Memories from My Mother’s Kitchen

By Joudie Kalla, with photography by Ria Osborne
Interlink Books, 2016, 240 pages, paperback US$25, hardback US$35

A beautifully photographed culinary and cultural tour of Palestine

Palestinian food is not just found on the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem with the ka’ak (sesame bread) sellers and stalls that sell za’atar, chicken, meat, or other types of mana’eesh (flatbread covered by a layer of thyme and sesame, chicken, minced meat with pine nuts, white cheese, or vegetables), but in the home, too. This delicious, healthy food is found in kitchens all across the country, where families cook and eat together every day in the way that generations before them have always done.

Palestine on a Plate is a tribute to family, cooking, and home. It contains old recipes created with love and brings people together in appreciation of the beauty of this rich heritage. Immerse yourself in the stories and culture of Palestine through the food in this book.

This volume celebrates real Palestinian food, cooked with the ingredients that Joudie’s mother and grandmother use – and that their grandmothers used before them.

Experience the wonderful flavors of Palestine through zingy fattet hummus (tangy yogurt, chickpeas, and hummus, served over toasted pita bread and drizzled in buttered pine nuts), satisfyingly spiced makloubeh (an upside-down spiced rice dish with lamb neck and fried eggplant), eggplant and zucchini stuffed full with spiced and herbed lamb, and sublimely decadent awameh (honey dumplings), all accompanied by fresh mint tea and white coffee (not actually coffee at all, but a refreshing mix of water, orange blossom water, and sugar).

Colorful, stunning photography that evokes the vibrancy and romance of the country will bring Palestine into your home and make you fall in love with this beautiful way to cook and enjoy food.

From the Interlink website
(www.interlinkbooks.com).