Off the Beaten Path- In the Holy Land!

I recently got back from the Holy Land yet again, and I can’t wait to show you some highlights that you won’t hear about from mainstream media! First stop, a side of Jerusalem I have literally never seen before at St George’s Cathedral Guesthouse. St. George was built in 1899, and has been open to…… Continue reading Off the Beaten Path- In the Holy Land!

Autumn Harvest Bowl- With Freekeh!

If you checked out my last blog, I wrote about the Palestinian Harvest Box and how community supported agriculture can have many positive effects on the environment worldwide. In this blog I am going to focus on freekeh, one of the items from the farmer’s box many people are not aware of.  Freekeh is a staple…… Continue reading Autumn Harvest Bowl- With Freekeh!

Palestinian Farmer’s Box!

Every time any of us visit a farmer’s market, we  make a strong statement. We value the exceptional flavor of farmer’s market produce over supermarket produce, we are supporting family run farms over corporate run farms, and we are voting with our dollars to support sustainable farming. The power of produce cannot be underestimated, and…… Continue reading Palestinian Farmer’s Box!

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!

Vegeterian Koofteh (Meatball) with Chef Hoss Zare

Mainstream media paints the people of Iran with two extreme brushes: either they’re Islamic fundamentalists in beards and  dark cloaks fantasizing about nukes or ….half naked, binge partying, yacht driving,  drunk on Patron, flamboyant rebels on Bravo’s  Shahs of Sunset. From meeting and knowing Iranian Americans thoughout my life, I have to say my impressions don’t match that of…… Continue reading Vegeterian Koofteh (Meatball) with Chef Hoss Zare

MANAKISH: MIDDLE EASTERN ZA’ATAR FLATBREAD!

Back in 1997, I visited the town of Ramallah in the West Back to do volunteer work. I stayed at a Catholic convent, which also happened to be an orphanage. Every morning I would smell the nutty and fragrant za’atar spice, baking on fresh homemade bread called “manakish.” To this day when manakish are baking…… Continue reading MANAKISH: MIDDLE EASTERN ZA’ATAR FLATBREAD!