I never was a big fan of eggplants until recent years. For some time, I couldn’t shake the memory of being forced to eat some awful eggplant dish at boarding school. We weren’t allowed to leave the table until our plate was finished, so my brother and I would pretend to eat it and stuff the food in our uniform …
Baby Arugula and Sunflower Sprouts Salad with Grilled Shrimp and a Conadria Fig Vinaigrette
Three more weeks until school is in session and that means more jumping, playing, and running with my son (and my daughter). I look at him in amazement of the endless energy that exudes from him. He wears me down! So these days, I’m lucky to get a lunch break or even a snack, which usually consists of what they’re …
Minty Mango Coconut Gelato and a Mango Chocolate Soufflé
Summer is not kidding around. It’s incredibly hot around here and I find myself daydreaming about long gone days spent at the beaches of Limassol (Cyprus), enjoying the Mediterranean breeze, hanging out with friends all day long, then going home to clean up and heading right back out for a night of food – souvlakis and cola floats!! (wow! Makes …
A Rainbow Potato Salad
Potatoes. When life goes a little nuts, I like to de-stress with a simple and easy lunch with no fuss, just sticking with the basics. This salad has always been a staple in our home as kids. I don’t know if it’s a recipe that is popular all over Lebanon, but it sure is in my hometown. When all else …
Lebanese Fruit Cocktail with Fragrant Avocado and Mango Purées and Ashta
It doesn’t get any more “Summery” than this dessert. A very classic Lebanese concoction found at every street corner café in Beirut, blending local and regional fruits into a fresh and healthy dessert that you can really sink your teeth into. It’s an absolute favorite in our house, even for the kids. It was around 10:30 in the evening the …
Purslane and Thyme Pies – Flavors of Summer
With temperatures soaring in the 90s and 100s here in NC for the last few weeks, cooking is somewhat out the window. Instead we’re opting for lots of salads, sandwiches and light vegetarian meals. The kids are splish splashing in their inflatable fun world and I’m trying to keep my herbs and tomato plants hydrated and alive. Lebanese Summers in …
Fried Egg over Grilled Asparagus with a Herb Yogurt Sauce
I was having a conversation the other day with a friend of mine about how crazy our lives have become. We’re both mothers of two, and trying to juggle what seems to be a never-ending list of chores, doing it all with the relentless pressure to be perfect: a perfect mom, a perfect wife, a perfect friend, just perfect. What …
Herb Eggs in Fresh Tomato Sauce with Goat Cheese
There is nothing more enjoyable than a delicious breakfast and a hot cup of coffee. Eggs are my favorite breakfast item, they are so versatile and present a blank canvas to be embelished. This is a very traditional Lebanese breakfast, popular during the summers. It’s fresh, juicy and full of bold flavors. It’s a great way to use up your …
Yogurt and Grape Molasse Gelato
I have been thinking about this gelato for such a long time, and finally last week, I had the chance to experiment with the yogurt base before adding the molasses. After a couple of tries, I think I got to a really tasty, creamy gelato that highlights the special flavor of the grape molasses. This is a jar of molasses …
Grilled Zucchinis and Sea Scallops and Two Sauces
Hello June. Where has the time gone? School is out this week and it’s time for a break, so in a few days I pack the kids and a million of their necessities and we drive to Virginia to spend some time with my family. It’s always fun there, lots of friends and family, and in Lebanese that translates to …