Appetizers

Toasted Pita Nachos

categories: Appetizers, Posts, Recipes

Toasted Pita Nachos

It’s summer time, and quick, easy to throw together meals are the name of the game. Honestly, being a one-woman show means that most nights I just want to throw some popcorn on the stovetop and cozy up on the couch with a massive bowl of popped popcorn and an ice cold Diet Coke. I won’t tell you how many nights I’ve done that … there’s room for much judgment.

On the days when popcorn and Diet Coke just isn’t going to cut it, I crave easy-to-make snack-like dinners. I’m a snacker {could you tell when I mentioned popcorn for dinner?} I could live on Snack Boards. This is why I’m so in love with these toasted pita nachos. (more…)

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Tayta’s Pink Pickled Turnips

categories: Appetizers, Posts, Recipes, Snacks

Pickled Turnips

Pickled Turnips, or Tayta’s Pink Pickled Turnips, as I like to call them, are a staple at our house. Usually, pickled turnips are served alongside olives and green pickles at the dinner table. They’re added to chicken and beef Shawarma sandwiches, falafel, and (like us) placed in a small dish at the table to be eaten with just about anything. If you haven’t had them, you are in for a serious treat!

After I took down rough notes of my Tayta’s recipe, I scoured the internet looking to see what other people have done. Some recipes call for garlic and bay leaves, another even suggested adding a chili pepper. But why change something that is so simple and so good? I may be a little biased, but my Tayta’s Pickled Turnips are the best pickled turnips. (more…)

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Middle Eastern Puff Pastry Meat Pies

categories: Appetizers, Arabic Food Made Easy, Breads, Posts, Recipes

Puff Pastry Meat Pie

I’m all about simplicity. Mainly simplicity when it comes to cooking. Because really, who wants to spend more time making delicious food, like let’s say middle eastern meat pies, when you can cut that time in half? This girl right here. That’s me! I have no patience. I openly admit it. It’s something I’ve been actively working on for 30 years. However, the truth is, patience does not come easily to me. I have a hard time waiting for just about anything. So it’s no surprise that bread making is a serious test of my patience. I have made various breads in the past. I tested out some sesame bread that didn’t make it onto the blog, as well as Zaatar Bread, and Irish Soda Bread. (more…)

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Creamy Artichoke Spread

categories: Appetizers, Posts, Recipes, Snacks

Creamy Artichoke Spread

Remember that week I spent in Rome I’m still eating my way through all the goodies I brought back.

While in Rome, I stopped at the local grocery store The Coop. It was perfect because that’s where I bought my 25oz bottle of extra virgin olive oil, that I’m still using. I also made my way to the spreads section of the store. There, I found black olive tapenade, capers in chunky salt and it’s also there I discovered Artichoke Pate. While the jar and ingredients were in Italian, I managed to google translate my way through. I wish I had brought a jar back home with me. Since I wasn’t able to, I decided to make my own artichoke spread with fresh ingredients. (more…)

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Italian Inspired Garlic Olive Oil Bruschetta

categories: Appetizers, Posts, Recipes, Snacks

Italian bruschetta

I just got back from a four day trip to Rome, Italy where I ate, walked, ate, visited some historic sites, ate, shopped, did tons of work for my real job, and ate some more. I enjoyed every minute of Rome. For a full recap of my week in Rome with photos, videos and my own commentary, check out last week’s This Week on Instagram post. (more…)

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How to Build the Ultimate Charcuterie

categories: Appetizers, Posts, Recipes

Ultimate Charcuterie

As you all know, I’ve been recipe testing and planning my dinner party menu for over a month. Partially because I’m an over-planner and partially because I was really looking forward to wowing my friends with my culinary abilities. I’ll admit, I kind of wowed myself with my main dish – Seafood Paella.  Dinner party planning takes a lot of thought, and I learned so many things from my mom and all her dinner parties. She sets timers on her phone the day of to keep her on a timeline for food prep. That’s dedication. I’m not quite at the mom-level of dinner party planning and execution, but I’m sure in time I’ll get there. I did inherit some of her organization skills. (more…)