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Mideast feasts!
By courtney | February 19, 2010
I know that you follow our blog religiously, so you obviously remember that brief mention of that fantastic Lebanese food we had over our anniversary last month. Since then, we’ve traipsed back to the restaurant for their lovely mezza platter (filled with grape leaves, baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel, etc.). It is the most wonderful lunch around Portland right now. But such positive experiences usually act as a gateway drug for us. The next thing you know, we’re obsessing over hummus quality and sources for the freshest pita… which inevitably leads to the statement: do you think we can make this at home?
(I can hear my dad’s voice right now: “Money doesn’t grow on trees, young lady.” Exactly! Without a money-making tree, I must learn to make these things for myself or perish from food cravings!)
This has resulted in a middle eastern food odyssey over the past few weeks. Armed with Faye Levy’s Feast from the Mideast, we have tackled some of our favorite middle eastern foods. We have discovered the true joy of lentils (which should not be bland and mealy as they so often are!). We have compared homemade hummus recipes (and Ms. Levy’s wins out over Cook’s Illustrated, we faithfully report). We have baked our first batch of pita bread (which is both easy to make and far tastier than store-bought kinds). In fact, here’s a trophy photo:
(I’m not sure if this counts as bragging, but they do look pretty, don’t they?) Most delightful of all, we have discovered the majority of these dishes to be both economical and highly nutritious: dried beans and lentils, fresh veggies, small and flavorful amounts of meat, etc. It has never tasted so good to be so self-righteously nutritious. 
Anyway, next week I hope to report more interesting activities… but in the mean time, at least you know that we aren’t perishing from hunger.
Topics: food | 3 Comments »
February 19th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
We have that cookbook too! And haven’t used it in WAY too long. Thanks for the reminder… maybe I will try something from it soon!
February 20th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
If you haven’t thought about it. You two should write an international cookbook. Courtneys colorful writing and your tastes in food could be a HUGE positive getting a cook book going. I mean, look at Julia Childs cookbook.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:35 am
They look awesome! Are you going to try out a gluten-free version next? teehee