I have a pretty bad cold, so I decided that I needed some real Chicken Soup for the soul…..fragrant, comforting, and warm. There is some research that proves that chicken soup does actually provide some relief for colds. This soup has lots of garlic, onion, and parsley. I like to add ginger and hot pepper to soup when one of us has a cold … [Read more…]
Mediterranean Meatballs with Tahini Sauce (Kofta with Tahini)
Kofta 1 pound ground beef (or lamb or turkey) half a small onion, finely minced or grated finely chopped parsley 1-2 cloves garlic, minced spices – ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of : allspice, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon or nutmeg, paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon cooking oil of your choice Combine all kofta ingredients in a bowl, and … [Read more…]
Savory Baked Winter Squash
I went to a local farm and garden center this past weekend. We got a haul of buttercup squash, acorn squash, and a cute little thing that my son asked me to get ….a Pokemon squash. Of course he would be interested in a squash with the same name as a cartoon character. Hey, whatever makes kids choose and eat healthy food is fine with me 🙂 It … [Read more…]
Cheesy Baked Zucchini, Mushroom, Spinach and Rice
This dish falls under the heading of “semi-homemade”. While I consider it very important to have a wide variety of from-scratch meals, it is also necessary to have a repertoire of dishes that are easy to put together for a busy weeknight. The “semi” part comes in the form of a spiced rice packet, and jarred marinara sauce. It is inspired by Eat. … [Read more…]
Simple Salad
When you have very fresh summer produce, it is a shame to cover the flavor with heavy, creamy dressing. I prefer the light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and the bright accent of lemon juice. The sumac adds another tangy layer of flavor. While the typical Levantine salad is finely chopped, being lazy every once in a while is perfectly fine. … [Read more…]
Warm Mediterranean Egg “Salad”
Today’s lunch is a warm egg salad, made with olive oil instead of the standard mayo, and spiced with zaatar and paprika. This is my favorite way to eat hard boiled eggs, and it doesn’t get easier than this. I sometimes omit the zaatar and paprika, and just add plenty of freshly cracked black pepper and salt. The fruitiness of the olive oil … [Read more…]
Quinoa Chickpea Pilaf
We love quinoa, especially since my kids eat it happily – always a plus. We had this tonight to go with a chicken and veggie tray bake, salad, and Greek yogurt. Quinoa Chickpea Pilaf ½ small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/4 cup parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 8 ounces chickpeas, … [Read more…]
Tomato Skillet
Since the week is hectic, with everyone dashing off to work, school, etc, we have just enough time to grab something quick for breakfast. Therefore, during the weekend, we typically like to linger and enjoy a Mediterranean style breakfast/brunch spread where we gather a few traditional ‘plates’ such as eggs, olives, zaatar, and tomato skillet. It … [Read more…]
Green Beans with Tomatoes and Olive Oil
qqWe got some gorgeous green beans at a local farm, along with ripe summer tomatoes. This is a classic Mediterranean dish. While some versions contain beef or lamb, I prefer the lighter, vegetarian version when I have fresh summer produce. I love this with warmed pita or flatbread.1 tablespoon canola oil 1 small onion, chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, … [Read more…]
Lentil Stew
8 ounces brown or green lentils, picked over if needed, and rinsed 1 carrot, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 cup spinach, roughly chopped 1/4 bunch of parsley, chopped 1 tomato, chopped 2 tablespoons oil 2 cups egg noodles 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon madras curry powder pinch of cinnamon or allspice Water or chicken broth Heat oil on … [Read more…]