The History of Baba Ganoush, and a Recipe
Filed Under Food History, Recipes
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
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
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
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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Matzo Ball Soup Recipe
Filed Under Recipes, Special Occasions
If you're scrambling to get the soup made for tonight's Passover Seder, don't worry! This Matzo Ball soup is quick and easy, but oh so tasty! We prefer to make it with our own homemade broth, but you can substitute store-bought chicken stock - or even vegetable stock if you're cooking for vegetarians. See our culinary tours in Israel. Matzo Ball Soup Serves 4 Prep time: 75 minutes Cook time:… Read
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Avocado Salad from our Israel Cooking Vacation
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes
The story of Israeli cuisine is one of many different cultures, as its people have brought traditions, recipes, and ingredients from six different continents and more than 120 countries. As such, the food scene here is one of the most diverse in the entire world. Much of the cuisine in Israel is both light and simple, which is apparent in this delicious take on an avocado salad. It incorporates a… Read
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