Maman’s Petit Biscuits Au Miel

These exquisite and delicate Arab pastries (Assabih bi Lozare family favorites. They feature in medieval manuscripts as lauzinaj, which were fried and sprinkled with syrup, rose water and chopped pistachios. In North Africa they are deep-fried but we have always baked them. You need the very fine filo sheets also called yuvka. Makes about 302 1/3 cup…

3 cups whole milk ricotta (drained in a cheesecloth or fine sieve for 1 hour)¾ cup sugar3 large eggs1 Tbsp cornstarch2 Tbsp vanilla2 Tbsp orange liqueur or rum1/3 cup golden raisins1 pinch of salt In a small bowl, combine the raisins and liquor and allow to soak for 1 hour.Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.Lightly grease…

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil3 cloves garlic, finely chopped3 Tbsp tomato paste1 tsp kosher salt½ tsp pepper2 tsp paprika1 tsp ground coriander or cumin,optional1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, with liquid2 lb fresh spinach1/3 cup water1 lemon, juiced In a large deep pot, warm olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, tomato paste, salt…

Traditional Babylonian dishes for the holidays would include semolina kubbah stuffed with ground lamb in a sweet and sour broth with okra and ma’hasha, a colorful array of meat and rice stuffed grape leaves, zucchini, tomatoes and onions. There would be moist chicken slow simmered in a fresh broth and pilau b’jij, a chicken and red rice…

Lemon Olive Chicken 1 small red onion ½ preserved lemon, flesh and skin 1 bunch cilantro, cleaned and stems cut off 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 cup saffron water ½ tsp salt ½ tsp pepper 1 3-4 pound chicken, cut in pieces 10 whole garlic cloves 1 cup pitted…

IRAQI ALMOND MARZIPAN COOKIES Based on Tikva Iny’s recipe Ingredients: 3 cups Almonds ground finely, or almond flour 1 cup sugar 3 egg whites 1 tsp cardamom 1tsp cinnamon 1 Tbsp rose water or 2 tsp almond extract Separate 3 egg whites from egg yolks in two bowls, you will not be using the yolks….