Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska

Middle Eastern Recipes

How to Make Perfect Falafel Every Time

Falafel and Tabbouleh

 

Falafel almost whipped me, but I prevailed in the end.

My friend Salwa, a Christian Palestinian, gave me her recipe ages ago, when I first started working on the book that became Tastes Like Home: Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska (a fundraiser for Alaska’s only Greek Orthodox Church). She made the recipe ...

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Vancouver Island B.C.: Food and Wine Lovers’ Paradise

Dukkah

For Alaskans tired of the monotonous winter landscape, a quick trip to Vancouver Island, British Columbia provides great relief. It’s vibrantly green, punctuated by spectacular ocean vistas, and easily accessible from Seattle via high-speed ferry.

Several years ago, I took a spring trip to Vancouver Island with my sister. ...

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Tasty Palestinian Spinach Pies are Vegan and Fasting Friendly

 

My friend Salwa comes from Beit-jala, a small village just outside Bethlehem on the West Bank of the Jordan River. She came with her husband to Alaska, where they’re raising twin sons far from the violence that has disrupted the West Bank for too many years.

Salwa is an excellent cook. ...

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Leftovers: I Love Them, You Should Too; or Don’t Throw Away Your Pie Dough

Melitzanosalata (Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread)

Some time ago we went to a friend’s house for a wonderful, well-cooked meal. I helped her clean up afterwards, and asked where she kept her storage containers so I could stick the leftovers in the refrigerator. She laughed, and said, “Just throw it in the garbage; I don’t bother ...

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Hard-to-Find Dried Okra Worth Seeking Out

Hard-to-Find Dried Okra Worth Seeking Out

My best vacations involve ferreting out local food markets, from tiny one-room shops to outdoor city blocks sprawling with food vendors. My mind happily races with recipe ideas when I gaze upon abundant spices, regional cheeses, glistening seafood, and seasonally fresh fruits and vegetables.

I’m addicted to unusual ingredients. If an ...

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