Wood-Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Freekeh and Lentils

Remember when we were a republic with no president?

Not anymore. Orange is literally the new black. After more than two years with no president finally the Lebanese parties (most of them at least, the ones who got a share of the cake) have agreed to vote for a candidate. Two hours of labor in the parliament proved that we still have a wicked sense of humor despite all, and that keeping the child in you alive is super important even if you’re a member of the parliament. Nothing feels good like re-living classroom fights between the bullies in the back, the nerds in the front, the teacher on the platform by the blackboard, and the supervisor pretending to be monitoring that everything is going as planned. All on live TV

Politics aside, it is purely coincidental that I am posting an orange pumpkin on such a day. This recipe was supposed to go last week as part of Pumpkin Week with the EatTheLebaneseSeason squad, our initiative to give recipes on how to cook and use local seasonal produce. But here it is: a super flavorful salad that can sub for a main meal with all the goodness it is packed with.

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Three-way Breakfast Toasts

What is sleep if it weren’t a time machine to breakfast?

And breakfast is an appetizer to lunch. Dinner is a meal by itself.

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I seriously open my eyes, check my notifications, and go to the bathroom all while I’m thinking what to cook for breakfast. Pancakes…. Eggs…. Shakshouka…. Toasts…. Cereal… Anything. Anything with coffee. Continue reading “Three-way Breakfast Toasts” →

Roasted Vine Tomato Caprese Salad

Roasted Vine Tomatoes Caprese Salad recipe - cookin5m2 -PIN

One of my mission statements in this #Cookin5m2 is to share easy recipes that almost anyone can do. Although I do some nice and fancy dishes, I like to present the simple stuff in a nice looking way adding some small touches and elements that transports the dish to a different level.

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Asian Duck Stir-fry

I don’t always get my hands on duck meat. It is only recently that I was able to taste it and fall in love with it. It is true that ducks are birds, but the meat is darker than chicken and it can be more tender. Did you know that duck has less fat than turkey? That’s what I was told

Asian Duck Stir-fry recipe - cookin5m2-PIN

What I didn’t know is that duck meat is best eaten when the inside is still pink, unlike chicken. The filets that I got are part of the breast. When cooked, they are so tender and more flavorful than chicken and they should only be cooked for a short period to keep the center pink and moist.

This recipe uses the stir-fry method, which is cooking the food for a short period of time in oil until done. This keeps the duck meat soft and tender, just the way I want it. The sauce is incredible! The aroma of sesame oil while marinating is so appetizing the anticipation for marination time was a killer.

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Grilled Chicken in Garlic Tomato Sauce

A couple of months ago, the retail discount store Happy asked for a collaboration. The deal was to create affordable recipes using their products to promote their line of products.

I will be sharing the recipes here, IN VIDEO!

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