Halal Posts and Recipes
My Interview with Mohammad Salehi of Heray Spice
In this video, I introduce you to the Founder of Heray Spice, a Chicago-based company working closely with a cooperative of farmers across his...
Milky & Sweet Saffron Tea (sponsored)
This is my version of Karak Chai, a milky tea popular in Gulf countries and South Asia, this one utilizing beautifully aromatic saffron by Heray...
Heray Spice #ad
Several months ago, I was approached by Mohammad Salehi, Founder and Owner of Heray Spice, asking me to try his saffron. So often I'm approached by...
10 Foods Mentioned in the Qur’an
There are many beautiful (Halal, or "permissible") foods mentioned in the Holy Quran, many of which you will often see at the table of Muslims...
AEGEAN GREENS PIE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate,...
ROASTED EGGPLANT & PEPPERS on RICE
I love eggplant and I love peppers, but on a day when I'm in a huge hurry and don't have time to fry the eggplant (actually, I really don’t even...
WHITE BEAN HUMMUS
It’s only been the last couple of years since I’ve started cooking with white beans (also known as cannellini beans, great northern beans,...
SAUTEED EGGPLANT MEZZE
I think eggplant might just be the quintessential Mediterranean vegetable. You find it in every Mediterranean country’s cuisine in such a variety of...
MOROCCAN-SPICED BEEF, RAISIN & ALMOND APPETIZER
Yesterday was the first Friday of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims around the world. And there are some really delicious Mediterranean...
VEGAN MUSHROOM PASTA- and Other Vegetarian Recipe Ideas
Some links in this post are affiliate. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these link, at no cost to you as a reader. Last New...
SHEPHERD’S SALAD / ÇOBAN SALATA
Çoban Salata (Cho-ban Suh-la-ta), also known as Turkish Shepherd’s salad is by far the most well-known Turkish salad outside of Turkiye. You’ll find...
HALAL SUBSTITUTES FOR ALCOHOL IN BAKING
There are some really wonderful pastry and baking dishes found in French, Italian, Latin, Asian and American cuisine that call for alcohol and...
HALAL SUBSTITUTES FOR PORK
So many people end up avoiding restaurants, recipes and other great family meals because they're often times unaware of the ways around consuming...
HALAL SUBSTITUTES FOR ALCOHOL IN COOKING
It's a common myth that alcohol burns off completely in the cooking process. Yes, some of it does, that is true. When I was writing the My Halal...
Where to Get Your Dates & Date Products
There are so many date companies to choose from, but I tend towards those that I have a deep familiarity with and can really understand where they...
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY
update: I wrote this at the start of the covid-19 pandemic, but I think it's just as relevant now than it was then, considering the world seems to...
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...
HOW TO USE 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....
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...
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...
A Simple Way to Jazz Up Your Refrigerator
I finally had some free time on my hands to work on a few projects on my 'someday' list. Since moving recently, I really wanted to bring color...
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...
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...
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....
From Campus to Kitchen: Making Global Halal Cuisine, Serving Turkish Recipes & Where To Get Halal Products
What an honor it is to be able to present about Global Halal Cuisine, to the wonderful students, staffa nd alumni of Ohio University, my alma mater....
Shrimp Arrabbiata
This is a great appetizer or party dish for weekend gatherings, Iftar during Ramadan, or even Eid. Or, just make it for yourself and family, as it's...
Grilled Vegetable Salad
https://youtu.be/aBD2eeYDrnQ When you have a plethora of vegetables, there are only so many things you can do with them without getting tired of the...
Yogurt with Blackberries, Honey & Mint
This is more of a suggestion than a recipe, as you really only need a few ingredients and they are variable. Good quality yogurt, delicious fresh...
CREAM CHEESE DIP WITH NUTS & HONEY
I'm always on the lookout for quick and easy recipes for when I entertain- something healthy and that utilizes much of what I already have on hand...
Cultivating a Kitchen Garden
https://youtu.be/tQhSAko1dlc Most of you know how much I absolutely love plants and all things about growing and gardening, whether it be on a...
Smoked Salmon Crudites
https://youtu.be/hiEamwnKGBs This is such a tasty, elegant and rather quick recipe to make for a party in any season, really. I've made them for...
Blueberry Almond Breakfast Bread
There are days, even in the summer, when I crave to bake something. It's not because I'm craving something sweet, but it's because I'm craving the...
Interviewing Mamadou Ndiaye of Wasabih Business Community for the Halal Economy
In this video, I interview Mamadou Ndiaye who talks about his journey from Senegal to France and then to Malaysia as he embarks on a journey from...
