Okay, so you’re going to love this. It’s a type of homemade Lebanese cheese that is easy to make and super flavorful. It is different from labneh (which is simply strained yogurt) in that it is cooked. It’s more along the lines of a homemade Italian ricotta or Indian paneer, only instead of being madeContinue reading “Shanklish!”
Category Archives: Mediterranean Cuisine
Pizza Primavera (yum!)…cooking like it’s springtime even if the weather won’t cooperate
I made this for dinner tonight and it was another one of those meals where you look in the fridge and realize there’s not much there. In this case I usually either put it (whatever I happen to have) on a pizza, make a sandwich out of it, or toss it with pasta (which isContinue reading “Pizza Primavera (yum!)…cooking like it’s springtime even if the weather won’t cooperate”
Two Mediterranean Inspired Recipes
These two recipes are both easy to make and really delicious (but don’t I say that all the time). And, other than boiling the pasta for the stew and caramelizing onions for the rice, these are both made in a single pot (easy cleanup). The stew (ragu) that is pictured below (second recipe) was madeContinue reading “Two Mediterranean Inspired Recipes”
Pan-Roast Spiced Chicken with Golden Beets, Potato, Asparagus, and Orange…
There really is nothing more satisfying to me when I cook at home than being able to do it all in one pot or skillet. This (pictured) is something I made for my son and I for dinner this evening. And this post is really more about a method rather than it is an actualContinue reading “Pan-Roast Spiced Chicken with Golden Beets, Potato, Asparagus, and Orange…”
Shawarma Chicken!
So of course I always say how easy and delicious the recipes that I post are (at least most of them) but this time I really mean it. This is a play on the classic shawarma chick (or beef or lamb) that you find at any Middle Eastern or Turkish restaurant. It is basically chickenContinue reading “Shawarma Chicken!”
Spicy Lebanese-Style Whole Wheat Spinach and Toasted Walnut Pies (Yum!)
This is a variation on the classic Middle Eastern fatayer (savory pie). These are slightly different in a few ways. One is that rather than using white refined flour for the dough I used 100% whole wheat (delicious). I also used an egg wash on the dough and added sesame seeds. And in the fillingContinue reading “Spicy Lebanese-Style Whole Wheat Spinach and Toasted Walnut Pies (Yum!)”
Hummus with Fresh Herbs, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Seven-Spice Chicken
This is something I made for an employee meal today. It is really, really delicious (I ate so much I wished I had a bed to take a nap afterwards) and of course really simple to make. It is basically a hummus recipe layered (loaded, actually) with all sorts of good things. But the prize,Continue reading “Hummus with Fresh Herbs, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Seven-Spice Chicken”
Chickpea and Haricots Verts Falafel with Spicy Roast Pepper Taratoor Sauce (Yum!)
So yes, these little vegetarian/vegan nuggets are as good as they look (bet you can’t eat just one). And yes (as usual) they are really simple–exceedingly simple–to make. They are not only a play on the classic falafel and taratoor sauce (chickpea fritters and sesame-garlic sauce), they are actually a variation of an earlier postContinue reading “Chickpea and Haricots Verts Falafel with Spicy Roast Pepper Taratoor Sauce (Yum!)”
A Recipe for Spring (whether it feels like spring or not)
So yes it is officially spring, but no–like much of the country–it does not feel like it. Nonetheless, I’m cooking as if it is. This is a really simple and really delicious recipe for stove-top braised asparagus. It’s really just a variation of any of my aglio e olio recipes…but with a couple more steps.Continue reading “A Recipe for Spring (whether it feels like spring or not)”
Pan-Roast Salmon with Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, Lemon, and Hot Pepper
Okay…so I know I say this all the time. But this is really easy to make (one step, really) and is as delicious as it looks. The recipe below is just a guide, use whatever seasonings or vegetables you like. There are a couple key things to remember though. One is to make sure theContinue reading “Pan-Roast Salmon with Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, Lemon, and Hot Pepper”
Tuna and Chickpea Meat(less) Balls
Is it just me or are foods that are ground, seasoned, and then shaped into balls or patties really delicious. Versatile, too. These are a play on the classic fish meatballs found in Mediterranean countries; in this recipe I substituted half the amount of fish with chickpeas. And I have to say the outcome was/isContinue reading “Tuna and Chickpea Meat(less) Balls”
Two Loaves and a Pie…
This evening I made a couple loaves of honey-whole wheat bread, and as is sometimes the case–like tonight–I pinched off a piece of the dough to make a pizza for dinner (some believe that this was actually the origin of pizza…the bakers made themselves a little something to eat while the rest of theContinue reading “Two Loaves and a Pie…”
Verdure aglio e olio (due ricette)
Okay. By now–if you’ve been to this blog before–you know that I like things cooked with olive oil and garlic. A lot. I could eat it in variation nearly every day…and I almost do. I posted a similar recipe about a month ago but this combo was too good not to share…whole wheat penne withContinue reading “Verdure aglio e olio (due ricette)”
Middle Eastern Inspired Fried Chicken
This is a variation on traditional American-style fried chicken in a few ways. Firstly, there are no bones in the chicken legs (they cook quicker with the bones removed and are much more flavorful than the breast). Also, the chicken is first marinated in yogurt, herbs, and spices, then dredged in whole wheat flour, whichContinue reading “Middle Eastern Inspired Fried Chicken”
Turkey Meatballs with Red Pepper, Green Onion, Jalapeño, and Feta
These tasty little nuggets are a variation on a theme…I used turkey for this recipe but they can be made with nearly any protein you like (meat, fish, or fowl). They are really delicious but the best part is how easy they are to make…mix everything together and cook them. Simple as that. Turkey MeatballsContinue reading “Turkey Meatballs with Red Pepper, Green Onion, Jalapeño, and Feta”
Baked Lamb Ragù with Macaroni and Three Cheeses
So I have to start this post off with a word that comes to mind…Yum! Geeze o’ man is this delicious; I made this tonight for dinner for my son and myself. This is the type of recipe that can be tailored to your own tastes. It would work equally well, for example, with beefContinue reading “Baked Lamb Ragù with Macaroni and Three Cheeses”
Two Recipes Made for Each Other…
I made these tonight for my son and myself…Penne and Halibut Fra Diavolo and Spaghetti Squash Aglio e Olio. How was it, you may be wondering? Let’s just say there is not much left 🙂 Delicious. Both recipes are really easy to make and bursting with flavor. If you want more pic and the historyContinue reading “Two Recipes Made for Each Other…”
Lebanese-Inspired Brown Rice Pilaf with Lamb, Vermicelli, and Green Beans
This is a really colorful, fragrant, and delicious rice dish. In the recipe I used lamb, but it could just as well be made with beef or chicken (or vegetarian). The only difference(s) from the recipe pictured and the one listed below is that I also added a pinch of turmeric to the rice withContinue reading “Lebanese-Inspired Brown Rice Pilaf with Lamb, Vermicelli, and Green Beans”
Parmesan and Black Pepper Grissini
Pencil-thin breadsticks…grissini. Beautiful, aren’t they? Easy to make, too. These are coated with Parmesan and black pepper making them even more tasty. But you may be wondering why I am making bread with refined flour (opposed to whole wheat). Well, I do now and again. But the real reason is that I just received thisContinue reading “Parmesan and Black Pepper Grissini”
Two Plus Pi…
I bake bread about once a week, sometimes more frequently. And most often it is made with whole wheat flour. Sometimes the bread making coincides with dinner time, as it did tonight. So after the first rise I will sometimes pinch a piece of the dough off and make a small pizza for dinner asContinue reading “Two Plus Pi…”
Urban Simplicty 