A delicious meal that can only be served upside down! Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, is coming soon and Maqlouba reminds me of Iftar, the meal in which we break our fast at sunset, dinners while growing up in Kuwait. Each Thursday and Friday, we would either be invited to an Iftar dinner party at a family or…
A delicious stuffing wrapped with a zesty kick! My eldest daughter’s favorite meal since she was 5 years old is stuffed grape leaves, both vegetarian and with meat. Every time I make this meal, I am reminded by beautiful memories from my daughter’s childhood. When my eldest daughter was very young, my parents, my husband, my daughter, and I used…
A deliciously spicy tomato and egg dish to start off your morning! I can never forget the first time I had Bayd wa Bandoura! I was around 11 years old and I was visiting my grandparents in Palestine. My dearest uncle wanted to make me a special breakfast dish. He called it, “Shakshuka”. The name made me laugh. As a young child,…
A simple and filling breakfast or side dish for any potato lover! I was raised in the Middle East. Overseas, we used to eat together as a family three times during the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If one of my family members missed breakfast, then he/she would not miss lunch or dinner. Family time was very important, and it’s…
Tangy bell peppers with a savory stuffing makes the perfect meal for any holiday. I love bell peppers because of their tangy taste and crunchy texture. I believe that the colors of bell peppers reflect the lovely nature around us. To me, red represents love, orange represents enthusiasm, green represents growth, and yellow represents happiness. I always make sure to…
Cauliflower, the broccoli of the Middle East. Balancing the responsibilities of life can get chaotic. Wearing the many hats of educator, mom, wife, daughter, and chef is all in a day’s work. Sometimes, the toughest part about my day is figuring out what I want to cook for my family for dinner. There are days when I plan out a…
Spinach Pies: a taste of Palestine, aromas from the homeland. As a child, the moment I would step out of the school bus, I was able to smell my mom’s fatayr bi sabanikh. The mouthwatering aroma of the spinach pies would envelope me as I ran up the stairs of our building and into our home. I used to love…