Khatti Dal (Sour Lentil Stew)

I really want to apologize for being absent for such a long time. I had some health issues the past two months and it all finally caught up to me. I am fine but just a bit uninspired. Please bare with me as I try to get my inspiration to blog again.

Veal Curry

I have a rather ironic secret being that I am a food blogger. Here it is: I am not a good meal planner. What I mean by that is that I never know what I am going to cook ahead of time and therefore planning shopping is a nightmare. But even when I try to organize myself and plan and shop according to plans, on the weekend it doesn’t work out. When I am really in the mood to cook, I usually cook what I feel like eating at that time and most of the time that means painful runs to the store tagging at least the twins along. Most of the time I try to make do with ingredients I have in hand.

Indian Cabbage with Pigeon Peas

By Jill

A lot of people assume that since I'm an American married to a Syrian Arab that I've learned how to cook a lot of good Syrian dishes. I have learned a few from my mother-in-law who is an amazing cook. However, because she lives halfway around the world I haven't had the pleasure of being with her long enough to really become schooled in her kitchen. It's not all bad, though, because I've been virtually adopted by my friend Rehana's mother who lives in my neighborhood. She's hosted me for some amazing cooking classes with plenty of tastings included. I can now proudly say I am part Ghujrati Indian, or at least imagine myself to be when I'm cooking up some of Rehana and her mother's fantastic, spicy vegetable dishes or channeling their culinary skills when attempting veal biryani. Lucky for me my husband loves Indian food as much as me!

Coquilles St. Jacques (Scallops in Creamy Sauce)

This is one of the dishes from my childhood. My mother had a friend who was a fabulous cook and every year our families traveled together and she would make this dish as an appetizer, served in a shell.

At home, I usually serve this as a main dish with a green salad and plain rice. So, I prefer to use large sea scallops. But if you are going to use the scallop shells, then you are better off using the smaller bay scallops. If you still want to serve as an appetizer in individual portions, serve in small ramekins which will hold the sea scallops very well.

Beef Tagine with Olives and Potatoes

It is bitter cold in Chicago so for the first time since I’ve been back from Brazil I felt like making a tagine. As usual, I did not take out my tagine but rather used my beloved pressure cooker. Not because I am lazy, but because of the short time I have available to prepare my meals during busy days as a halal mama of four.

People have a vision that a stay-at-home mom spends her day watching Oprah, baking cookies and working out. Well, perhaps some women have this schedule but that is not my reality and that of my best friends. First, there is the fact that I still have two rumbustious toddlers at home who not only require my undivided attention but also lunch and a lot of snacks. Then, there are my older kiddos with their busy schedules, extracurricular activities, homework, and so much more. Not to mention, there is taking care of the home and laundry which never take pity on me. Well, enough of that, let’s get to the recipe because it is time to run again!

Vatapá (Fish and Shrimp Stew)

One of the things on my “to eat” list when I went to Brazil was my aunt Marcia’s vatapá. Vatapá is a traditional dish from Bahia and can take two forms: a thicker paste that is served as a filling for acarajé (black-eyed pea fritters) or a more stew-like version that is served as a main dish, which is what my aunt makes.

My aunt’s version is a bit different than most recipes you will find in that it doesn’t include traditional ingredients such as peanuts and dried shrimp, which works perfect for my family since my boys are allergic to peanuts. I watched her make and tweaked the recipe slightly when making it at home. Here is my version of this amazing dish.

Salted Cod Fish Baked in Coconut Milk

The presence of bacalhau (salted cod fish) in Brazilian cuisine is a cooking legacy left by Portuguese colonization. This is the time of year when dishes with this fish are especially present at Brazilian tables.

Today’s dish is a recipe from my grandmother. This is very similar to Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá but the coconut milk gives it a tropical, Brazilian twist.

Shrimp Tacos

Eid al-Adha Mubarak! Hope you had a blessed and joyous one!

Now that the day has become shorter, I really feel like I don’t have enough time to get everything done. And with the kids being off school for a week, I really have to think of dishes that will save me time in the kitchen so that I have more time to spend with them.

Curried Turkey

This second recipe is part of our series on celebrating the wonderfully diverse American Muslim community. Eid-al-Adha falls quite close to Thanksgiving this year so I'm sure turkey is on the mind. This appetizing dish combines a variety of ingredients commonly used in most American kitchens with South Asian curry in an attempt to boost the flavor of an all-American dinner staple.                                                                          

Harira (Moroccan Soup)

When I was in Morocco this summer, I heard about this new kitchen gadget for the first time. The Vorwek Thermomix, which is apparently not easily available in the US, is somewhat of a hybrid slow cooker, kind of a futuristic, George Jetson Crockpot. It kind of surprises me that Americans, the biggest fans of slow cookers, haven't already been turned on to this new miracle machine. 

