Gluten/Sugar Free Apple Cranberry Tea Cakes

AnitaChristmas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Kids Eat Here, Sugar Free, What's Cooking Leave a Comment

Another beautiful Fall day here.  A busy week ahead, in the kitchen prepping for three back to back birthdays (hubby and kids).  The kids’ parties this year are especially challenging seeing as we are still on our detox diet.  I have been developing, testing and adjusting recipes last week, and I have found the cake part quite easy in relation …

Halloween Thoughts

AnitaOn my Mind Leave a Comment

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a seeker of information – an eternal student.  I love to know the history of how everything originates, why we do the things we do, where the traditions came from, why we cook certain foods on certain holidays.  Sometimes, the answers are fascinating but mostly I am often reminded that we …

Roasted Delicata Squash Soup – Perfect Welcome for Fall!

AnitaDairy Free, Entrée, Gluten Free, Herbs, Nuts, Paleo, Soup, Vegetables, What's Cooking Leave a Comment

It’s been a mostly rainy first week of Fall, begging for soups and autumn dishes – satisfying, colorful and healthy.  And on a personal note, I’ve been finding much satisfaction in clean and simple cooking, no fads, no trendy ingredients – just what naturally resonates with me.   Many of the recipes lately have been transmuted from flavors of childhood to …

Gluten Free Carob Cake (Faux Chocolate Cake)

AnitaDairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Kids Eat Here, Nuts, What's Cooking 9 Comments

UPDATE: Added a vegan version at the bottomYears ago, carob was traditionally used as a sweetener in Lebanese baking.  To this day, many Lebanese love mixing carob molasses and sesame butter (tahini) to make a delicious sweet bite after a meal.  The molasses is made by soaking the carob pods in  water and reducing the extract to make a thick …

Stuffed Cousa in Lemon Herb Sauce

AnitaDairy Free, Entrée, Gluten Free, Herbs, Vegetables 2 Comments

What a brilliantly sunny and mild week it has been.  The fig tree in the backyard actually believes it’s Spring again and started blooming.  It’s a sneak peak of a glorious Fall season, my absolute favorite.  It’s a wonderful time to plan and organize, and of course to cook.   We are lucky to have a bountiful year-round Farmer’s Market.  Last …

Brown Rice Pan Bread and a Chysamthemum Pomegranate Salad

AnitaBreakfast, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Greens, Herbs, Salad, Vegetarian 2 Comments

Hello dear friends.   I’ve missed writing here.  I’ve been meaning to share this bread recipe for a long while.  We, Lebanese folks, love our bread and use it a whole lot in many different ways – rolled for sandwiches, as a scoop for stews, as a snack with zaatar.   Early in January, I had to find ways to replace this …

Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Artichoke Spinach Relish (dressing)

AnitaAppetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Greens, Herbs, Paleo, Salad, What's Cooking 4 Comments

*Hello Friends, please make note of the new site address www.myfreshlevant.com Do you sometimes dream solutions to your questions??  A couple of weeks ago, I did.   Let me backtrack a bit.  I’m one of those foodies that’s always thinking about ingredients and how they would fit together to create new flavors.  This process has been on overdrive since my detox …

Grilled Mussels and Herb Salad and a Peachy Dressing

AnitaDairy Free, Entrée, Gluten Free, Herbs, Paleo, Salad, Shellfish, What's Cooking 2 Comments

It’s Summertime in the South, temperatures are already soaring close to 100ËšF and my oven is sort of taking a break.  I love making playful light dishes with all the fresh greens and seafood from the local market, and proud to say that many of the herbs that I’m using now come from my little herb garden – oregano, marjoram, …

Herb Meatballs with Spinach and Zucchini

AnitaDairy Free, Entrée, Gluten Free, Herbs, Meats, Paleo, What's Cooking 2 Comments

May has flown by!  It’s been busy around here. With school ending in a couple of weeks, schedules are packed with birthday parties and school activities, kitchen is filled with the aromas of fresh produce, herbs and fruits.  Lots of cooking and experimenting going on, and unfortunately I don’t always have a chance to take pictures and share with you.  …