When I lived in the Middle East, I learned that tender tabbouleh salad and crunchy fried kibbeh, the celebrated Levantine croquette, share a key ingredient: bulgur. Since ancient times, bulgur has ...

Makes about 6 large crackers. Note: This is a showstopper at parties -- a thin cracker as large as a baking sheet, striped with a pattern of seeds and spices, ready to be broken apart and nibbled.

Heat the oven to 350ºF. Trim the tops from the beets and reserve. Wash the beet roots and place in a shallow roasting pan wide enough to hold them snugly in a single layer. Pour ¼ inch of water into ...