Halal Supplements from Blue Angel Farm: An Interview with Martin Herbrich
Just before Ramadan I interviewed Martin Herbrich of Blue Angel Farm. He created a company that provides Halal supplements with fantastic Halal...
Dr. Madiha Saeed, MD Talks About Her New Book, Holistic Rx for Kids
Recently I interviewed Dr. Madiha Saeed, MD about her new book, Holistic Rx: Parenting Healthy Brains & Bodies in a Changing World. It was an...
Mubarakah Ibrahim Explains What Happens to Our Body When We Fast
Just before the start of Ramadan, I sat down with Mubarakah Ibrahim of Fit Muslimah to discuss the science behind what happens to our bodies when we...
My Ramadan Partnership with the UNHCR Islamic Philanthropy Program
There are so many reasons to partner with UNHCR. I could never do justice to the incredibly important and life-saving work they do in one simple...
8 Unique Hostess Gifts
1. Julia Child Recipe Keeper This spiral-bound recipe keeper fits perfectly on the shelf among your cookbooks and features a layflat design for easy...
Dates with Labneh & California Honey
One thing I love to do in Ramadan is to experiment with super simple ways to serve dates for Iftar. This one was inspired by my desire to make...
How the UNHCR Islamic Philanthropy Program Sends Your Zakat Directly to Those in Need
Before Ramadan, I was approached by a team of wonderful UNHCR officers in Canada and the U.S. who asked if I would be interested in learning about...
Date Sugar from a Tunisian Oasis
When I visited the Specialty Foods Show in Las Vegas back in February, I was able to see so many cool products coming out on the market, as is the...
Global Culinary Traditions Project: Preserving Culture Through Stories and Recipes in Ramadan
I've decided to do something different this Ramadan, something that would help preserve traditional recipes from around the world and allow all of...
Baked Cauliflower with Turmeric and Other Anti-Inflammatory Spices
This recipe has been such a huge hit with family and friends, so I've made it over and over when I've had guests, each of them asking for the recipe...
Refreshing Carrot & Avocado Salad
As Spring begins to approach us, we look towards new growth, new life and optimistic things coming our way for the whole world inshaAllah. This...
Ukrainian Recipes, Culinary History & How You Can Help Deliver Food to Those in Need
Last year I received a copy of this book, Summer Kitchens: Recipes and Reminiscences from Every Corner of Ukraine by Olia Hercules. I posted it to...
Pakistani-American Shadab Zeest Hashmi’s Poetry of Food Memories
Last weekend I interviewed my dear friend and poet, Shadab Zeest Hashmi, at her home in Southern California. We first met at an event in Chicago's...
My Interview with Eugenia Bone about the Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook
I had a fantastic interview live on my Facebook page with the brilliant food and nature writer Eugenia Bone who edited and contributed recipes and essays for the Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook. You can watch the replay below. We discussed the magical nature of mushrooms of all kinds, their health benefits and culinary delight and how to incorporate them in your diet, even how and where to forage for them.
Enoki Mushroom Soup from the Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook
In preparation for my interview with Eugenia Bone of The Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook, which you can watch here, I wanted to prepare a soup that was from the cookbook to showcase how lovely yet simple some of these recipes are.
How to Build a Meaty Appetizer Plate [Sponsored]
If you're having a small gathering for New Year's Eve or Day, I have another tasty suggestion for entertaining with delicious and healthy foods....
My Interview with the CEO of Maya Cosmetics about Halal Nail Polish
Over the years, the question of "Halal" nail polish has been a point of intense conversation in the Halal consumer community and not without...
Mediterranean Ciabatta Sandwiches [sponsored]
My first foray into cooking was making sandwiches. I guess I was to young to handle the stovetop, so I ventured into sandwich-making just so that I...
Three Halal Markets In San Diego
Three San Diego markets where you can find Halal meats and Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish, Balkan, Persian and Indo-Pakistani products.
Quick and Easy Baked Mediterranean Omelet
I made this omelet on a whim with whatever I had on hand in the fridge and it came out so delicious, as do most things turn out when you cook...
How to Propagate Rosemary Plants
If you've ever taken one whiff of a fresh rosemary leaf, you won't have forgotten the purely ephemeral aroma, the seemingly medicinal aroma that...
Talking with Experts about the Pediatric Covid-19 Vaccine
Recently I spoke with two experts about the pediatric vaccine for covid-19 that was approved for use in the general population of children....
Roasted Asparagus Wrapped with Turkey [sponsored]
Looking for a healthy party appetizer or a nice side dish at dinner? These baked asparagus wrapped in halal-certified Deli Halal Oven-Roasted Turkey...
