Thursday, November 14, 2024

1839. Quick Turkish Delight



Most Turkish delights are made using glucose syrups. This is an easy homemade version using plain old pantry ingredients you can easily find in any home. The nuts we added are pistachio, but they can be switched for another type of nut or completely left out.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

1838. Sesame Crust Sourdough Boule


The sourdough chronicles continue.  Today's entry is a sesame seed crusted sourdough boule.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

1837. Honey Almond Butter


There are already two almond butter recipes on this blog, so a third seems superfluous, however it is a valuable addition worthy of sharing.

Sunday, November 3, 2024

1836. Purslane Burghul


I posted a Palestinian purslane dish not too long ago, and this Syrian version with burghul used up the last of my frozen summer bounty.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

1835. Egyptian Rice Muamar


Egyptian rice muamar is of course using Egyptian short gran rice, but what makes it truly special is the all the components are baked in a clay pot. The other thing that makes it special, are the components themselves.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

1834. The Best Hot Chocolate


This is the end-all and be-all of all hot chocolate recipes. Once you try this one, there is no going back to the powdered cocoa versions. 

Thursday, October 17, 2024

1833. Sujuk Cheese Danish Pastries


Very convenient, tasty, and quick to make, especially with a ready-rolled sheet of puff pastry, these savory danishes come together in no time. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

1832. Chocolate Sourdough Boule


Experimenting further with my sourdough, this chocolate sourdough boule was bound to happen. As happy as I was, I wasn't sure hot to use it up.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

1831. Warm Mortadella and Olive Buns



The essence of this sandwich is that it is quick, easy, accessible, and delicious.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

1830. Chili Garlic Oil


For the past couple of years, chili garlic oil has been the "it" condiment. Simple to make, packs a punch of flavor, and can enhance just about any savory dish.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

1829. Khfeefi Kleicha


Khfeefi is just Kleicha without the filling, shaped into disks and dunked into tea. It might havebeen created out of the necessity to use up extra dough when making kheicha, but it is so beloved that sometimes we make it just to make it. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

1828. Chicken Mushroom Dill Soup


We served this soup on repeat during Ramadan. The convenience of packaged soup, elevated with the additions of fresh ingredients. 

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

1827. Rice Paper Cheese Croissant


I intentionally skip most "trends" on social media but food-related trends catch my attention. So far, a few have been great hots, and others, great flops. This is one of the more unexpected ones, a croissant made from rice paper. I opted for a savory cheese version, and might try the sweet counterpart at some point.

Thursday, September 26, 2024

1826. Zaatar and Cheese Saj Parcels


This is a quick yet delicious savory breakfast pastry that is done in minutes. Zaatar and cheese is a classic flavor combination which you cannot go wrong with.

Monday, September 23, 2024

1825. Palestinian Purslane Appetizer


Purslane is dismissed as a weed since it so resiliently grows between crop and even between bricks. This "weed" which we are being prompted to discard is one of the most nutrient dense and medicinal foods you can find.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

1824. Freekeh Casserole


Freekeh is an ancient Mesopotamian grain that has made it to our modern-day superfood lists. It is simply a wheat grain, but the following makes all the difference: it is harvested while still green, and it is smoked.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

1823. Seaweed Roasted Cashew


A salty and sweet snack that tastes delicious. Seaweed is not only rich in iron, but it interestingly also helps to stabilize female hormones.

Monday, September 16, 2024

1822. Puffed Nutella Bananas


The food scene has exploded, which might be a good thing, were it not for the clickbait problem. Many quick and attractive food videos are spamming our feeds, and when implemented, the recipe is a flop. Not a great introduction to these puffed nutella bananas, but a reality that needs to have light shed on it. 

