This lovely mountain resort town is perched above the eastern end of
the beautiful Kadisha Gorge and at the foothills of the Cedars of Lebanon.
It is the brith place of Lebanon's most famous author
Khalil Gibran. It has a small museum which pays tribute to him.
Beiteddine palace was built over a period of thirty years by Emir Bechir Chehab II.
It's architecture reflects the typical oriental architecture of the 19th century Ottoman Era.
It is remarkable for its glamorous
arcades, multicolored mosaic floors, reception rooms, harems, hammams
and even by its guest house "Diyafa" where passing guests were lodged
(French poet Lamartine stayed once there).
Detail of the Sarcophagus of Ahiram, king of Byblos, seated
on a cherub throne, before an offering table, 13th century B.C (National Museum of Beirut).
Around 1200 B.C. the scribes of Byblos developed an alphabetic phonetic script, the precursor of our modern
alphabet. By 800 B.C., it had traveled to Greece, changing forever the way man communicated.
Located in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, Baalbek is an ancient city
that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally
Canaanite (3rd century BC), the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines,
and Arabs successively occupied Ba'albek and left their imprints on the
place, often modifying what existed previously.
www.kaftoun.com
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Lebanese Mixed Bean Soup (Makhlouta)
| 2 hours |
| 6 |
Ingredients:
| 1/2 cup |
| 1/2 cup |
| 1/2 cup |
| 1/4 cup |
| 1/4 cup |
| 1/4 cup |
| 1/4 cup |
| 1/2 teaspoon |
| 1 teaspoon |
| 4 tablespoons |
Directions:
- Soak all beans (except lentils) in water for 12 hours, then drain.
- Put lentils and beans (except fava beans) in a pressure cooker. Cover with water, and cook over high heat. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook for 30 more minutes. Cook fava beans separately using the same method; drain and add to the other beans (do not add cooking liquid).
- In a large stockpot, heat oil, add onions and stir-fry until browned. Add to beans with bulgur, rice, and seasonings. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Add lemon juice; cook over low heat for 5 more minutes.
Note:
Cook large quantities of mixed beans and freeze them for later use.
