1071. Merguez Sausage Patties

Due to the popularity of merguez in France, I always thought it was  French food. I kind reader of MCW corrected me that this spicy fresh sausage is of North African cuisine, specifically Morocco. It can be made using mutton or beef; and I go with lamb because of the flavor and higher fat content.

Time and Again, Part 3

This is the third compilation of the popular Time and Again series on MCW where some favorite golden nuggets are re-exposed as they may have gotten a bit lost in the 1000+ recipe archive.

1069. Kinder Chocolate Loaf Cake

Kinder has to be the most universally childhood-associated chocolate out there, and is definitely one that can never be out-grown. Although, a sign of adulthood may come in the form of utilizing the chocolate as part of a dessert, rather than gorging on it straight out of the wrapper.

1068. Iraqi Berbine (Purslane) Stew

Berbine (purslane), is usually dismissed as a weed since it has a tendency of growing between your pavement bricks just outside. Iraqis have recognized the deliciousness of this weed and made a stew of that is definitely in my top five favorite stews (it's so hard to pick and choose favorite stews!). We also make a salad from it, but that's for another day insha Allah.

1067. Apple Chaussons

Danish pastries are simply hand-sized puff pastry topped with something sweet, be it a custard or jam or canned fruit. This is a French pastry that fits snugly in the Danish pastry department. It is a flakey, butter puff pastry pocket filled with some apple compote (applesauce).

1066. Apple Compote (Applesauce)

You know those single-portion size yogurt cups? The ones sold as a square of four pots which you would have to bend to snap off a cup. When we were kids my mother would get us these apple compots cups sold in the same way as the flavored yogurt pots, and we would love them as a treat. The habit continued all the way to my teens, when I would actually bother to read the ingredient list. What's amazing is that there was only two ingredients: apples and citric acid.

1065. Grilled Iraqi Fish

This is my dear brother in law's recipe. It is very simple, yet it is one of our absolute favorites, because it is just beyond good, and because it comes from him. May Allah reward him with the best. Anything coming from this man, you know is golden. There people who are just like that, albeit a rare trait, and he excels in every field.

1064. Microwave Egg Bagel

One minute of prep, one more minute of cooking, and you've got a hefty, satisfying, and healthy breakfast to go or stay. The bagel, actually, is completely optional. You could forgo it for a carb-free scrambled omelette breakfast that is much friendlier to the figure. The result is surprisingly fluffy and far from the expected rubbery outcome.

1063. Nice Cream Breakfast Bowl

Previously on MCW we've had a super food smoothie bowl, and an instant fruity vegan ice cream fit for breakfast. This breakfast bowl is a little bit of both. The reason why I say breakfast is because this much goodness is best eaten on an empty stomach for maximal absorption. It is however just a tasty as a snack or even for dessert.

1062. Maryam's Tacos

I discovered tacos after my mother died. Before that, we would always eat elaborate home cooked meals together, cooked by her, الله يرحمها. After her, we saw a taco package at the store and that's how we got started. We have been having these tacos for years now, and while they are not totally Mexican-authentic, they definitely are inspired by the Mexican version. This is a very fun and informal meal where each person is encouraged to assemble and customize their own wrap.

1061. Fish Burgers

I watched a food show where the chef made these sandwiches in 15 minutes. While I am not a master multitasker, not as perfectly prepared as Jamie, took almost double the time to get it done. What is so special about this recipe is that not only is it healthy, using wholesome and healthy ingredients, but it was also completely delicious.

1060. Brigadeiro Flan

This dessert is a play on the famous Brazilian brigadeiro chocolate fudge truffles. The best way I can describe it is a chocolate fudge version of the classic creme caramel. My favorite part about it is that you literally put all the ingredients in a blender, pour into the mold, and bake in a water bath.

1059. Iraqi Mushroom Burghul

This recipe is one of the coziest, simplest, comforting, and non-pretentious Iraqi meals out there. While the burghul can be cooked plain and served with the same simple farmer's salad, I added sauteed fresh mushroom because we love mushroom here on MCW. Using sauteed white desert truffles when they're in season turns it into a phenomenal dish. It is a vegetarian dish, vegan even, yet is so much more than the sum of its parts.

1058. Vine Leaf and Saffron Rice Tart

I never thought about using vine leaves for something other than dolma until quite recently. My, did stepping out of the box pay off! I made the vineleaf koftas, which immediately became a firm family favorite. This vineleaf pie, uses the vineleaves in place of a crust: over and under and completely encosing a flavorful rice filling.