Persian/Iranian foods

I was given a beautiful Persian cookbook for my birthday from the family and so I went out one day to practice driving and to get some ingredients.  I was feeling low about ever being able to find work here in mental health.  That is a story for another day, but let's just say the UAE is not on the cutting edge of mental health attitudes.  There are 49 psychiatrists for a population of over 2 million in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.  I am not sure whether to look at this situation as an opportunity (to find work, not to become a psychiatrist), or a big challenge.  Probably both.

Anyway, so I went shopping for Iranian items based on this cookbook.  I got some dried whole lemons and some pomegranate molasses.  Both of these are amazing if you like tangy and slightly sour, which I do.  I wish I had known about these before.  Also, the author suggests taking a pomegranate and just rolling it around the table and trying to crush the seeds inside and then drinking the juice through a whole in the skin.  I liked that.

Here is a picture of Saudi recipe foul - beans in tomato sauce.  Made by California Gardens, of course.  This is some canned hummous.  Charles was grossed out and thinks there is no reason to buy canned hummous here, but I wanted to try it.  Well, I haven't yet.

I noticed that the meat here - as the kids really want familiar meat loaf and chicken - was advertised  yesterday as coming from Australia, India, or "local".  I wasn't sure what was the best choice, if any.  Lentils seem safer.