
Thank you everyone for your get well wishes. It was a slow cooking/blogging week. Perfect opportunity to tell you about a project I was thrilled to be part of earlier last year. Along with some pretty awesome authors, photographers, bloggers, crafters, I was asked by the magazine Where Women Cook, to be part of their book project, "Where Women Cook: Celebrate!". The book is a collection of women's stories on how they celebrate and gather the people they love around them.
The instant I read the first lines of the project, I knew I wanted to tell the story of how my grandmother used to celebrate. Above all the traits I inherited from her, this is by far the strongest one. The project was easy: tell with pictures and a few recipes your favorite way to celebrate, how you gather the people you love ad create lasting memories.
Tthe theme I chose to feature and photograph was the same one my grandmother would pick for family gathering: a Berber Couscous with merguez sausages, stewed veggies, chicken and mutton. Plenty of couscous and harissa to go around too. Both my grandparents were in Morocco for a extensive period of time, ten years apart, both my parents were born there, ten years apart. Moroccan cuisine is very much part of my family coding. It's celebration food for us.

My friend John at Lana Restaurant provided all the bistro bowls, silverware and napkins I needed. We set out a pretty table with flowers in mason jars and lots of natural twine.

We strung some lights across the trees and all over the yard.

The girls got busy making pretty flower arrangements while I was finishing cooking and John was grilling. The other guys in the group got busy with quality control and opening wine bottles.

We sat down by the water and cheered, laughed, ate well, raised our glasses and polished off many servings of couscous. My grandmother would have been proud of us!

We took a break, played some silly games and found some room for Honey Saffron Ice Cream and Cardamon Shortbread Cookies.

Fanny and Patrick from Bin 152 provided much of the wines and we lingered at the dinner table and watched the sun set over the water. We talked for hours and I completely forgot to serve a family favorite palate cleanser, a Citrus Mint Salad.

So here it is. The one recipe that never made it into the cookbook, my grandmother's super easy refreshing Citrus Mint Salad (check at the end of the post).
For the Berber Couscous and the Honey Saffron Ice Cream & Cardamom Cookies recipes, I encourage you to check out the book, "Where Woman Cook: Celebrate!". You will also be able to discover some of the amazing women who participated in the project such as Ree of Pioneer Woman, Angie of Bakerella, and Molly of Orangette.
You could also...enter a giveaway to win a copy of the book, right?! Well, here it is! I am indeed giving away one copy of "Where Women Cook: Celebrate!". All you have to do to enter is leave a comment to this post, between Friday March 30th and Monday April 2nd, midnight Eastern Standard time when a winner will be picked at random. And yes, I will ship overseas.
Just a few guidelines: no anonymous comments, one comment per person and prize must be claimed within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.
Citrus And Mint Salad:
Serves 4
1 pink grapefruit
1 white grapefruit
1 large orange
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
3 tablespoons honey
Supreme the pink and white grapefruit as well as the orange. (here are great instructions on how to supreme citrus)
Place the fruit segments with the mint and honey in a non reactive bowl and let sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Divide among bowls or ramekins, adding some of the natural juices over the fruit.
273 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 273 Newer› Newest»I'd love to win a copy of the book and gift it to my mom this Mother's Day! :)
i would love to win this book.
I Love grapefruit- i have just never had a white grapefruit. Sounds very refreshing. Beautiful pictures!
What a lovely party and even more lovely food!
Sounds like a beautiful book! Can't wait to get it and read it!!
I love middle eastern food--thanks for sharing your family's memories (and the recipe).
Oh my. Great story. Looks like a great round up i would love to read.
Sounds like a fun book to cook with. :)
Looks like an amazing project!
Sounds like an awesome cookbook to have. I'm sure I'll have lots of fun cooking along with each recipe. :) Have a great weekend.
I am putting this book on my wish list! Yum!
Beautiful, I can't wait for warmer nights to eat outside again! And such a wonderful idea for a book!
This sounds like a beautiful book and a perfect Mother's Day gift. I love how you incorporated your heritage into your entry.
Your photography is stunning, thank you for being such an inspiration.
This looks like a wonderful book!
