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?

Baklavah, a gift of the Turkish/Ottoman Empire.
A tray of assorted sweets make a perfect gift when you are invited to a home.

Olive Oil Soap

From the tree to the tub:

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The Olive Tree

Olive trees cover the hillsides. Stone walls form terraces which increase the amount of cultivatable land and prevents soil erosion.

The silvery leaves flash in the sun like the scales of a fish. Early spring and the olives have yet to begin to form on the branches.

The steeple of the local Catholic church.
The village mosque.An old stone home is surrounded by its fields. No manicured lawn restricts the spontaneous beauty of wild flowers, indigenous grass and olive trees.

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.