Stories and Recipes
Sitto’s Date Ma’moul
Date Ma’moul are traditional Lebanese shortbread cookies that are molded and filled. There are different shapes of molds, meant to indicate the different types of fillings. Walnuts, pistachios, and date paste are the classic fillings. Date Ma’moul is made for special occasions and holidays. Find the highest quality mold, custom made, along with specialty ingredients…
Read MoreSfeha Flatbreads
Sfeha flatbreads are traditional Lebanese soft flatbread topped with highly seasoned meat. Sfeha are also commonly made into small open-faced square hand pies. As with so many inventions, necessity is its mother. My obsession with sfeha (SFEE-huh) began on my trip to Lebanon in 2012. I had not even sought out the world of Ba’albek…
Read MoreBest Pie Crust Tips
My best pie crust tips will get you to fabulous for your pie crusts, every time. My favorite pie crust recipes, which happen to be vegan, result in flakey, golden crusts ready for every filling you can imagine. Oil-based Crust My two favorite crusts are both oil-based but both different. Every year I laud the…
Read MoreZa’atar Crackers
If you love za’atar flatbread but want an easier way, Za’atar Crackers are for you! Perfect for a cheese plate or to dip in hummus, labneh, or muhummara red pepper-walnut dip. Here’s the thing about za’atar crackers: they are in essence a shortcut to the most traditional way to eat za’atar, which is man’oushe flatbread.…
Read MoreGarlic Tahini Eggplant
Garlic Tahini Eggplant is simply sauteed and dressed with tahini sauce, a Lebanese recipe favorite. Studded with pomegranate seeds and mint, and you’ve got showstopper beauty and flavor. I love the notes you write to me. So many of them speak to how a recipe or a story or memory I’ve shared inspires a recipe,…
Read MoreHow to Choose an Eggplant
Follow these few simple tips to selecting beautiful eggplant, for fabulous Lebanese and other favorite dishes. Why we love eggplant. The deep purple hue and voluptuous shape of eggplant put it in the upper echelons of truly gorgeous produce. Of course there’s plenty of competition everywhere you turn at the farmer’s market. But purple is…
Read MoreLentil Bulgur Soup with Mint Olive Oil
This bulgur lentil soup with mint olive oil fulfills the Mediterranean Diet requisites: legumes, grains, herbs, olive oil. Find the best of these ingredients at MaureenAboodMarket.com. I am pleased with myself if I’m able to work in a component of the Mediterranean diet in every meal or snack of the day. Herbs and spices here,…
Read MoreAuthentic Eggnog
The richness of this authentic eggnog recipe is lightened with a big puff of whipped meringue and whipped cream. You can go non-alcoholic, but the rum really does cut the richness. Authentic eggnog, rich and creamy and heavily spiked, has always for some reason seemed out of reach come Christmas and New Year’s at home.…
Read MoreApple Pie with Stovetop Filling
Apple pie with stovetop filling comes together quickly, and is accented with a whisper of beautiful flower waters (get them here). I have to admit that the apple pie here is typically last or near-last on the list of must-make for Thanksgiving. As a stand-alone pie especially when apple season hits in the fall, apple…
Read MoreApricot Upside-Down Cake
Apricot Upside-Down Cake is made with a brown-butter, brown-sugar topping and soft sponge cake. A hint of orange blossom is perfect here. I’ve never been good at favorites. As in, what’s your favorite cake? What’s your favorite color? What your favorite anything. I love them all. Same with this apricot upside-down cake. I would never…
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