Brussels Sprouts with Za'atar and Nigella

Brussels sprouts are a leftover food trauma from childhood that I've finally overcome. The limp, stinky-sulfur blobs (sorry, Mom) have been replaced with a crisp, roasted vegetable that is full of flavor and befitting a fall feast. Best of all, these are easy to make and a perfect vehicle for one of my favorite spice blends, Green Za'atar. The combination of herbs, sesame and sumac make this spice blend good enough to eat straight out of the jar, but it is even better on the brussels sprouts. A sprinkle of nigella seeds tops the dish off with an exotic garnish and a hint of nutty onion flavor.

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Coriander Roasted Beets

Roasting beets concentrates their flavor, and the complement of coriander is delicious. We like to roast a whole pan-full and serve them alone as a side dish or atop a dark leafy green salad of chard, kale and spinach. Choose beets of a similar size so they cook at about the same rate, and both the gold and red varieties can be used alone or in combination. The spice mix of coriander, sesame, marjoram and Urfa is bright and pleasing with just a hint of mild heat. Inspired by our love of Dukkah and Green Za'atar, this blend is a variation on those themes with coriander taking center stage.This spice mixture goes well with other roasted vegetables too - like carrots or parsnips and can be used as a crust on meat and seafood. You can vary the consistency to go with your dish - we like it medium-fine to sprinkle on vegetables and a more coarse to use as a crust. For another variation, grind the coriander seeds, but leave the sesame seeds whole for additional crunch. Out of the oven, these beets have heavenly, and healthy flavor. Enjoy.

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Green Za'atar Flatbread

After a long day of working, I just want something quick and easy for dinner, but it still has to be delicious... And if it's at least somewhat healthy-ish, all the better! I don't know about you, but I can always eat pizza, in pretty much any form. I can always find ready-made pizza dough at the store, which means my homemade pizzas or flatbreads can be made without any fuss.There's also something incredibly soothing about rolling out pizza dough. The smell of the yeast takes me back to childhood when I would help my mother make bread. After I roll out the dough, brush it with olive oil, then top it with spices.I'll rifle around in my fridge or the cupboards of my small kitchen for odds and ends of goodies that I can either put on the dough before I bake it, or after it comes out of the oven. It all depends on my mood at the moment. Green Za'atar is my favorite spice to use for this, but I also love Hazelnut Dukkah. The smell of the flatbread baking is heavenly, and always seems to perk me up a little bit. It's a perfect end to a hectic day.

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Classic Hummus

Hummus is one of those things best made fresh from scratch, and neither grocery store nor restaurant versions can compare. Served with crunchy veggies, olives, feta and warmed pita bread, hummus is always a crowd pleaser! Our hummus always comes to the table with a hearty sprinkle of spice right on top. Our taste-testers couldn't agree on just one, so we recommend El Greco, Dukkah - Hazelnut, Green Za'atar, Syrian Za'atar or Sumac.

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