Baba Ganoush

Stuffing garlic in the eggplant while you cook it makes it extra tasty. It also gives it a very unique smoky flavor. Traditionally this dip is served with pita bread but I have known people to use it as a vegetable dip as well. No matter what you choose I am sure it will be fantastic. You can not go wrong with a great recipes like this.

1 large eggplant
3garlic cloves, smashed
juice of ½ lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons tahini

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F. Prick eggplant all over carefully with a knife, stick garlic inside of eggplant slits. Place eggplant on a baking sheet and cook for 1 hour turning occasionally.

2. After eggplant has cooled peel skin. Place eggplant in a strainer with small holes and smash with fork allowing extra water to drain.

3. In a bowl add eggplant and continue to mash. Add lemon juice, olive oil and tahini, mix well.

A Ramadan Menu

Asalam Alaykum, Wow can you all believe that Ramadan is almost over? Let's make something yummy these last few nights to share with our families. Here is a great menu of mine that you all should try.

Appetizers: Zucchini Fritters

Main Course: Shish Barak

Salad: Fattoush

Dessert: Elegant Chocolate Torte

Go ahead and click the links to view the full recipes on my blog!

Falafel

1 pound canned chick-peas (drained)
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 cup breadcrumbs or fine bulgur
1 teaspoon ground coriander or cumin
1 teaspoon dried hot peppers
1 teaspoon garlic powder
vegetable oil (for frying)

1. Combine chick-peas with onion. Add parsley, lightly beaten egg and spices. Mix in blender. Add breadcrumbs until mixture forms a small ball without sticking to your hands. Form chick-pea mixture into small balls about the size of a quarter (one inch in diameter).

2. Flatten patties slightly and fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain falafel balls on paper towels. Serve individually with toothpicks as an hors d'oeuvre or as a sandwich filling with chopped tomato, cucumber, radish, lettuce, onion, hummus and/or tehina inside pita bread.

Yields: 24

For more Ramadan recipes check out my blog.

Roasted Cornish Hens with Pomegranate-molasses glaze

Pomegranate molasses is a popular Lebanese product however I will let you know that it took a year of searching before I found it. I had given up when I just happened to pass by it in a Lebanese market. I am sure you could substitute it with pomegranate juice and a molasses mix though.

1/3 cup pomegranate molasses
1/3 cup extra -virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 Cornish hens, rinsed and patted dry
1 onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, smashed
Cooking spray for the broiler pan
1 lemon cut in half
Butter for brushing on top of cooked hens
Kosher salt and pepper for sprinkling on top of cooked hens

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the pomegranate molasses, oil and pepper. Place each hen in a sealable plastic bag. Divide the marinade, garlic and onions evenly between the two bags. Refrigerate over night, turning occasionally.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Coat a broiler pan with cooking spray, set aside.

3. Remove hens from the plastic bags, letting excess marinade drip off. Place the hens on the pan, breast side up, and tuck the wing tips under the body. Fill each cavity with half the lemon and onion slices.

4. Transfer to the oven, and roast until the hens are golden and cooked, about an hour, rotate pan half way through. Remove from the oven, brush butter on tops then sprinkle kosher salt and pepper over tops.

Yields: 2 servings

Adapted from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook, The New Classics

An Indian Iftar, Vegetarian Style

Asalam Alaykum today we will take a trip to India for our Iftar, follow me! MashAllah, I just love the way the kitchen smells when I am cooking Indian food. It is by far my favorite food. Today I thought I would lay a vegetarian menu out so that we have something for everyone, inshAllah.

Potato Fritters


Egg and Potato Curry


Paneer Peas Pulao



Vegetable Samosas



Aloo Mutter

An Arabic Iftar

Asalam Alaykum and Ramadan Kareem. I welcome you to enjoy an Arabic Iftar with me. Here are so amazing recipes to enjoy in your home.

Please click the link to the recipe!

Appetizer: Hummus


Drink: Saudi Champagne


Main Course: Chicken Mandy with Rice


Bread: Celebration Bread


Dessert: Coconut Basboosa


Ya Salam, now how good does this look? InshAllah you enjoy my pictures and recipes and as always if you have any questions what so ever let me know...