Growing up by the Mediterranean Sea had naturally filled my childhood summers with beach and watermelon memories. Living minutes away from the beach made almost every summer day a beach day. Someone would grab the towels the other would grab the ... continue reading...
Coffee Pecan Granita Summer Drink
A wise man once said: ‘If you got a Blender, you got yourself a great Summer Drink!’ …Actually I just made it up…but it’s pretty wise. :) Every year we spend a good chunk of our summer time in Israel. Israel is such a great place for a vacation – ... continue reading...
Beetslaw – a Super Healthy Summer Crunch
I LOVE beets! Besides being so darn BEETiful :) and beyond their sweet taste, they have super health powers! Loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibers, beets are good for your liver, kidneys and even your bones. Among the long list of super health ... continue reading...
Rolled Eggplants – A Promise I Can Keep
A Promise is a Promise… Today, I am happily keeping my eggplant promise to continue proving how wonderful eggplants truly are… So just in case you are not convinced yet, I have a feeling that this is the dish for you! Eggplant, which I once ... continue reading...
Pesto – The Green “Go” for Flavor Balance
This time it is going back to basics with perhaps the No.1 Paste out there. The ingredients are simple and so is the technique; however, this bright, green flavor bomb cannot be ignored… And besides, it is never a bad idea to get your Pesto just ... continue reading...
H’raime – Spicy Tunisian Fish Dish with Fried Lemons
Oh what a dish! This one is another Friday night tradition in our home…and beyond the memories and the tradition, this fish is one of the BEST tasting dish out there... It didn’t take long for this well-known delicious North-African fish dish to ... continue reading...
Happy Sabich Sandwich on Israel’s Birthday…
It is never easy for me to choose just ONE dish that symbolizes Israel the most… Israeli cuisine, just like its culture, is a combination of ancient yet dynamic. It is also fresh and "in your face" with strong Middle Eastern flavors that welcome ... continue reading...
Crepes – An Elegant Breakfast Made Simple
Whenever I am in need of an indulgent breakfast…I make crepes. They are so elegant and delicate when it comes to look and taste, but crepes actually have a strong influence on whoever is facing them… Try it -- just put a plate of crepes in front of ... continue reading...
“…P is for Pasta…” – Peppers, Parmesan and Parsley Pene Pasta
I LOVE making pasta dishes! It is easy, quick, satisfying and you can personalize it anyway you like… This is probably why we have “pasta night” at least once a week. When my daughters were in preschool and were introduced to the ABCs, they use to ... continue reading...
Mehalta – The “Mama of All Tunisian Dishes”
Mehalta is one of a kind Tunisian dish. To me it is the “Mama of all Tunisian dishes” and not only because it calls for the largest pot in the house. Take a look at the ingredient list- it is pretty much the closest thing to nature you’ll ever put in ... continue reading...
Happy National Cheese Ball Day! :)
If you need to gather a group and keep them together – this is exactly what you need… These cheesy balls are a “go to” family snack that keeps everybody coming back for more. This snack is HUGE hit in our house and I find myself usually making them ... continue reading...
Tiramisu Matzah Cake with Caramelized Pecans – Passover Heaven
People think I’m weird when I tell them I LOVE Pesach (Passover) for its food. I really do! I think Matzahs are such great canvas to create all kind of yummy dishes... This time matzahs really found their True Destiny! Dipped in a delicious mocha ... continue reading...
Iraqi Charoset – a Sweet Memory
First thing’s first… If this is the first time you’re hearing the word “Charoset”, here is a short recap: One of the Passover Seder Plate items is Charoset. It is a sweet paste usually made out of fruits, nuts and spices; its color, texture and ... continue reading...
Matzah Eggrolls – Discovering Freedom in a Journey to the Promised Land…of Food
Freedom and creativity naturally go together… Yet, sometimes the best creative ideas are born when you are restricted or limited … This holiday in which we were delivered from slavery, highlights the concept of freedom; however, when it comes to ... continue reading...
Cloudy with a Chance of Matzo Balls – Kuftaot
My Savta (grandma) made Kuftaot (Matzo balls) once a year for our holiday Pesach (Passover). I never had her official recipe, so I had to recreate this recipe throughout the years based on my taste memories. For years now we’ve annually enjoyed ... continue reading...
