My Halal Kitchen by Yvonne Maffei

One of the most useful tools I have in the kitchen for roasting chicken and other small birds is this upright roasting rack that...

Steaming is universally known as a healthy method of cooking because little fat, if any, is needed in the process. One of the oldest...

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,...

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...

Ostrich eggs might not even be on your radar as anything other than what you might see at a zoo, but kid you not...

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)...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Have you ever tried argan oil?  It is some really amazing stuff that is great for cooking as well as making yourself beautiful on...

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...

Nadia Hubbi of Sweet Pillar & Co. gives us her take on how two of the healthiest and most traditional nuts of the Middle...

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...

Last year during Ramadan I introduced you to Patchi chocolates because I fell in love with their quality and taste. I had all but...

Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar (lunar) and the holy month of fasting is approaching quickly. There is so much to prepare...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

A couple of weeks ago when my husband was away for a few days, I had some time on my hands to work on...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

Saturday was a crisp fall morning perfect for heading out to any farmers' market, even if  just to take a look at all of...

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...

My all-time favorite desserts are the simplest ones. I am not a fan of spending a lot of time making sweet things, only because...

If you don't know me by now, one thing you should know is that I love all things Mediterranean. The food, the sunshine, the...

Last Spring when I was in Washington, D.C. to attend the Global Food Security Symposium, my friend and fellow food blogger, Laura Kumin and...

Recently I had the sheer pleasure of having a wonderful, heartfelt discussion with Naazish Yarkhan whom I first met years ago when she was...

Those of you who followed me around Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter during my trip to Dubai got a glimpse at many of the activities...

We have an exciting new giveaway for TWO new SprinJene Halal Toothpaste Products, available in our new online store, My Halal Market: Adult Sensitivity...

While on my recent trip to Dubai, I had the pleasure of meeting with many interesting people in the food business. So many around...

I'm a huge fan of yogurt for a whole host of reasons- and not just eating a small cup of flavored yogurt a day,...

Winter days are quite the challenge here in Chicago, so I'm always trying to find ways to warm up with food. I haven't had...

Every winter I try to continue my obsession with indoor gardening. It usually happens after I get antsy with the realization that I can't...