easy recipe - Measuring Cups, Optional

One Pan Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Bake

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Chicken, Posts, Recipes, Vegetables & Sides

Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetables is one of my favorite comfort foods. Comfort food by definition is, ” food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” For most, that means lots of carbs and lots of sugar. For me, comfort food really does fit the Merriam Webster definition, that is, a traditional dish that brings back childhood memories. So what is it about One Pan Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Bake that makes me nostalgic? I have so many childhood memories of being at my Tayta’s around dinner time. She’d whip up her chicken and vegetable bake. She always had a way of making even the hardest dish seem easy to pull together. It must be all her years of cooking for 8 children. Yes, eight. The apartment always smelled amazing. It was wafting with aromas from a mix of garlic, onion and Arabic spices that made me practically drool as I waited not-so-patiently in the family room watching TV. (more…)

Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Tacos (Easy Crockpot Shredded Beef Recipe)

categories: Beef, Posts, Recipes

Slow cooker pulled beef tacos served in warm tortillas with fresh toppings

I’ve always heard about the wonders of the slow cooker. Pinterest is filled with Crockpot meal ideas, and friends have sworn by the “just throw everything in and let it cook” magic. But confession: until recently, I had never actually used a Crockpot myself. Shocking, I know.

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Nutella Cinnamon Rolls

categories: Breakfast, Desserts, Posts, Recipes

Last weekend – ironically on Valentine’s Day – the founder of the Ferrero company, Mr. Michele Ferrero died at age 89. Known as “the Father of Nutella” and “real life Willy Wonka,” Ferrero’s company introduced Nutella, Kinder Eggs and Ferrero Rocher, making the world a sweeter, happier place.

I have to say, I was into Nutella before it became a thing here in the U.S. over the last few years. Nutella on toast for breakfast wasn’t unheard of during my childhood and was pretty much our substitute for peanut butter; that’s not to say we didn’t stock peanut butter jars in our pantry. But let’s just say, I was sneaking spoonfuls of Nutella in the middle of the night long before the food bloggers picked it up as the latest and greatest. (more…)

Turkey Bacon Hearts

categories: Breakfast, Posts, Recipes

Valentine’s Day has come and gone. And while everyone focuses on their significant others (boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives), Valentine’s Day is extra special in our family because it’s Tayta’s Birthday. (more…)

Hareeseh [Semolina Cake]

categories: Desserts, Posts, Recipes

You know that moment of excitement and apprehension when you’ve tried to bake something and you go to share it with your grandmother, certain she’s going to be so proud of your work? Well, that happened about three years ago when I first tried to make Hareeseh. I was so excited to bring her a sample of my baking that I could even envision her smiling and telling me what a great job I did. (more…)

Bamiya [Okra Stew]

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Lamb, Posts, Recipes, Stews

I always feel an immense sense of accomplishment when I make Arabic food and it tastes like my mom’s cooking. Likely because Arabic food only tastes good when my mom or tayta make it, in my personal opinion. So when I realized we had some fresh okra hanging out in the fridge, I decided to try a very well known Arabic dish; Bamiya. Bamiya is basically okra stew.

Don’t let the okra deter you. Most people don’t like it because it can get pretty slimy. But if you prepare the okra properly, I promise you a slime-free meal. (more…)