Its cold cold cold in London tonight. I read recently that in cold weather, humans like to find a partner and hibernate with them. The rates of new relationships and people seeking relationships goes up in winter, as people seek to find someone to cuddle up with and keep out of the cold. Tonight is certainly one of those night where you just want to crawl under a blanket and snuggle up with a warm drink.
Fattoush is a salad. And this salad tastes like home. As a child I would finish the dinner on my plate and then finish the rest of this salad straight out of the serving bowl. I still serve it in the same old cracked bowl my Mama used to, which she handed down to me when my husband and I bought our first home.
I love this pie. It’s so delicious and such a pleasure to make. It’s also a real show stopper so it is a great option for a Birthday meal of weekend family get-together.
I was wondering around all the stunning organic produce at a local farmers market recently when I came across a box of gorgeous mini squashes. They were a fabulous variety of colours, shapes and sizes and they perfectly optimized this amazing autumnal season for me. This is such a romantic time of year for me, as it always reminds me of when my husband and I first started courting in October four years ago. Long walks wrapped up in chunky scarves and jumpers, warm autumnal soups, watching fireworks and cuddling up while it’s cold outside.
Since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis six months ago, I have done a lot of reading and a lot of learning. I have completely changed the way I eat, drink, move and think. One of the most fun things has been creating new recipes and putting them all on this blog, ensuring that I can enjoy all my favourite foods and stay healthy. However, I have still been struggling with pains and mobility restrictions and this can be a real mental and emotional challenge.
Autumn is a great time of year for warm salads. It’s not very warm outside, but it’s also not too cold yet. Leafy summer salads don’t appeal, but neither does hot stews, so this salad is the perfect gateway between the seasons. This warm salad is especially autumnal with the beautiful green and purple cauliflower. I love roasted cauliflower, as you will have read in a previous post, as it reminds me of the exceptionally tasty, but not so healthy deep-fried cauliflower I grew up with in my Mama’s very Middle Eastern kitchen. Roasting gives you all the flavour and texture, but it supremely better for your health.
Spaghetti Bolognese is a real family favourite in most households. Growing up my family was no different. We all loved Bolognese night, and my mama’s sauce recipe was exquisite.
Foul is a breakfast dish, served in a large communal bowl for the whole family to dip into and scoop from using warm bread. My Mama always made it for brunch at the weekends, and in fact she still does when we are all home together. I usually make it as a light weekend lunch.
When I was younger, my mother used to sit with a large pan of zucchinis and aubergines on one side of her and a large bowl of mixed lamb, rice and herbs on the other. She would sit there coring the vegetables, and ask me to stuff the hollow zucchinis and aubergines with the fragrant rice mix. I would usually come in half way through and help her on the home-run. She was always very appreciative of my help and I still cherish those times we spent together doing something we both loved, and creating lifelong passions for healthy food cooked to taste good and bring people together.
It is very likely that you have had stuffed vine leaves before, either in a Greek or Lebanese restaurant. It’s likely that they were cold, lemony, loosely rolled and vegetarian. As nice as they are, they are nothing like Palestinian Stuffed vine leaves, which are traditionally stuffed with lamb, rice and spices, tightly rolled and served piping hot as a main meal with yoghurt. Mine are a wonderfully healthy, nutritious and delicious variation of the Palestinian variety.
The Olive Tree Kitchen 