It’s been almost a year since I posted my last recipe. What a year it’s been! 2020 has been very challenging and trying to everyone. Let’s just hope 2021 will be a year of peace, health and prosperity. I’ve been making this chocolate cake for a long time and thought a bit of sugar will … [Read more…]
Most people don’t know the difference between almond paste and marzipan. While they both are made of almonds, marzipan and almond paste are completely different creatures. Marzipan is smooth, sweet, and often dyed and molded into shapes. It’s also used to cover sweets much like fondant and is sometimes eaten as is. Almond paste, however, is … [Read more…]
Hello dear friends, It has been quite a long time since I posted a new recipe on my blog and for that I apologize. Not to say that I have been sitting idle not doing anything! I’ve been baking, cooking, canning, making Belgian chocolates, drying fruits, planting my organic garden, composting, recycling etc.. taking photos … [Read more…]
My sister was having a gathering of her friends over and she wanted me to make a special yet simple cake. I thought about this cake because it goes very well with a cup of coffee or tea. The original recipe called for cream cheese and 1/4 cup of sugar mixed with the chopped fruits. … [Read more…]
Yesterday, I found a new recipe in our local Lebanese newspaper for a light version of fried macarons. I decided to give it a try and wanted to share it with you. These beauties are not like their French counterparts as they vary in every detail. The French macs are made of almond flour, egg … [Read more…]
As much as I love blogging, adore my followers, and appreciate sharing my recipes with everyone, I have to admit that it is always very difficult to get back on track after having been away from blogging for awhile, especially during the holiday season. I had to unplug myself from everything and take a short … [Read more…]
Okra is a very low-calorie vegetable. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol and is a rich source of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. If not cooked properly, it will become slimy. In the Middle East, Okra stew (Bamiye) is prepared by frying the okra pods, drying them then cooking them in tomato sauce, garlic … [Read more…]
Anise cookies are traditional Lebanese cookies that are prepared by combining flour, sugar, milk, eggs, mahlab (ground sour cherry pits), anise seeds and ground with butter. You will have a dough that can be formed into logs and rolled into round cookies. The result is an aromatic and crunchy cookie that is enjoyed with coffee … [Read more…]
Mulukhiya is a well-known vegetable in most countries of the Middle East, East and North Africa. Mulukhiyyah is rather bitter, and when boiled, the resulting liquid is a thick, and sometimes described as “slimy” if not cooked properly. Mulukhiyyah is generally cooked with chicken or at least chicken stock for flavor. It is served with … [Read more…]
Maamoul recipes are a staple of holidays in the Middle East. Preparations for festivities cannot be complete if you don’t have some Maamoul to offer visitors coming to wish you a happy Eid (holiday)! Homes are usually filled with scents of spices, mastic, and the aromas cannot be missed! You can always buy maamoul online … [Read more…]
Crab lumps are delicious fresh if you can find them however you can always find the pasteurized kind in tins or containers in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. Whichever kind you chose, give this recipe a try and you will be happy you did. Ingredients: 1 pound fettuccine noodles 1 pound crab … [Read more…]
This is a very easy cheesecake recipe that is consistent of only a few ingredients and it does not require baking. Prepare it ahead of time, refrigerate it and enjoy it with a cup of coffee or tea. It is very refreshing and a breeze to prepare. The type of berry fruit jam I used … [Read more…]
Whenever I have extra ripe bananas that might go bad before we eat them, I peel them and place them in a freezer bag for later use. I usually save them for banana bread. This is another easy recipe that I go to. You can adjust it to your liking whether you want to add … [Read more…]
There are so many mashed potato recipes. Sometimes, I add lemon juice and garlic, other times I just add a few tablespoons of fresh cream like in this recipe. I usually peel the potatoes, cut them in small cubes, then boil them in water. Once cooked and tender, I drain the water, mash them, add … [Read more…]
Peas and Carrots go so well together like cookies and cream or hummus and pita!!! This stew can be prepared in stages especially cooking the meat. I usually buy tender stew meat from Costco (family size) and cook all of it at once then distribute the meat into different freezer containers. Whenever I want to … [Read more…]
Lebanese Tabouli or Tabbouleh, as some refer to it, is a delicious and healthy salad that is often served as part of a big Mezza selection or can be served on its own. Tabouli is Lebanon’s national salad even though other countries in the Middle East try to claim it as theirs!!! Tabouli tastes fresh, … [Read more…]
Maha in Arabic means “beautiful eyes”, specifically deer eyes. In Persian, it means “moon like” or “resembling moon”. These cookies are called as such because their shape resembles the eyes of a deer. Oyoun Al Maha are small oval shape cookies baked until golden in color then dropped in sugar syrup. Ingredients: 950g all purpose … [Read more…]
Creamy lentil soup is very filling and delicious that can be served for lunch or dinner. Try it with crumbled crispy bacon or fried onions as a garnish. Some home cooks add vegetable broth and half and half to the soup for extra flavoring. Adjust this basic recipe to your liking. It is easy to … [Read more…]
Couscous makes for a quick, versatile side dish that can be used as non-traditional ingredient in classic recipes. Most Americans know that couscous is a staple in North Africa where it is steamed over a simmered stew after being tossed with a little oil and water. In this recipe, I incorporated ground turkey and steamed … [Read more…]
The month of Ramadan is getting ready to kick-start this week and I wanted to make something special for my friends who celebrate this holy month. During this month, families gather to break their fast with a meal known as Iftaar with dates, because it is said that Prophet Muhammad broke fast with three dates … [Read more…]
