When I was researching different food cultures and traditions, I knew I needed to include some dishes from the Middle East. So, I emailed my friend Mike and asked if he would volunteer is mom for my Nonna project. I knew Mike grew up as a first generation kid like me so it would be perfect. I soon received a call from his wonderful mom Irene Sankari. She was happy to help and came up with a number of dishes we could make together.

Irene came to the US from Beirut, Lebanon at the age of seven with her parents and settled in Buffalo, New York. We did a lot of cooking in Irene’s beautiful Long Island home so I want to share the recipes here in Nonna’s Kitchen. This recipe is for a lovely appetizer called Sambousek. Sambousek is a Lebanese pastry filled with meat or cheese. Many come fried but Irene bakes hers and they are delicious. I love how easy they are to make and how you can freeze them and pop them in the oven whenever you have some last minute guests.

From Nonna's Kitchen, LebanonAnna GassJanuary 6, 2016nonna's kitchen, middle eastern food, middle eastern cuisine, family tradition, cooking with love, Lebanese Cooking, Syrian, Egyptian, French, pita, sambousek, Sahadi's, Brooklyn, Mexico City

Medz Mama Lucy's Hummus

I love Middle Eastern food! Some day, I hope to traipse around the Middle East gobbling up falafel, hummus and lots and lots of pita. For now though, I have the next best thing. My friend Christine’s mom is Armenian and hails from Beirut, Lebanon. In addition, she is a fabulous cook. She raised her three American kids on all the delicacies of her mother’s Armenian kitchen.

From Nonna's Kitchen, LebanonAnna GassOctober 7, 2015heirloom cooking, heirloom kitchen, nonna's kitchen, family tradition, cooking with kids, cooking with love, hummus, middle eastern food, middle eastern cuisine, Armenian cooking, Lebanese Cooking

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