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Upright Roasting Rack for Chicken and Small Poultry
One of the most useful tools I have in the kitchen for roasting chicken and other small birds is this upright roasting rack that actually folds away for easy storage. Once you put the pieces together, you basically just plop the bird down in their by placing its hollow cavity face down onto the rounded middle section. The pointed...
Steaming Basics
Steaming is universally known as a healthy method of cooking because little fat, if any, is needed in the process. One of the oldest known methods of cooking, water vapor produced during steaming is even hotter than oven heat because steaming transfers heat so efficiently. It’s also one of the quickest cooking methods at our disposal.
Two Types of Steaming
Water...
Sejouk (Spicy Sausage)
Sejouk (also known as sudjuk, sujuk, or merguez) is a spicy version of sausage that is common in Middle Eastern cuisine, stemming from places like Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania and more.
They are not made from pork, but typically beef and sometimes a lamb-beef mixture with an addition of spices like smoked paprika for flavor and color.
Preserved Lemons
If there's one ingredient that says "Moroccan cooking" it's preserved lemons. They're smaller than most lemons found in the U.S. and also sweeter. Traditionally preserved in salt and lemon juice, they are used in tagines, stews and other dishes after the lemons have had time to sit in a tightly sealed jar for several weeks.
Once the jar is opened...
Ostrich Eggs
Ostrich eggs might not even be on your radar as anything other than what you might see at a zoo, but kid you not they are available if you seek them out. I found these at Chicago's Green City Indoor Market in the winter (2011) and was amazed at the size and the seriousness of the vendor selling them-...
Pot Roast
To make a pot roast, you will need a boneless cut of beef that's commonly referred to as chuck roast, pot roast (top blade) or rump roast. Approximately 5 pounds will make a nice roast and serve 6-8 people (thinly sliced). I like to cook it slowly with vegetables like carrots, onions and potatoes in a Dutch oven, as...
Hen Eggs
Hen eggs, a.k.a. chicken eggs, are the most commonly consumed eggs in America, but not all eggs are the same. Depending on the type chickens and the way they are raised, quality can vary greatly. Choose free range eggs whenever possible, as hens who are able to roam freely and forage in a natural habitat with exposure to natural...
Pakistani Dundicut Peppers
I was pleasantly surprised to find these dried hot peppers at Penzey's Spices in Cleveland near the famed West Side Market. I had never seen or heard of them before but was intrigued by their origin and the fact that they looked very much like many of the dried Mexican hot peppers I commonly find in the grocery markets...
Linguine with Spinach, Mushrooms & Garlic
If there is any one pasta dish you should make this week, it's this one. Whether you're a Meatless Monday subscriber (or any day of the week you plan to go vegetarian) or a strict vegetarian, this dish is savory, delicious and filling.
Perhaps the trick is using fully aromatic Crimini mushrooms whose texture is full and meaty, giving your...
Baked Salmon in Papillote
Salmon is one of the easiest types of fish to make on a regular basis. It's thick texture stays together nicely when cooking, so whether you're frying, grilling or baking it, it tends to stay together really well. This is great news for novice cooks or those who are a little intimidated to cook fish at all. And winter...
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup is arguably a winter necessity because the flu is hitting a lot of people hard right now. On the local news here in Chicago, we've been told that area hospital emergency rooms are swamped with people being treated for the flu- heavy coughing and sneezing that they just can't shake off without medical attention, yet flu...
Slow-Roasted Moroccan Mechoui
I'm really thrilled to bring you the next 'Eid ul Adha recipe from Christine (Amina) Benlafquih, a journalist, wife and mother living in Morocco since 2000 who writes everything you want to know about Moroccan food at About.com. She has so many wonderful recipes, tips, and insights about Moroccan cuisine and culinary traditions that if you're interested in this part of...
Creamy Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
A day in the life of recipe testing goes a lot like this:
Creamy Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
-shop for fresh ingredients and bring them home to sort out
-wash and dry fresh herbs and produce
-chop everything
-get out the camera, notebook and pen and jot down the step-by-step procedure of each recipe
-take a snapshot at every interesting point
That's mostly before all the...
