Recipes

Eggplant Stew is Winter’s Memories
December 27, 2018

Eggplant Stew is Winter’s Memories

You can always tell when winter is in full swing and I don’t mean by the thick frost in the mornings. It’s the time of year where the nights get longer and the kids’ begging for five more minutes actually sounds reasonable. That is until you realize you have ten minutes to haul the kids to the car and drive them to school, while nagging them to put on their mittens and scarves. It’s that time of year where holiday cheer meets frosted cheeks, diets fade away for a few weeks and you would give anything for a cuddle beside the fireplace. While certainly not my most favorite season, winter has a special kind of charm for my family. Growing up, it was the one season that I could really see the small things my mother did that made me feel her love. Nightly showers were met with freshly warm and laundered towels. My mittens were always stuffed carefully into my jacket right in the mornings. Meals were always picked to fill my heart and tummy with warmth. Oatmeal with fruit in the mornings, a bowl of warm soup for lunch and always a hearty, thick warm dish for dinner. My mom was the best, I could never doubt the amount of love she poured into me growing up. It was the warmth of her love that made winter seem more than a holiday packed, frozen season. Winter was all about family. As an adult, I try to keep on my mother’s traditions. I don’t always get it perfect—I’ve slept […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
THANKSGIVING TURKEY
November 19, 2018

THANKSGIVING TURKEY

A DAY FOR THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays not only because of the opportunity to get into the kitchen and prepare a wonderful meal for my family but because it’s a time to reflect on how grateful I am for the many blessings that God has provided for us over the years. I have so many incredible memories of celebrations in the past that I always want to bring that spirit of togetherness into the ones that I celebrate with my family today. Today’s fast-paced world with cell phones, computers, and hectic schedules don’t give me much time to spend with all of us together in one place for a day, so when we all get together for Thanksgiving, I want it to be special. Now, everyone knows that the main event for Thanksgiving is the turkey dinner with all the fixings, side dishes, and trimmings that are a part of the meal. I have a lot of recipes that have been handed down through generations, and some that are my creations, which I am fond of, too. This Turkey recipe was handed down to me from my grandmother, Victoria. But the meal is about more than just eating all the delicious food. When the Pilgrims first observed the holiday, they were celebrating the fact that they were still alive after undergoing some severe hardships from the time that they had arrived here. Being religiously inclined, they were offering thanks to God for their lives and freedom to worship as they saw fit. Well, we have […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
Eggplant Salad
November 14, 2018

Eggplant Salad

Eggplant Salad Everyone has heard of using lettuce as a base for salad before, but eggplant? If you’re looking for a fresh new item to impress family or friends at your next get-together, this dish is a sure bet. It is nutritious, healthy, and delicious. It also shows that you know what you’re doing with eggplants, which are arguably one of the vegetables that people run away from the most. So…Why Eggplants? As a cook, one of the questions I get most often is “why should I use eggplants?” Well, eggplants are actually one of the most nutritious, colorful, and versatile vegetables around! They are great additions to a variety of dishes, ranging from stews and salads to kebabs and much more. Eggplants have been used for centuries in a variety of dishes, and today they still star in many culinary dishes from appetizers to main courses. Cooking With Eggplants Eggplants are a versatile food. You can prepare (either slice or cube them) right away, then either throw them on the grill, bake them in the oven, or saute them. Throw a little marinade on them on the grill, and they can basically be eaten as-is. Otherwise, they can be added to a dish that you’re about to serve fresh on the table. You can even cook them ahead of time and refrigerate them to store for use later on. How Do You Cook Eggplants? Really, the sky’s the limit! Thanks to recipes that have been tried, tasted, accepted, and rejected, there are many ways to cook this delicious and […]

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by yaldoorana
Baba Ganoush: Food Fit for a King
October 24, 2018

Baba Ganoush: Food Fit for a King

Baba Ganoush: Food Fit for a King Baba ganoush has been the center of much controversy. In fact, some people even say that it’s started wars! Baba ganoush is native to the Middle East. However, there is some debate over which culture it appeared in first. Both the Lebanese and Levantine cultures claim ownership of this exotic and popular dish. Adding to the complexity of the equation is the fact that eggplant, the main ingredient in the dish, is native to India. While the debate over where it originated rages on, there’s no denying that this tasty, creamy, and low-fat dish has since spread far and wide over the world. You don’t have to retrace the Spice Route to find it. Instead, just come to my kitchen! Whether you’re looking to impress your vegan friends or you’re just searching for a tasty and perhaps healthier alternative as a snack, you too can dine like royalty when you prepare this simple but elegant dish. If you stop to think for a minute about all the appetizers, dips, and spreads you normally eat, chances are you will name the most popular one: hummus. Hummus is arguably the star of all Middle Eastern spreads. You can think of it as the popular kid at the lunch table – cool, composed, and always fashionable. But while hummus certainly steals the limelight, the story of how baba ganouj came to be is a much more heartwarming story, and it will give you a newfound appreciation for this lesser-known relative of hummus. Baba Ganoush’s Beginnings  Before […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
Looking To Impress? Try Pomegranate Salmon
September 29, 2018

