Have you ever had times when you’re drawn to a particular vegetable or fruit. It’s an odd feeling, but I occasionally get immense cravings for a particular item; like for instance last Spring, I couldn’t have enough peaches. Well, for the last couple of months, I never leave a market without beets. I use them in juicing, with carrots and …
Forbidden Rice Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
This is one of my favorite salads, inspired by one that I occasionally eat at Whole Foods Fairfax when visiting family. And while theirs is Asian inspired, mine relies on the sweetness of the pineapples and peppers with a hint of sherry vinegar and some agave nectar. It’s simple, flavorful and filling. And more importantly, when I have an upcoming …
Brown Turkey and Conadria Fig Jam
In my kitchen, August has officially been declared “Figstravaganza Month”. If I think of one more use for figs this season, I might actually faint. Luckily, these beautiful fig jams are a very traditional way of using figs back home. Well this and also dehydrating them for use in the snowy winter months. The best snack my grandmother would offer …
Almond Blancmange with Caramelized Figs
The other day, I was reading about some recent research on the formation of memories. It turns out that a special protein, in the “taste center” of the cortex, is actually responsible for this process! Well, I am grateful for producing plenty of the PSD-95 (the name of that protein if you wanted to know). When I was about 7 …
Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops in Fig Sauce
It’s fig season already. I don’t remember eating figs back home until September, but it’s been too hot here and maybe that sped up the process. My parents-in-law have a few fig trees and every year, we get more figs than we – and our friends and family – can eat. This year, I had about 16 lbs at the …
Aromatic Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Sandwich
It’s been so hot and humid here lately, and I’m craving a refreshing light lunch. Halloumi is probably my favorite Cypriot cheese, and has been adopted by the entire levantine region. It’s a hard, somewhat salty cheese and has a high melting point, which makes it a good grill candidate. During the neon-colored 80’s, my family lived in Limassol, Cyprus. …
Pistachio and fruit stuffed blinis
The only thought that came to mind as I looked at this pointy huge fruit is: “Don’t judge a fruit by its skin.” When my dad brought it in, I have to admit I was a little hesitant to unwrap it. It’s called “durian“, and the sight of it would deter you from buying it at the market, but I …