I love fruit salads, so this looks wonderful and fresh for Spring!
oooo, I hope I'm chosen, I need that book in my life!
beaultiful way to celebrate
Looks like a fantastic party! My grandmother is my biggest inspiration in the kitchen and the reason I love visiting home so much. No one can cook like her! I would love to win a copy of the cookbook, sounds wonderful! :)
Looks like a fabulous party. Thanks for the recipe.
your pictures are lovely! and that cookbook sounds great :)
Stunning book I would love to have it.
I smiled then I've read that you forgot to serve grapefruit salad: it happens to me some times too with either appetizer or a dessert. I am glad you are back and well.
Beautiful pictures!
This sounds so lovely! I lived in Charleston about 15 years ago and reading your posts and seeing your photos bring me right back...thank you!
Oh my, couscous... I miss Moroccan food so much in the US. One of my must eat food when I'm in Paris.
Thank you for the recipe :)
Gorgeous gathering, foods and amazing photography -- I've never had a white grapefruit before. Looks so yummy :)
The book sounds great; hope I win. As always, I enjoy your photography and blog. cheers!
I love the magazine and would love to win this book!
Honey Saffron Ice Cream?! Yes, Plzzzzzz! :)
That salad looks delicious!
lovely photos, as usual
Great post and great give away!
Book looks great! I hope I win!
that's awesome that you were featured in the book and it sounds like a book I want to read, for the recipes AND the stories!
thank you for keeping up the blog. love following you
love following your blog. thanks
I really like the photos :) and thanks for the giveaway!
this just makes me happy. reminds me of my time in Italy..
http://www.lattesandlipstick.com
The project sounds awesome! Would be thrilled to win a copy of the book! The party also looks amazing. I so want to set something like this, for a big company, tasty and fun, once it gets a bit warmer where I live :)
beautiful food, photos, and people. would love to sit at your table! rene_elkaslasy@yahoo.com
I simply love your work! I'm a foodie and photographer myself and you're always an inspiration!
Beautiful pictures, as always...
Thanks for sharing such a lovely,relaxed party. Saffron&honey icecream...yum!
I'd love to try the Berber Couscous dish but the wheat nature of the couscous itself is a problem for me. Is there a way to make gluten free couscous?
The pictures in the book look great. And, a citrus and mint salad is a great way, I think, to use up fresh mint from the farmers market, especially as the weather gets warmer.
I don't think I'd ever won a book in a giveaway, maybe this'll be the first? Sounds like a nice happy party, that was :)
Stunning photography, lovely story and that salad, simple but elegant, I must try it. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Love the idea of this palette cleanser :)
Oh what a lovely way to gather for dinner.
One of the most inspiring blogs I have found recently. Just love it and it certainly has influenced the cooking, especially desserts, that I do everyday sailing around in warmer climates. Thank you Helene for such wonderful recipes, pictures and stories, my taste buds are in constant overdrive...
Je voudrais bien avoir ce livre! Je vous assure que je vais d'en profiter! Merci pour vos photos et votre generosite!
I am really thrilled and enjoy this site. The recipes, the photos, the fun everyone has. It is a great feeling to enjoy the recipes and the company enjoying your food. Thank you for this site and the great taste. Eva
Lovely.....ide like to get my hands on it
Such a simple yet elegant recipe. Love the picture too. Thanks for the giveaway. Would be so much fun to receive a copy and enjoy it.
Would love to read and see these talented ladies' perspectives all in one place! Thanks for the giveaway.
What beautiful memories. What a beautiful meal. Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy reading the issues of Where Women Cook and each time think to myself, "how can I get in that book as a guest" so I'm happy someone I know made it in there. I'd love to win this book especially knowing the works of many bloggers in it.
Your dinner sounded delicious and as always the photos and story of how you selected the menu are heartwarming.
One of these days I"ll be lucky enough to be traveling through a city that you're doing a photography class. In the meantime I will practice using the skills from your book.
Congrats on being in The book, "Where Women Cook: Celebrate!
what a beautiful dinner! love citrus-mint salad!
Your photos are amazing. Thank you for the inspiration!
Good morning! I would absolutely love to get my hands on some more great recipes. Your post is gorgeous, as always and I can't wait to keep reading.
Much love and happy cooking!
