Too Good to Toss
Thanksgiving, with its signature feasts, is a fitting time to thank the farmers, bakers and specialty food producers who make it possible for us to find mounds of fresh vegetables, pastured poultry and cut-to-order domestic cheeses. While families and friends usher in the high season for sharing food and drinks, your to-do list should include […]
Spicy devotion
I thought I was I lucky enough to have a friend who keeps me well stocked with my favorite Middle Eastern blend of allspice: She knows what’s cooking in my kitchen. Then I received a spicy gift box of Penzeys from my gardening inspiration. That welcome surprise was followed by a spice selection by mail […]
Urgent coffee break – Serious in Syria
Coffee holds a place of honor in some cultures, and The Cookery appreciates a flavorful cup of Arabic coffee. Make this coffee on the stove top, tune out the day’s noise, and tune in to serious matters. There must be countless ways to brew the perfect cup of coffee, but this is not that cup. […]
Bread of hope for Syrians
Back in 2010, I shared an image of bread along the streets of Syria and the value of this daily sustenance. It’s certain that the scene has changed since I broke bread in Syria, and people throughout the country are experiencing loss beyond belief. If you’re able to gather these modest ingredients and fire up an oven, […]
Spice the rice
Putting a favorable meal together gets easier when the ingredients matter. When it comes to The Cookery’s rice and spice dish, go with a traditional basmati if you can work it into the food budget. It’s certain that basmati adds up more quickly than alternatives, but you’ll appreciate the results. Rice and spice 1 cup basmati rice 2 cups water 1 pound ground […]
Meat pies in Baghdad
Our forwarded mail is catching up to us in New York, with the July issue of National Geographic resting on a stack of incoming magazines last week. Note . . . . for great reading throughout, see this issue, with a look at Lynsey Addario’s striking photographs in the “Baghdad After The Storm” feature by Brian Turner. Meat pies help illustrate the story […]
Breakfast bon voyage from Ann Arbor
Friends in Ann Arbor sent us on our final leg of the journey with a bon voyage Mediterranean breakfast. Healthy, fresh, and full of flavor. Laced with love from a Lebanese kitchen, their morning meals provided a kick-start to each new day. When departure day from Michigan arrived, we prepared to complete our journey with […]
My man Hazi and his eggplant stew
In the mood for stew? I make this stew often, and when eggplant looks especially tempting (I couldn’t pass them up last weekend at the farmers’ market), this dish makes an appearance. I discovered this stew with a wonderful Arabic teacher in California, and posted this recipe a couple of years ago. Try Hazi’s Stew […]
Layer of life street food
Layer of life street food What’s the value of . . . street food? It depends on where we go, what we’re willing to experience, and how we interpret sources of life. I closed The Cookery for a while last month and explored Syria. With my kids in tow, we found our daily bread along […]
Order up . . . New design spices up The Cookery
Hello, friends! With a new season in mind, I’m re-launching my site and blog with an enhanced design and fresh menu at The Cookery. It’s been my pleasure to collaborate with Imedia Web Inc. of Austin, with the talented Robert Lopez taking the lead. We’ve been working on the new look over the summer, and […]