Cranberry Sauce Upside Down Cake and a Thanksgiving Leftovers Blog Hop

Cranberry Upside Down Cake and More Thanksgiving Leftovers Ideas

Guys, it’s been a long week. The stress of the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, which went on for eight loud days and sleepless days, was starting to get to me. The uncertainty – and intractability – of the situation was exhausting. But as of Wednesday night, just in time for Thanksgiving, they reached a ceasefire. For that I am beyond thankful. And while I probably won’t have any Thanksgiving leftovers to eat, I came up with this delicious cranberry sauce upside down cake for those of you who will have a few extra cans lying around.

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Harissa Roasted Butternut Squash and a Thanksgiving Blog Hop

Harissa Roasted Butternut Squash

I’ve been looking forward to this blog hop for a long time. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and this will be my third year in a row spending it away from home. My Thanksgiving dishes, like all of my cooking, have taken on a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flare, and this harissa roasted butternut squash is an example of that. It’s flavorful and easy, cozy and, although I originally developed it as a Sukkot side dish (check out the original piece here) it’s perfect for the Thanksgiving table. It’s a great side dish that goes with just about anything. It’s also vegan and could be the centerpiece of a lovely vegetarian meal. Continue reading “Harissa Roasted Butternut Squash and a Thanksgiving Blog Hop”

Garlic Bread Buttermilk Biscuits

This month I left my Secret Recipe Club recipe until the very last minute – I made it yesterday. I don’t usually leave it to the end like that, but besides having a busy month, I also just couldn’t decide what to make. So many recipes on my assigned blog, Cookin’ Mimi, called out to me. Finally, though, I declared these garlic bread buttermilk biscuits the winner and set to work. These buttery, garlicky biscuits are made almost entirely with pantry staples (I only needed to pick up buttermilk) and are ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes. I totally agree with Mimi when she says that “Piping hot breads and rolls are one of my favorite parts of dinner time.” Besides, garlic bread is one of my husband’s all time favorite foods, so I knew he’d love this recipe.

Garlic Bread Buttermilk Biscuits

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Potato Leek Soup

Potato Leek SoupAs the weather starts to cool down (yes, even in the Middle East), it’s only appropriate that the theme for this month’s World on a Plate is soup. I love soup in all its comforting glory, and immediately began considering what variety I would make. It didn’t take me long to settle on potato leek soup. I know it’s not technically American (I represent the good ‘ol USA in this global community project), but it’s so ubiquitous in the United States today that I think we can safely say we’ve claimed it as our own, along with the Irish, British and French. Continue reading “Potato Leek Soup”

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups and a Halloween Blog Hop

Peanut Butter Cup ingredients

It’s hard to believe that it’s already the end of October. Living in a country that doesn’t celebrate Halloween, it’s easy to forget that it’s approaching without the sensory overload of decorations, costumes, scary music and candy. The leaves here aren’t changing color and it’s still a balmy 83F outside. But ever the consummate expat, I refuse to let go of the traditions of home and so got myself in the trick-or-treating spirit by doing something that’s been on my cooking bucket list for a while – I made peanut butter cups. That’s right. Today I’ve got a recipe for peanut butter cups for you. As in Reese’s peanut butter cups, but homemade.

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Vegetarian Fajita Wraps

Vegetarian Fajita Wraps

Whether you’re looking for simple lunch recipes, vegetarian lunch, or a light supper, these fajita wraps fit the bill. They’re perfect for when you want to quickly throw something together that’s light yet filling, healthy yet delicious. I make variations on this easy lunch recipe often, sometimes adding chicken or tofu, throwing in some avocado or salsa, or even topping it with cheese and making it a quesadilla. Fresh lime, chopped cilantro, chili peppers and tomatoes would all be great additions as well. The charred sweet peppers and onions work perfectly with the rich, almost creamy black beans and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt brings the whole thing together.

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Easy Homemade Pizza and a Pizza Blog Hop

As soon as I saw this no rise, practically no knead pizza dough recipe on the web I knew I had to try it out (you’ve probably seen it too – it’s got over 84,000 pins on Pinterest!). This easy pizza seemed too good to be true and had an intriguing secret ingredient: Yogurt. I love adding yogurt to everything from baked goods to pasta dishes, and from salad dressings to sauces to make them creamier, healthier, and tastier. But in pizza crust? But wait. It gets better. Besides the yogurt there’s only one other ingredient: Self-rising flour. Two ingredients and five minutes. I had to make it to believe it.

Easy Homemade Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Garlic and Sweet Potatoes

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Pasta with Ricotta and Brussels Sprouts

Although I didn’t grow up eating Brussels sprouts, as an adult I’ve fallen in love with them. And, while I make them often, I’ve only posted one Brussels sprouts recipe on the blog. I knew I had to change that. Fortunately I came across this easy and delicious pasta with ricotta and Brussels sprouts recipe from Culinary Adventures with Camilla, my assigned blog for this month’s Secret Recipe Club.

When I first got my SRC assignment, I spent a long time going through Camilla’s posts and quickly became enamored with her creative recipes. I love that she includes her two adorable sons in the cooking process, and isn’t afraid to introduce them to new foods. I especially like her international series, Cooking Around the World with Camilla, in which she and her boys are cooking their way through all the countries of the world from A to Z. It’s an amazing way to learn about the world, and is a practice I hope to borrow in the future.

Pasta with Ricotta and Brussels Sprouts

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Guest Post: Honey-Pistachio Granola and a Honey Blog Hop

Happy Friday! Today I am guest posting over at 84th & 3rd while the lovely JJ travels the world. I know that she likes to eat healthy, so I’ve made some easy and flavorful honey-pistachio granola that’s sure to brighten your morning. JJ is one of those bright and warm people that I’ve “met” through blogging, and who I hope to catch up with in person some day (our mutual stomping ground is New York City, and I’m confident that our globe hopping will eventually intersect there). If you’re not familiar with JJ and her gorgeous, inspiring blog head over there now. Also, if you want this enticing recipe (it makes a great diy holiday gift too!) you’re going to have to take a peek there. But then come back for the blog hop!

Honey Pistachio Granola

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Blogiversary Giveaway: Magimix by Robot-Coupe Food Processor & Juicer Attachment

Can you believe it’s been two years? I started this blog on September 30, 2010 soon after moving to Israel. I wanted a fun and creative outlet to complement my professional writer website, and that’s exactly what I’ve gotten. 318 posts later I’ve grown as a writer, photographer, and recipe developer, and been introduced to an incredible community of passionate and talented bloggers. If you follow me you know that I rarely host giveaways (in fact, there’s only been one, this time last year), but I wanted to do something to thank you for reading my blog, sharing your tips, and bringing me joy. So I’ve got something exciting for you.

Magimix by Robot-Coupe Food Processor and Juicer Attachment Giveaway

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