Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I’m not even 1% Irish, but I love anything worth celebrating. And hey, why not! The DC Metro area is currently covered in snow. Yes, Mid-March and spring doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight (minus the gorgeous 65F day we had on Saturday). Though the federal government is closed for the day, I threw on my favorite pair of jeans, a comfortable top and topped the festive look off with a green headband, then got to baking. (more…)
Thanksgiving at the Fayyad household is an occasion not to be missed. Excluding a couple years – I can count them on one hand – Thanksgiving has always been held at my parents’ house. Preparation begins around 6am, when my mom becomes one with the turkey and trimmings. She might as well block off the kitchen and put up a “DO NOT ENTER” sign.
Mom’s hard work is far from unappreciated. No one does thanksgiving like momma Debs. The “Thank you’s” begin when the food is set out and end when everyone leaves. We generally have so much food, we have to set it out buffet style, and have leftovers for days. It’s all about family – aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins’ kids. So you can just imagine that even though I’m way over 21, I’m still required to sit at “the kids table.” (more…)
In December 2010, my mom and I took a mother-daughter vacation in Europe. We took advantage of Christmas break to tour four European countries in the span of two weeks.
We started our adventure in Italy, starting in historic Rome and made our way to Venice and Florence, where we splurged on Italian leather, gelato and espresso. Then we spent some time in Switzerland, mainly Lugano, and Lucerne where we spent Christmas Eve and reveled in Swiss breads, cheese and chocolates. We made our way through the snowy Swiss Alps to Paris, where we spent magical nights at the Eiffel Tower and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. From Paris, we took the Eurostar to London. We extended our stay to spend New Year’s Eve in Westminster to watch the fireworks on the Thames with the backdrop of the London Eye. It was one of the best vacations I’ve taken. Aside from the historic wonders of each location, we were given the opportunity to try specialty foods in each of the four countries. (more…)
It’s been more than four months since my last blog post. Well, my blog has really been put on the back burner because I’ve been juggling work, travel and trying to drop a few pounds (26 pounds to be exact). And with losing weight for me, comes a disinterest in food overall. Imagine! As much as I enjoy cooking for those I love, they’ve been starving while I’ve been keeping my calorie intake to a minimum. I can’t give cutting back on eating all the credit. Believe it or not, I started running — yes on a treadmill, and yes at a pace faster than speed #3. The treadmill terrified me until I got to know a spunky girl with a big heart and a whole lot of attitude that made running on the treadmill look like fun. For those who know me personally, I would have never have used the words “treadmill” and “fun” in the same sentence. That combined with her constant pushing me to go to the gym after work really paid off. Just because I’ve lost a few pounds, doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying my fries and sweets. I’ll just have to get smart about consumption and quantity. (more…)
It’s been feeling a lot like summer around DC lately. Strange, considering it’s March and we had a very mild winter and practically no spring. Honestly, spring time is my favorite time of year. I may be a bit biased because my birthday is in April. What’s not to love though? The weather is usually amazing – warm during the day with little-to-no humidity, and there are more outdoor gatherings. When the weather gets warmer, I start to crave lighter foods. That mean, more fruits, veggies and salads. The following is an easy recipe for Spring Focaccia Bake.
Adapted from D’s Kitchen.
Spring Focaccia Bake Recipe
Ingredients
1 loaf Focaccia Bread, cubed (or frozen cheesy focaccia rolls, cubed) 1 tablespoon Olive oil 1 Buffalo Mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch squares 1 package fresh Basil, chopped 15-20 Grape Tomatoes, halvedDirections
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle olive oil on the bottom of a baking dish (or corning ware dish) Lay focaccia squares in the dish, top with mozzarella, and then tomatoes. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Top with basil and serve.
Servings: 4
Nutrition Information: Cals 436. Carbs 53g. Fat 18g. Protein 16g. Sodium 554mg.
