History fascinates me (outside the classroom and lectures that is) and so does my Egyptian culture that I like to find out about the origin of how things came about with food, gestures and even introduction of foreign words into the language (that don't sound so foreign when you hear them from native speakers). This post will be the start of a series of blog posts about the history of the Middle East and Mediterranean's cuisine. I chose falafels to start with because they are one of the first things Continue Reading

Flavor Blast!!! That is what guacamole or hummus does to your taste buds. So, why not combine the two? They make for a great combination and taste even better with tortilla or pita chips. Pick whatever hummus style (plain, roasted garlic, etc) you like from the local supermarket and add mashed avocados to it. Here [...]

We attempted to update the website over the weekend unsuccessfully. We apologize if you were received an error or a 'not found error' during that time. But we're back now!

Hibiscus tea is a very refreshing drink for the summertime that comes from flower petals of a plant called Hibiscus sabdariffa. Continue Reading

Mother nature is still teasing us up here in the Northeastern states. What better way to stay warm than with a hot soup! Molokhia soup is popular in both winter and summer in Egypt and many parts of the Middle East and is usually served alongside chicken (or rabbit). Although it is bought frozen for [...]

Today, I show you two ways of making kofta: the traditional way and the easy way (though the traditional way is pretty simple). Both are quite popular in my house, especially in the summer when the grill is constantly used. They can be fried, baked or grilled and are extremely delicious when grilled. Continue Reading

This meat dish is popular in the Levantine region of the Mediterranean as well as Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey. Two layers of meat come together to make a dish that not only smells great but tastes even better. If you don't like frying you can make it into a pie! Continue Reading

Beef n' bamya are whats for dinner tonight (anyone remember those beef commercials from the '90s?). This recipe comes from Egypt where okra is called "bamya" or, in Southern Egypt, "wayka". This is one of my favorite dishes because of the beef (and the okra)! In this post, I show you how my mother makes "bamya". Continue Reading

The main ingredient in this recipe, tahini, comes from sesame seeds that are made into a paste. Tahini sauce is usually used in falafel sandwiches in the same manner that mayonnaise is used in subs (or heros or hoagies). Not only that, but it also acts as a sort of tartar sauce in some Mediterranean fish recipes. Personally, I use it like a dip sometimes (since it goes well with almost everything). Continue Reading

This delicious winter soup is eaten in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Continue Reading