January 22, 2021
Saa Nasta Newsletter, Edition 4
Americans watched President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris get sworn in this week. While this may have been a sigh of relief for some, there is more work to be done.
During the inauguration, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman called for healing, “There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it."
Hi, I am Nargis Rahman, a Bangladeshi journalist who’s been writing about Bangladeshi food culture since 2018. Learn more at nargisthewriter.com.
With Saa Nasta, I hope to bring you stories and recipes of Bangladeshi food and culture. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @thesaanasta. Email me at thesaanasta@gmail.com.
President Biden calls for unity
by Nargis Rahman
President Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. This comes just weeks after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the first time in nearly 200 years the security was breached at the White House with rioters getting inside to protest the election results.
During his inauguration speech, President Biden called for unity.
“I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.”
He also nodded to the historical moment of standing in front of the National Mall where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech and the “swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office: Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Among the top of his to-do list, President Biden recently signed 17 executive orders, many of which are to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has claimed 400,000 lives in the United States.
A few more highlights:
Kamala Harris is the first African American and Indian American woman to be elected as the V.P. During her speech as then V.P. elect, she said, “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” (CNN)
Zayn Siddique, a Bangladeshi American from New York, will be a part of the White House deputy of chief of staff. (Yahoo). Prior to his appointment, Siddique has worked in various capacities for elected officials and their campaigns. (BdNews24.com)
Among the executive orders signed by President Biden, he repealed the Muslim ban and halted orders to build the wall bordering Mexico. (CNN)
Vegetable and shrimp baazi recipe
by Nargis Rahman
Baazis (ba-zees) are simple vegetable dishes. It’s also commonly referred to as shabji or bhaji across South Asian communities. It’s an easy way to get your vegetable intake.You can add any vegetables together by starting with the same base, beginning with ingredients that take longer to cook like potatoes and celery, and adding on veggies that cook quickly like broccoli leaflets.
You can add chicken breast or shrimp for protein.
#SaaNasta Moments
Marzia Chowdhury shared a picture of her Sunday vibes, dhood saa, Bangladeshi milk tea, forota, or flatbread, and an omelet.
Khurshida Hossain shared this creamy chicken pasta this week she made for her family. Happy mom, happy kids!
Efadul Haque made baath biran, Bangladesi style fried rice, after reading our feature on Desi Taste’s Shamole Ahmed and her recipe for this Bangladeshi treat.
Surveys via Instagram @thesaanasta
🍜 Sweata weather vs. soup weather - 39% said it’s time to bring out those sweaters and 61% like warming up with a bowl of soup
🍚 Rice vs. roundish rotis - 78% said #riceislife while 22% prefer #rotis
🥣 Tamarind chutney - 98% of people like this sweet and tangy concoction with samosas, but 2% do not prefer it
Share your Saa Nasta moments with me via Instagram or Facebook @thesaanasta #saanasta or by emailing them to thesaanasta@gmail.com.
Forwarding this to my mom to make 👀