AN ISRAELI THEMED DINNER PARTY

Two years ago, post licensing exams, two girlfriends and I got together to cook the #foodofourpeoples. We started with gnocchi, then followed a few months later with pesto. We soon realized that after spending a day in the kitchen, it was way more fun to include more people, and wine, when feasting on the fruits of our labour. So just like that, the #foodofourpeoples dinner parties were born.

First up was a Portuguese feast, featuring family wine, Portuguese stew and custard tarts. Then we devoured an Italian meal, filled with cured meats, tortellini, veal cutlets and panettone. And finally, last night, we hosted an Israeli themed dinner, inspired by some of my favourite local middle eastern restaurants (here and here).

FATTOUSH SALAD WITH SUMAC DRESSING

Recipes have been few and far between around here lately, and though I feel a little sad about that, I've accepted that life comes first. Evenings and weekends have been busier than usual, juggling larger commitments at work, planning a wedding and reading up on gardening in hopes that I'll develop a green thumb in time for summer (fingers crossed). Don't be mistaken though, we've been cooking tons and eating loads, I just haven't had the 'umphf' lately to photograph recipes and write about them.

But, last weekend was different. We were unexpectedly in town and I was able to take a few day light shots as I prepped and cooked my way through this fattoush salad - destined for Monday's desk lunch. Sundays have always been, and continue to be my meal prep day. I start out by planning my way through a menu for the week, develop my grocery list from that menu and then hit the market.

This salad though, needs to be mixed just before serving -- otherwise the lettuce gets soggy and the pita chips loose their crunch. So instead of dismissing this recipe from the blog because I couldn't get final "beauty shots", I decided to just roll with real life, and snap a pic of my tupperware at work. Yep, real life -- unedited, messy and in a tupperware.