A big Chicken Shawarma Platter to feed everyone

...and it makes great leftovers + a mock-tail perfect for the holidays

My husband likes to tease me about it, but I really like to go on food “kicks”. There will be something I make for dinner that everyone loves and then we’ll have it every week for a month. It’s nice when you get really familiar with cooking something and it also uses whatever the pantry ingredients are for that dish because you’re making it so often. And it is extremely satisfying to me to use something up in the pantry. Working in food, I accumulate a wild amount of pantry goods - our new house has a room in the basement (I think an old coal chute) dedicated only to my pantry and cooking equipment. That little room is heaven for me. Anyway, this week I got back into one of my old kicks - Chicken Shawarma made the home cook way - on a sheet pan. Unfortunately, even my coal chute room doesn't have room for a rotating spit. 

Chicken Shawarma Dinner 

My friends NyShuk make THE MOST AMAZING SPICES, I’ve totally talked about them here before, and my favorite of the blends is their Shawarma spice. The minute I got my hands on it, my gears started turning with how that could transform simple ingredients into a really good dinner. Enter my Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma. I also love making flatbreads from scratch, so that entered the mix. You can totally buy store-bought pita or flatbread, but my recipe isn’t hard at all and the impact is HUGE. They are irresistible- you’ve gotta try it. Later today paid subscribers (that’s $5 a month or $40 a year) will get the whole rundown on how to make a big batch of the stuff with all the sauces, flatbreads, veggies, etc to go with it. It’s a great prep ahead meal that leaves you with leftovers that hold up really well for lunches. I totally recommend you order their Shawarma spice, and you won’t be able to resist some of their other offerings, but if that’s not an option I’m giving you the recipe to make your own similar spice blend. You most likely have all the spices already in your pantry. Sign up below if you aren't already a subscriber. 

Apple Cider Shrub

I know I’ve been promising some holiday inspired non-alcoholic drinks- here’s the first. My husband is sober (he had a big milestone this week, I’m so proud of his kick ass hard work- it’s inspiring) and I’m sober adjacent/pregnant so we’ve been really upping our game in the creative mock-tail department at our house. Spindrift is what our house is stocked with at all times, it’s the only mainstream seltzer brand I know of that doesn’t have artificial flavorings (let me know any others you love). Shrubs are a kind of drink that combine fruit juice or fruit syrup with vinegar. That’s poured over ice and then topped off with soda water. If you like kombucha, then you’re familiar with that vinegar meets fruit flavor combo. Very refreshing and more complex than just a flavored seltzer. Try this next time you want something non-alcoholic but more than a Perrier with lemon. Also apple cider vinegar has wonderful health benefits. You can make the base in a big batch for a party and then top each one off with seltzer. For those who don’t live on the east coast or use the word “seltzer”, I mean sparkling water/club soda/ soda water :) 

Makes 1

• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup

• ½ cup apple cider

• Ice 

• Rosemary sprig & apple slices to garnish

• Seltzer 

1. Combine the apple cider, vinegar and maple syrup in the bottom of a tall glass and stir to combine. 

2. Add ice and a garnish.

3. Top off with seltzer. 

What I’m Loving This Week:

1. Parchment Baking Sheets: Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like not everyone knows about this and with the holidays coming up I think I need to spread the word. They sell parchment paper that is pre-cut into the size of a baking sheet. Unless you do a lot of baking (or you already own these), this is probably not an exciting statement to you. But if you’re constantly having to cut from the roll to fit a baking sheet during holiday baking, you know it’s kind of a pain and takes up time. Do yourself a favor this holiday season, buy the sheets! I like the brand If You Care, but admittedly their sheets are slightly bigger on one side than a standard half sheet pan. It’s ok for me, because I simply fold over one edge. But on Amazon, just type in “Parchment Paper Sheets” and you can find loads of options for your preferred sheet pan size. Game changer for baking. 

2. Dave’s Killer Bread: Specifically the “Thin Slice” loaf: We’ve loved this bread for a long time, maybe I’ve written about it. But we got back into it this week after a long Sourdough Only stint. It’s the only sandwich bread I’ve found that has ingredients I’m cool with and also tastes really good. I love the smaller “thin sliced” loaf because 1 slice of bread cut in half make the perfect mini sandwich for myself or for Dean. It’s just enough bread, making the sandwich more about the filling. 

3. Oatmeal with Apples cooked in butter: I’ve been making the coziest breakfast because I’ve been up SO early with this silly time change. A pot of oatmeal that gets Kerrygold butter & Maple syrup. And then in a small skillet on the side I cook peeled and chopped apples in Kerrygold butter, cinnamon, tiny bit of cardamom, a little bit of maple sugar or brown sugar and salt until they are soft and caramelized. On top of the oatmeal with a drizzle of almond butter or peanut butter. SO cozy. 

Question: Last year I made 3 intricate gingerbread houses. This year I plan to do it again with a ski chalet theme. I’m thinking A frame house, lots of icicles, candy skis. My question is: Would you as a reader be interested in a tutorial on how to build your own? I ask, because it would take a lot of effort to put it together in newsletter form BUT I’ve got lots of great tips that I would love to share with you. I make everything in stages over the course of a week. So that way it doesn’t seem like the most monumental task. Drop a comment with a “YES! Would love this! Please do it” or “No way, you’re nuts. You’re the only crazy lady who  is going to make it”.