Welcome to my blog about my experiences while living in Algeria!Don’t be diyshin’ the Hobbs!
A reader wrote in and asked for some interesting traditions. One, that came to mind is the saving of bread. When I first arrived, here in Algeria, after dinner we were cleaning up. And as we were clearing the table I tried to throw out the half-eaten bits of baguette. Immediately, I was told not to through it but save it. It is basically sacrilege to through away bread. All uneaten bits are saved and then taken to the cows or sheep to eat. I’ve even seen some doorsteps full of old bread where the city sheep herders will come and let thier sheep eat it. I even, now, save all my old bread and keep it in bags until my father-in-law takes it to wherever it goes.
Thanks Lauro!
May 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
That is odd. How does it not start to get moldy?
May 12th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
LOL! Great question, Sindy! Actually, depending on the conditions, it may get a little moldy. But, usually the bread is a bit stale before I bag it. Plus, it’s not like the yeasty sliced white bread you find in the states.
Chow!
May 13th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Heheh nice one. This reminds me the old good days. I think the french dry bread we eat in algeria won’t get usually moldy especially when you put it in an open aerated place. You don’t need to care much about it because in few days you will have kids knocking your door asking for this bread to feed their animals.
May 13th, 2007 at 11:05 am
LOL I just figured out what the title means
Hahaha !!
May 13th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for the clarification, Harmony!
May 13th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Glad you liked it Lazhar! Are you from the East or West of Setif?
Anytime, Sindy!
May 14th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Hi Harmony, I’m from the east , like 2 hours south from Setif. Exactly Barika, you should pass by if you want to go deeper to the south.
I was following your blog for a year now, I was living in algeria but since I left the last summer I’m coming here more often.
Thanks.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 am
Hi Harmony
I don’t speake and understand wery good english, but I like your blog
I know this “tradition”: When I was a little girl in Sétif, I didn’t throw out bread, my parents said: it’s “h’ram” bread is “naâmett rabbi” it means: God’s food
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Welcome Nedjma!
I can appreciate the saving of the bread, but it would be nice to take it a step further and compost other leftover organic materials as well. Thanks for linking to my blog on your forum Nedjma! Is it meant to be a public url? I will publish it if it is.
Chow!
May 24th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Hi Harmony! I’m very happy to “speak” with you!
Thank you for publishing my forum!
Again about bread. here in Germany, you read, bread composting isn’t good for compost… in little towns like mines, some people need old bread for their rabbits, chicken or horses and ponies…
Chow!