Kubbeh Batata [Potato Kubbeh]

Kubbeh Batata (1)

From personal experience, sometimes just eating someone else’s cooking is a lot easier than trying to recreate it yourself (even when you asked the auntie what she would do). So here’s my story.

Once upon an amazing work project ago, I helped set up a number of media interviews for a high-ranking general. As part of that whirlwind experience, I, along with a journalist and TV crew were invited over to the general’s home for a feature on his daily life, and lucky for us his wife was making dinner and made us try her home cooking. The spread was definitely something to write home about. But I distinctly remember trying something I’d never had before – Kubbeh Batata. Well, that’s not true. I’ve had Kubbeh Batata in the form of a casserole – Palestinian-style, if you will. But this was different. This was little balls of kubbeh with a potato dough stuffed with ground beef. It was amazing, and I’ve only had it a handful of times after that, when I’m treated to Iraqi take out. (more…)

Olive Oil Zaatar Bread

Olive oil Zaatar-Bread

Baking is an exact science. It’s exact measurements with little room for experimentation. That’s not to say it can’t be done … there’s just a higher probability of making a mistake and essentially ruining your entire baked good. In conclusion –you guessed it—measuring cups are definitely NOT optional when it comes to baking. (more…)

Cashew Butter

Cahew Butter

Move over almond butter, there’s a new kid on the block. Like all things, fashion and food alike, we go through phases of fascination – or fads. We went through the carb-free Atkins phase, the “I must be allergic to gluten” phase, the cupcakes are the new dessert phase; we’re still in the gourmet donut phase, Pho everything phase, and don’t forget about the Nutella and Biscoff phases. Like all great food phases, we indulge until there’s something better. (more…)

Pistachio Skillet Cake

Pistachio Skillet Cake

Every so often I get so distracted by everything else going on in my life, that I completely slack off and procrastinate posting on the blog… and for that I’m sorry! That’s not to say I haven’t been busy cooking/baking and working on numerous DIY projects. I just haven’t had the discipline to sit down and write about them.

If you want to keep up, please follow the blog on Instagram I promise I post all my experiments on there. (more…)

Crockpot BBQ Beef

BBQ Beef

I’ve wanted to make BBQ something for a while now. At first, I thought I’d take a stab at BBQ Beef Ribs and invite the girls over. That didn’t happen – mostly because weekday work schedules are largely unpredictable and when the weekend rolls around, I’d much rather have someone else prepare food for me (RE: eat out).

A friend graciously invited our friend group over for a Super Bowl party, giving me the perfect excuse to try out BBQ Beef in the crockpot. I mean, sure, it’s the middle of winter, but BBQ and Super Bowl pretty much go hand-in-hand, kind of like Super Bowl and wings. I will admit, I’m not a huge sports fan. However, any excuse for a social gathering that involves food and shisha, you can count me in. (more…)

S’mores Bark

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A little less than a month ago – it was October – I had this really great plan to have the girls over for a fire pit night. The weather was great for a random October night, and we have a fire pit at home. The boys (and by boys I’m referring to my brothers) usually take full advantage, inviting their friends over to sit around and hang out. I was really excited about the whole thing, I bought the wood and even picked up s’mores ingredients so we could roast marshmallows and sip mint tea. Unfortunately, the plans unraveled and we ended up at a coffee shop somewhere. (more…)