Winter
Mujadara, Lebanese Lentil Pilaf
This classic and beloved Lebanese Mujadara pilaf is made with lentils, caramelized onions, and rice or coarse bulgur. It’s both vegetarian and vegan. Mujadara is ultra-healthy, and is delicious topped with labneh (Greek yogurt), a fried or poached egg, arugula or watercress salad, or anything you come up with. Get the right lentils and bulgur…
Read MorePomegranate Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Pomegranate Glazed Sweet Potatoes make the A-list for their fabulous pomegranate molasses glaze, the ease of slicing and roasting, and the finishing touch of pomegranate seeds. A beautiful and absolutely divine tasting dish. I have never been shy about declaring my favorite dish on the Thanksgiving table: the candied sweet potatoes. No surprise this is…
Read MoreLebanese-Style Chili
Lebanese-style chili gets its fabulous flavor from 7 Spice blend (find it here) together with chili powder. Our favorite legume–chickpeas!–is front and center. Finish with a dollop of labneh and a shower of fresh mint. My family is probably not unusual with our fervent conversations in the category of who-makes-what-best. One such conversation about chili–methods,…
Read MoreOlive Oil Cake
Olive oil cake is ultra-tender and moist, with added richness from yogurt in the mix. Why bake a cake with olive oil, you ask? I have asked same. Cakes, even our standard cake mixes, often call for oil in the mix. The reason: oil makes for a tender, moist crumb. Typically oil-based cake recipes call…
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 MoreHow to Make Irish Coffee
My sister Peg shows us here how to make Irish Coffee. The coffee is strong and bracing, with the flavors of the coffee and whiskey offset by sugar cubes and a thick layer of heavy cream. (A Post Written by Peggy Abood) Maureen and I have always felt a special kinship to Saint Patrick’s Day…
Read MoreHemingway Daiquiri
This post is written by Peggy Abood, sister of Maureen! She is one of the world’s great Hemingway devotees. The Hemingway Daquiri is so refreshing, using fresh-squeezed citrus. Blitz all of the ingredients with lots of ice to go for a frozen Hemingway Daquiri. I know when the love affair started. I wasn’t looking for…
Read MoreOrange Blossom Pecan Pie
Rich, brown-sugary pecan pie is made better with very toasty pecans and a whisper of orange blossom water. The flavor is as beautiful as it sounds: Orange Blossom Pecan Pie. A shocking moment occurred during the development of this pecan pie recipe. My tester group (Dan and sons) was miffed when I brought plates of…
Read MoreMixed Nut Rice Pilaf, Lebanese Hushweh
This Mixed Nut Rice Pilaf is a version of the classic Lebanese dish, hushweh, and our weekly go-to. The “fried” or toasted nuts are a salty, incredibly flavorful topping to the rice, which is packed with savory beef and chicken. Everyone loves this dish for its deliciousness and ease, a winner. It’s true that I…
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