Madgooga (Madkooka) The ancient energy bar of Iraq (vegan, dairy, and gluten free!)

Middle eastern desserts from centuries ago did not require many ingredients to create a rich yet healthful treat. Some desserts did not even require an oven, like the sweet Iraqi snack called “Madgooga”, also known as “Madkooka”. Madgooga is basically an Arab style energy bar, comprised of natural yet decadent tasting  ingredients like mejdool dates……

The Ancient Arab Grain: Freekeh!

While I don’t subscribe to any rigid dietary protocol, I do follow the mantra of “eat what your grandparents ate” for optimum health. Not only did my grandparents eat the ancient grain called freekeh, but their ancestors ate this grain for hundreds of years.  Freekeh is wheat that is harvested when it’s young, so the……

The Palestinian Farmer’s Box is Back for Fall Cooking!

Today our supermarkets have become more saturated than ever with “franken” foods with so called healthy labels. Gluten free does not mean sugar free and vegan does not mean chemical free. The unregulated  “natural” food label has become meaningless, slapped on a plethora of processed foods. However, as consumers we do have the power to……

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Citrus Sauce (KETO & LOWCARB)

As the low carb lifestyle continues to maintain popularity, cauliflower has become the superstar vegetable of this dietary movement, morphing into cauliflower rice, pureed as a replacement for mashed potatoes, and even incorporated into pizza crusts. The latest reincarnation of cauliflower is the cauliflower “steak.” Now before steak lovers protest that cauliflower can never come……

Mamma Vera’s Mediterranean Roasted Chicken

It’s that time of year again! Schools begin, traffic takes a bigger chunk of our daily time, and if you are a parent don’t get me started on the Uber driving, countless after school activities, mountainous piles of laundry and assembly line breakfast and lunch preparation.  With all of these new duties fighting over our……

Summer Salad Series Part 2- Egyptian Balela Salad

In Part 1 of my Summer Salad Series, I shared the recipe for Salata Baladia, ubiquitous in pretty much every Arab country. This time we focus on the country of Egypt, with their protein packed and colorful Salata Balela, or Balela salad:   I particularly love this salad because I adore sweet cherry tomatoes, especially……

THE MOST POPULAR ARABIC SALAD “SALATA BALADIA”

In Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, salad is eaten for breakfast as well as lunch or dinner, and the ubiquitous cucumber tomato salad is the foundation of most meals. This salad is also known as “Salata Baladia” or country style salad, as it is rustic and goes with just about everything. In any Arabic household……