Goodies From Abroad in Two Parts - (Part 1)

Parents' bags were packed with goodies. 

Right in time for Orthodox Easter, sweet neighbours from back home sent me those delicious home-made Easter cookies (stuffed with dates, walnuts and pistachios).

And as if those were not enough, there was a box of the same cookies that were store bought.

See the difference between the two? The top are hand carved while those here are machine made.

There were also pieces of church bread - nice fluffy sweet bread that is filled with sugar and orange blossom water.

Those are what priests dip in wine in Lebanese churches for the holy communion.

Continuing with the religious theme, those are church incense that came in a beautiful glass container.

The container, along with the incense, are a gift from a relative's first communion celebration.

One final (sort of) religious gift - Easter Eggs from the most famous chocolatier in Lebanon for over 50 years - Chantilly Chocolatier. 

Each colour is a different flavour (dark, milk and nuts).

But the most unique gift is a fancy bottle of El Massaya Arak (check out the website Massaya for more on this amazing product). Arak is a Lebanese clear anise-based booze that turns white when you add water. It can knock you out if you are not used to it.

According to mom, this is the only brand done the right, old fashioned way of making Arak.

Now for those of you who never tasted Arak, well you have to get yourself invited to a Lebanese feast at sommerville kitchen. How? Just figure a way to tempt me to invite you.

And finally, boxes of Lebanese style Marzipan  (more like Aleppo style where this way of making Marzipan originated). These are small marzipan bars stuffed with pistachio. Very aromatic and not overly sweet as some of the European style marzipan.

Those are a dime a dozen in Lebanon, but, according to parents, the only quality ones are from a marzipan specialist patisserie called Marzipan. 

And this is only what I found in the first bag. Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the goodies from abroad.