Sunday, September 15, 2024

1821. Leftover Chicken Sandwich


Roast chicken is best the day it is made. The best use if leftover roast chicken is in a sandwich.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

1820. Turkish Liver and Rice


This Turkish liver is rice is one of those dishes I can never say no to if it's available on the menu. Interestingly, it is a "fast food" sold in carts as a common street food.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

1819. Twix and Arabic Coffee


I am sharing a breakdown of one of the IYKYK things. If you know, you know, but if you don't how are you supposed to know? So, twix and Arabic coffee. Together, they make for the best combo. Almost addictive. Totally unsuitable for formal company. Want to know more?

Monday, September 9, 2024

1818. Warm Cabbage Salad


Roast cabbage is a wonderful way to transform this humble vegetable. While we might be used to a crunch and vibrant cabbage salad or coleslaw in the summer, a warm roasted cabbage salad with delicious cashew tahini dressing is a great version for the winter. 

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

1817. Sourdough Zaatar Focaccia


It was a matter of time before a sourdough focaccia made it to the blog. Actually, there was one before this, but here is the new and improved version.

Monday, September 2, 2024

1816. Buckwheat Granola


This is the first time I use buckwheat. Although coming from wheat, it has many health benefits that I preferred making an oat-less granola just to let it shine.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

1815. Simple Seared Seabass Fillets


I would happily dine on these delicious seabass fillets two or even three times a week. There is zero "fishiness" to them, the flavor is just beyond, and paired with some potatoes or rice or even pasta, make for a wholesome and satisfying meal.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

1814. Quick Walnut Baklava


Same concept as the feta filo parcels in the last post, but here is a sweet version that is essentially the easiest baklawa you will ever make. 

Sunday, August 25, 2024

1813. Quick Feta Filo Parcel


I'm all about quick and easy recipes of late. A long list of ingredients or a complicated method have me go a 180 degree heel-spin. So when I saw this non-recipe recipe in both savory (feta cheese) and sweet (walnut cinnamon, coming soon) versions, I was immediately on board. 

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Best of MCW (1701-1800)

Welcome to the 18th installment of the Best Of series for MCW, where for every 100 recipes posted, I do a round up of the absolute hits we loved and ended up making over and over again. Sandwiches and sides take center stage here, but the six main dishes are each something I would be happy to have on a weekly basis. I do tend to organize my round-ups as if I was walking through a day chronologically, meaning we start at breakfast options, then explore snacking ideas, before tackling main meals and moving on to dessert as the end. Today, in honor of our brotherhood with Palestine, we start the segment with a simple Palestinian spread, consisting of crispy zaatar bread, lemony brined olives, and tangy lebna drenched on olive oil.

Monday, August 19, 2024

1811. Cottage Cheese Chocolate Pudding


Cottage cheese is back, and the make over is real. Specifically, blending the cheese completely transforms it. Exploiting its naturally bland nature, it can swing sweet or savory.

Sunday, August 18, 2024

1810. Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs


Cottage cheese has gotten a makeover. It used to be known as this 90's diet food, ultra bland and ultra boring. One of the most prominent makeovers is cottage cheese scrambled eggs, which just ups the protein so efficiently. 

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

1809. Pistachio Knefeh Chocolate


This trend had me at pistachio paste. I had to wait for months before pistachio paste was available again at the supermarket because everybody went mad for this so it is always selling out. All it is, is a mixture of toasted knefeh pastry coated in pistachio paste and encased in chocolate. 

Thursday, August 8, 2024

1808. Instant Iced Coffee


Another summer, another iced coffee; and why not? Simple accessible ingredients thrown together even in a rushed morning and sipped on a hot morning can just about make your day. 

Monday, August 5, 2024

1807. Caesar Salad on Escalope

 
This is more of a concept than a recipe, and a great one for a wholesome and satisfying lunch at that. 

Sunday, August 4, 2024

1806. Qamr Al Deen Roll Ups


There came a moment when mega-sour fruit roll ups were all the rage, and I certainly do not tend to jump on every bandwagon, but it is interesting the trends they come up with. A happy coincidence was that I had some apricot leather, qamr al deen, and fresh pomegranate available, and an optional drizzle of pomegranate molasses for some extra tartness.  

