INTRODUCTION
Several years ago I married an Egyptian man who loved my American cooking; however, I knew it would not be long before he yearned for recipes familiar to his native country. I decided to try a few Middle Eastern dishes I found over the internet. They turned out okay but just that, okay. Let’s face it; no woman wants her husband to think her cooking is just okay.
One day we were invited to a friend’s house for dinner. That’s where I first met Howida (Dodi). She was a charming woman, and as I was soon to find out, an excellent cook. She had prepared a lavish feast as delightful to the eye as to the palate. We were presented with one mouthwatering surprise after another: savory soups, colorful salads, incredible entrees, and delectable desserts. Many of the spices were as unfamiliar to me as the names of the dishes. Nevertheless, each course was a delicious treat.
As women often do when invited to a friend’s house for dinner, I asked if I could copy those recipes to make for my husband. She said that they were all in her head, not in a cookbook. Dodi went on to explain that she had many recipes which had been passed down through generations of females in her family.
Over time, I managed to convince Dodi to share her family trade secrets with all of us, and I’m now proud to introduce to you, this fine collection of recipes, entitled…”The Savory Secrets of Dodi’s Home Cooking”. Enjoy! Michelle (Layla) Easton-Ewais
Howida (Dodi) Elhalogy, was born and raised in a quaint agricultural village near Tanta, Egypt located in the middle of the Nile Delta. She grew up on a 4.5 acre estate with 5 sisters and 2 brothers. Her father was mayor of the province and their large ten bedroom house was used to facilitate many of the special events which helped to establish and maintain her father's political position within the community. Her role, at the early age of 12, was to assist her mother and sisters in preparing meals for these events. Over time Dodi learned to master the art of Middle Eastern cooking and to showcase her family's traditional style recipes. Dodi was also married in Egypt at the young age of sixteen to Nehad Saeed, another important business figure in their community at that time. Together they have three children, Shereen, Mohamed, and Nada. At the age of forty-one, Dodi moved to the U.S. with her family. They are now currently residing in Corona, California. Her reputation as a renowned cook has won her much popularity, not only among friends and family members of her own culture, but with many Americans as well. This book is dedicated to her Egyptian relatives who so lovingly taught her about Middle Eastern cuisine. Most importantly, the special touches she adds to her recipes assure that they will not be found anywhere else in the world. The Savory Secrets of Dodi's Home Cooking is a collection of fine recipes passed down through many generations and now, with the help of Outskirts publishing company, her family's traditional recipes will live on. ENJOY!