2109. Restaurant Chocolate Mousse

There is no lack of chocolate mousses on MCW, but this just might be the most authentically French bistro one, using just eggs, sugar, chocolate, and butter.

2108. Miso Sesame Roast Chicken

The marinade infuses the chicken overnight with a deep and umami saltiness, but not overly so. Intense yet it works subtly, bringing its caramelly saltiness to the meat.

2107. Chicken Fennel Sausage Patties

For me, sausage inevitably has the intestinal casing and classic shape. Just like "biscuits", Americans have created their own version which is absolutely alien to what the rest of the world knows.

2106. Sicilian Tuna Sandwich

Tuna sandwiches are popular in almost every culture. This Sicilian version is typically Italian, yet also completely novel with fried aubergine, fresh mozzarella, and a tomato paste dressing.

2105. Courgette Baked Frittata

This baked courgette frittata is light, savory, and layered with the Pecorino Romano that really transformed it to a dish you crave time and again.

2104. Date Peanut No Bake Cookies

A quick sweet treat that doubles are gourmet and healthy, all it is is essentially dates and peanuts.

2103. Freeze Dried Strawberry Honey

Fruit flavoring honey all-naturally is a fun and delicious hack. No preservatives, chemical, colorings, additives; just two pure ingredients combined properly for near-infinite flavor combinations.

2102. Turkish Meat Borek Rolls

A Turkish boreg baked in a tray is delicious and convenient. Shaping them into rolls increases the crispy ratio and helps transform them into finger food for easier entertaining or even just snacks.

2101. Zaatar Chicken Escalope

Chicken escalope is everyone's favorite food. Kids call it nuggets, the worldly call it schnitzel. Whatever you call it, a breaded piece of fried chicken is always welcome.

2100. Cherry Coconut Chia Seeded Yogurt

High protein, extremely nutritious, filling, and delicious all in one, this on-the-go breakfast furthermore holds the convenient feature of sitting in your fridge for a week full of breakfast all ready to go.

2099. Pasta Putanesca

There's an interesting story behind the conception of this pasta, but I will let you do your own research if that interests you. What interests me is how the Italians thought of the most pungent ingredients in their repertoire at the time and combined them into a single dish.

2098. Roast Potato Peels

I came across this concept of roasting potato peels instead of tossing them, and I'm so glad I tried it! The strange thing is, most of the nutrition of a potato comes in its skin, yet we're so accustomed to peeling them to keep the dish as monotone as possible.

2097. Roast Chicken Au Poivre

Steak au poivre is a famous French dish, and the American's are exploring cheaper options to good food because their leaders are ceaselessly forcing them through endless economic crises.

2096. Iraqi Tea with Walnut

In winter, it is not uncommon in the Northern areas of Iraq for tea to be served with walnut pieces in it.

2095. Chocolate Espresso 2 Ingredient Mousse

This was fun to make: a two ingredient chocolate mocha "mousse".

2094. Miso Butter Charred Cabbage

Smoky, savoury, and rich with umami - this simple side dish turns humble cabbage into something genuinely special. Charred cabbage is basted in golden miso butter, finished with fresh lime, and brought to life with smoked sea salt.

2093. DIY Cream Cheese

Every day we hear new stories on how kitchen staples are mass manufactured using the most rancid of oils and the worst of chemical preservatives.

2092. Date Ketchup

You probably wouldn't know this but back in the 90's I had the Iraqi version of ketchup, aptly known as saas (sauce) and have been intending to make if on the blog for yeaaars.

2091. Alfredo Pasta with Steak

A rich, delicious, and comforting meal all in one, this is a type of steak and pasta dish I would order out.

2090. Sicilian Tiramisu

We will not be addressing just how many tiramisu recipes are already available in the MCW archives; we will be discussing just how simple and decadent this restaurant recipe for Sicilian tiramisu is.

2089. Crispy Honey Croissant Sandwich

If you flatten croissants with a rolling pin then sear them in butter and add honey, the honey will caramelize and upon cooling envelops the croissant with a delicate brittle.

2088. Espresso Date Caramel

The date fruit seems to intermittently take the spotlight every couple of years as the trendiest food. Not for us Iraqis; it's always been central to our daily lives.

2087. Cream of Wheat Pudding

Before the utter adulteration and vilification of the concept of wheat, the grain used to be a nutrient dense source for health. Now, flour is bleached (literally) and stripped of all natural nutrient before getting some synthetic additive treatment, causing inflammation and allergies galore. So, what is cream of wheat?

2086. Sweet Potato Waffles

Lately, I find myself trying to prioritize protein. It really does make a difference, being intentional about what you consume. Prioritizing protein in every meal does not need to look like scoops of powder in smoothies or a steak twice a day. Eggs are a near-perfect source of protein, and so versatile.

2085. One Pot Quick Beef Turnover

There are those recipes that simmer on the stove for hours, and those other quick recipes where boiled eggs are mashed over some bread and rolled up on the go, and then there are those in-between recipes which taste like a homey meal, but are much quicker than a four hour roast.

