Lebanese Meat Pies [video]
Posted: March 21, 2012 Filed under: Contests, Food, Recipes | Tags: appetizer, baking, beef, biscuit, cooking, easy, egg, ethnic, foodblog, lamb, lebanese, lemon juice, middle eastern, olive oil, onion, pignolis, pine nuts, recipe 7 Comments »
A few weeks ago I entered a contest.
No, I’m not talking about the Marx Foods East Meets Delicious challenge. Or Saucy Mama’s Skinny Mama contest. Or the New England Country Soup challenge.
I’m talking about the Cook & Eat Lebanese Recipe Video competition.
I didn’t let you know I had entered right away because the other contestants already had over 500 votes and I knew there was no way I could win I had already been asking you for so many votes for the other contests, and I didn’t want to make you crazy.
Luckily, there will actually be 2 winners for this contest, one chosen by votes, and one chosen by the judges… I’m hoping to be chosen as a winner by the judges.
For this contest, I made my grandmother’s Lebanese Meat Pies. These are extremely easy to make, and are a total crowd pleaser. I’ve never met anyone that didn’t love them!
Even though I’m not asking you to vote for me, I still wanted to share my recipe with you…. and to show you my very first cooking video! Check it out below for step by step instructions on how to make these tasty appetizers.
Please excuse the fact that half of my head is cut off. And that the volume levels are a little funky. And that I pronounce the word “salt” as “sawlt.” Still pretty good for my first video ever, if I do say so myself!
Greek Style Potato Chicken Stew
Posted: May 16, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: beans, chicken, chicken broth, cooking, foodblog, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, olives, onion, oregano, potatoes, recipe, Secret Recipe Club, soup, stew, tomatoes, white beans 49 Comments »
When I found out that my assignment for the May Secret Recipe Club was to choose any recipe from Kristen’s blog, Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, I was so thrilled. I’ve been following her posts ever since I started reading food blogs… she has a ton of delicious looking recipes, and is always introducing me to new things. In fact, her Thai Chicken Noodle Soup post is how I found out about the Secret Recipe Club in the first place!
I knew it wouldn’t be hard to find a recipe to try from her vast repertoire. She has something for everyone, from healthy family meals and snacks to decadent desserts…. you really can’t go wrong. I decided to let my brother choose something from her list, since I wanted to make something fun to bring to his graduation party last weekend.
He looked over the list and settled on the Homemade Entemann’s Cheese Filled Crumb Cake. And I fully intended to make it for him. So the night before I left for his graduation in DC, after getting home from a Mets game, and in the middle of packing and doing school work, I looked over the instructions.
Hmm.
The dough alone had to rise for 1 1/2 hours, then rise again for 20 minutes, and then bake for 30 more minutes. I realized that if I wanted to sleep at all, this was not going to happen. So I turned to Plan B. Thirty Minute Crushed Oreo Sugar Cookies.
This week, I went back to Kristen’s recipe list to choose something else to make. I really didn’t have a need for any desserts or baked goods, so I scrolled down to her selection of main dishes. It took me about 1.5 seconds to decide on the Greek Style Potato Chicken Stew. I mean, really. A soup recipe with a Greek twist? It was practically calling out my name!
I planned to make it exactly how Kristen had written it. It was perfect! Except for the green onions. I just can’t get on board with them. So instead, I added a Vidallia onion to make up for it.
Then I thought about how delicious lemony Greek potatoes are. So I decided to add some lemon juice to the mix.
I was all set to make it with just those two small changes, when Jake walked in.
“What are you making?”
“Greek Style Potato Chicken Stew.”
“Oh. Potatoes?”
“Yes, potatoes. Is there a problem?”
“No. But I was just thinking I could really go for some beans this week.”
Jake never asks for beans. And I happened to have some dried white beans in the pantry. I take these kinds of opportunities when I can get them. Into the mix the beans went.
Then, of course, I had to change the other ingredient measurements around to accommodate my changes.
