CashCrashBlog

My daughter inspired this week’s menu. She spent two weeks in Israel with the National Lacrosse Team. It was an amazing experience for her and she came back with a plethora of stories to share. She was moved by the land, the people, and the culture. If you have a teen who is interested in Lacrosse, you can find out the details about this fascinating trip you can do so here or go to: https://lacrosse.co.il/ to learn about gap year trips, winter service trips, and more.

But, what is a trip abroad without the tasting the flavors of the region?

This week’s theme is an ode to Israel as seen through my amazing, adventurous daughter’s eyes! She mentioned a few things I’ve never heard of – such as shakshuka and Kanafeh, along with some of my favorite middle eastern dishes like falafel and hummus.  The ideas below will spice up your dinner table and take you on a journey to an amazing part of the world- without even leaving home!

• Sunday – Shakshuka
• Monday – Hummus, Pita, and  Israeli Chop Chop Salad 
• Tuesday – Homemade Shawarma – see recipe here.
• Wednesday – Falafel Pita Sliders with Arugula by Cooking Light
• Thursday –  Musakhan
• Friday – Grilled Lamb Kabobs Kufta- see recipe here.
• Saturday – Roasted Chicken with Kanafeh, a very popular as a dessert in Israel! See the UTube Video here.

SHOPPING LIST:  1 bell pepper, 2 cans (14 oz. each) diced tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, eggs, fresh parsley, tahini, 2 cans chickpeas, pita, 3 medium or 6 small Israeli cucumbers, onion, chopped small, 4 Roma tomatoes, fresh mint leaves, chopped,  1 pound skinless, boneless chicken legs, dried chickpeas, 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 8 garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, 8 (1-oz.) miniature whole-wheat pita rounds, 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced, baby arugula (about 2 oz.), 1 small red onion, 12 ounces ground lamb, 12 ounces 90% lean ground sirloin, roaster chicken, lavash bread, 3 pounds chicken.

• Kanafeh Syrup-
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of orange blossom water (or rose water)

• Konafa:
  • 1/2 pound (250 grams) of Kataif (shredded phyllo dough), 1 stick (113 grams) of butter, 8 oz (250 grams) sweet cheese (example: middle eastern sweet cheese, or mozarella, or ricotta cheese), 1 tablespoon orange blossom water (or rose water),konafa orange/red colorant in powder or orange food colorant

Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth