Red pepper hummus
This red pepper hummus came about when I had roasted a few peppers and did not know what to do with them. I was making a classic hummus, the chickpeas were getting puréed in the food processor and I just threw all my peppers in there, hoping that the...
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Grape molasses and almond shortbread cookies
There is a village called Barouk in the Shouf mountains in which I discovered homemade pastries made by the store owner’s mother and his sisters. These cookies, called lawzieh (from lawz, almond) are a traditional almond shortbread cookie very popular in that region. INGREDIENTS: 125 g. unsalted butter (4 oz.) at room temperature 1...
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Pink beans salad
Time for salads, especially when ready in minutes; this one was put together on the spur-of-the-moment before taking a dip in the pool (remember, wait one hour before swimming after a meal). Feta was shipped from Greece but the beans are local and very pretty when raw, streaked with...
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Citrus muffins
I am naming these Marie’s cakes after my little niece who helped me make them; she is six and is passionate about baking.; in fact, Marie is already planning the name of her future restaurant. She was eager to help every step of the way and asked a question...
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Fresh hazelnuts
The greengrocer in Beirut is the sweetest man; in his mid to late eighties and quite a flirt. If I say, “these cherries look so pretty!”, he answers “not as pretty as you!”, etc. In any case, he had these fresh hazelnuts on display and told me to just...
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Mouloukhieh
This is mouloukhieh; a very popular green in Lebanon and Egypt (where it originated). Mouloukhieh is also known as corchorus olitorius, jew’s mallow, corette (in French) and Asian names (popular as a tea in Japan), or country-style American names like bush okra. It is easy to grow from seeds,...
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Mysterious green
There is a story associated with this green; the kedive (king) of Egypt loved it so much that was all he ever ate; it is told that he would forbid his subjects from enjoying it. One time he was swimming in the Nile and he never came back. This...
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Raspberry ice-cream
Hot, muggy days cause me to feel lazy in the kitchen. Making dessert better not be too elaborate, or require more than a few ingredients; this ice-cream which my mother used to make, is the simplest, creamiest, most delicious frozen concoction you can make, provided you own a blender...
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Chard tart
I have found myself in Lebanon in times when a war was raging (many times); the latest crisis occurred 36 hours ago when the internet was cut off in the entire country for two full days. I mean, can anything be worse than that for a blogger? When I...
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