Thursday, August 1, 2024

1805. Pistachio Biscuit Log


It is strange that pistachio is all the rage right now, because it is a classic ingredient that undeniably elevates any savory or sweet dish. Another undeniable fact is that a proper pistachio paste is a true pleasure and an indulgent luxury. This is used here is a very simple manner: as a lazy cake. 

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

1804. Express Relish Sandwich


Don't knock it till you try it. I saw someone make this using mostly local ingredients as their go-to breakfast or snack so I gave it a go and I enjoyed it very much especially with the added relish. 

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

1803. Peach Frangipane Tartlettes


Frangipane is a fancy yet really easy sweet almond concoction that works in many pastries, from almond croissant, to fully-fledged tarts. Obviously, they also form a pretty epic flavor bomb when paired with fruit.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

1802. Easy Savory Filo Bake


The solution to a delicious filo pie without all the brushing of butter and laborious layers in the shred up the pastry and stir it right in the filling. Sounds drastic, but really works well. This is a savory vegetable filo bake, with classic flavors that work well together: feta, courgette, and dill. 

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

1801. Lemon Posset


This lemon posset is a quick and easy summer recipe that can be poured in individual ramekins or hollowed lemon halves cut lengthwise for a pretty presentation.

Monday, July 1, 2024

1800. Honey Chili Haloomi Salad


A new salad presentation is always welcome on my table. Salad is something that can range from a few leaves dressed with vinegar, to a full meat with all food groups in it.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

1799. Zaatar Omelette


When "trends" first became noticeable, I was irked and refused to contribute. With time, the trends became better and more irresistible, and now I have quite the repertoire of tried and true trendy internet recipe. This is one such recipe. 

Monday, June 10, 2024

1798. Cinnamon Swirl Sourdough


The sourdough chronicles continue with a sweet cinnamon swirl boule. 

Thursday, June 6, 2024

1797. Kinder Bites


Tooth-achingly sweet, some might opt out but kids will certainly love this quick and easy kinder cheesecake bites. 

Sunday, June 2, 2024

1796. Pomegranate Chicken Wings Airfryer


These pomegranate chicken wings are an amazing discovery. So simple and so delicious, we whip them up over and over again. My only complaint is that I don't have an oven sized air fryer to avoid making them in batches. 

Thursday, May 30, 2024

1795. Caesar Salad Dressing


Caesar salad is always something we order when out, but rarely make at home, despite its simplicity. The classic caesar salad is composed of lettuce, croutons, that special dressing, and shaved parmesan. Making it at home allows us to customize it as desired. 

Thursday, May 23, 2024

1794. Sourdough Pumpkin Sandwich Bread


I had some extra butternut squash that I didn't want to turn into a soup, so I made this sourdough pumpkin (actually, butternut) sandwich bread. 

Sunday, May 19, 2024

1793. Sourdough Cheese Crackers


In every sourdough journey, I think that it is inevitable to have extra discard. I do not like to throw it away, ever. This is a good and delicious way to use up the discard, and is only two ingredients. 

Thursday, May 16, 2024

1792. Sourdough English Muffins


When I made english muffin bread a while ago, it instantly became a favorite bread of ours that we would make in bulk and freeze. I particularly liked to recreate a certain breakfast sandwich of it, which is also pictured here using this new batch of sourdough english muffins.

Sunday, May 12, 2024

1791.Sourdough Pizza Bread Sandwich

Admittedly a trendy recipe gone viral on social media, it certainly was worth a go, using up excess starter I had left. The idea is that you bake a folded pizza crust which you can easily open and stuff with whatever sandwich filling you like. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

1790. Sourdough Foccacia


I hope most of my readers are either sourdough enthusiasts or looking for a sign to start their sourdough journey, because the next few weeks are excusive sourdough content. Today's feature is the famous focaccia studded in cherry tomatoes.