Stories and Recipes
Easy Strawberry Jam
What makes my strawberry jam so easy? Just a few ingredients, a short cook time, and no canning. This is a jar of jam to make often and to love! The depths of my love of a jar of homemade strawberry jam knows no bounds. Strawberries cooking on the stove hold the aroma and flavor…
Read MoreAvocado Tabbouleh, the original chopped salad!
I call my Avocado Tabbouleh Salad the original chopped salad because it’s all about the finely chopped herbs and vegetables. A simple lemon vinaigrette lets all of the flavors shine. The truth of tabbouleh is this: it’s a labor-of-love salad. A salad whose basis is fresh herbs could be nothing but, when you consider how…
Read MoreLebanese Grilled Kafta
Lebanese Grilled Kafta is like a meatball, flavored with onion and spices, formed on a skewer, then grilled. One of the many grill recipes the Lebanese are famous for! Even though a good hamburger is always, well, good!, I usually have plenty to critique: not enough flavor, too much between the bun to bite into,…
Read MoreGrilled Vegetable Platter with Lemon, Garlic & Mint
This showstopper of a grilled vegetable platter belongs on every table! It’s a snap to pull together. Use whole and large pieces of vegetables to make prep simple and quick. The vinaigrette finishes the grilled vegetable platter with another layer of mouthwatering flavor. When my sister offered to bring grilled vegetables to dinner recently, we…
Read MoreLebanese Couscous Salad
Lebanese Couscous Salad is made with larger Lebanese couscous, also known as maghrabia. This is such a versatile salad, not unlike a pasta salad that takes well to a variety of vegetables and herbs. Purchase the couscous in my online shop here. It was not until just a few years ago that I learned there…
Read More(Much!) Easier Spanakopita
Spanakopita is traditionally made by buttering layer after layer of phyllo. No more! Try my (much!) easier Spanakopita using my super simple hack. This is a recipe my Sitto learned at her Greek Orthodox Church and shared with me. The original includes the best of everything, and my original post went to the heart of…
Read MoreCabbage Rolls in Tomato Broth
The most traditional, most beloved stuffed Lebanese cabbage rolls in tomato broth are easy to make following these simple steps. To make my Garlicky Cabbage Rolls in a water-based broth, click here. So many cultures have their version of a cabbage roll, and with good reason. Cabbage makes the perfect wrapper for fillings, especially the…
Read MoreLebanese Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes
We do them so well! There are many Lebanese vegetarian and vegan recipes to love and to make again and again. Here are some favorites. All-Star Salads. Village Salad. With a twist: apple, honey. Malfouf Salad, ultra-flavorful no-mayo slaw. Tomato Salad with Mint. This is on the cover of my cookbook! Lebanese Potato Salad. Lemony.…
Read MoreAvocado Hummus
Avocado hummus takes the best of two worlds–smooth, luscious hummus and silky, healthy avocado–to create flavor and texture magic! Find chickpeas with the peels already removed, along with excellent tahini and sumac, at my online shop here. I’ve always been a critic of anything labeled “hummus” that doesn’t include the very basis of hummus: chickpeas.…
Read MoreBaking with Yogurt
Baking with yogurt is a must! And often found in Lebanese recipes. Yogurt plays a special role in baking, giving moist, tender results with an extra boost of flavor too. This is because of the acidic/fermented nature of yogurt. Many baking recipes call for yogurt (see mine below!), but you can also replace sour cream,…
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