Not every cookbook is also a pleasure to read, but Rose Water and Orange Blossoms is not only a rich resource for cooks interested in exploring the Mediterranean DIet and Middle Eastern cuisine, but also a rewarding and engrossing read. Maureen Abood’s subtitle, Fresh & Classic Recipes From My Lebanese Kitchen tells the story: a personal account of how to create Lebanese dishes beyond the beloved, ubiquitous falafel and baklava. This is a beautiful book; the graphic design and photography is subtle: muted colors and clear layout, with attention to Lebanese menus “fresh and classic.”. Everyone who is fortunate enough to be included in a Lebanese family feast will know the delicious and extensive variety of delicacies possible. About hospitality, and reminiscing about her extended family in Michigan, Abood emphasizes the importance of “the ability, the cultivated skill, the fundamental generosity to put anyone who crosses your threshold in a state of complete ease, with the feeling that they really don’t want to leave anytime soon.”
Here are recipes, traditional and new versions of classics, that are not easily found elsewhere. The chapter on preservation alone is worth a purchase. I once worked in a Lebanese restaurant and begged for recipes so I could duplicate the food I loved. They just weren’t available, but here is a treasure trove of the foods, once tasted, you too will crave. Thoughtfully composed and well tested, the recipes work. Abood has has a successful blog by the same name, and a thriving import business. I received an advance digital copy from NetGalley and later purchased the cookbook. Highly recommended.

This book is all heart! The authoress obviously loves the Lebanese cuisine and she is sharing that love with irresistible charm and warmth.
The personal notes and stories are interwoven amongst recipes and they motivate you to try this cuisine, as if with the testing you might be able to experience the warmth of the family hearth - and this is what the shared food is about, right?

I like that the recipes don't contain any fancy ingredients (besides the typically Lebanese ones, but that is a given and they are quite available) or cooking techniques. The recipes are written quite step-by-step with a lot of explanation and tips, so even the beginner might not be challenged that much.
I would love to have more pictures and photos - I am the visual type so I love to know how the food looks like. And some recipes might need the pictures of the cooking steps (but not necessarily, as the explanations are quite detailed).

As for the favourite recipes of mine - well, most of them. I just need to try tabbouleh and all of the salads, the soups, the savory pies, the pastry...consider me definitely intrigued to try to find the nearest Lebanese restaurant in my city and then interested enough to try the meals at home!