The Best Fluffy Mashed Cauliflower with a Mediterranean Twist
I love cauliflower! Once upon a post I fondly called cauliflower a Diva :) mainly because its elegant and glorious looks. But really there’s another side to this diva that I discovered on the first time I was introduced to mashed cauliflower. On ... continue reading...
Green Olives in Tomato Sauce – a Love Story
Olives and tomato sauce …it is obvious that these two pretty much belong together... And it just happens to be that this traditional Tunisian dish re-coined the term “marry right”. You see, when it comes to tomato sauce, the term “marry right” gets ... continue reading...
Roasted Eggplant with Parsley Pesto and Tehina – the Story Continues…
Once Upon a Post… I introduced you to Eggplant a.k.a “Mr. Popular” in a delicious eggplant spread. From then I made an eggplant promise to continue attesting the true glory of eggplants by sharing additional dishes. And since I only make promises I ... continue reading...
Spicy Chickpeas – Be my Snack Anytime…
Talking about an easy snack… These chickpeas usually ‘dress up’ my homemade Hummus, but being salty, spicy, crispy and soft at the same time, they are a great snack on their own. They are so tasty that if I do need them to decorate the Hummus dish, ... continue reading...
Basic Hummus – A culinary evidence that our world is getting smaller
Everybody is talking about how our world is getting smaller; clearly, I love how it all affects our culinary world. In my Mediterranean (Middle Eastern?) eyes, Hummus has already taken over the world and has quickly become common knowledge; it can be ... continue reading...
Oznei Haman – Old Fashion Hamantashen Cookies – The Real Deal!
Oznei Haman or Hamantashen; the Hebrew refers to the ear of Haman, the Yiddish refers to the pocket… Regardless of what you call these yummy triangle Purim cookies, to so many they are a sweet holiday memory that appears every year. There’s always a ... continue reading...
Tomato-Mozzarella-Basil Puff Pastry Hamantashen
Even a tradition-lover like myself deviates from hardcore tradition sometimes… This Hamantashen Jewish holiday (Purim) cookie just got transformed into a scrumptious and stunning appetizer. Taking the tradition out of the Hamantashen cookie made ... continue reading...
Pickled Vegetables – They have their own “Theory of Relativity”
The last time I spoke to pickles :) they told me they want people to start taking them more seriously … and so they need you to know that even pickles have their own “Theory of Relativity”. Now, don’t be intimidated; this “Pickles’ Theory of ... continue reading...
S’lata Lubia – Simple Green Beans
Green beans are a regular and a very welcomed product in Tunisian cuisine and in my Savta’s (grandma) kitchen in particular. Green beans make their appearance in many Tunisian dishes. One of my first kitchen jobs when I was a child was to cut the ... continue reading...
Roasted Cauliflower – Low Maintenance Diva
Cauliflower - what a DIVA! :) and just like a diva, it has everything within: looks and taste and we really don’t have to add much to it. This preparation is as simple as it gets and for that I can’t even call it a recipe. After you try it, you ... continue reading...
Tehina – #1 Middle Eastern Secret Sauce
I called this Middle Eastern secret sauce, but it is not really secretive… EVERYBODY (in Israel for sure) knows and eats Tehina all the time, but it is so magical! Tehina has the perfect smooth sauce consistency and with its AMAZING Middle Easterny ... continue reading...
We Go Way Back… Nutella Cookies
My relationship with Nutella goes way back… You see, the sight of children at school with chocolate spread sandwiches for snack/lunch was and is still a common thing in Israel. Since childhood and to this day Nutella is on my bread (and definitely ... continue reading...
Preserved Lemons – Tunisian “Taste Bomb”
I remember the little glass jar of preserved lemons; whenever I opened the refrigerator door, it was always there. My aba (father) used it on almost everything… Besides being a Superman, my Aba is also a super sandwich maker: Even at his hungriest ... continue reading...
Hamin (Shabbat T’fina) – Slow Cooked Stew with Wheat Berries Dish (in a cooking bag)
Hamin is a popular Israeli/Jewish dish associated with home and family gathering time. Hamin literally means heat and refers to its slow and long cooking method. True to its name, Hamin offers the warmth feelings of home and the coziness of a family ... continue reading...
Halva-Pistachio Frozen Mousse Cake
Back in the days when I was a child in Israel, Halva was the official sweet treat. This sweet treat made from Tehina (aka sesame paste) and sugar, holds so many of my sweet childhood memories. I always was and still am crazy about Halva's sweet ... continue reading...
