As a result, territorial markets can be neglected in strategies aimed at improving nutrition, reducing poverty and fostering local economies. In Lebanon, the importance of territorial markets as an essential food retail outlet was studied using a survey conducted in nine territorial markets. This study on mapping territorial markets aims to better understand the functioning of these markets via sound data and evidence generation, with an emphasis on market inclusivity and access to healthy and diversified diets, taking into consideration the impact of Lebanon’s economic and financial crisis on these markets.

Attorney Sarina Bretton is kidnapped from Earth to become the legendary Great Healer and save the galaxy in this award-winning science fiction romance. Attorney Sarina Bretton believes in facts, not fantasies of faraway planets. Then Captain Teir Reylock of the Coalition Defense League kidnaps her from Earth and whisks her to worlds she couldn’t have imagined. While she’s stunned at first, Sarina is even more astonished when Teir says he’s taking her to marry a member of the High Council. Through this union, she is destined to become the legendary Great Healer and save the galaxy from a devastating plague. At the capital city of Bimordus Two, Sarina discovers the wonders of an advanced civilization. She also awakens to her passion for Teir, who is assigned as her personal bodyguard. He returns her regard, but he’s sworn to duty. He must protect Sarina from the Coalition’s enemies and from his own desire. If Sarina fails to fulfill the legend, the law decrees she’ll be executed. The only way they can be together is to unlock the legend’s secrets and expose the hidden truth. Winner of the HOLT Medallion Award “This action-packed novel will excite and satiate fans of science fiction and romance works alike. Nancy Cohen is a tremendous talent whose novel will remind readers of the Star Wars trilogy.” The Talisman “Circle of Light is a well-constructed futuristic romance that will appeal even to die-hard Star Trek and general science fiction readers. Great plot, believable aliens, and interesting locations all make Nancy J. Cohen an author to keep your eyes on.” The Paperback Trader “Political intrigue, greed, and the machinations of the Return to Origins faction make for a complex, inventive story.” Sun-Sentinel “Nancy J. Cohen is a writer whose amazing talent propels readers into a universe filled with strange new worlds, amazing technologies, and unusual species that would have made George Lucas sit up and take notice.” Affaire de Coeur “Nancy Cohen sparks your imagination and melts your heart with her wonderful tale of galactic adventure and star-crossed lovers.” Marilyn Campbell, award-winning author of The Innerworld Affairs series