FAQ

Recipes evolve over time, and many of the recipes on my website are traditional Middle Eastern dishes that are my own version. For example, I did not create “kibbeh” nor do I claim to have created it. However, I do cook my onions with pomegranate molasses, and I believe no one else does. I also created my own spice mixture, where the traditional one only calls for one prominent spice. Before I cook a traditional dish, I research heavily recipes both in print and online (and often phone calls to my mother). I then sit down and draft my own before I hit the burner. So that was a long winded way of saying, yes these are my recipes! 

(2) Did you take those awesome pictures? 

Yes, and no. Many of the pictures on the website are a product of my learning how to use my DSLR camera. I still do not know how to use it. If someone wants to exchange camera lessons for cooking lessons, I am all for it! Also, if I did not take the picture, I mention that the picture is not mine. This would be a good place to mention that the header photo is by Nikhilesh Haval / World of Stock. 

(3) Can I copy your recipe or your picture? 

I cannot control what happens on the worldwide web. I cannot claim copyright protection on my recipes. However, if you use my method or my recipe and claim it as your own, I hope you at least mention that you learned from this website how to do so. I hope to publish a book soon, and there I can claim copyright protections on my methods, so beware! As for the pictures, I ask that you hyperlink back to this website as your source. 

(4) Where can I find these strange ingredients, such as pomegranate molasses and cardamom extract? 

I purchase all of my ingredients from the local ethnic stores around me, including a Lebanese, Pakistani and Indian grocery store. While they may not be packaged pretty, these stores carry most, if not all, of these ingredients. You can also find most of these from Amazon, but then you would have to wait for it to ship and I have no patience when I am in the mood to cook something. This is the exact reason why I wish to start a spice business where you can find all of these ingredients at your local grocery store at an affordable price.