So here, ladies and gents, is my completely bastardized version of Kristen’s Greek Style Potato Chicken Stew.
Turkey Keema
Posted: April 21, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: beef, cinnamon, cooking, coriander, cumin, ethnic, foodblog, garlic, ginger, Indian, keema, lemon juice, milk, naan, olive oil, onion, peas, pita, potato, recipe, tumeric, turkey, yogurt 20 Comments »
I always find it amusing to look back and think about what I knew to be true when I was younger. To think back to high school, and look back on those absolutely unquestionable facts of life. The things that if someone tried to convince me otherwise, I would have written that person off.
One of those things, which I 100% unequivocally knew to be true, was that I was going to be a teacher when I grew up. A music teacher, to be precise.
It’s the reason why I spent every moment not in class in a choir. It’s the reason that I only applied to one college (because if I was going to be a music teacher, I was going to go to the Crane School of Music). It’s the reason that I declared my major immediately upon acceptance.
And then, after taking three semesters of music education classes, I changed my mind. Ok, so I didn’t want to be a teacher. But I still knew that I would always work in the music industry. So I switched my major. And I graduated with a degree in the Business of Music.
And then, after working in two different non-profit performing arts administration jobs, I changed my mind. Again. The non-profit world was just not for me.
Today, I’m the Executive Assistant to the CEO of an air conditioning and refrigeration distribution company. It’s probably the farthest thing from a music educator that you can imagine.
If you asked me in high school, college, or even after I graduated, if I ever thought this is what I would be doing, I would have thought you were a weirdo.
And if you told me I would love it? I would have thought you were crazy. Or on drugs. Or both.
I realize, however, that it’s really no surprise that I wanted to be a music teacher; I had some pretty amazing role models. The music teachers in my school were inspiring. They were talented, caring, great teachers, and all around wonderful people. Who wouldn’t want to be just like them?
So when I saw on Facebook that one of my former music teachers was having a tasty Indian dish called Keema for dinner, I knew I had to try it out for myself. I may not be a music teacher, but that doesn’t mean I can’t eat like one. ;)
White Bean Bruschetta Soup with Rosemary & Olive Oil Croutons
Posted: October 24, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: balsamic vinegar, beans, bread, bruschetta, cannelli beans, challenge, chicken broth, croutons, dinner, easy, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, onion, rosemary, soup, white beans 25 Comments »
When sharing a little 600 square foot apartment, you learn how to distinguish what you really want from what you really need. You only buy what’s absolutely necessary. You hold off on getting anything that will take up a lot of space. You make do with what you have…
…in the Land of Make Believe.
In real life, you cram. You cram your sweaters and jackets into huge Tupperware containers and shove them under the bed during the summer. You cram up all of your college textbooks and old stuffed animals into boxes and store them in your storage unit parents’ basement (thanks, mom!). And you cram your boyfriend’s clothes onto one closet shelf and take the rest for yourself. (You might have to repeat that last step a few times. He may think he is entitled to more than one shelf. Don’t worry. He’ll learn.)
What you don’t do is deprive yourself. You never know when you’ll need that panini maker, or when that fifth pair of super cute boots will come in handy. Read the rest of this entry »
Spicy Zucchini Soup
Posted: September 7, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: basil, bread, cheese, chicken broth, dinner, garlic, jalapeno, lemon juice, lunch, onion, parmesan, pepper, soup, spicy, zucchini 26 Comments »I’ve been hearing a lot of people complaining about how it’s still so hot outside. They are asking for the cooler weather. They are wishing summer would just end already. They are ready for the fall.
If you are one of those people, listen up, because I’m only going to ask nicely this one time: Please stop. (See? Wasn’t that nice? I even said please. Next time I won’t be so polite.)
If you are one of those crazy people wishing for the fall, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt. Because even I, someone who is such a summer loving person, can see why wishing for fall might seem tempting. The temperature is a little less extreme, the leaves turn beautiful colors, and pumpkin pie is abundant. Sounds good so far.