5 Tips for An Easy ‘Eid Party
This Ramadan has been so much fun. I've had a great time soaking up all the great ideas for home décor, party ideas for kids, and meeting the creative women and men behind design inspiration that caters to the way we Muslims celebrate and value our holidays in a colorful and beautiful way.
Rana Bacaloni is one of those women....
Culinary and Cosmetic Uses of Argan Oil
Have you ever tried argan oil? It is some really amazing stuff that is great for cooking as well as making yourself beautiful on a budget...not that you need any more beautifying, of course. In the past year I've been using it in my cooking and even more so on my sensitive skin (the cosmetic grade) in a massive...
Violet Rice Pudding
Uzma Sharif is a Chicago-based chocolatier and owner of Chocolat Uzma, both an online shop and a brick and mortar one in Chicago. I just love supporting women in business, and those running a specialty food business at that. Her chocolates are infused with the exotic aromas of South Asia and made so beautiful you need some time to enjoy...
Pistachios and Walnuts: A Deeper Look at the Most Widely Used Nuts in Syrian and Middle Eastern Desserts
Nadia Hubbi of Sweet Pillar & Co. gives us her take on how two of the healthiest and most traditional nuts of the Middle East stack up in food history, health benefits and culinary use. It's an interesting look at both walnuts and pistachios, some of the most widely-used nuts in traditional Middle Eastern cooking that are making big...
Tips For Celebrating Ramadan In Style
I am so delighted to bring you this article by Jomana Siddiqui, founder of modernEID.com who creates some of the most beautifully designed 'Eid decor for the home, something I've been in search of for years now. I asked Jomana to give us some of her best tips on how to celebrate Ramadan in style and bring the beauty and...
The Story Behind Patchi Chocolates
Last year during Ramadan I introduced you to Patchi chocolates because I fell in love with their quality and taste. I had all but given up on ever finding the taste of real chocolate mixed with real nuts like hazelnuts, pistachio, and almonds that I grew up enjoying whenever someone in my family came to visit from Italy bearing gifts...
Are You Ready for Ramadan Cooking?
Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar (lunar) and the holy month of fasting is approaching quickly. There is so much to prepare and it can be quite overwhelming if you think about it all at once. For those of you who are new to My Halal Kitchen, you may not realize that there are lots of organizational...
Grilled Eggplant and Pepper Salad
Summer food is equivalent to grilling, right? Well, in the intense heat we're feeling here in the Midwest I'm not sure everyone is so excited about firing up the grills all the time. I mean, it's really hot- even in the evenings I've seen temps at 98° F. That said, with all the amazing summer produce to be found...
Icelandic Haddock in Lemongrass Basil Simmer Sauce
Unless you have an amazing Asian store nearby that sells fresh ingredients from the East, it’s pretty hard to find things like lemongrass, real coconut and interesting chili peppers to cook with, unfortunate because when combined they make for such an exotic and flavorful combination like what's been prepared for us in one of the latest simmer sauces by Saffron...
Chicken Rogan Josh with Potatoes, Peas and Cilantro
Rogan Josh is a north Indian curry dish that is typically served with lamb. The word rogan is Persian for oil and josh mans hot or heat (some also say it means passionate). Despite the name or meaning, I've not ever had this dish at the multitude of Indian restaurants, weddings or gatherings that I've attended, and I thought I had tried just...
Chicken Sausages with Heirloom Tomatoes
On a recent trip to our local butcher, I inquired about the homemade merguez they always used to have on hand. He said they weren't making any more of it because folks weren't buying much of it, for some reason.
I always thought it was delicious so I must've sounded pretty bummed out to hear that. He did, however, have some chicken sausages...
Myth #2: Halal Food Isn’t Clean
The second notion to tackle in our series, Myths About Halal Food, is one that questions the cleanliness of halal foods (including the process of making it).
my stewed zucchini and tomato recipe
I am completely saddened to hear people say or think that halal food isn't clean and that their experiences with ‘halal’ meat markets or restaurants were horrific. That...
