1212. Mujaddara Salad

Ok, this is now firmly up there in my list of instant classics. Ironically, it is a classic, with a twist, but it's got my vote for new classic. Mujadara is a traditional Lebanese dish consisting of rice, lentils, and an unfathomable amount of fried onion.

1211. Spaghetti Pomodoro

This is a simple yet delicious recipe when you need a giant bowl of carbs in 20 minutes. The major ingredients are a large can of whole tomatoes and a packet of dried spaghetti. All the rest are basic pantry ingredients, barring a snip or two of fresh basil from your window sill.

1210. Lemon Sable Cookies

I used to avoid cut-out cookies and deemed them too fussy compared to the usual cookie batter scooped and dropped with an ice cream utensil. In fact, they are fussier, but just a bit more, plus their perfect cut-out shape makes up for that.

1209. Mushroom and Leek Pasta

I may have mentioned that we at MCW love mushrooms. In a sauce, sauteed, grilled, in a pizza... you name it. Mushroom in a pasta dish can be presented so diversely, and this particular one combines another one of my favorites: leeks.

1208. Overnight Seed Bread

Overnight bread has effectively replaced store-bought bread at the MCW household. While the original is hard to beat, playing around with variations, flavors, and textures was inevitable. This whole wheat edition is absolutely stuffed with seeds and has become my new favorite base for breakfast.

1207. Banana Cream Pie

One of my greatest pleasures in life is when a tiny human asks me to cook them something. This time it was all about pies; the sort of pie silly movies throw in each others' faces. I have a tendency to prefer tarts over pies, but this was a request I could not refuse.

1206. Pizza Pillows

Save this recipe for your mess-up day. Anti diet and all things calorie inappropriate, these fried pizza pillows are worth looking forward to.

1205. Turkish Coffee Sable Cookies

This is a cookie reserved only for those who take coffee seriously. It packs a punch of coffee in the form of Turkkish ground coffee; unfiltered and undiluted. The touch of milk chocolate both slightly softens the punch and lends a layer of flavor and texture.

1204. Pistachio Crusted Salmon

I love serving a whole side of salmon for a dinner party. Even if you roast it simply with salt and pepper, it is guaranteed to make for an elegant presentation. This recipe is just barely more involved than a simple salt and pepper roast, and all that more special in effect.

1203. Arab Finger Food Platter

This is not a recipe but a serving suggestion useful when hosting a crowd buffet-style. Of course, the options are very close to endless, but in preparation, think of all the best-hits and your own favorite nibbles. Typical components are categorized in the nawashif arena, cheese bourag, lamb sambusak, spinach fateer, felafel, and kubba. Others may mot be so typical but favorites nonetheless, such as sausage rolls, and chicken nuggets.