Yvonne Maffei

This is a list of things you may not be able to bring out of Turkey, but you should definitely try while there and...

I came to Turkey twice before making the leap to live here for an extended period of time. I’ve been mostly in Istanbul, the...

These little sour plums (I believe they’re called Victoria Plum) are in season now in southern Turkey and I can’t stop eating them. They remind...

I’ve been making several dishes this week with white navy beans (“kuru fasulye” in Turkish, which actually translates to haricot beans in English). This...

This little dish of Pasta with Bechamel Sauce represents the exact reason why cooking for oneself is not only an act of self-care, but...

If you’re having people over on Eid day, chances are you’re wondering what to put on the buffet for guests. In the hot summer...

My First Fast Was Just an Experiment The first time I fasted in Ramadan I wasn’t a Muslim; I was a curious young woman who...

By the end of Ramadan, most of us fasting Muslims have completely filled our status quo of date consumption for the month, and perhaps...

Many of you have shared your thoughts and your own versions of recipes coming from Summer Ramadan Cooking, my first cookbook that I put...

If there’s one cookbook you’ll want to get this year, it’s this one. FEAST: Food of the Islamic World by Anissa Helou is a...

The American Qur’an project is one of the most surprising art exhibits I’ve ever come across. It’s one artist’s rendition of the Qur’an juxtaposed...

I read a lot of books over the course of year, some of which are skimmed throughly and some of which I hang on...

Recently I had the sheer pleasure of having a wonderful, heartfelt discussion with Naazish Yarkhan whom I first met years ago when she was...

Those of you who followed me around Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter during my trip to Dubai got a glimpse at many of the activities...

While on my recent trip to Dubai, I had the pleasure of meeting with many interesting people in the food business. So many around...

Every winter I try to continue my obsession with indoor gardening. It usually happens after I get antsy with the realization that I can’t...

It’s this time of year when I appreciate home and hearth the most. While I may not have a fireplace (although I’d absolutely love...

As we begin to enter the New Year soon, wouldn’t it be nice to actually maintain a goal of eating healthier by cooking more...

Much of the world has been celebrating Christmas season since the beginning of December, but the really special days for those who celebrate are...

America is gearing up for the foodiest of all foodie days of the year, Thanksgiving.  I know…it’s loaded with historic context that makes it controversial and...