Category: holidays

recipes that are made during a special celebration or holiday

Comeback and Recovery with an Easy Vegan Pancakes

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A recipe requires the coherence of many elements. Getting orgasmic results from a recipe is the fruit of love, patience, care and quality ingredients. Sometimes you cook something out of the need to eat. And regardless of the quality, it will be something good to chew on and fill your tummy with but never repeat. Other times the recipe is amazing; simply enjoyable you want to make it over and over again. Yet each time is different from the other. My biggest fear was for the recipe to fail. Although I don’t usually follow the rules completely but I keep hoping it’ll work. The worst feeling is when your fear materializes in front of you. The time and effort happily spent turns into anxiety and panic. You know you messed up at one point but keep hoping it’ll work. You keep hoping that with some sugar, spice and nice things it’ll be edible. But when it’s done, it’s over and done. Continue reading “Comeback and Recovery with an Easy Vegan Pancakes” →

Maamoul; stuffed Easter cookies

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UPDATE I: I updated the post photos with recent ones (2017) with the new branding.
UPDATE II: In 2026, I updated the recipe directions and added a few new photos.

After posting about Kaak Asfar, I promised to share another Easter speciality, and since i am a man of my word, here it is: Maamoul. This is an annual recipe we enjoy making, or try to stay away from as much as possible, but we fail. The process is as good as the final product. For those who are not familiar with Maamoul, it is fragrant semolina cookie shells stuffed with slightly sweetened ground dates, pistachios or walnuts with aromas of rose water and orange blossom water. 

Maamoul is only made as an Easter delicacy by Middle Eastern Christians. Taking into consideration the Lebanese sweets shops and brands war over who ruled the billboards, maamoul has got good exposure in the past couple of years. Still, maamoul is scary for all those health freaks and those with health issues: dietitians warning you how much calories one cookie has, your trainer informing you about how many hours on the treadmill you need to burn one cookie, or your cholesterol-filled heart and arteries scream from the fat you eat all year long at the sight of a maamoul cookie. It is so desired yet very much hated. Have you given its feelings a thought? Have you? HAVE YOU? Is that how you treat the guest that only comes once a year?

You only think about yourselves, you selfish fatties!

Continue reading “Maamoul; stuffed Easter cookies” →

Kaak Asfar (Palestinian Yellow Easter Bread)

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It’s Easter. As Middle Easterns we don’t have those fancy cakes and pastel colored decorations. We do however have recipes we only make at this time of the year like Maamoul, Kaak Asfar and colored eggs.

Continue reading “Kaak Asfar (Palestinian Yellow Easter Bread)” →

Test your kitchen skills: Mississippi Mud Pie

This has been lurking in my folders for almost a year now. I kept postponing it waiting for the right time. I’m still not sure it’s the right time, you know, you’ve probably eaten a little too much cookies and cakes during the holidays, but this recipe is a killer and MUST be shared regardless.
Mississippi Mud Pie_cookin5m2 coverWhat do I mean you heard I was threatened by 3 nutritionists I should post this ASAP? Of course not…
Oups. I shouldn’t have said that.
Anyways.
Continue reading “Test your kitchen skills: Mississippi Mud Pie” →

Holidays Roundup

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It is a beginning of a new year. The holidays season went calmly; work most of the time and barely any holidays spirit.  I finish work, go home, collect my energy and outstretch my body after a long crouching-next-to-computer-screen position for 8 hours.

Apart from that, a few food-filled evenings took place, mostly at home. Continue reading “Holidays Roundup” →