I ain’t gonna lie, the holiday season always stresses me out to the max. My to-do lists end up being twenty feet long, and as soon as I cross off ten items, I have to add ten more. But in the midst of all this madness, I try to stay grounded. Most importantly, I am grateful for everything I have, from my family and friends, to what now has become a global community I have met through Feast in the Middle East. This year I was ecstatic to meet many of you in person at my Draeger’s Cooking School classes! To be able to throw a Middle Eastern food party, and get feedback on the food in realtime, made the experience that much more fun, as I am usually just talking to a camera! I also got so many insightful questions, from those of you who wanted to learn more about the Middle East in general. So, I decided to do it all again at Draegers in 2018, with the introduction of two fun menus. These classes also make great Christmas gifts for any foodies in your life (including yourself) My first class on January 11, in San Mateo features a menu centered around the savory and sweet treatment of pomegranate:
• Syrian Muhammara—walnut and roasted pepper dip with pomegranate molasses
• Bulgar Wheat Pilaf with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing, Pistachios and Sultanas
• Pomegranate-Glazed Chicken
• Chocolate Pomegranate Tart with Pistachio and Pumpkin Seed Crust
On March, I will take you on a culinary tour of the Levant, with this menu:
• Roasted Cauliflower with Mejdool Dates, Slivered Almonds and Za’atar Spice Blend
• M’Nazaleh—Palestinian casserole of eggplant, chicken, tomatoes and pine nuts
• Fragrant Garlic Turmeric Rice
• Basbousa—semolina Greek yogurt cake
To register for these classes, just click HERE. Hope to meet you in person! But I also have another surprise for you…read on below.
As a thank you for all of your support, I have partnered with SEAOFHERBS.COM to give you 20% off any purchase using promo code BLANCHE20. Sea of Herbs is a family run company that has been around for 400 years! They use ancient techniques in their products, yielding amazing quality. They have natural beauty products using the beneficial minerals of the Dead Sea, and a beautiful selection of spices that add an authentic touch to middle eastern dishes. Ask any avid cook from the Middle East living in the USA, and any of them will tell you they ship their spices from abroad, or have a relative buy some for them when they visit the Middle East. The spices there are more fragrant and potent than any spices you buy here. It is also a great way to support artisans keeping alive an ancient craft while trying to survive in the tumultuous city of Jerusalem. For more information on my “favorite things” collection from the Holy Land, click on the video below:
