Happy Birthday + Maple Crunch Layer Cake

Happy birthday to Stephanie and Jessica! Yup, that’s right, it’s our birthday today!

side of cake

Today we turn 27 (or 54, if you add us together). And what better way to celebrate our birthday than an amazing maple cake? We’re not sure when the actual maple season is, but I think it’s a fallish flavor, and fall is ending right about now, so why not go with a maple cake? That, and I have been dying to make this cake ever since I got this cookbook.

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Sweet Potato Burgers

I love veggie burgers! But you already knew that. I just have to try tons and tons of recipes for veggie burgers. I can’t help it.

These are immensely healthy. And cheap, especially if you use dried beans. I was lazy and used cans, but I can imagine they’d be more flavorful if I cooked my own beans, so will do that next time. Continue reading

Oven Risotto

People think that risotto is hard to make. And it is, but only if you use one of those recipes that has you standing over the stove mixing the wine and chicken stock and adding ladlefuls each time the liquid is absorbed. One of my favorite people ever, Ina Garten, just makes her risotto in the oven. So easy! Especially if you have homemade vegetable broth in the freezer, like I always do.

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Dinner Rolls

This is one of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever made. And they were really easy! I know a lot of people are scared of yeasted breads, but this one is so impressive when served to guests, especially if you’re making a dinner party, that you should really just try.

Plus, I adapted this hand-kneading recipe to use with a mixer so there’s hardly anything you need to do. I also made it pareve, since I ate it with a meaty stew. I’m sure it would be even more amazing with some melted butter on top, though I love the flavor of a good olive oil. Or, you can dress it up with some herbed oil.

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Double Pumpkin Biscotti

Can you believe tomorrow is already Thanksgiving!? It snuck up on me really quickly this year. Though I guess Christmas is already in the air here in New York, and on TV where I can’t avoid holiday shopping commercials.
We already shared a seasonally-appropriate meat main dish and a hearty fall vegetable with you this week, here’s a nice, light dessert to go with it.
Anyway, when Oh! Nuts asked if they could send me some dried fruits, nuts or seeds, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to make some Thanksgiving desserts. Thanksgiving = pumpkin, so I requested a pound of shelled pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds) and decided to bake some biscotti. Sometimes, especially after a day of eating heavy, starchy, meaty foods, it’s nice to have a light, crisp dessert.

Unstuffed Cabbage

We all stuffed something for our kosher connection challenge this month, like Jessica’s acorn squash, but I’m here to you to share something unstuffed with you.

I have stuffed many things in my kitchen-life: grape leaves, meatballs, zucchini, onions, etc. But never have I stuffed cabbage, and I think it’ll stay that way. I mean, this is so much easier, but you still get the same flavors. I guess the only thing lacking is the single-serving cabbages, but whatever, who needs portion control!?  Continue reading

Stuffed Acorn Squash

When I found out that this month’s link up was stuffing, I was super excited. Not that I’ve ever made  traditional Thanksgiving stuffing/dressing before, but because we’re Syrian, and we stuff everything. I racked my brain to think of something traditionally Syrian we can make for you so that you can have a Syrian Thanksgiving. Then I changed my mind and thought I’d tackle the unknown territory of Thanksgiving stuffing. I cut recipes from all my magazines and bookmarked recipes on blogs from years past. But nothing excited me enough, and I just couldn’t figure out what to share with you this month.  Continue reading

Tokyo Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Salad is usually more of a side dish or appetizer for us; it’s not a meal on its own. Whenever I pack salad to bring to lunch at work, I always end up hungry in the middle of the afternoon. Even if it has a hard-boiled egg in it! This salad is different. Like Jessica’s Salad Nicoise, it stands alone as an entree salad. It’s packed with protein and substance from the soba noodles and tofu, so it’s healthy, filling and delicious. Continue reading