Not Sure What to Put in Your Journal Ad?

What can you share about your roots in a journal ad? A recipe, a quote, a holiday tradition. Tell us what about diversity or your ethnic or cultural group is important to you? Tell us a story. Make us laugh or make us cry.

Here are some samples to help you get your creative juices flowing -

In memory of my grandmother, a reserved New England WASP who taught me three things:

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.
• Ladies don’t chew gum.

Ruth Munroe Wentworth, 1894-1961

-- RMW

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A Brancato family Easter favorite - Carciofi Fritti -- Fried Artichokes

For six people you will need:

• 6 artichokes (they should be firm and feel solid -- soft or light artichokes will probably have fuzzy hearts)
• salt
• 1/2 a lemon
• Flour
• An egg, lightly beaten
• Oil for frying

Squeeze the lemon into a bowl of water, drop the rind into the bowl, and add a pinch of salt and a little bit of flour (not enough to make a paste). Peel away the tough outer leaves of the artichokes, trim the tops perpendicular to the length of the artichokes, and cut the artichokes into eighths. Soak them in the acidulated water for an hour. Then rinse them, pat them dry, flour them, dredge them in the egg, and fry them until crisp and golden in moderately hot oil (you don't want the outside to burn before the inside is cooked).

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You may go to France, but you will never become a Frenchman. You may go to Greece, but you will never become a Greek. You may go to China, but you will never become Chinese, to Japan and never become a Japanese, but anyone can come to America and become an American. This is the greatness of the country we call the United States of America.

-- Angie Papadakis

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Once at a dinner party, I listened to an Indian (from India, not Arizona) telling funny stories about his mother. I listened with interest for he looked thoroughly Indian, and finally I could no longer resist. I asked in mock amazement, “Is your mother Jewish?”

He looked at me quite calmly and said, “My friend, all mothers are Jewish.”

Isaac Asimov

Here’s to all our Jewish mothers…whatever their origin…
Best wishes to our honorees

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Four Day Wedding Ritual of Pakistan

First Day of the Celebration: On the first day, the bride and groom's families each dress in yellow, and celebrate the upcoming nuptials separately. The betrothed couple will not see each other from this day until the ceremony.

Second Day of the Celebration: The second day is reserved for a big celebration called Mendi that includes dancing and singing ancient songs. On this day, the groom's family delivers the wedding dress to the bride's family, and then her family takes the groom's wedding attire to his family.

The bride's family string hundreds of colored lights to announce their daughter's forthcoming marriage. The bride’s hands and feet are stained with henna in intricate, traditional Muslim designs. The bride-to-be is waited on by her family while the henna stain dries overnight.

Third Day - the Marriage Ceremony: The wedding rites and ceremony in Pakistan take places on the third day. The Pakistani bride and groom who continue their traditions wear garments of red. The bride's gown is very elaborate, as are her veil and jewelry. Men wear a distinctive traditional turban. After wedding vows are exchanged, the Holy Koran is held over the new bride's head as she joins her husband's family. The official paperwork is signed in the presence of an Islamic priest and the guests.

Fourth and Final Day: On the fourth day, the couple hosts their first dinner as husband and wife. The groom's family invites all of the guests to their home for a feast.

Best wishes from the Khalid Family