In Morocco this is the latest kitchen fad and is only sold through direct sales. The representative invites prospective buyers to a cooking demo using the Vorwerk Thermomix and wows people into the purchase. While I didn't attend any of these demos myself, I heard a lot about the machine from family who have seen the Vorwerk in action and I had the opportunity to see a cousin using the machine in her home.

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

I'm not sure where summer went but there is no doubt that fall is in the air already, or at least all over my backyard which is full of falling leaves. I love summer but I actually like fall just as well. First of all, it is beautiful. Secondly, there is tons to do with the kids - apple orchards, pumpkin patches, cool-weather frolics in the park...so much that my family enjoys!

Ghormeh Sabzi

I have been debating whether to post this recipe or not. Not because it isn’t a great recipe, but because it is not very typical of me to use short-cuts. I don’t bake cakes from a box, I make my own sweet-and-sour sauce, and so on. But this time around I must confess I used a short-cut, actually two: dehydrated vegetables and canned beans. Still, it was delicious and combined with the meat being prepared in my pressure cooker, this made for a totally non-time-consuming, mid-week dinner.

Creamy Shrimp Casserole with Hearts of Palm

Chicken, Olive and Preserved Lemon Tagine

This is one of my favorite Moroccan dishes. Here, in Morocco, finding exact recipes is close to impossible so I will relate my estimation of the ingredients based on keen observation of my in-laws cooking, but adjust as needed to taste. Moroccan preserved lemons are wonderful and very easy to make at home; David Lebovitz has a good recipe only I don't add any other spices than salt.

Portuguese Salted Cod Fish (Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá)

As I mentioned in a previous post my family and I will be in Morocco for a few weeks. I will try as much as possible to post from here and hopefully get you some local recipes in time for Ramadan.

For now, here is a delicious Portuguese recipe also very popular in Brazil. Until recently I didn’t know I could find salted cod in the U.S. so I my craving for this dish went unrequited. But thanks to a new local fresh market that stocks this unique style of fish I've fallen in love with this dish all over again.

Baked Salmon with Carpers and Mushrooms

Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon are believed to help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Other studies also suggest that these fatty acids may help lower high blood pressure and improve mood. This recipe for baked salmon is great because it is simple and fast, totally appropriate for busy summer days.

Brazilian Fish Stew (Moqueca)

Now that summer is here in full swing, I can’t say enough about how important it is to find ways of making good food without spending hours in the kitchen. After all, the kids and I really just want to be outdoors enjoying these blissful days. Today after spending the day out and about, we came home to an almost empty fridge and pantry and no idea what to make for dinner. I opened the freezer and found some Frozen Tilapia Loins from Costco. Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew) immediately came to mind and sure enough in about half an hour dinner was served.

Hearts-of-Palm Pie

A quiche or a savory pie and a side salad make a great meal, especially on a warm summer day when a light lunch such as this is just perfect. I love to serve this when I have girlfriends over for lunch. In Brazil savory pies are quite popular especially with chicken and hearts-of-palm filling but there are countless other combinations just as nice. The possibilities are endless!

Eggplant Khoresh (Khoresh-e Bademjan)

My parents have been together for 47 years. My Persian father was working and living in Brazil when he met my Brazilian mother all those years ago. I grew up in Brazil and only visited Iran once. Even though I was very young at the time I still remember some things very clearly. My most vivid food memory of Iran was eating Kabab Koubideh at the local bazaar. I can still remember the fragrance and amazing taste of the Koubideh and the fluffy, saffron-steamed rice full of butter served with egg yolk on top. Perhaps this is where my obsession with rice began. My mother, being the amazing woman she is, helped bring a little of Iran back into our Brazilian home by frequently cooking my father's favorite Persian dishes.

Chicken Tagine with Fennel

I’ve always known that I liked eating but it wasn’t until about three years ago that I discovered my passion for cooking as well. My husband, whom I’ve known for 13 years, always jokes that my newfound passion makes him wonder if we aren't actually trying to relive our newlywed years when young married couples typically begin to explore the kitchen together, overindulging in delightful dishes and, of course, gain a new waistline to prove it.