Labneh is a soft cows cheese that is usually made by women in the villages. The cheese is formed into small balls and stored in jars of olive oil. The olive oil preserves the cheese from the effects of oxygen so that a jar of labneh in olive oil can be stored for years at a time without refrigeration.
Monday, April 9, 2007
The Zarb
Zarb is a meat-smoker that is particularly common around Bethlehem. Father of Tony first builds a fire with olive wood inside the square brick smoker. Once the fire is burning hot and coals are beginning to form, he places stuffed chickens and trays of vegetables inside and than seals the opening with a heat tile and iron door. No oxygen should be able to sneak into the Zarb.
The chickens are stuffed with baby onions, cherry tomatoes, small potatoes and whole cloves of garlic.
Relaxing after the meal with a beer or Arak.
The chickens are stuffed with baby onions, cherry tomatoes, small potatoes and whole cloves of garlic.
Relaxing after the meal with a beer or Arak.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Hommus - Beautiful Hommus
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sweets
Kunafee Nablusaya, named for its city of origin, Nablus, combines several textures and flavors. This sweet is prepared in large trays. First, a layer of soft, white cheese (somewhat similar to Mozzarella) is spread across the pan. This is topped with a layer of wheat and then sprinkled with crushed pistachios. In sweet shops, the trays are kept over a bath of hot water so that the Kunafee is served warm and the cheese remains soft. There are two main types of Kunafee- "soft" and "hard/crunchy". The difference being whether the cheese is covered with soft, thinly ground wheat (above) or crunchy wheat (below). Did you ever imagine putting shredded wheat on top of mozzarella for desert?
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
The Olive Tree
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Flowers of Spring
The bright, white flowers of the almond trees are the first sign of spring. The purple hearts of the flowers give the entire tree a warm glow from a distance. The petals fall to the ground as quickly as they appear.
Not all of the trees lay bare through the winter. Lemons bring splashes of yellow to brighten cold and rainy days.
Not all of the trees lay bare through the winter. Lemons bring splashes of yellow to brighten cold and rainy days.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Welcome Coffee/Goodbye Coffee
An anthropologist's description of Palestinian hospitality etiquette and the role of Arabic coffee:
http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=2016&ed=135&edid=135
http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=2016&ed=135&edid=135
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