-Pia
Hi,
being from so far away, I will not enter the competiotion ;) but only want to congratulate you for the good quality time you support with friends and family! That is more worth than anything!
Hugs from Romania,
Claudia
Been in Marakech, so I would like to taste the Berber Couscous .sounds womderful
My family and I spent a week in Marrakech this month...and a week is too short to enjoy the glorious Moroccan foods. I would love to have this book so I could recreate a memorable meal for us to enjoy this summer with family and friends. We hope to return soon to learn more about Morocco, it's people and mostly it's food.
The book sounds lovely and def going to make that citrus mint salad looks gorg
I love the photos and would love to win a book. Thanks
What a lovely occasion, setting and sentiment! The post made me think of my mother....
This sounds like a beautiful and useful book. Please enter me to win and thank you. Lovely photos on your blog.
Beautiful food, table setting and friends. Who could ask for more. Would love to win. Thank you.
What a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds like a fabulous book-very inspiring. Thanks!
What a lovely idea for the book. Thank you for having a giveaway. I will make the citrus salad this weekend. It looks really tasty.
As a bored vegetarian 10 Christmases ago, I turned to my husband and then young daughters and said, "Let's do something different for the holiday!". I chose Moroccan cuisine and was surprised when we all loved the cous cous, sweet potato, almond and date tagine, and fava bean hummus on wilted greens. Even the picky one loved it.
What a great party! I love the decorations too. Not fussy, but so beautiful!
I would really like to win this book, it seems very good!!!
Thanks for a great giveaway! :)
keep up the blogging and loving the photos! great giveaway :)
The photographs are beautiful! Looks like your contribution to the book is lovely - and tasty! Thank you for the giveaway!
Beautiful salad and the colors are perfect. I've never heard of a white grapefruit but I've cut into one for sure...thank you for sharing this simple salad! Look forward to looking for the book at bookstores.
Thank so much for the lovely give away! I love, love, loooove citrus fruits, so I would be a very happy camper I would win ^^
Also thanks for the Citrus And Mint Salad recipe! It looks so yummy and I will definitely make it a lot this summer :)
Wow this sounds like such a fantastic cookbook, thanks for this post! As always I love reading your blog.
email: sophieangeline[at]gmail.com
Do you ship overseas? If so, I's like to win the book! *^v^*
Ooh! How interesant!
I be interested to read this book.
Thank you for the giveaway!
What a book it would be!! if this post is anything to go by!! while the honey-saffron ice-cream sounds like something worth giving a shot... can I just say I'm really enamoured by those little lights you strung across...
your pictures always stunning, we don't need story. the pictures tell it self :)
Thank you for the giveaway ..wish i can win one of them
Good friends and food --really, what else is there? Every thing looked beautiful. I would love to win the cookbook.
what a great giveaway! Love it!
Can't wait to see this cookbook. Always such beautiful photos.
What a fantastic looking bunch of people and FOOD! and yes, thanks for the giveaway.
Lovely photos and a salad that would be perfect this time of year.
What a beutiful idea for a book to celerate women this way!
... celebrating life with food and friends, how lovely!
xoxxxxox...love to have...
oh, i feel like i`ve been on holiday after looking at these pictures:)and the book sounds great, would love to read it.best from berlin,anja xx
Sounds like a wonderful celebration! Can't wait to see the book!
I would love to get win that book... Thanks for the good recipes! Caroline (caro_douny@hotmail.com)
I have not ever tasted any of these fabulous treats! Would love to make them :)
Love your blog. I am hosting a party tomorrow and i am using you simple idea of flfowers in mason jars and the wine bottles on the table. So pretty, so simple.
I would love this book...I am a mother...mother's day is coming up....perfect match!! Love your site!
I would love a copy...this book sounds amazing! Psrrn @aol.com
What a fabulous party you had! I did not even know you knew so much about Moroccan cooking! I recently made couscous from scratch for the first time and it was really an amazing departure from the dried. I am throwing my name in for this fantastic book!
Thanks for the reminder that fruits can be enjoyed as a salad!
Love the sound of the book in that it celebrates food and the people behind the recipes and of course would love to see the photography. Fiona
What a great book idea. I love to have my grandchildren help me with big family dinners.
I'd love to win this book. Sounds like there are so many interesting recipes in there I'd definitely like to try. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to win a copy!
