Monday Meal Review: Israel

THE SCENE

Ava wanted nothing to do with the hummus. She shook her head. She closed her eyes. She even yelled “No!!!!” – in case I didn’t get the message.

I took a deep breath and calmly said “Ok.”

Little did she know, I had a plan. The very next day I whipped out the food processor.

“Want to help mama?” I asked, smiling big.

“Okay!” she cheered, with big eyes, anticipating a fantastic treat.

“Please drop the chickpeas into the food processor,” I said nonchalantly.

“Yes” she said, sneaking one before she did so.

“Should we add some parsley?” I asked.

“Uhuh,” she nodded, her little hand grabbing a fistful and dropping it in.

“More?” she asked

“Ok! And what about oil?”

“Okay!”

And on it went. She loved it.

In a final flourish, I let her push the button.

“BzzzRRRRRRRRRRRaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah” she exclaimed, laughing as the mixture pureed in a smooth dip. I tasted it, adjusted the seasonings, and let her blitz it again.

Proudly, I offered her a spoonful.

Ava shook her head no. Then, quicker than my heart could sink, she dipped her teeny index finger in the hummus and licked it clean.

“Mmm,” she said. “More?”

AVA’s CORNER

THE FOOD

Shakshouka [recipe]

What I liked most about this dish:

Ask me any time of day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner – and I’ll tell you that I love shakshouka. The deep, bold tomato-pepper flavor, loaded up with garlic is the perfect match to the creamy, soft set poached egg. This budget friendly dish is nothing to hide away, but a great showcase for a boisterous brunch party. Both Ava and Mr Picky liked it and ate it right up.

What I liked least about this dish:

I wish I had doubled the sauce recipe – then I could have refrigerated a container for a quick-fix meal later on in the week. Simply wonderful.

Quick Lemon-Garlic Hummus [recipe]

What I liked most about this dish:

Hummus is my go-to sandwich spread, picnic dip, and party treat. Ready in minutes, this is an intense, power packed hummus. If you like garlic and lemon as much as I do, you’ll be in love.

What I liked least about this dish:

While I never add tahini to my hummus (thanks to an unfortunate and accidental over-indulgence as a child), the small amount I added (to remain true to tradition) was okay. Still, next time I’ll probably leave it out.

Israeli Juice (Mint Lemon-Limeade) [recipe]

What I liked most about this dish:

Ah, summer in a glass. A drink to make my whole family swoon. This isn’t much different from what I typically make in our house for lemonade, except I add maraschino cherries and their juices, to make it pink.

What I liked least about this dish:

I went back and forth on how much sugar to add. This recipe can take quite a bit to sweeten which is ok, except I’d rather not know how much I’m drinking.

Israeli Citrus Salad [recipe]