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!
Tag: 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!
MIDDLE EASTERN MEATBALLS!
So thankful to all of you to have hit the milestone of 20,000 subscribers on You Tube! To celebrate, I did a live video with my brother Issa to reach out to all of you. To participate in future live feeds, please subscribe to my channel and you will get my notifications on future live…… Continue reading MIDDLE EASTERN MEATBALLS!
Limonana- Arabic Mint Lemonade
Only in the Middle East would a massive hit song be about mint. You see Arabs hold the mint leaf very dear to their hearts, using this herb in savory and sweet dishes, medicinal remedies, and the beloved drink called Limonana (which means lemon and mint in Arabic). If you go to any cafe in…… Continue reading Limonana- Arabic Mint Lemonade
“ZONION RINGS” Za’atar Onion Rings!
Every time I go to a restaurant and see someone order a heaping plate of onions rings, I get fast food envy. While some people advocate eating the foods you love in moderation, I don’t do moderation with certain foods, be it onion rings or chocolate cake. Those food trigger something visceral in me where…… Continue reading “ZONION RINGS” Za’atar Onion Rings!
Harissa Salmon and Carrot Noodle Salad!
After my last video on Harissa, I got a lot of e-mail of people asking “how do I use this sauce?” Well the answer is you can use Harissa on pretty much anything, from seafood and chicken to roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs! Behold, the 15 minute Harissa Roasted Salmon: The spicy flavor…… Continue reading Harissa Salmon and Carrot Noodle Salad!
Namoura, Basbousa, and Harisseh, the Arabic Dessert with Three Names!
Imagine a moist dense cake with the tang of yogurt, the sweetness of honey and a hint of rose. This cake is so popular it goes by three different names all over the Levant. The Lebanese call this cake Namoura, the Palestinians call it Harisseh, and the Egyptians call it Basbousa. No matter what you…… Continue reading Namoura, Basbousa, and Harisseh, the Arabic Dessert with Three Names!
Harissa-The Ultimate Condiment of North Africa
I am considered the condiment queen in my household, and my husband laughs at the row upon row of sauces I accumulate in the refrigerator and pantry. I find some condiments so tasty I can eat them out of the jar, like mustard, red pepper jelly, or even plum sauce. There is one condiment I…… Continue reading Harissa-The Ultimate Condiment of North Africa
Lowcarb Za’atar Rolls and Adas (Lentil Soup) – A comforting Vegetarian Feast!
The weather is still freezing (even by California standards), but as we get closer to spring, I tend to crave warm yet light meals that will energize me throughout the busy days. Shorbat addas, otherwise known as lentil soup in Arabic, is perfect because the soup is hearty and comforting, yet doesn’t make your feel…… Continue reading Lowcarb Za’atar Rolls and Adas (Lentil Soup) – A comforting Vegetarian Feast!
Za’atar-the Super Spice!
Remember Blanche, a spoon of Za’atar a day will keep the doctor away!” said my late Aunt Bahieh, who lived to be 95 years old. My 96 year old grandmother also eats za’atar every morning and she is still going strong. As a child my mother was told to eat za’atar for breakfast for mental…… Continue reading Za’atar-the Super Spice!