Stuffed tomatoes

*The word for tomato in Hebrew is “Agvania.”  The root of the word is to love or desire.  Ben-Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew, did not like this word selection for tomato.  He thought it was too sensual and insisted on the more Semitic word for tomato, “badura.”  However, in a rare occurrence Ben-Yehuda did not win the linguistic battle.  People in…

Koshari

*Koshari is the traditional Egyptian meal.  It’s served in every restaurant, at every dinner table, and sold by any Cairo street vendor. Koshari is a very strange combination of noodles, rice, lentils, fried onions and chili sauce.   Don’t be thrown by the ingredient list.  For whatever reason this all-in-one meal is addicting.  I love traveling in Egypt and…

Shakshuka

Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon jalapeno, seeded and minced 2 red bell peppers, chopped 8 tomatoes, seeded and chopped 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika 2 teaspoons sweet paprika 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon sugar…