Quick Kidney Beans with Tomatoes, Onions and Cilantro
It's true, I travel with food. It's not because I'm a food blogger, a halal foodie or averse to outside food. It's because I like to feel good and comfortable by eating what I know is healthy, especially when I have the time to relax and cook (yes, cooking is relaxing to me).
Quick Kidney Beans with Tomatoes, Onions and...
Myths About Halal Food
It’s not too often that I receive direct questions about what halal food is or what’s entailed in the processes that bring halal food to the table. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad thing, but I would hope that if people don’t understand it then they would look to credible sources to get a truthful and thorough...
Spicy Olive Tapenade
Appetizer aren't just for entertaining guests. I've come to learn that keeping homemade appetizers around my house is a great way to eat healthy by avoiding eating outside, eating junk food or not eating until one is ravished with hunger at the dinner table- not pretty. We definitely want to avoid that.
So, one of the most recent appetizers I've...
A Simple Way to Jazz Up Your Refrigerator
A couple of weeks ago when my husband was away for a few days, I had some time on my hands to work on a few projects on my 'someday' list. Since moving recently, I really wanted to bring color to my new spaces, whether it was the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or my office. I wanted to really love...
Ruby Red Grapefruit & Blood Orange Juice
One of the ways I try improve my overall health is by making fresh juice most mornings and sometimes again later in the evenings for a refreshing drink. Right now (winter season), grapefruits and oranges are at their best so they are absolutely delicious and juicy.
My favorites are the ruby red grapefruits and blood oranges, which are almsot the same...
Tuna Pasta with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes
This is a great weekend dish- really healthy, light, and super quick to make. The only ingredient that's actually cooked is the pasta.
Chop and prep the remaining ingredients so they're ready to go as soon as the pasta is drained so the they are warmed up and ready for serving. It's still good, but just not the same if...
Saffron Road’s New Line of Vegeterian Entrees
You may have already heard about Saffron Road's new vegetarian entrees, which are making quite a buzz on places like Facebook and Twitter. Vegetarians, vegans and those who are gluten-free are raving about the flavors and quality of these products, and I couldn't agree more.
These Manchurian Dumplings photographed above were soft, saucy and had a nice kick of spice to...
5 Tips for Eating Well During Tough Economic Times
tIt's no secret that many people are suffering right now as a result of unemployment, rising costs of food and just about everything else. We're bombarded with news and information about the fluctuating economy and told time and time again that it's wise to save money, while at the same time we're given so many horror stories about what's...
Homemade Microwave Popcorn
I recently heard that it was possible to make microwaved popcorn without buying bags of pre-seasoned, ready-to-pop-into-the-microwave popcorn in a bag. It sounded so much healthier to be able to put whatever I want into my bag so that I know exactly what we're eating, but also not as messy as heating oil in a pan and covering it to wait...
Bon Appétit Magazine Presented Chicago Gourmet
Last Saturday morning I had the pleasure of attending the Chicago Gourmet event in Chicago's Millenium Park. You know the kind of experience that leaves you in a happy place for the entire remainder of the day, no matter what else happens? It was that kind of experience.
How could it not be? With celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless, Chicago food critic Steve Dolinsky...
Cherries and Sunsets on a Wisconsin Peninsula
It's been a long time since I've taken a spontaneous trip, one that's planned the day before heading out for a long weekend to a place I've never visited.
Art gallery on a pier and a gorgeous wooden sailboat rocks gently in the wind next to it in Ephraim, WI.
Recently we had a long weekend and wanted to go towards the fresh...
Top Chef Contestant Malika Ameen Talks to My Halal Kitchen
It isn't every day that you get to 'meet' a pastry chef like Malika Ameen. If you don't know her already, here's a great chance to get acquainted with one of the country's finest culinary professionals--and we're fortunate enough to have her right here with us in Chicago.
Even if you've seen her as a contestant on Top Chef: Just...
