FoodGirlOnline.com

1 clove garlic
1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
In a blender, chop the garlic. Pour garbanzo beans into blender, reserving about a tablespoon for garnish. Place lemon juice, tahini, chopped garlic and salt in blender. Blend until creamy and well mixed.

Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with pepper and pour olive oil over the top. Garnish with reserved garbanzo beans.

Toasted Pita Bread

Pita bread (any type)
olive oil

Preheat oven to 400° F.
Brush both sides of the pita bread with olive oil. Cut the bread into quarters (to use as bread with a meal) or smaller wedges (to use with dips and spreads).
Place bread on cookie sheets and bake for 5-6 minutes. Turn bread over and bake for 3-5 minutes longer until a rich golden brown.

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground lamb
1/2 onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 slice bread, toasted and crumbled
1/2 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 dash ground cumin
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.

In large bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onion, garlic and bread crumbs. Season with savory, allspice, coriander, salt, pepper and cumin. Knead until mixture is stiff. Shape into 4 very thin patties (1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick).

Cook patties for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through

1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
1 pound chopped nuts
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9×13 inch pan.

Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 – 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 – 8 sheets deep.

Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.

Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.

Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.