The first time I made this salad was last summer for a cookout at my parents’ house before Mike and I left for Kuwait. I wanted to bring a hearty salad, and I was trying to clean out my pantry and fridge when I found a bag of bulgur wheat in the pantry and a bottle of pomegranate molasses in the fridge. For some reason I thought combining the two in one dish was the best idea ever. As strange as this pairing might sound, it is pretty fantastic....
Sweet Honey-Pomegranate Grilled Cheese
I don’t remember the first (edible) recipe I ever made, but I remember what it was for my brother: grilled cheese. He was about 10 and home alone for the first time. Of course, despite orders not to, he cooked for himself. My mom said she got home and he ran over to her, saying he figured out the secret trick to the best grilled cheese in the world. (A mighty tall claim for a 10-year-old!) My mom, who was more than a little intrigued, smiled and asked What? Grinning like the Cheshire cat, my brother exclaimed You have to slap the cheese back and […]...
Date, Walnut, and Blue Cheese Ball
Around the holidays, I’ve noticed that in addition to loads of requests for cookie recipes, new appetizer ideas are always high in demand. Parties are frequent, and what better to serve than a spread of appetizers where people can come and go as they munch and chat, eating little bites from their favorite dishes....
Mini Maple-Cinnamon-Walnut Turnover Cookies
This year I wanted to come up with a healthier holiday cookie that doesn’t necessarily taste healthy. Something that I could serve to my family for dessert along with tea and coffee at one of my parents’ family dinners and have people be satisfied with dessert – not left wanting something else. I’ve been in the mood for Ma’amoul, which are Middle Eastern filled cookies. Perhaps the most common filling for these cookies is dates, but my mother-in-law also makes versions with walnuts and pistachios. For the walnut, she makes two different flavors: 1) cinnamon and 2) rose and orange blossom water-scented. The cinnamon-walnut are […]...
Fudgy Walnut Spread (And so much more!)
This is the Fudgy Walnut Spread thinned out with a little milk. It’s very ganache-like, and in addition to being a delicious spread, it is also wonderful as a frosting for cupcakes! Every once in a while I get a really good idea that just seems to fall into my head (usually via a dream…and yes, that really happens, lol), or fall into my lap (usually via a kitchen mishap). This recipe was sort-of the latter. It started with a big bag of beautiful walnuts that I received from a lovely blog reader, Letty. (Thank you, Letty…the walnuts are incredible!)...
Date Loaf Cake
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, has just begun; this means that for a whole month Mike and I won’t be eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. (I will still be posting regularly though — I have quite the backlog to share with you!) The point is to teach you patience, discipline, and empathy for others who aren’t as fortunate. I have to say, it really works…food and drink (especially cold water!) never taste as good the rest of the year as they do during Ramadan....
Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies (aka Oatmeal Scotchies)
Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies (also called Oatmeal Scotchies and Oatmeal Scotch Chippers) are a delicious pairing of sweet butterscotch chips, nutty walnuts, and hearty oats! Another summer gone, and gosh, it went fast! I remember as a kid, summers seemed to be never-ending. I’d spend hours each day riding my bike, swimming, or exploring, only surfacing to eat and sleep....
Bananas Foster Oats
Bananas Foster Oats turns a classic dessert into a healthy breakfast! Ok, I confess…I made this recipe a long time ago. (Actually, I made it recently too, but that’s because I make it all the time; I took these pictures when I made this a really long time ago.) At the time I felt like I had just posted a whole slew of oatmeal recipes, and lest you all see me for the oatmeal junkie I am, I was planning to withhold this recipe for a few weeks in hopes that you wouldn’t catch on to my oatmeal addiction. (And yes, now I’ve gone and […]...
Beet Greens Pasta with Walnuts and Parmesan Cheese
Funny story about this pasta…the other day my friend Brandy (none other than the mastermind behind the beautiful blog Nutmeg Nanny) and I were talking on the phone. We happened to both post Marzipan Hearts within two days of each other without knowing beforehand what the other was posting, and Brandy called me to let me know. She asked what I was posting next, jokingly saying that she’ll be sure to post the same thing. I started laughing and told her that my next post will be for Beet Greens Pasta. She laughed too, and I promised her it’s not as off-putting as it sounds (in […]...
Valentine’s Day Menu: Strawberry Spritzers and Savory Strawberry Salad
First up in our fancy homemade Valentine’s Day meal are the cute little drinks and the salad. The two are tied together through strawberry slices, which are perfect for Valentine’s Day since they look just like sweet little hearts. The Strawberry Spritzers are so easy to make that it isn’t even really a recipe…and for very little effort you get something that is absolutely adorable! I made a caramelized onion dressing to serve with the salad (because I also use caramelized onion for the pasta and beef recipes), but you could make it even easier and use your favorite prepared salad dressing…I think anything with a […]...