Percepolis Punch

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

They don’t look like much. In fact, they’re pretty ugly, even with good lighting and a flattering background. (I did the best I could.)  But these wizened little knobs of dried fruit pack amazing flavor.  They’re Persian dried limes (or Limoo Omani), common in the cuisine of Iran, Iraq and Northern India, but still rare […]

Moroccan Sweet Tomato Spread

Monday, June 28, 2010

It’s been a warm June in New York, and the tomato plants in our Southampton garden seem to double in size every few days.  It won’t be too long before we have fresh tomatoes from the garden. Here’s a recipe to help you celebrate the upcoming tomato season.  It’s a traditional Moroccan “kemia” or small […]

Cheese! Bringing Back the Cheese Course

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Cheese! (pronounced “Cheece!,” which rhymes with Greece) was one of Julia’s first words. She loves cheese, and not just the mild ones like Provolone and that weird tasteless string cheese that people tend to feed their kids.  (At a Christmas party last year she was crawling around stealing pieces of Stilton off unattended plates).  About […]

Zaalouk

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Zaalouk (sometimes spelled Zahlouk) is my favorite traditional Moroccan salad, and probably one of my favorite foods. The dish’s eggplant base is rich and creamy, enhanced by the flavor of toasted cumin and accented with tomato, lemon and cilantro. It’s loaded with flavor, but at the same time light and refreshing.  And not loaded with […]

Elegant Cocktail, Silly Name: The Corpse Reviver

Saturday, June 19, 2010

It’s a pity that this beautifully balanced, sophisticated cocktail seems like it was named by some underage guy who spends too much time watching Torchwood reruns (not that there’s anything wrong with that show).  The name and the cocktail go back to the 1890s, though, so it’s probably too late for a change. The drink […]

An Improvised Summer Cocktail Table

Thursday, June 17, 2010

It’s porch-sitting weather in New York.  Our back porch in Southampton is fully furnished –a sofa and easy chairs, coffee table, dining table for eight, and a large, low daybed that Julia has adopted as her favorite place to jump and sprawl. The front porch, however, is completely bare, which seems like a waste of […]

Cool Summer Lunch: Moroccan Chickpea Salad

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

In Morocco, most meals begin with a selection of “kemia,” or small bites, and salads.  A simple meal will begin with, say, three salads, while an elaborate meal may start with an impressive platter of more than a dozen.  We ate lots of wonderful food during our recent trip to Marrakech, but I think these […]

Candlelight, on a Budget

Monday, June 14, 2010

Who doesn’t love candlelight?.  It’s warm, festive, romantic, and flattering (the reason it’s romantic?).  It can also be a little expensive. Until recently, I never paid much attention to the cost of candles.  Except for pricey artisanal beeswax models, the price of candles always seemed reasonable –$2 or $3 for a taper, $8 – $20 […]

Ellen’s Flourless Almond Cake

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Our friend Ellen isn’t responsible for the recipe for this delicious, deceptively simple cake.  (We can thank Sister Angela at the Convento de la Purisma Concepcion in Penaranda, Spain for that.)  Indirectly, though, she is responsible for introducing us to this delicious dessert.  Ellen has an allergy to wheat gluten. Of course, she’s too gracious […]

Cask: the Cocktail Shop

Thursday, June 10, 2010

It can be frustrating.  You find a interesting cocktail recipe in, say, the New York Times (or here in this blog), and it calls for Velvet Falernum or Allspice Dram or Creme de Violette –some intriguing ingredient that’s next to impossible to find. Local liquor stores (or, in more hooch-friendly states, supermarkets) tend to cover […]

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