My secret ingredient is having all of the right ingredients!
Because I am strictly gluten free, finding the best products can sometimes be a challenge.
Also, middle eastern cuisine requires certain spices and products that I always keep in my pantry and I recommend you do as well!
So this is my opportunity to share with you all of my favorite things.
You can click the images for links of where to purchase.
My Pantry
SPICES
GADGETS
CONDIMENTS
COOKBOOKS
Best Breadcrumbs
GF breadcrumbs can be pricey, and when a recipe requires a larger quantity, the small packets just won't do. I stumbled upon the Yehuda GF Matzo Meal just before Passover. Matzo meal is ground matzo and what makes matzo ball. It's also the perfect breadcrumb. It is both flavorful and comes in a 15oz box, so you get more bang for your buck!
This is the brand I use, and I think is the best tasting tahini you can get! If you are not familiar with tahini, it's a sesame seed paste that has a rich nutty flavor and is packed with nutrients. I use it all the time! drizzle it raw over salad, make creamy hummus and to-die-for fire roasted eggplant in tahini. Also fantastic when mixed with honey!
Best Tahini
Baharat
Baharat is a freshly ground artisanal blend of Middle Eastern Spices and a staple in Arabic and Middle Eastern cuisine. The basis for Baharat includes allspice, nutmeg, and black pepper. Additional spices such as cardamom, chilli and cinnamon are often used as well. I use it in my meatballs recipes and it makes a world of difference.
Za'atar
Gluten-Free Wish List
This is one of my favorite gluten-free cookbooks. Author Jeanne Sauvage is a master baker and her recipes are so good, you won't believe they are gluten free. The book includes some of the trickiest items such as puff and filo pastry, doughnuts and croissants. I use her GF all purpose flour mix as my go-to flour.
A stunning spice guide by Chef Lior Lev Sercarz - the most sought-after spice expert and founder of La Boîte, a destination spice shop in New York City. The book features hundreds of fresh ideas and tips for using pantry spices, 102 never-before-published recipes for spice blends, gorgeous photography, and breathtaking botanical illustrations.
The Spice Companion
Crock-Pot with Digital Timer
What can I say? my life changed when I got mine! There is nothing like throwing a bunch of ingredients into a pot early in the morning, and come home to a delicious slowly cooked meal. I've done so much with it, I've stopped counting. No need to get the fancy expensive ones either, this version does it all for half the price.