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.
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.
Stuffed vegetables are a very popular in the Middle East; stuffed zucchini, aubergine, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, vine leaves and more. The most common in my house growing up where aubergine, zucchini, vine leaves and cabbage. My Mama could spend hours making large pots of these stuffed vegetables that could last from hours to days. They are a real family favourite. While these are usually stuffed with meat and rice, I have made mine vegetarian and a lot more nutritious.
There is nothing more beautiful than bright, vibrant flowers adorning food and drink, and it’s even better when you get to eat them. I found these fabulous bright orange flowers at my local farmer’s market. They have a spectacular peppery taste, and I knew they would complement perfectly a mixed leaf salad with a sweet and syrupy dressing. This salad is the perfect way to say ‘good bye’ to summer.
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.
Labaneh is a real favourite in Palestine. It is traditionally a breakfast dish, but is eaten throughout the day as a snack or as part of an evening meal of mezze. As I explained in a previous post, It comes in a few different textures; creamy and smooth like a dip, thick and textured like a spread or hard and dry like a cheese. You can make all three varieties very easily at home and the only thing that differentiates them is the number of hours you strain the yogurt for (12 hours for the dip, 19 hours for the spread, 24 hours for the cheese).
Growing up I always knew that autumn was around the corner when Mama used to bring figs home from the market, and their deep purple colouring and cherry red interior still reminds me of autumn today. Figs are in season right now (september), so they are at their sweetest and cheapest.
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.
The Olive Tree Kitchen 