Posts

Salmon Burgers

Salmon Burger

At the Fayyad household, when the one doing the cooking goes on a diet, everyone goes on diet– whether they like it or not. Diet is a harsh word. Really, it’s making healthier food choices; in essence cutting the processed foods, oils and sugars.

I’m conscious of the boys, who require carbs to feel full. They made it pretty obvious that the diet menu isn’t going to work for them when I whipped up salmon burgers, sans burger buns. There were looks of confusion, “why would you make burgers without burger buns,” was uttered multiple times as the table was being set and a mad scramble to find any kind of bread to accompany the patties. Out of burger buns, they settled on toasted, sliced bread. I did throw shoestring fries in the oven for them, thinking that would be enough processed food for them not to realize that I was feeding them healthy food. (more…)

Date Truffles

Date Truffles_2

We’re about one-third of the way through Ramadan, and while it hasn’t taken too much of a toll on me, I have been indulging in my daily afternoon naps. I have to say, this is pretty much the only time of year I’m able to take a nap mid-day – and two-hour naps at that! You’d think that would mess up my sleep schedule, and in a way it has, but not too extremely. (more…)

Muhallabiyeh [Arabic Pudding]

Muhallabiyeh

There’s something about Arabic desserts that I love. If I had to choose between any Arabic sweet and a piece of cake, the Arabic sweet usually wins out. One of my favorites [there really are too many to name] is Muhallabiyeh مهلبية. I vividly remember eating Muhallabiyeh out of small chilled bowls as a child at my Tayta’s house. So sweet, so cold, and so delicious. No one makes the dessert quite like my Tayta. (more…)

Samboosa [Meat and Cheese Filled Pastries]

Samboosa

Ramadan Kareem!

Yesterday marked the first day of the holy month of Ramadan – where billions of people around the world refrain from food and drink from sunrise until sunset for 29-30 days based on the lunar calendar. It is a time to reflect on your life, reconnect with god and be thankful for everything you have, most notably a kitchen full of food (which those less fortunate do not have the luxury of having). (more…)

Cream Puff Cake

Cream Puff cake

Every occasion is an excuse to craft. At least, that’s my philosophy.

My mom’s birthday at the end of June marks the last of our June festivities. But that’s not to say we don’t go all out! The minimum in our household is a family birthday celebration that includes singing happy birthday and a birthday cake. As the siblings have gotten older, that’s the least we can dedicate to our parents – you know, those people who brought us into this world and spent years raising us. They deserve to tell us our birth story and fawn over us for a couple hours. (more…)