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Moroccan Sweet Couscous (Seffa)

This is the couscous your grandma used to make for me, your aunties and your uncle whenever we had couscous left over after a big tagine meal. Instead of letting anything go to waste, she would turn it into something magical... warm, sweet, and comforting. The smell of cinnamon and butter filling the kitchen meant we were about to get a special treat. Now I’m passing it on to you. Ingredients 1 cups couscous 1/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup toasted almonds 1 tablespoon sugar (or more if you like it sweeter) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon butter Instructions Use a 1:1 ratio of dry couscous to boiling water or broth (e.g., 1 cup of each). Combine them in a bowl with a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of butter, mix in the raisins so they become plump and juicy. Cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap, and let it stand for 5–10 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Transfer the couscous to a large bowl. While it’s still warm, stir...

Trusting the unseen: Ramadan and healing

Back in my chemo chair for my fifth Zometa infusion… and this time, it falls in Ramadan. There’s something about Ramadan that feels collective. Even if you’re not Muslim, you can probably relate to having certain seasons in the year that feel different; more intentional, more reflective, more connected. For us, Ramadan is that month. Yes, we fast from dawn to sunset. But it’s also about slowing down... about discipline when it’s hard, patience when you’re tired, and remembering what really matters. And today, my Ramadan looked different. Instead of fasting, I was hooked up to an IV. Instead of preparing for iftar, I was listening to the steady beep of machines and watching medication drip into my veins. I won’t pretend that it didn’t sting a little. There’s something tender about knowing your family is moving through the day in a shared rhythm, breaking fast together and you’re sitting it out. But faith isn’t one-size-fits-all. In Islam, when you’re unwell, you’re not just allowed to p...

Stuffed zucchini in yogurt sauce (Syrian koosa bil laben)

In our home, there’s a tradition I hope you’ll always remember. On the very first Iftar of Ramadan, we always make something with a white sauce. It might be creamy béchamel or a warm yogurt sauce, but the meaning is the same. As we stir the pot, we quietly pray that the month begins “white” and stays that way, full of peace, ease, and blessings for all 30 days. This stuffed zucchini in yogurt sauce is one of those dishes. It’s comforting, familiar, and full of love, the kind that gathers everyone around the table and reminds us what this month is really about. Ingredients: 8–10 medium zucchinis 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped ½ teaspoon salt 500g plant-based minced meat (or minced beef) Salt Black pepper 1 teaspoon 7 mixed spices 4 cups plain whole yogurt 2 tablespoons cornstarch 4 cloves garlic, crushed ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste) 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted Instructions: Step1: prepare the zucchini Wash and dry the zucchinis. Cut off th...

Strength in struggles

If you scroll through my social media, you’ll see smiles, family milestones, and small moments of joy I’ve intentionally carved out along the way. You’ll see birthday cakes, sunny days, hugs with the people I love. Those snapshots are real and they matter. They remind me, even on the hardest days, that life is still beautiful and absolutely worth celebrating. But photos only ever tell part of the story. What they don’t show are the quiet moments behind the scenes; the fear that creeps in before every scan, the hospital appointments squeezed in between school runs and “normal” working day life, the days when simply getting out of bed feels like climbing a mountain. Two and a half years ago, my world suddenly filled with words I never expected to know so well: surgery, chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, Lymphedema.. .etc. They became part of my everyday vocabulary overnight. I still remember the night before my first treatment; lying awake, scared, overwhelmed and ...

Stuffed aubergine rolls with kofta

This is one of my favourite meals to make when we have people over, and I hope one day it becomes one of yours too. It’s the kind of dish that feels special, even though it’s actually simple to put together. Somehow it always looks like I’ve spent hours in the kitchen. As it bakes, the whole house fills with the smell of tomato, garlic, and warm spices and without fail, someone always wanders in asking, “What smells so good?” That’s my favourite part. I bake the aubergines until they’re soft and tender instead of frying them, then gently roll them around the seasoned kofta and let everything finish cooking in a rich, tangy tomato sauce. It comes out beautiful, smells incredible, and tastes even better. It’s the kind of meal made for sharing; hearty, comforting, and full of love around the table. And I hope whenever you make it, it brings that same feeling to your home. Ingredients: 3–4 large aubergines Olive oil (for brushing) 500g plant-based minced meat (or minced be...

Turning the page: A new year & another trip around the sun

As the calendar turns and I mark another trip around the sun, I’m doing something that doesn’t always come naturally to me, slowing down. Instead of rushing into resolutions or filling my days with to-do lists, I’m pausing long enough to breathe, reflect, and acknowledge a year that asked me to carry fear and gratitude in the same hands and somehow made room for both. 2025 gave me a gift I will never take lightly; my first truly clear CT scan since my breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. Clear lungs. No shadows. No nodules. Words that still feel surreal when I say them out loud. At first, I held that news quietly, almost protectively, as if celebrating too loudly might somehow tempt fate. But this journey has taught me something important: good bloodwork, clean scans, and moments of relief aren’t meant to be whispered. They are meant to be honored. Every win, no matter how fragile, tentative, or hard-earned, deserves its moment in the light. I’m celebrating the strength it took to live in ...

Cauliflower & chickpea stew with couscous

This Cauliflower & Chickpea Stew with Couscous is one of those meals I created on a day when I needed something simple and comforting. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, just something warm and nourishing that felt like a hug in a bowl. As it simmers, the kitchen fills with the soft scent of spices, and everything feels a little calmer. I love how cauliflower changes in a stew, becoming tender and gentle, soaking up all the flavour around it. The chickpeas make it hearty and satisfying, and the couscous adds that fluffy base that somehow makes the whole meal feel complete. It’s the kind of dish I make when I want to slow down, sit properly at the table, and enjoy every bite. Over time, it’s become one of those quiet favourites in my kitchen. Not loud or showy, just steady, wholesome, and comforting. I hope one day it becomes one of those reliable recipes in your kitchen too, the kind you turn to when you want something that feels both nourishing and full of love. Ingredients: ½ on...