They say that necessity is the mother of invention. So when there was leftover stale bread throughout the ages, people loathed throwing out these scraps, especially since food was scarce. In the Arab world, they reinvented bread into other more enticing dishes like fattoush, where the leftover bread was transformed into croutons, adding crunch and…… Continue reading Oum Ali- The Luxurious Bread Pudding of Egypt
Tag: coconut
Burburrah, The 2000 Year Old Pre-Christmas Recipe!
Every December 4th, for the past 2000 years, Arab and Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of Santa Barbara with this very special porridge, called Burbarrah, the Arabic name for Barbara. Greek orthodox Christians celebrate this day on December 16th. What was so special about Saint Barbara? Barbara’s story, originating in Baalbek Lebanon, was that she…… Continue reading Burburrah, The 2000 Year Old Pre-Christmas Recipe!
The Ancient Arab Grain: Freekeh!
While I don’t subscribe to any rigid dietary protocol, I do follow the mantra of “eat what your grandparents ate” for optimum health. Not only did my grandparents eat the ancient grain called freekeh, but their ancestors ate this grain for hundreds of years. Freekeh is wheat that is harvested when it’s young, so the…… Continue reading The Ancient Arab Grain: Freekeh!
Healthy Holiday Baking Hacks-Chocolate Zucchini Bread in 10 minutes!
Tis the time of year where the days don’t just run by, they literally sprint –with an ever expanding to-do list. The frenzy starts with decorating the home inside and out and planning out the Christmas cards to send to people all over the planet. I always get lazy with this one and just take a…… Continue reading Healthy Holiday Baking Hacks-Chocolate Zucchini Bread in 10 minutes!
Healthy, no bake “Chocolate” truffles with secret Middle Eastern ingredient!
The holidays are just bursting with dangerous goodies that taste fabulous but really offer little nutritional value. I listen in awe to my mother’s stories of her childhood: “Blanche, chocolate was a luxurious rarity, so we often snacked on dates for dessert.” I realized she was on to something. When I just want some chocolate…… Continue reading Healthy, no bake “Chocolate” truffles with secret Middle Eastern ingredient!