Hana-Bandan - Iranian Henna Bridal Party

These henna designs were applied by Suhayr, a wonderful friend of my eldest daughter.

 
Recently, I had the great pleasure of helping my dear friend throw a hana bandan/bridal shower party for her beautiful daughter, Parisa. It was a fabulous evening of music, dancing and delicious food.  Hana bandan/hana bandoon is an old Iranian pre-wedding ritual dating back to several hundred years ago. 

Soup-e Morgh o Sabzijat - Maman's Feel-Good Chicken Vegetable Soup

It has been very cold and both my daughters got sick a few days ago. I thought it was time to make my mother's special pot of hearty chicken and vegetable soup to make them feel better. My mother's chicken soup varied each time depending on the severity of how sick we were growing up and the type of ingredients she had lying around in her kitchen at the time or what was seasonally available in