Best of MCW 1401-1500

Welcome to the 15th Best Of MCW installment where we have a veritable mish-mash of cuisines, foods, and styles. We travel all over the world form the Levant with those special dressed zaatar maneeshes, to Europe with Italian inspired salads, to Mexico with some tacos and churros. 

See also part 1 and part 2, part 3 , part 4 , part 5 , part 6 , part 7 , part 8 , part 9 , part 10, part 11, part 12 , part 13 and part 14 of previous Best Of MCW series.

This superfood breakfast donut recipe consists of a date-saturated dough smothered in a deep jewel-tone blueberry and greek yogurt sauce.

Raw soaked almonds have a phenomenal health impact on the brain, digestion, and body in general (such as diabetes management).

These crispy flakey little parcels bear good tidings. They are stuffed with a potato and cheese mixture that lends it a lightness as compared to an all-cheese stuffing. 

I now find myself feeding the sourdough starter and cultivating it just to make varied flavors of these wonderful crackers.

If you are prepared with your frozen fruit and refrigerated weekly stash of Greek yogurt and kefir, you are good to prepare these fresh smoothies every morning (or at least weekday mornings).

This beetroot quinoa salad and reignited my love of salads all over again.

This roast red pepper salad originates from the Italian antipasto, a flavorsome dish semi-preserved in an abundance of olive oil. Add a couple of ingredients, allow to macerate overnight, and enjoy the next day.

A humble can of beans has the potential to be made into a fantastic meal, if you know how to use it to its potential such as this flavorful salad, full of fibre and deliciousness, 

How many panzanella recipes do you need? This is a cherry tomato and kalamata olive version did not live to see the light of tomorrow.

A dressed lentil soup with fresh lemon slices on the side, the crunch from fried pita bread and the rich carmelization from the onions lending a unique touch, rendering this peasant dish fit for kings.

Cheese and corn are not a novel combination. Here they are paired with a generous amount of finely chopped spring onion and a touch of hot chili powder which does not lend heat as much as it enhances the flavor.

This toum recipe is a more spreadable and mild version, yet just as multi-purpose. And it bears a secret.

This was a super-fast iftar in Ramadan that surprised us all in its deliciousness for something that came together so quickly. The meat is spiced generously, and the saffron played an integral role.

If I were a child, this is the kind of lunch I'd want to come back home to after school. Pea stew is a classic across the Middle East.

Tacos are sandwiches, a la Mexican. They pack in a healthy dose of protein and vegetables all wrapped in a pliable tortilla bread. This version uses garlicky shrimp paired with crunchy shredded cabbage for a nice contrast in texture.

Sometimes, shortcuts are warranted. Using ready made pesto and jarred sun-dried tomatoes make this a quick and delicious three-ingredients recipe. 

This berry mango pudding was a refreshing end to a wonderful iftar over Ramadan. Key word being refreshing. It is a tropical fruit puddling-like dessert laden with Arabian flavors in the forms of fragrant rose water, orange blossom, saffron, and pistachio.

This here is no ordinary peach pie. It truly is the best peach pie I've ever made and ever tasted. It is just a bonus that it is no-bake (only the crust is baked).

This banoofi pavlova roll is really simple to make, provided you have ready-made dulce de leche. I make my own which is the best by boiling a can of sweet condensed milk in the pressure cooker for 45 minutes, and letting it cool overnight.

These delicate and delicious chocoberry bites use pure unadulterated dulce de leche. Without exaggeration, these bites are even better than a chocolate bar, especially when left out at room temperature for a while.

This is a simple and quick baklava recipe the comes together in a cinch and has huge pay-off in flavor. Three types of pistachio are used in the forms of slivers, powder, and paste. The paste is truly what brings it all together. Add some floral water and crispy butter fillo pastry and you are set to go.

A churro has three distinct components: the churro itself, the cinnamon sugar coating, and the chocolate dip.

صحة و عافية