Roasted Butternut Squash with Zaa’tar and Tahineh

The ingredients that make this recipe so special are as basic in my pantry as salt and pepper. Zaa’tar, tahineh, and extra-virgin olive oil are my kitchen staples, but they add a degree of complexity and depth to so many dishes. And as I have recently discovered, one of the best partners to tahineh is one…

Canaan Autumn Salad

Golden sunrises, crisp cool breezes, and an abundance of comforting produce characterize the fall season in the Mediterranean. This salad, which is often the result of my October pantry-raiding, reflects the colors and flavors of this bountiful month. Fresh bright green arugula, crispy spiced chickpeas, vivid and sweet sultanas, crunchy nuts, sweet and sour pomegranate…

Stuffed Roasted Aubergine

Betinjan mashwi, which translates to roasted aubergine in English, is a Middle Eastern dish that consists of aubergine halves roasted in a high heat and then stuffed with an aromatic, hearty, and meaty tomato sauce. A version of this dish made its way from the Levant to Moorish Spain centuries ago and is today considered…

Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

Yes, that’s right. On this occasion, cookies for breakfast are indeed suitable and good for you! These pumpkin, oat, and chocolate chip cookies are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, and unbelievably easy to make. Flavors are soft, mellow, and jazzed up by the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and pumpkin. The texture is tender and almost cake-like, although…

Cinnamon, Date, and Almond Granola

My favorite season of the year is only a few days away. However, I must admit that I have welcomed it since mid summer. Autumn is such a refreshing reminder that everything gradually passes to make way for the  new. We, like the seasons, are built to evolve in such a way. Eventually, the new will…

Sweet Morning Quinoa

A deliciously creamy quinoa porridge cooked with coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, banana pieces, and sultanas. Top it off with caramelized banana slices, dried coconut, walnuts, and sultanas or dried cranberries for the perfect texture. Even though it’s summer, this breakfast treat will be sure to warm up your soul. It’s wholesome, nourishing, soothing, and…

Carrot and Ginger Soup

This carrot soup is tangy, zesty, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. Ginger, turmeric, lime juice, garlic, chili, and coconut milk make for a most exciting and nourishing bowl of utter deliciousness. Simply the best carrot and ginger soup I have had. So good! INGREDIENTS/ SERVES 3-4 1 medium onion, finely chopped 3 tablespoons coconut oil…

Chocolate and Tahini Energy Balls

These energy balls or energy “truffles” as I like to call them, are my go-to food whenever I need a lift or an energy boost. I usually make a large batch and store them in an air-tight container to enjoy throughout the week. Since they store well for 5-6 days, feel free to make them…

Coconut Flour, Pistachio and Orange Cake

This is an amazingly moist and aromatic pistachio and orange cake topped with a rich and flavorful cashew frosting. It also happens to be free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar and fats. The addition of coconut flour makes this dessert choice an excellent source of fiber and protein. It also provides for the lovely…

Roasted Vegetable Medley

A lovely array of spring vegetables that reminds us of the colors of autumn. This medley consists of roasted butternut squash, beetroot, zucchini, yellow pepper, garlic, and thyme. It is savory, succulent, juicy, delicious, wholesome, and comforting. These veggies are the perfect side to a variety of dishes and are also delicious on their own. I particularly enjoy…