Caramelized Onions over Hummus

The  sweet onions are a nice  touch  to hummus, serve with toasted flat bread  as a appetizer  or with  your favorite Mediterranean / Middle Eastern meal.

Ingredients:
1 med. yellow onion diced
1 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 cup Classic Hummus


Directions :

In a  small  shallow bowl put about a cup  of classic hummus, I  like the  classic  flavor because  there are no other flavors that compete with  the wonderful sweet onions. Smooth  the hummus  up on the sides of the bowl so onions stay in the center.

 In a  small  skillet  bring to a med. heat and drizzle  with  olive oil, then add the  diced  onions, saute the onions  till they are tender  and add the  white wine vinegar and  light brown sugar and stir in  and cook  till  onions turn a beautiful caramel color,  pour over the hummus and serve.

Spiced Parsnips and Carrots

So  easy and so healthy! Roasting Carrots and Parsnips in the  oven turns them a beautiful color and they are tender and sweet  and crispy. By adding paprika and cayenne you  get nicely spiced  veggies that would  be a great alternative to fries to  go with a burger or  delicious blackened salmon.                                  

Ingredients: 

6 carrots peeled

2 large Parsnips  peeled

1 tablespoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1 pinch of salt 

1/3 cup  Olive oil

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400°F. 

Peel the carrots and parsnips and cut in  halve lengthwise. (If carrots are small and slender, leave them whole. If parsnips are large, quarter them lengthwise. Place  them on a baking sheet  in a single layer close together.

In a glass measuring cup add the  olive oil, paprika, cayenne, salt , mix together and drizzle over the vegetables and place in the oven for about 20 min. then take them out and flip them over to make sure  all sides get golden and place back in the oven   for about 10  more min.  Remove from oven and place on a platter, sprinkle with parsley and serve . 4 serving

Za`Atar Spice Blend

Za'atar (zaatar) is a mixture of sumac, sesame seed and herbs frequently used in the Middle East and Mediterranean areas.

Za'atar is the Arabic name for an herb blend that is popular in Israeli cooking. Traditionally, the blend was made from a plant by the same name, but today most Za'atar blends are made from herbs like oregano, marjoram, and not  any of the "real" Za'atar herb

Za`Atar Flatbread

Current uses of what we now call Za'atar are mostly culinary. The seasoning mixture is comprised of dried herbs, toasted sesame seeds, ground sumac, and salt. Sumac is another Middle Eastern flavoring, characterized by its deep red berries and often sold dried and ground into a coarse powder with a tart, cranberry like flavor.
You can find a Za'atar blend at most Middle Eastern grocery stores or you can make it from scratch.

Za`atar Pizza on the left. Make a paste with Za`atar and Olive oil and spread on your already made flatbread and top with feta  cheese and place  in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 min. and serve with hummus  and Israeli Salad

Ingredients :

• 1/4 cup sumac
• 2 tablespoons thyme
• 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons marjoram
• 2 tablespoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt   

Preparation:

Grind the sesame seeds in food processor or with mortar and pestle. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Store za'atar in a cool, dark place in a plastic zip bag or in an airtight container. When stored properly, Za'atar can be used from 3-6 months.