Not long ago, I received an email from a reader who wanted to make his own pita bread, but add cinnamon and raisins. Initially, it sounded like  fantastic idea, but on second thought, I realized it wouldn't work out so well. The results would be less than ideal. Here is my response as to why cinnamon raisin pita would be a bad idea....

Cinnamon raisin pita may not be a good idea at home, but you can make authentic and delicious white and whole wheat pita at home. All you need is a few common ingredients and an oven, and you are good to go. Making pita can be a lengthy process, but is super easy. Make your own pita bread today!

Pine nuts are a commonly used ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. They are mildly sweet, nutty and offer terrific flavor and texture to many dishes. It is becoming more and more popular in many different cuisines, but is definitely most popular in Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern foods.

Not all pine nuts are edible, so before you go harvesting from your pine trees in the backyard, read this article about pine nuts first. Please note that I do not advise this -- stick with the packaged pine nuts you find in the supermarket!

Did you know that some people experience a loss of taste or a bitter taste from eating certain pine nuts? Read more about it in this pine nut FAQ.

I love when I can borrow the flavor of one culture and fuse it with another. An easy recipe to do that with is hummus. The beans and tahini adapt very well to a variety of spices and vegetables, making it easy to introduce unique flavors. One of my favorite hummus recipes is chipotle cilantro hummus. The chipotle adds a bold smoky flavor and the cilantro complements it perfects. If you love chipotle, this hummus is for you! Chipotle Cilantro Hummus Recipe

Tahini is a staple in Middle Eastern food recipes. It adds texture and flavor to hummus and several other dips and is one o the base ingredients in many sauces! If you're not familiar with tahini, you should know that its a paste made from sesame seeds. It has a rich flavor and is delicious!

The bad thing about tahini is that it is often expensive to buy. I have seen it retail for as much as $12 at specialty food stores! The good news is that it is super easy and much less expensive to make at home. Nothing beats the taste of homemade tahini. Tahini Recipe