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Monday, October 13, 2014

International food blog: SPICE: MIDDLE EAST: Za'atar Spice Recipes and Re...

International food blog: SPICE: MIDDLE EAST: Za'atar Spice Recipes and Re...: WIKI ON ZA'ATAR     (pronounced  : ZAH-tahr)          Short description from  http://www.spicesforless.com/new/zaatar-bulk...




SPICE: MIDDLE EAST: Za'atar Spice Recipes and Recipe Ideas

WIKI ON ZA'ATAR   (pronounced : ZAH-tahr)


  

  

  


Short description from http://www.spicesforless.com/new/zaatar-bulk.html   LINK FROM AMAZON. I like Amazon because it ships fast. 

Zahtar, or Za'atar, is a spice blend from the Middle East. The thyme adds warmth and depth, while the sesame seeds give the blend an earthiness. This blend can be found in recipes from Lebanon and Syria and from Turkey to Iran. Uniquely earthy, savory, and extremely aromatic, Zahtar is often responsible for much of the pervasive, iconic flavor typically associated Mediterranean foods.


After testing and reading recipes and information on Za'atar, I noticed that there are many variations on the recipe. WIKI says "Some varieties may add savory, cumin, coriander or fennel seed.  My preferred and the simplest recipe includes thyme, sumac, toasted caraway seeds, kosher salt and oregano."

Haven't tried it with the marjoram yet. (The basics of all the recipes are:  fresh or ground thyme, **ground sumac, fine or coarse sea salt and toasted sesame seeds.) If you read the link above WIKI explains the many variations of ZA'ATAR. 

** If you can't find powdered or ground sumac in a store near you, you can order it from Amazon.com. 

NOTE:  If you don't want to make it from scratch (to me that's the fun part) you can order it also from Amazon.com.

Za'atar recipe from 101cookbooks.com

Za'atar recipe Foodnetwork's Alton Brown


Za'tar recipe from Epicurious

Za'atar recipe from FreshBitesDaily 


Za'atar recipe from Foodnetwork's Tyler Florence 


Za'atar recipes from the Kitchn.com

Za'atar recipe ideas from Huffington Post

Za'atar recipe from BonAppetit with green tahini sauce









Monday, October 6, 2014

GERMAN: German-American month - Sept 15 - Oct 15

GERMAN: German-American month - Sept 15 - Oct 15

German American Heritage Month

September 15-October 15

German Settlers Help to Form American Traditions

President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed October 6, 
1983 as German American Heritage Day, and it was 
officially commemorated four years later in 1987. This 
day honors the 300th anniversary of the arrival of 13 
German families who established the first German 
settlement on American soil. This community on the 
northern outskirts of Philadelphia later came to be 
known as Germantown.
President Reagan's 1987 proclamation read: "The United 
States has embraced a vast array of German traditions, 
institutions, and influences... Christmas trees and 
Broadway musicals are familiar features of American 
society. Our kindergartens, graduate schools, the social 
security system, and labor unions are all based on 
models derived from Germany. German teachers, 
musicians, and enthusiastic amateurs have left an 
indelible imprint on classical music, hymns, choral 
singing, and marching bands in our country. In 
architecture and design, German contributions include 
the modern suspension bridge, Bauhaus, and Jugendstil. 
German-American scientists have helped make the 
United States the world's pioneer in research and 
technology."
Some notable Americans of German descent include: 
Dwight Eisenhower, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, 
Hannah Arendt, Kurt Vonnegut, Sylvia Plath, Fred 
Astaire and Lou Gehrig.