Looking To Impress? Try Pomegranate Salmon

I know what it’s like to want to impress guests with my cooking. In fact, one of the greatest pleasures I get from cooking is seeing how people react to my food. From the exclamations of “This is so good!” to the way my guests serve themselves seconds, I enjoy the food being enjoyed just as much as I enjoy preparing it. This is why I am always looking for new ways to prepare food. Maybe it’s why you’re here looking for new recipes, as well. Do you have a gal or guy that you want to captivate with your mad cooking skills? They say the way to a person’s heart is through food, so if you have someone on your mind, maybe a delectable meal is just what will win them over? Or, maybe you’ve already found the one but you have yet to convince their mother that you are here to stay. Don’t worry. Any mother-in-law can be won over with the right kind of cooking and mouth-watering recipe. Whether you’re cooking for youreslf or for guests, you want to make a scrumptious meal, right? I am often looking for ways to prepare tasty and unique dishes, especially with healthy ingredients. The thing is that it’s not always that easy to come up with recipes. I was talking about this with a friend the other day. I wanted to prepare this type of fish for a meal with my girlfriends but I was at a loss on how to come up with a unique recipe that they have […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
FALL OFF THE BONE – RIGHT INTO MY MOUTH BABY BACK RIBS
September 1, 2018

FALL OFF THE BONE – RIGHT INTO MY MOUTH BABY BACK RIBS

Summer’s coming to a close. But, hey, don’t be sad about it – it’s Labor Day Cookout Time! So, what are your plans for this holiday weekend? If you’re anything like me, you’ll be raising the roof – in the great outdoors! And you know what that means — when there’s technically no roof to raise, the sky’s the limit! Just like we do every year at this time, we’re planning a huge gathering at the lake with family, friends, and even crashers who simply cannot resist our fall off the bone good baby back ribs. All that mouthwatering, juicy sauce dripping over each and every flavorful chunk of succulent pork – heavenly!  You know, I remember when I was a kid at Labor Day. My eyes were always a bit misty about summer ending, friends from other schools going off until next summer, those long days lazing by the lake now but a memory – until we do it all again next year! Sure, my friends and I were always a little down in the dumps about the close of another summer vacay, but we were also anxious and excited about embarking on a new school year. The possibilities that came with a whole new session were endless. And there was that crispness in the air that could only mean autumn was right around the corner. There we all were – my whole family, my besties, and I – all taking advantage of the last sun of summer. Taking dips in the lake, us kids soaking up the rays […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
Quesadillas Blog
August 30, 2018

Quesadillas Blog

Mmmmmm…..quesadillas. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? It may be a bit dramatic to call it a perfect food, but my experience is that it gets pretty close. Aside from the virtually infinite variations, you can put together, these little pockets of goodness anywhere. They are versatile enough to please a crowd or satisfy the whole family for a quick weeknight dinner. Additionally, most any diet can be accommodated with the right combination. From vegan to low-fat, even hardcore keto followers can make the most of these if you can land on the right tortilla and believe me, there are an abundance of options out there for tortillas. Don’t even get me started on the fillings! You can jump on the farm-to-table revolution or tempt with a sweeter variety. Either way, the possibilities stretch as far as your imagination. My kids love fewer vegetables and more cheese. My friends prefer to have more vegetables to offset the guilt during our girls’ nights. I think we justify partaking of all the bubbly by bringing food. And speaking of bringing food, I took these to a Super Bowl party where even the burliest meat eaters gobbled it up, but you can take this veggie-filled delight to the company Christmas party, or if you are feeling really dainty, serve them up as an alternative to a tea sandwich. Based on their popularity at the football bonanza, though, it has become a tradition, and we have brought the vegetarian every year since. Feel free to add or take away any of your favorite […]

Blog, Recipes
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by yaldoorana
Tasty Beef Kufta Dishes
July 25, 2018

Tasty Beef Kufta Dishes

Beef kufta is a meaty and hearty dish that’s been a favorite in the Middle East for a long time. If you want to nosh on a meal that’s filling, delectable and irresistible all at the same time, then you won’t be able to turn away from a plate of beef kufta. This is a food that’s a big hit among people of all age groups. It has a timeless appeal that can suit all kinds of taste buds. It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in rock-solid meal options for lunch or for dinner. Beef kufta can be a joy to prepare and eat. It can be a great choice for casual and laid-back family meals at home during the week. It can be just as fantastic a choice for weekend parties and gatherings with friends, too. There are so many delightful ways to prepare and savor beef kufta. If you like additional convenience, then kufta skewers may be a good recipe for you. Preparation of kufta skewers calls for ingredients such as ground lamb, ground beef, garlic, onion, parsley, pine nuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper. Skewers aren’t your only beef kufta recipe choice, either. That’s because you can also easily go for a dish that’s referred to simply as “open faced kufta.” This is a delectable meal that can fill you up and keep you satisfied for hours. Ingredients that are part of this dish are eggs, minced beef, pepper, salt, breadcrumbs, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, pine nuts and pita bread. Sauce is also […]

Recipes
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by yaldoorana

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