The problem is that you’re being shortsighted. (Sorry, I don’t usually like to call names, but this is an extreme situation.) You see a season filled with football, Halloween candy, and apple picking. But you know what you’re forgetting? Fall leads to winter.
Honey Garlic Chicken
Posted: August 25, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken, dinner, easy, garlic, ginger, honey, lemon juice 24 Comments »
I’m baaaaaack… I hope you all didn’t miss me too much :)
Thanks to everyone that wished me a fun trip! I had an awesome time celebrating at my girlfriend’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas. We had such a blast… I don’t think we stopped dancing for more than five minutes straight!
Easy Couscous Salad
Posted: August 12, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: couscous, cucumber, dinner, easy, lemon, lemon juice, parsley, salad, side dish, tomato 23 Comments »
I remember the day that I knew Santa wasn’t real. When something that I believed was true for so long, no longer was. It’s not that I didn’t have an inkling. A clue. That things didn’t add up. But I wanted it to be. So I ignored the truth. After all, isn’t ignorance bliss?
And then one day, I asked. I just couldn’t ignore the facts anymore. How can one man go to every single house in one night? Why does he look different in every mall? And why does his handwriting look suspiciously like my mom’s? So my dad confirmed it. He’s not real.
Well, today I feel much like I did that day. I’ve had my suspicions for a while now, and today they’ve been confirmed. Alas, my beloved couscous is not a whole grain.
Lemon Lime Marinated Chicken
Posted: July 20, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken, dinner, easy, garlic, grill, lemon, lemon juice, lime 7 Comments »Have you ever heard someone say “it’s so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk”? I have. And I’ve always thought the people that said it were a little… off. I mean, come on. Cooking an egg on the sidewalk? That’s ridiculous.
… Or is it? I must admit, the recent heat wave in NYC has made me reconsider my stance. It is just SO hot and humid outside. Even with yesterday’s rain and “cold front” it only cooled down to 80°. I’m starting to think that I really could cook something on the sidewalk. Maybe. I don’t know.
But what I do know for sure is that it is too hot to cook anything inside. The thought of turning on my oven in this unrelenting heat and humidity is truly unbearable. So here’s a recipe that will keep your apartment cool and your stomach full… There’s no need to turn on the oven with this easy and delicious Lemon Lime Marinated Chicken recipe for the grill.
Chicken Spinach Strudel
Posted: July 7, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: baking, chicken, dill, dinner, egg, garlic, lemon juice, onion, parsley, phyllo, spinach, vegetables 1 Comment »If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you know that last week’s attempt at working with phyllo dough for the first time did not quite work out as planned. The fact that I was able to salvage the ingredients and create a yummy new dip did not help ease the feeling that I had been outmaneuvered by a pastry product.
I mean, I’m part Greek, people… I should have been born knowing how to make spanikopita and baklava. I should be a phyllo pro! But instead, I kept opening the fridge and seeing the phyllo sheets staring back at me. I’m pretty sure I could hear them mocking me every time I closed the refrigerator door… I decided to shut them up once and for all.
I sifted through countless recipes until I came across one recipe that piqued my interest. Chicken Mushroom Strudel…. sounds interesting, right? I thought so, but I wanted something a little lighter, and I knew Jake wouldn’t go for the mushrooms. So I made a few revisions and came up with a lighter version of Chicken Spinach Strudel.
Chicken Schwarma
Posted: May 27, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken, dinner, egyptian, ethnic, grill, lemon juice, middle eastern, parsley, pita, schwarma, tahini, tomato, wrap 4 Comments »When you hear the word Egypt, what comes to mind? The Nile? Ancient pyramids? Cleopatra? Camels?
When I hear Egypt, I think food. Well, more accurately, I think of my stepmom, Aida, and her cooking. Aida was born and raised in Alexandria, and makes the most deliciously authentic Middle Eastern food. Today’s recipe is one of her specialties, chicken schwarma.
