Mansaf, the meal of celebrations. My personal Mansaf recipe, a mix of meat and cauliflower cooked in yogurt and plated over stone baked bread. I still remember that my mother would begin preparing very early in the morning when she was going to make Mansaf. My mother always prepared Mansaf when we were going to have a guest visiting…
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,…
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…
Creamy mushroom stew with a nutty kick and basil filled aroma. The perfect 30-min meal for any winter night. When I found out my daughters were lactose intolerant, I wanted to create creamy meals that suited all members of my family. This delicious dish is quick and easy to make! Without meat, it takes a short 30 minutes to…