2084. Tahini Honey Greek Yogurt

Apparently this health bomb greek yogurt topped with tahini, honey, and walnut is a popular dessert in Greece. It's fascinating to see how old traditions across various cultures actually fed the body and mind, then in comes America with its bastardized Nerds and Twizzlers and retards every good thing, especially the body and mind.

2083. Tahini Maple Granola

Tahini is an ingredient I have known forever, but I have been enjoying getting to know it on a different level through varying uses in a multitude of recipes.

2082. Cauliflower Cumin Soup

As simple as it gets, this soup is barely more than cauliflower, cumin, and cream.

2081. Cream Leek Roast Chicken

I had hyped this recipe in my mind so much that I was disappointed with the outcome. It is good, just perhaps with my recent punch dishes intake from Libya, Lebanon, and Thailand, this French roast chicken came up short.

2080. Seeds Dates and Tahini Power Mix

Thinking about nutritional supplements and delving into their manufacturing process, one concludes that in order to isolate the mineral or vitamin, a multistep process involving extreme chemical extraction methods is applied. Bottomline, how healthy is the pharmaceutical supplement we are popping and swallowing for convenience to support and fuel our bodies? Long story short, get your supplements from real food whenever possible and not from pharmacy packages.

2079. Saj Bread Zaatar Cheese Boats

Zaatar, cheese, and tomato on some form of bread is a classic. This recipe just presents it differently. It has become such a favorite that I bulk freeze them and bake as needed throughout the week.

2078. Grapefruit Yogurt

Greek yogurt for breakfast is considered high protein.

2077. Express Cherry Tomato Spaghettini

By using spaghettini or angel hair pasta, this delicious recipe comes together very fast and is very flavorful.

2076. Courgette Gratin

As simple as this courgette gratin is, there is the simple matter of navigating the undesirable effect of the vegetable retaining too much water and risking ruining the experience.

2075. Breadcrumb Roast Green Beans

This is one of the best ways I have had fresh green beans.

2074. Cornflakes PB and Date Chocolate Bark

Using dates as the base of a chocolate dessert works just fine.

2073. Iraqi Haraq Isbao in Onion and Broth

The third and last version of Iraqi Haraq Isbao which can be vegetarian or full on carnivore, and is more known to be "poor family" food that's cheap yet fills the bellies and warms the soul is this meat broth and onion one. This comes after the tangy tamarind version and the tomato curry one.

2072. Iraqi Haraq Isbao in Tomato Curry

Iraqi Haraq Isbao  can be vegetarian or full on carnivore, and is more known to be "poor family" food that's cheap yet fills the bellies and warms the soul. Last time I posted a tamarind version, today's is the tomato curry one, very similar in flavor to a chicken tashreeb.

2071. Iraqi Haraq Isbao in Tamarind

The Syrian Haraq Isbao (translates to burnt fingers from the eagerness to eat the hot dish) is more famous than the Iraqi versions. It can be vegetarian or full on carnivore, and is more known to be "poor family" food that's cheap yet fills the bellies and warms the soul.

2070. Chicken Feet Broth

I've tried bone broth, the "express" 6-hour version, all the way to the 24-hour one. I've added the splash of vinegar, with and without aromatics, and I've something gotten the jiggly jelly, and sometimes not. I was not expecting the colossal success of the jiggly collagen jelly from chicken feet.

2069. Baked Eggs Toast in Cream

You can go simple with this egg toast in cream, or amp up the flavor by infusing the cream with aromatics.

2068. Date Dressing Cabbage Salad

It’s sweet, salty, lemony and everything you want in a dressing.

2067. Seared Dates Rice Pudding Custard

Yes, I just posted a seared date rice pudding, and yes, this is another seared date rice pudding, but give it a chance. This version is studied to feed your soul and body. How? I'll tell you.

2066. Seared Dates and Tahini Rice Pudding

If you're sensing a seared date theme, you're not wrong.

2065. Seared Dates and Yogurt

You know those super-simple recipes that you don't even consider recipes and make them without a thought that someone else might be interested in them? These are often the most the culturally engrained, ones, like the cucumber and salt my father would have as an evening snack. Yogurt and dates is another one.

2064. Seared Dates

I have always loved dates, and with adulthood, my affiliation to it as an Arab and an Iraqi just increased my affection to it. As Iraqis, we consume dates in a myriad of ways.

2063. Simple Shrimp Thai Curry

Once in a blue moon, I long for a good Thai curry. What a punch of flavor!

2062. Earl Grey Cake Loaf

A soft and fragrant loaf cake infused with Earl Grey tea and sweetened with a touch of honey.

2061. Honey Dijon Chicken Thighs

As simple as this honey dijon chicken is, it is so delicious that I am happy to include it in my weekly rotation.

2060. Quick Turkish Meat Borek

Who doesn't love a good warm hearty borek?