I would love to win this cookbook and add it to my collection!
What beautifully fresh looking food and photographs - fabulous!
I think the cookbook will be the perfect gift for my wife.
I love your stuff!
This is such a lovely post--celebrating memories of your grandparents! And the cookies sound divine!
I, too, equate my grandmother with cooking celebrations. What an honor you have made to her!
Also, I love the photo with the flower in the the hair of the guy with the green shirt. Dinner seems like it was a great deal of fun!
The cook book looks lovely!
I hope I win, looks like a great book!
Lovely! Glad to see you're back blogging. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
adriana(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love a copy of the cookbook! I can't wait to try the citrus salad. Thanks!
Would love to win this book. I have grapefruit on hand as well as mint so will be making this salad this weekend.
Nothing greater than a beautifully set table, good food, great wine, and friends.
This book sounds amazing! I would love to win a copy.
Yummmm, Grapefruit with mint. Now I know what to do with the grapefruits from my tree.
This celebration reminds me of my grandmother and how full of life she was, and how much of that still lives in me even after her passing many years ago.
Good food in a pretty setting and most precious of all good family and friends! I am thrilled to see You will ship overseas!!! :-)
I loved the story about your grandmother and would be very happy to read the other stories shared in the cookbook!
I'd love to win this book! :))
What a lovely idea! Those recipes sound amazing.
I would love to win a copy of this cookbook! Live your work, very inspirational!
Love cookbooks! Like to take them to the country house where I don't have internet to check cooking blogs.
Waiting for summer, fresh vegetables and berries.. Here in Estonia it is just +5 degrees.
Mmm... Moroccan cuisine! I make a batch of Moroccan spiced hummus every week, without fail! Would love to try your recipe as well :)
Wouldn't this book be the perfect mother's day gift?! (though it would likely be hard to part with.) Your dinner party sounds LOVELY.
Wow, sound and looks like an amazing book! And your citrus and mint salad looks delicious, definitely will try it in the future.
Looks lovely. I'd be thrilled to 'win' a copy. I did NOT win the Mega Millions last night so this would be a great substitute.
Thanks for the giveaway, I saw this book on amazon and its in my wish list!
sunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com
Who knows maybe I'll be lucky :) This book looks fantastic :)
I am definitely going to try the citrus dish, it sounds very refreshing and right up my alley.
I have some brown rice couscous but need some advice on how to cook it best. It was not nice and fluffy following the box instructions. Any advice for making gluten free couscous better?
Looks beautiful! I would love to have a copy of the cookbook!
What a beautiful meal and evening (and cookbook). I look forward to your next post!
How wonderful that your family tradition includes Moroccan food. One of my favorite cuisines. I'd love to win this book. Thanks for offering the chance.
Hi Helene! I just ordered your book, Plate to Pixel on Amazon and I am anxiously awaiting delivery. I enjoy reading your blog and would love to win this cookbook.
I love collecting cookbooks and this would be a fabulous addition! =)
Corisa
jubinsky2114@yahoo.com
I love cookbooks, it would be great to win this one.
Your party looks fantastic! I'd love to win this cookbook and make some of the recipes with my mom!
Oh Helene, sounds like a wonderful memory. What is better than good food, with good friends and great times? The lasting memories of it all.
I too would love to win a copy of this book, who wouldn't? More ideas for better meals with friends and family with T&T recipes.
Also glad you are feeling a bit better.
April
I can't wait to use our Texas citrus to make the citrus mint salad and would love to have a copy of the cookbook.
What a lovely party. I adore cookbooks and would love to win this one.
Looks like a beautiful book!
Love to win a copy if this book. Your post looks so fresh and inviting. Like spring welcoming us.
This dinner looks amazing, and so does the cookbook!
Your party looks awesome. So lucky to have that family background.
I spent holidays in Tangiers with my uncle's family and was intoxicated by the feasts served at Betty Hutton's and Malcolm Forbe's parties -- my first time cooking my own Thanksgiving dinner away from home was cous cous served on thrift store Limoges, with the whole family sitting on a carpet from the Souk in Marrakesh.
Everyone fell asleep afterwards and I thought I'd poisoned them all (they were fine -- ust stuffed).
