Monday, September 5, 2022

DO-AHEAD Rosh HaShanah Favorites

DO-AHEAD Rosh HaShanah Favorites
Do you like to get lots of cooking done ahead of the holidays? We may be cut from the same cloth. Rosh HaShanah marks the beginning of a season of celebration and contemplation, with most of the days replete with festive meals....


Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Rugelach Meet Hamantaschen in the Middle

Rugelach Meet Hamantaschen in the Middle
The Shaw family's tradition of baking classic hamantaschen (triangular Purim cookies) in their home kitchen has evolved into a much anticipate bake-a-thon in the kosher kitchen at Tufts University's Jewish Culture House, The Bayit. They call it Not Your Bubbe's Hamantaschen for a good reason....


Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Winter Borscht & a Class to Sway You

Winter Borscht & a Class to Sway You
Borscht, a simple beet soup with roots in Eastern Europe, never held much appeal for me. So when Rabbi Evan Krame, spiritual leader of The Jewish Studio, suggested that I teach a zoom cooking session about borscht, I politely suggested other seasonal options. But NO. He wanted BORSCHT as the subject of thi...


Thursday, May 13, 2021

Lemony Yogurt Pancakes Lighten up Breakfast

Lemony Yogurt Pancakes Lighten up Breakfast
Here’s a recipe for Shavuot that elevates the humble pancake to a delicious functional food. In June Hersh's home, they are a Sunday favorite, with a batter that requires a few extra steps but lightens up these breakfast griddle cakes significantly. The secret ingredient is yogurt....


Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Essentials for Passover Meals; Or Not

Essentials for Passover Meals; Or Not
Flowers, special dishes and serving pieces on your holiday table? Essential or not? How about a buffet loaded with multiple family favorites? How many are enough? The word "essential" has taken on new meaning since we re-imagined Passover seders one year ago, in 2020. If we've learned anything, as we face ...


Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Celebrate Purim with Bourekas Bursting with Beets & Feta

Celebrate Purim with Bourekas Bursting with Beets & Feta
Purim, the Jewish holiday told in the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther) is a triumphant story about our clever queen, whose hidden identity as a Jewess, is central to WHY we eat pastries and pastas filled with intriguing surprises as part of our celebration. While hamantaschen, triangular cookies filled w...


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Delicata Squash & Pandemic Cooking Fatigue

Delicata Squash & Pandemic Cooking Fatigue
During these months, when pandemic cooking fatigue translates to suffering from daily burnout, I've found new habits that help make preparing three meals a day a little easier. My goal is to spend less time in the kitchen with tasty results that can carry us through a few meals. For me, this means prepping...


Monday, November 23, 2020

Roasted Daikon & a Simpler Thanksgiving 2020

Roasted Daikon & a Simpler Thanksgiving 2020
Thanksgiving 2020 will be one for the history books, that's for sure. We'll be keeping ours very small, just four of us, and very simple. With the obvious goals of keeping our crew safe and well -fed, I backed into my menu thinking about roasting purple daikon radishes. I admit that it's a little unexpected. ...


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Stuff, Roll & Simmer these Brussels Leaves

Stuff, Roll & Simmer these Brussels Leaves
Have you seen the thick stalks of brussels sprouts at your local farmers' market yet? This cold weather crop begins to appear at the end of October and crescendos in November, landing on Thanksgiving tables across America. While I love brussels sprout buds (yup, that's what they're called) halved or shaved...


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

7 Kugel Recipes to Enthrall All Tastes

7 Kugel Recipes to Enthrall All Tastes
The old Southern adage, "There's a lid for every pot." has me thinking about kugel. It used to be, that dairy kugel* was more or less the same kosher recipe of wide egg noodles, creamy cottage cheese, thick sour cream, loads of butter and a good dose of sugar. But the days of getting that first familiar bi...