Halva is a sweet sesame candy that is made across the Middle East. It has a crumbly, sandy texture, and really packs a punch as far as nutty, vanilla flavor and intense sweetness. I like the flavor of halva, but have always personally felt that it tends to be a little intense to eat on … Continue reading Halva White Chocolate Pound Cake Bites
Lately I have a newfound passion for tahini, that luscious sesame butter that is used across the Middle East. In the US we mainly think of it as an ingredient in hummus, but after listening to an episode of the podcast Unorthodox which you can find here, https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/unorthodox/food-and-family-joyva-einat-admony-pati-jinich-soom-foods I was inspired to expand my tahini … Continue reading Roasted Sweet potato and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Dressing
My grandma and I were talking recently about great things to eat when it’s just too hot to turn on the oven. She happened to mention something she ate as a child, made by her Russian immigrant grandmother, which was a cottage cheese salad. She said it was a family favorite in the hot summer months … Continue reading Give Cottage Cheese a Chance
Hi! I am resurfacing after a long hiatus in which, among other things, I moved cross country. I am now a North Carolinian! Unfortunately, my kitchen for the last few months has consisted of a temperamental hot plate and a toaster oven, while we remodel the kitchen of our new home, and this has also … Continue reading Chickpeas for your chickpea
It’s December now and Chanukah is upon us! Now that I have my own child, I am very excited to start revisiting childhood holiday fun and establishing my own family traditions. Chanukah is another one of those holidays that is very centered around children, and we’ve been doing more this year to celebrate than I … Continue reading Chanukah
Last night I had dinner with my brother Jake’s family. My sister in law’s parents are in town and they invited me for a Syrian dinner, which her dad (who is Syrian) often makes when they get together. They start by going to the Arab markets on Kedzie, and buying an array of products, many of which … Continue reading Lahme bil firen
This recipe, part of the Iranian home cooking repertoire, comes to me from a friend of mine, Sarah. Sarah is married to a man whose family is from Iran, and she has adopted a few Persian staples, including this one. Like my French in-laws, I get the impression that the Iranian in-laws occasionally have their doubts about how well the … Continue reading Persian Lentils and Rice / Adas Polo
When I was a kid, I had a passion for fruit roll ups. To be honest, I still do… well I would if they still existed. I used to love unfolding them, pulling back the thin plastic film, and pulling off bites of the smooth yet chewy fruit. It’s like the simplest and most perfect combination of fruit … Continue reading Apricot Leather from Syria
The Children's Table 