1314. Kimchi Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Warm sandwiches come in many shapes and forms, not to mention flavors. This is a grilled cheese sandwich, incorporating a very unconventional ingredient: kimchi. Kimchi is a fermented cabbage concoction known to be Korean, but has spread throughout Asia, and now to the western world.

1313. Kimchi

Gut health is very important and often taken for granted until a reason arises to start paying attention. Probiotic nutrition is the most natural way to reboot the system and restore equilibrium. This is where fermented foods come in.

1312. Chocolate Fondant Loaf Cake

This cake came together from scratch to consumption in just under an hour. Demolition lasted a polite 15 minutes. Essentially six pantry ingredients (not counting a pinch of salt), the batter was made and thrown in the oven in less than 10 minutes. Baking lasted 30 minutes, and a cheat quick freeze for 20 minutes cooled it to room temperature, ready to be eaten.

1311. Tarte de Rien

There must be a correlation with ugly desserts that are unbelievably scrumptious. If there is anyone whose character makes up for its appearance, it is the notorious tarte de rien. Tarte de rien literally translates into Tart of nothing, not only because of its looks, but because it takes almost nothing to make it.

1310. Palestinian Breakfast Tomatoes

This fried tomato for breakfast is a Palestinian on an Iraqi staple. I make my Iraqi version using only butter and salt with the tomato. This version is almost just as simple, but features gutsy and pungent Palestinian flavors: olive oil, garlic, and green chili.

1309. Rustic Mutabbal

One of the many reasons food of the Levant is my absolute favorite is their amazing use of fresh, vibrant vegetables. Mutabbal is not new to MCW, but this is a rustic twist on it, using unpeeled aubergines hacked up and roasted.

1308. Iraqi Orange Cake

I have literally been making this Iraqi orange cake for decades. It has such a distinctive flavor and texture, soft, yet almost like a pound cake. It is a very well know Iraqi contribution to any afternoon tea, or asrooniya (عصرونية), and despite its humble appearance, it proudly contributes to even the fanciest of food tables.

1307. Buffalo Chicken Warm Sandwiches

A well-made warm sandwich is one of life's comforts. This buffalo chicken version uses a few shortcuts, and is good to keep in mind before you go on a grocery run. The list might go something like this: rotisserie chicken, ranch dressing, cheddar, and bread rolls. All other items are fairly standard pantry inhabitors.

1306. Wholewheat Jam Pockets

Sometimes we seek the plain, simply because plain is timeless and comforting. These whole wheat jam pockets can be made using entirely one type of jam, or more than one, as I did. The crust is a healthy mix of whole wheat flour and oats.

1305. Green ChilIi Cheddar Artisan Bread

Emphasizing the customizability of the trusty crusty artisan bread comes this spicy cheesy hot green chilli version. Green chilli peppers come in a variety of shapes and spice levels. Here we are opting for the larger and milder ones, but go a bit smaller and spicier if you can handle it.

1304. {Air Fryer} Um Ali

It is no secret by now that stale croissants make for amazing Um Ali. Simplifying it further, I took out my handy clay pot and air fryer for the ultimate smaller-portion, quick-fix Um Ali. The architecture of the air fryer ensures an out-of-this-world crispy surface and a perfectly soft interior.

1303. Chicken Carrot Stew

To my delight, this stew turned out better than my initial aspirations for it. It had a depth and complexity I did not anticipate. The stew has a sourness that is mellowed out by the sweetness of the prunes and carrots. Add a dash of saffron, and you're golden.

1302. Rich Chocolate Pudding

The word "rich" just had to be included in the title, because with chocolate, egg yolks, and cream, this is indeed a rich chocolate pudding. So rich, in fact, that it absolutely must be served in espresso cups because that's all the amount you can have in a single seating.

1301. Chicken Crust Pizza

Naturally gluten free and completely unconventional, this pizza uses a spiced minced chicken mixture as a crust. It was not my favorite type of pizza (bread is an essential part of the pizza for me), but it delivers the pizza flavor for those particular about a bread crust.

1300. Blueberry Basque Cheesecake

An instant hit, this cheesecake is a fruity take on the Spanish San Sebastian of yester-fad. The base is actually thinly rolled puff pastry, and every imperfection is strived for here. The cake is supposed to be brown; it is supposed to be cracked, the ink from the berries is supposed to leak, the crust is supposed to be shaggy, the cake is supposed to taste great.