French Onion Soup with a Halal Substitute for Wine
Those of you who have read and/or cooked from the My Halal Kitchen cookbook will probably already know about this recipe, which is classically...
My Interview with Halal Pastures, an Upstate New York Family Farm
Recently I spoke with Diane Aboushi during a live interview about her family farm in upstate New York that serves quality Halal and tayyib...
Shakshouka: Middle Eastern Breakfast Eggs
Have you ever come up with a dish that is so tasty you think you invented it yourself, only to find out later that it's actually one of the great...
Middle Eastern Fatteh with Chickpeas
Fatteh is this super delicious Middle Eastern dish that at its base has dried or toasted bread and ground meat (lamb or beef) on top of the bread....
Sarma Dolma: Stuffed Grape Leaves with Caçik Yogurt Sauce
Also known as Sarma Dolma, stuffed grape leaves are a celebratory food on Eid day in many Muslim countries, particularly around the Middle East and...
Walnut Baklava with Rose Water
After having lived in Turkey for a good amount of time, I have been enlightened about the art of making baklava. It's such a dessert that when made...
Dates with Tahini & Grape Molasses
I see so many people loving to stuff dates with peanut butter. It must say, it is a compatible taste with the caramel-like taste and chewy texture...
Choosing Halal & Healthy Meats Every Time: My Interview with Hoda Noureldin of Billy Doe Meats
I love talking to people who bring great food products to us. I think it's a fantastic service and a huge sacrifice to build a business that curates...
Dates with Cucumbers & Creme Fraiche
My dear friend and sister Zainab Ismail is this powerhouse teacher of sunnah and Prophetic foods (the foods that the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon...
Dates with Cucumbers (and Cream): A Prophetic Food Combination
My friend and sister Zainab Ismail is a powerhouse of a teacher of Prophetic foods (the foods that the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, used to...
Power Through Your Day with this 5-Ingredient Vegan Smoothie
For those of you who saw my video interview with Mustafa Koita, Entrepreneur and Founder of Koita foods (plant-based nut milks), you may have...
Citrus Sorbet Cups
https://youtu.be/B1XGnrE9mrU They are so so easy and so versatile. The original recipe in my cookbook is made with a mango sorbet, but in my FB Live...
My Interview with Mustafa Koita, Founder of Koita Plant Milk Products
If you watched my FB live last week, you'll know that I interviewed Entrepreneur and Founder of Koita plant-based milk products, Mustafa Koita....
My Daily Bread Recipe
I learned a lot about bread in Turkey. It is probably the most respected edible item in the entire country, and for good reason. Before I went, I...
Sicilian Swiss Chard
This recipe seemed to be buried under my nostalgic ode to Ohio in a post I wrote years ago after a memorable trip to visit my family. I spent a lot...
Sauteed Swiss Chard (Sicilian-Style)
This recipe seemed to be buried under my nostalgic ode to Ohio in a post I wrote years ago after a memorable trip to visit my family. I spent a lot...
Aegean Stuffed Peppers & Tomatoes
I learned a really valuable culinary skill when I was in Turkey: how to make dolmas, or stuffed things. I used to think it was cumbersome and...
Turkish Caçik: Yogurt Sauce with Fresh Herbs
I use this recipe as a topping for all of my dolmas, or stuffed vegetable recipes like stuffed peppers, grape leaves, tomatoes. It's thick and...
An Interview with the Authors of the Book “Halal Food: A History”
It is with great pleasure that I was able to bring to all of you an enlightening discussion with the authors of the book, Halal Food: A History, the...
More Recipes to Add to Your Thanksgiving Table This Year
APPETIZERS For a great appetizer, try this type of Rustic Turkish Style Hummus. ...
Add an Antipasto Platter to Your Thanksgiving Table
I grew up in an Italian family, so Thanksgiving was a beautiful mix of the all-American must-have foods on the table: a scrumptious stuffed turkey...
Turkish Style Green Bean & Tomato Salad (Fasulye)
One of my neighbors passed on some of their long garden green beans to me, which I relish so much- anything from home gardens, without chemicals and...
New Products in My Halal Market
If you haven't visited My Halal Market lately (or ever), then you're missing out on some really neat products in my global online marketplace. In...
Optimize Your Immunity Series- Talking About Fruit
A couple of days ago, I continued my series with Dr. Madiha Saeed, aka Holistic Mom, MD over on my Facebook and YouTube channels. In this video we...
