This pumpkin olive oil cake is a moist cake topped with softened cream cheese icing. It's so easy- just mix the cake batter in one bowl, bake, and frost! Pumpkin Olive Oil Cake Olive oil is not just an ingredient for savory dishes; it's great for desserts, like this pumpkin cake or homemade biscotti. Although pumpkin is more of a fall flavor, I am not waiting. This cake is too good. This moist cake graced the tables at a family get-together last fall, and Annette (also known as Grammy) happily obliged when I asked for the recipe. Thank you, Annette, for this recipe! I've made this pumpkin ca ..read more

Apple cinnamon Greek yogurt granola is a quick, healthy breakfast recipe that aligns with the Mediterranean diet. Maple syrup and creamy Greek yogurt provide a base for the crunchy granola and sweet apple chunks. I am obsessed with Greek yogurt breakfast bowls (like this protein yogurt fruit bowl made with apples and fresh berries). Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so I like to start it off with something scrumptious, filling, and packed with energy. What You Will Love Fresh fruit yogurt bowls are a healthy and quick breakfast. This tasty breakfast recipe reminds me of a cross ..read more

Lebanese kishik soup is a savory bulgur wheat yogurt porridge with dry kishik powder, ground lamb (or lamb confit, also known as awarma), diced onion, fresh garlic, and olive oil. Kishik soup is one of those traditional Lebanese recipes that leaves an imprint. There really isn't anything like it on a cold winter morning. The porridge-like texture is savory, sour, salty, and hearty. What is Kishik? Kishik is a mixture of soured goat milk yogurt and bulgar wheat that's ground into a fine white powder. My father grew up in Dhour Shweir, Lebanon, and my grandmother, Tayta Lily, made dry kishik po ..read more

This bazella recipe is a hearty pea stew with tender chunks of meat, carrots, homemade tomato sauce, potatoes, and spices. This is my version of a classic Lebanese dish known as bazella w riz, which translates to peas and rice. Many Middle Eastern countries have some version of this green pea stew. Two main differences in my version make this recipe better (in my opinion). One, I make a fresh tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes (it only adds about 10 minutes). Two, I make this stew heartier by adding white potato chunks. Looking for more Middle Eastern hearty stew recipes? Check out this fassoul ..read more

This no-bake lotus biscoff cheesecake is an incredible cheesecake recipe made with just six ingredients: lotus biscoff cookie butter, lotus cookies, butter, whipped cream, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. This is a rich dessert, not for the faint of heart. When I photographed this recipe, I ate so much of the cheesecake mixture I nearly made myself sick. I'm not sure what that says about the recipe. It's delicious, but eat it in moderation. For a tad lighter dessert with biscoff cookie butter, try these lotus rice krispies (they take 10 minutes!). My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is ..read more

Lebanese vermicelli rice is a simple rice pilaf made with rice, vermicelli noodles, salt, olive oil, and water (or broth). I have perfected this toasted vermicelli rice recipe over two decades. I grew up eating Lebanese vermicelli rice as the standard rice dish in the home. It never crossed my mind that vermicelli in rice is something different. Anytime I eat plain steamed rice, I feel like something is missing! This popular Lebanese rice dish is the perfect side dish for hearty Middle Eastern stews, like bamia (okra stew), fasolia (lima bean stew), or mlukhiyeh (jute stew). When I was sick a ..read more

This 35-minute authentic Bengali chicken curry is a delicious stovetop chicken recipe with chicken pieces, whole spices, ground spices, onions, garlic paste, and ginger paste. This Bangla chicken curry recipe is a common recipe in Bengali households with many different names. In Bengali, murgir jhol means chicken gravy, murgir gosto means chicken meat, and murgir lal jhol means red chicken gravy. I was visiting my dear friend, Nazaha (of Bengali heritage), and she made me this simple chicken curry for dinner. What blew me away was how easy and flavorful it was! Nazaha was kind enough to give ..read more

Quesillo is a Venezuelan flan made in a stovetop water bath with eggs, milk, condensed milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. This traditional Venezuelan dessert is also known as crème caramel in other parts of the world. This family recipe is from my Venezuelan cousin, Samira. She made me this traditional recipe during a visit this summer, and it blew my socks off! Nothing gets better than good food and good company, love you sweet Samira! Why This Recipe Is Great Crème caramel (quesillo) is a five-ingredient dessert that is so delicious. I don't know what I love more: the creamy texture or the t ..read more

Biscoff rice krispie treats are a 10-minute dessert made with biscoff (cookie butter), melted marshmallows, rice krispies, and brown butter. After trying and loving Biscoff Lotus cookie butter spread, I found a way to add it to a quick, easy, and delicious rice krispie recipe. As a kid, I was obsessed with rice Krispie treats. My mother didn't want us to eat the packaged version, so she made her own. For my daughter's second birthday, I added cookie butter to the marshmallow rice krispie base. Game changer! What I Love About This Recipe Want to turn a basic rice krispie recipe into something ..read more

Authentic Lebanese chicken shawarma is an easy oven-baked chicken recipe made with thinly sliced chicken, tomatoes, onions, shawarma seasoning, salt, and vinegar. Chicken shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food. Make a shawarma wrap with shawarma, Lebanese garlic sauce (toum), french fries, and pickles. Or, serve this juicy chicken as a chicken shawarma plate alongside Lebanese rice. Another popular Lebanese chicken recipe is chicken shish tawook (grilled chicken kabobs). What You Will Love This oven-roasted authentic chicken shawarma is simple, easy, and delicious. It's the perfect ..read more