Middle Eastern Style “Angel” Eggs

Why are these dreamy, pillowy morsels of cooked egg whites filled with a luscious and creamy filling called “deviled eggs?” The colors are springy and angelic, so the evil culprit must be the mayo. At 100 calories of saturated fat per tablespoon, my guess is the mayo makes these eggs devilish!  Today’s recipe was inspired…… Continue reading Middle Eastern Style “Angel” Eggs

3 INGREDIENT HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE!

As if it wasn’t enough that my local stores are enforcing a one carton of eggs limit per purchase, now the dairy products are climbing in prices at an astronomic pace! My eyes bulged out the other day when I saw cream cheese for $7.99!  Not that I am gorging on cream cheese every day,…… Continue reading 3 INGREDIENT HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE!

My Machos Bring All the Boys to the Yard…

As first generation Americans, my siblings and I were not exposed to nachos until we saw everyone eating them at a middle school sports rally. Like most children, we didn’t really have high culinary standards, so salty, crunchy chips drowning in a fake cheesy sauce hooked us immediately. In high school, we looked forward to…… Continue reading My Machos Bring All the Boys to the Yard…

Bring the Most Popular Appetizer to Your Next Party: Roasted Grape Crostini!

As the year comes to a close, there is still one more occasion to celebrate, New Year’s Eve! This is the day when the frenzy settles down, the leftovers have been eaten, the errands have been completed, and there is a little time for reflection and family togetherness. While some people enjoy dressing up for…… Continue reading Bring the Most Popular Appetizer to Your Next Party: Roasted Grape Crostini!

My Childhood Fav! Arab Style Cauliflower Fritters

With a wide variety of vegetable “nuggets” proliferating in supermarkets, I can’t help but think of the old school, traditional cauliflower fritters of my childhood. These fritters are the Palestinian version of vegetable nuggets, made by hand lovingly by my great Auntie Bahia. The Arabic term for these fritters is “Em Shaat.” While this makes…… Continue reading My Childhood Fav! Arab Style Cauliflower Fritters

2 Mediterranean Summer Apps – 3 Minutes Each!

You know it’s summer when those bland, pale, and tasteless strawberries of winter get replaced with those sultry, red sweet berries of summer on supermarket shelves. If you get your berries at the farmer’s market, expect another level of peak flavor and ripeness. I often get so excited I end up buying too much, because…… Continue reading 2 Mediterranean Summer Apps – 3 Minutes Each!

Sfeeha: Arabic Meat Pies of My Childhood

Nothing made me happier as a child than to see a couple of sfeehas in my lunchbox. For Arabs, sfeehas reign supreme over traditional cheese pizza. Sfeeha, or Sfiha, is  a round miniature meat pie, made in a myriad of ways depending on the region. In the Bethlehem region of Palestine, where my mother grew…… Continue reading Sfeeha: Arabic Meat Pies of My Childhood

FELAFEL MIX SHOWDOWN-WHICH ONE WON?

Before chicken nuggets existed, there was falafel! The perfect falafel are browned and crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and flecked with fresh herbs and sesame seeds for extra crunch and nuttiness. Ideally the inside is green to reflect the infusion of either parsley or cilantro, depending on region and preference. Speaking of…… Continue reading FELAFEL MIX SHOWDOWN-WHICH ONE WON?

Horrific Crimes Against Hummus…

Okay, I know I am exaggerating with this title, but maybe not. Recently I decided to do a video on hummus taste testing with my mother, frankly out of morbid curiosity. You see, when you grow up eating homemade hummus all your life, way before it’s considered trendy, you don’t really feel the need to…… Continue reading Horrific Crimes Against Hummus…

Kibbeh is Now In Trader Joes?! What the…

As a child growing up in the United States, there were very few middle eastern restaurants, except for a couple of quality falafel shops. Hummus wasn’t even considered cool then, just some creamy beige paste my parents slathered on my pita sandwiches to the shock and horror of my classmates. Fast forward a few decades…… Continue reading Kibbeh is Now In Trader Joes?! What the…