What a charming project!!!
I'd love to win this cookbook! Also, looove today's recipe. Citrus fruit is always a win.
Good luck to me-made me think of my grandmother and all she taught me about food and cooking.
This book would be a wonderful acquisition. As always, your beautiful photos tell the story perfectly.
The food, company and setting looked divine. The photography brought it all home for me. I would love to win a copy of the book to share with my best friend.
Thanks for the give away- the book looks fabulous
I'd really like to win this - thanks for the chance!
thebombbalm@gmail.com
What a great salad. I'm always looking for new ways to use mint...and the grapefruit makes it that much better!
Love your pics. They are so wonderful. I'll make your grandma's Mint citrus salad this weekend.
Sounds amazing, as everything else in this blog!
The ice cream looks heavenly :)
Sounds great!
This is a beautiful salad. I will make this on Sunday.
such a nice giveaway, who wouldn't try, right:) love your recipes!
Such a nice giveaway!
I would love a copy of the book! It will make a great mother's day gift for my mamma!
What a beautiful setting for a relaxing evening with good friends and food!
Thank you for sharing this lovely gathering. I dream of throwing intimate dinner parties like this one. Thank you for this giveaway, too!
As always, beautiful photos. Looks like a fun gathering and a lovely book. Thank you :)
As always your pictures are inviting. I think the cookbook that celebrates women chefs is lovely. Thanks for making it a giveaway.
I am so glad you are feeling better! I love those flower arragements in mason jars strung on natural twine. Nice detail those lights across the trees. I love your photos and the recipes. The Citrus Mint Salad looks very nice, I have to try it!
The citrus salad looks amazing!!
Thanks for sharing - as always!
I love the way you celebrate and honor the simplicity and beauty of food and all that is does for our lives in the way of nourishment, comfort, and relationships.
I love all those gorgeous photos! My whole life is a celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with good food and good people? I can't wait to get started on some of these recipes and throw a party of my own!
I love the sound of that honey saffron ice cream.
Now this looks like a dinner party I'd love to attend. Everyone looks like they are so content and the food looks outstanding. It's so nice to see photos of people coming together like this around a table full of incredible food. I've had saffron ice cream before so I can attest to how subtle yet decadent it is.
looks like such a nice evening. thanks for the chance at a great giveaway!
Your gathering looked beautiful! I hope it was a ton of fun.
fun party! food looks amazing!
Lovely table setting! The food looks yummy too! Glad you're feeling better!
thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for sharing this lovely story of celebration! I'd love to win this book, as it sounds very inspiring :)
Beautiful photos and family stories- see you at Squam!
Sounds like an amazing book. I love feeling a connection to women past, present and future when I cook.
This looks amazing, I need to make myself like grapefruit and this looks like a great start.
A beautiful book and it would make a great mom's day gift...
Sounds like a really amazing book! Many thanks for the giveaway!
The Honey Saffron Ice Cream and Cardamon Shortbread Cookies looks amazing!
I love the citrus and mint combination - another great summer one is watermelon mint salad - fresh mint from the garden!
Looks like the kind of celebration I like! Out in the garden, enjoying an evening breeze after a hot day and eating couscous...
The pictures are lovely and the salad very simple. I am sure that the book is also great
Even at dusk your pictures are full of light and color! Beautiful atmosphere there, you can see how much fun and relax did you have with your guest... thanks for the opportunity by the way! Cheers Martina
I'd love to win that book!
What a most delightful evening of family, friends and entertainment, you and your blog are just SO inspiring! The giveaway looks fantastic, here's hoping! Congratulations on your success!
I would be very grateful for the chance to win this cookbook. Thank you.
Lovely photos as always! I would love to win the cookbook to add it to my collection.
I saw the salad photo on pinterest and it looks yummy. Your photos are beautiful. I can feel summer coming on.
thanks for this opportunity to win and thanks for such a beautiful post!
Looks amazing, would love to try the couscous, I love maroccan food
Inspirational and lovely... As always!
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win this beautiful cookbook!
I would love to win~thanks!
I would love to get a copy!
Hope I will :)
Thanks anyway!
This book sounds great!
And I love these photos - how fun!!
I would love to have a copy of the book. Thanks for the inspirations Helene!
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