Today’s guest is Mariam Daud of the popular @mxriyum social media account. Mariam is a home cook, recipe developer, and author of the new cookbook “I Sleep in My Kitchen: Comfort Recipes from My Palestinian American Home.” She is known on social media (where she has 7+ million followers) for her beautiful recipe videos highlighting traditional Palestinian dishes, nostalgic bakes, and comforting meals. 

Miriam joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about growing up in a bustling household with nine siblings, learning to cook alongside her mom, and rolling hundreds of grape leaves assembly-line style. She shares the story of how she accidentally set the kitchen on fire, how a spontaneous milkshake video launched her social media career, and what it was like to bring her cookbook to life.

The duo then walks through Mariam’s recipe for Knafeh Kishna, a sweet and salty dessert beloved across the Levant. They discuss the differences between Palestinian and Lebanese styles, the signature orange hue of Palestinian knafeh, the briny cheeses traditionally used, and the magic of that dramatic cheese pull when served hot and drenched in orange blossom syrup.

Click here for Miriam’s Knafeh Kishna recipe. 

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More on Mariam: Instagram, “I Sleep In My Kitchen” cookbook