All Wrapped Up

It takes me awhile to try some things here … especially time-consuming food projects that taste so good when my experienced neighbors prepare them.  In almost eight years here, I still hadn’t made waraq diwali, the delicious stuffed grape leaves so popular here in the Spring when the grapes are tiny buds and the leaves are big and tender.  These are often made over a couple of hours, sitting around a table with plenty of time to chat and roll the leaves.  The leaves, full of health benefits, become tender when you blanch them and flavored beautifully after a full 90 minutes of simmering with their fillings.  I like mine with lots of lemon.  This year, with grape arbors so near and multiple friends talking me through it, the boys and I made them.  They were delicious and worth the time I think, though I will still probably leave the making of them to my expert neighbors for the most part…