Feta, Avocado & Homemade Mayonnaise Torta
Everyone has some sort of comfort food. Some people love cakes for soothing comfort; others love chicken noodle soup or a hearty chili. For me, it's always a sandwich (aka torta, in Spanish): thick bread, a bit of mayo and mustard, and always some sort of cheese- extra cheese.
Recently, I spent over a month in Cleveland with my family. After...
Chicago’s Green City Market and Roasted Chestnuts Recipe
Saturday was a crisp fall morning perfect for heading out to any farmers' market, even if just to take a look at all of the beautiful fall colors existing within the produce: bright red beets, crisp green lettuces, orange pumpkins, gourds from green to yellow to orange, and of course apples in every shade of red imagineable.
We needed to...
How to Dry Citrus Peels
Whether you have tons of lemons and limes around or just a few, it's easy to preserve the outer skin, or zest, for future use in baking and cooking. Did you ever realize how expensive it can be to purchase a jar of this stuff? It's steep. That's why I make my own.
I had a ton of citrus fruits...
10 Things to Try While You’re in Turkey
This is a list of things you may not be able to bring out of Turkey, but you should definitely try while there and most likely you'll have the chance to do so at most restaurants. Be choosy with your restaurant choices, as not all will provide the highest quality ingredients- and when it comes to things like meats...
20 Things You Should Bring Back from Turkey
I came to Turkey twice before making the leap to live here for an extended period of time. I've been mostly in Istanbul, the Black Sea region and now in southern Turkey with treks along the way to and fro. I'm always on the lookout for unique things I'll use and not just novelty items (you can find plenty...
Suzme: Strained Turkish Yogurt
I get a lot of questions daily asking me for recommendations on what people should try when they come to Turkey for a visit. For me, it's always been more about ingredients than specific restaurants. I'm a huge fan of shopping at grocery stores when I travel because I like to see everything that is on display for the...
A Priceless Education About Where Food Comes From
These little sour plums (I believe they're called Victoria Plum) are in season now in southern Turkey and I can’t stop eating them.
They remind me so much of my childhood plum tree in our backyard. Every year when the plums ripened, I was in awe and excitement that we could simply eat fruit off our tree. It was a...
Summer White Bean and Tomato Salad
I’ve been making several dishes this week with white navy beans (“kuru fasulye” in Turkish, which actually translates to haricot beans in English). This recipe for Summer White Bean and Tomato Salad is one of the lightest and is perfect for a hot summer day. It's so quick to make once the beans have been cooked.
I soak the beans...
Sicilian Eggplant Rolls
This summer weather in Turkey reminds me exactly of my two summers spent in Sicily in the mid 90's. Very hot. Very dry. Limited A/C, if any...and the smell of homemade cooking in every neighborhood. Those smells give you a great idea of what to cook, actually. In Italy, there is the smell of all things based on tomatoes; in Turkey...
Knowing How to Cook is Empowering
This little dish of Pasta with Bechamel Sauce represents the exact reason why cooking for oneself is not only an act of self-care, but also an experience of empowerment. Why? Because it embodies the art of knowing how to survive and thrive on less- less money, less stuff (i.e. ingredients), fewer cooking tools & gadgets, and more time for...
Aegean Lentil Pasta
As many of you readers of my blog and followers on social media know already, I've been in Turkey for several months exploring the cuisine and the sights of the southern Turquoise Coast. It's a beautiful place with some majestic scenery and a tradition of down to earth local foods that combine the Aegean with the Mediterranean cultures, as...
An Abundant Antipasto Platter for Your Eid Buffet
If you're having people over on Eid day, chances are you're wondering what to put on the buffet for guests. In the hot summer weather, no one wants to be in front of a stove or eat heavy foods, either. Even if you're doing a barbecue outdoors, chances are plenty of people will be inside munching, too. That's why...
Corn, Mango & Chile Cups
Are you craving a light side dish for Iftar or even want to make a salad into a meal? It's just too hot to cook in most parts of the world at this point in the unofficial summer, so why turn on the oven if you don't have to do it at all and still eat well and feel...
