Hi, I’m Layla Nour — a Lebanese-American home cook, recipe teacher, and cookbook author-in-progress. I share intuitive, flavor-packed recipes that blend tradition with curiosity.
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A Little of Me
I learned to cook before I learned to read. My Teta handed me dough to fold fatayer and my mom taught me how to listen for onions caramelizing just right. My first kitchen was filled with Fairuz songs, arguments about the perfect texture of baba ghanoush, and the smell of date cookies sneaked off hot trays. These moments weren’t side notes. They were the story.
Growing up, everything happened in the kitchen. It was where we laughed, solved problems, made plans, and stayed connected. Every dish I make today carries a thread from that space.
Now I live alone in a sunny apartment in Austin with windows that let in too much light and a kitchen that stays busy. My style blends what I learned with what I’m still figuring out. I cook by instinct. I try new flavors. I add cheddar to manakish, cardamom to banana bread, and brush pomegranate molasses over grilled chicken. I believe in making meals that hold memory and invite change.
My Ptite Cuisine is a place to explore food that feels like home but leaves room for curiosity.
What You’ll Find Here
- Recipes broken down step by step, designed for anyone who’s eager but unsure where to start
- A mix of Lebanese staples and Southern comfort food, all built on flavor and ease
- Personal kitchen stories, passed-down tricks, and honest mistakes
- Recipes meant to be shared—big pots, full tables, and seconds without hesitation
- Each recipe on My Ptite Cuisine is tested in my home kitchen and written with beginners in mind
A Simple Ritual I Start With
Most mornings, I make a warm cup of lemon and ginger water. Just fresh slices in hot water. It clears my head and settles my stomach before the day begins. This small habit reminds me that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be worthwhile.
Outside the Blog
My Cooking Journey Includes:
- Hosting “Mash-Up Sunday” brunches with a focus on cultural fusion
- Teaching beginner-friendly cooking classes at Austin’s local co-op
- Writing a memoir-style cookbook (Mash-Up Memories) blending Lebanese and Southern recipes
- Sharing tested, step-by-step recipes on My Ptite Cuisine.
So whether you’re here to bake chewy tahini cookies, simmer lentils with caramelized onions, or just read a kitchen story that makes you feel something, I’m glad you’ve arrived. This is your space too. Reach out to me on email or connect with me on social media:
Let’s cook with purpose, flavor, and a bit of room for mistakes:
With salt, citrus, and a full heart,