Zeytin Oil: The Best Turkish Olive Oil I’ve Tasted So Far
By now if you've been following me in the past few months you'll know I've been blessed to discover some of the best, most delicious and high...
Learn More About Black Seed Oil Production in This Live Interview
Yesterday I interviewed Abudllah Naki of The Blessed Seed company about his experience and efforts to bring high quality black seed oil and black...
How to Make Coffee in the Italian Mokka Pot
I have been making Italian coffee the 'old fashioned' way for so many years it seems like a blur as to when it actually started, but most likely...
Easy Oven-Roasted Baby Potatoes
I promise you this is a super easy side dish for any night of the week or any morning when you have some time to make that breakfast even just a...
Meaning of Halal & Tayyib Video Series
If you've been following my audio series on The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib, you'll know I've been rolling them out daily for the past several...
The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib Part 5: Solutions to Cooking & Eating Halal Anywhere
This is my fifth and last video in a series of audio discussions about what halal means and how that affects what we put into our bodies. In this...
The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib: Eating Out or Cooking Global Cuisine
This is my fourth video in a series of audio discussions about what halal means and how that affects what we put into our bodies. In this...
The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib Part 3: Breads & Doughs
This video is my third in a series of YouTube discussions about what halal means and how that affects what we put into our bodies. In this audio...
Benefits of Black Seed Oil in Toothpaste
Since the 1950’s, hundreds of scientific studies have documented remarkable results on black seed’s ability to help stop infections, regulate...
Audio Discussion on The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib: Dairy Products
My second video in a series of discussions about what halal means and how that affects what we put into our bodies. In this audio presentation, I...
7 Books & Cookbooks I’m Reading While in Quarantine
Everyone I know who isn't on the front lines of treating patients or in the service industries, is working at home, safe and sound under quarantine....
My Story About Life in Turkey During the Global Covid19 Pandemic
I was asked by the Editor of Salaam Gateway to share my story of going through the covid19 pandemic while living abroad in Turkey. I share my...
Videos: Let’s Talk Permaculture
I made this video during the last few months I was in my house in Chicago. It was long before I accepted that I would have to leave that beautiful...
Strawberry-Watermelon Coolers
One of my all-time favorite recipes for drinks that truly hydrate without artificial sugars. This is great for a Spring...
My Balcony Garden in Fethiye, Turkiye
The first time I traveled to southern Turkiye (specifically Fethiye), I was completely and utterly taken in by how perfectly the botanics, the...
Very Berry Smoothie Recipe
One of the very first recipes I ever created for Suhoor (early morning meal before a fasting day) was this Very Berry Smoothie. It incorporates such...
California Avocado Toast
Avocados fall into the category of my favorite foods on the planet. They're so nutritious, full of good fats and now...
The Meaning of Halal & Tayyib: An Audio Series
There's no time like the present to either be reminded about or learn new things pertaining to our food system and what goes into the foods we buy....
Turkish Cookbooks & Ottoman Cuisine History Books
In the past year, I've collected numerous cookbooks with different takes on Turkish cuisine, Ottoman food history, the celebration of Ramadan in...
The Easiest No-Cook Yogurt Cheese Spread to Make During a Quarantine
I expect to be indoors for about a month, although it could be a much longer time than that. Before going stir crazy, I think about food projects I...
Dr. Berg’s Opinion on the Coronavirus + More Info. on Boosting Your Immunity
I've been watching Dr. Eric Berg on youtube for quite a while now, just for general medical advice and information. Now, during this global pandemic...
Safe Grocery Shopping During the COVID-19 Pandemic
I usually clean out my fridge before going on a big grocery haul, and I usually clean off the jars and lids of items I bring home, but I NEVER...
Adventures in Turkish Eating: Anatolia- A Gorgeous Cookbook Giveaway
I have so many cookbooks in my culinary library, which has helped shape my cooking and my inspiration for many meals over the years. In recent...
How to Use Loofah in Your Kitchen
Some of the things I thought would be super easy to find in Turkey were all-natural products. Much to my surprise, even a country that is super...
My Interview with TheKitchn
Seems like it was just yesterday I had this photo shoot and interview with The Kitchn. I remember that day so clearly- a photo session at...
What the Japanese Get Right About School Lunches
I've watched with great interest several different videos about Japanese school lunches over the years and it never ceases to amaze me how...
A New Morning “Breakfast” Routine
My morning food routine has changed quite a bit in the last year. When I first came to Turkey, I began eating the typical Turkish breakfast spread...
Zero Waste Winter Vegetable Soup
Nothing is better than a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day, would you agree? You’d be amazed what you can put together with what you’ve already...
