Mediterranean Food Tours: Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe from Greece
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes Greece, Israel, Turkey
Stuffed grape leaves are a staple throughout many eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. They are delicious and versatile, can be stuffed with meat or with rice (or other grains), can be served hot or room-temperature, with or without a sauce. There is little you can't do with this tasty treat! Learn more about Middle Eastern cuisine. I make stuffed grape leaves every year for my husband's birthday to celebrate… Read
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An Iftar Recipe for Ramadan: Lamb Kebabi with Watermelon, Cucumber, and Herb Salad
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Special Occasions, Travel Tips Turkey
Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims around the world, a time of fasting, prayer, and charity. The dates of Ramadan change each year (moving forward by 15 days), because it follows a nine-month, lunar calendar, but the month-long rituals remain the same and are meant to commemorate the month in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad. Each year you can find the approximate dates of Ramadan, but its… Read
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The History of Baba Ganoush, and a Recipe
Filed Under Food History, Recipes Israel, Turkey
We've talked before about eggplant and what an amazing vegetable we think it is, and one of my favorite preparations is in baba ganoush. Also spelled baba ghanoush or baba ghanouj/ganouj/gannuj, this eggplant spread is ridiculously easy to make and exceedingly tasty. Originally a dish of Levantine cuisine (more on that here), its etymology is a bit opaque. "Baba" is an endearment and also the Arabic word for father, while… Read
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Homemade Hummus and Pita Bread
Filed Under Recipes Israel, Turkey
There is nothing as easy as homemade hummus, and homemade pita is surprisingly easy as well. I am always amazing when I make it how delicious it turns out. Of course, you could just make the hummus or the pita, but I pretty much always make these two recipes together. You can make pita of course during one of our fabulous cooking vacations, including our Cuisine & Culture of Israel… Read
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Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Filed Under Recipes, What's Up at TIK Israel, Turkey
Is it just me, or do you get tired of cooking the same meats all the time? During summer grilling season I cook a lot of hamburgers (my burgers are famous in several states, thank you very much), chicken, and fish. When I'm having company maybe steaks, pork, or sausages and hotdogs. And of course, for holidays I might go all out and smoke ribs or pulled pork. But one… Read
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A Middle Eastern Dinner: Culinary Travels with TIK
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History Greece, Israel, Turkey
I found myself craving Middle-Eastern food over the weekend, so I did what I usually do: I decided to make a Middle Eastern dinner! But when my kids asked me what that meant, I found I had trouble answering. "Can it be Middle Eastern food if there is no falafel?" was one question. "I thought that was Greek!" was another comment. So what exactly is "Middle Eastern food"? If the… Read
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