Thankfully, this post is much lighter than my post from earlier in the week. Little David was brought out from under sedation on Tuesday. He’s suffering from seizures, but the doctors think it’s just his brain rebooting. Please continue to keep him, my sister, and my BIL in your prayers! In the meantime, we need to…
middle eastern
Amba: Pickled Mango Chutney (Vegetarian and Vegan)
Look at it. That bright orange Amba sitting innocently in that mason jar is the stuff dreams are made of. This pickled-salted-fermented sauce is something that shouldn’t make sense but, clearly, it does. It’s the drunk uncle at the family reunion who you should avoid, but can’t. His stories are too good to walk away from….
Middle Eastern Hummus Recipe
Has someone ever said something about you that made you think, “What the hell?!?!” My soldier did that to me the other day. I stared at him for a good five minutes thinking about whether I should cuss him out, then I remembered, “Jesus is watching.” So I chilled. But I cussed him out in my…
Egyptian-Style Falafel Made with Fava Beans
Falafel is a big deal in New York City. So far, though, the only falafel I seemed to find was the Palestinian/Israeli version. I have yet to find a falafel cart/stand/joint that makes Egyptian-style falafel. Maybe it has something to do with the aversion some of us have to the mention of fava beans. We…
Tahini Sauce in Five Minutes (or Less)
This Tahini Sauce really only takes five minutes to create. Like, I’m not even lying. I mean, not that I usually lie about prep times. That’s not what I do. It’s just so simple and quick, that reading this will take longer than making it. But, I know you’ll still read this because you and I?…
Tabbouleh (Bulgur-Parsley Salad)
No one sits back on a Tuesday evening and says to themselves, “Jesus wouldn’t have eaten Ham on Easter.” I mean, no one who is normal thinks about that stuff. As we all know, I tend to be abnormal more often than not, so this is totally how I think. I mean, really. Jesus wasn’t strolling down…
Middle Eastern Spice Blend
A great amount of controversy surrounds this Middle Eastern Spice Blend recipe. Okay, not a great amount. Maybe not even a significant amount…okay, okay! I actually don’t know if anyone knows this is a thing. When I first started cooking Middle Eastern food, I discovered a spice mixture that I grew to know as Lebanese 7…
Shakshuka: The Ultimate Comfort Food
‘Twas definitely a shakshuka type of day. The days following a New Year are very limbo-like around here. Not “How low can you go,” limbo, but “Wait. What day is it again?” limbo. We’re all walking around the house confused; the air is thick with anxiety and tension. Shakshuka is the cure-all…ok, not really. Shakshuka…
Loukum (Turkish Delights)
Have you ever loved someone so much it took your breath away to think of them leaving you? I have. I live in a constant state of anxiety worrying about the day when I’m left alone without them here to speak to, to touch, to love on. A constant state of anxiety. This is a post…
Kibbeh (Lebanese Meatballs)
There are so many moments where I’ve sat back and pondered, “Do other people think like I do?” Then, I am compelled to acquiesce to the reality that, no, most people’s brains don’t even remotely operate like mine. Like the time I thought of kibbeh for an astoundingly long time. It’s kind of a lonely place to be in…
