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, October 16, 2019

Here’s how to Extend the Season with Fried Green Tomatoes

Here’s how to Extend the Season with Fried Green Tomatoes

There's something glorious about ripe juicy tomatoes during summers in New England. As soon as the spring soil warms, we hurry to grow them in pots on city terraces and in patches in our home gardens. Somehow, though, as soon as the season gets going, we sense that it is fleeting. Once October arrives and ...

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Easy Summer Nosh: Smoked Trout Canapés

Easy Summer Nosh: Smoked Trout Canapés

I had the honor of interviewing my friend, cookbook author and keynote speaker, Leah Koenig, at our third annual Southern CT Jewish Food Festival a few days ago. We dished about global Jewish foods, highlighting  the pressing question, what makes Jewish food Jewish, anyway? Ask either of us and we'd be gl...

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Lion’s Mane Mushroom “Crab” Cakes

Lion’s Mane Mushroom “Crab” Cakes

Is it off-putting to see the word CRAB in this title? I debated whether to use it but I simply have to. I've been hankering to make these vegetarian and kosher faux crab cakes with Lion's Mane mushrooms since I first saw them at Westport Farmers' Market in CT. My curiosity was peaked when I read that when ...

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Thanksgiving Starter: Roasted Beet Puree

Thanksgiving Starter: Roasted Beet Puree

Thanksgiving starters and sides are where my head is as we approach the holiday feast next week. My family has opted out of turkey (shocking, I know) and we'll be grilling steak for an intimate crew around our table. We'll be starting with a seasonal, vegan and gluten-free beet puree called Charkhlis Mkhal...

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Kubeh: Dumplings with History & Roasted Eggplant

Kubeh: Dumplings with History & Roasted Eggplant

Once upon a time there was a nice Jewish girl from Long Island who fell in love with the Iraqi-Israeli cooking of one of her ex-boyfriend's Mom. Specifically, she fell hard for kubeh, a Middle Eastern dumpling with sprawling roots throughout Iraq, Syria and Kurdistan. When this labor intensive comfort food...

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Smoky Summer Eggplant Salad via Timna, NYC

Smoky Summer Eggplant Salad via Timna, NYC

Nir Mesika, Chef/Owner of Timna in NYC, plays boldly with unexpected flavors which pair perfectly with quieter elements in his carefully balanced dishes. His Moroccan inspired creations, with roots in Israel and more subtly influenced by his time in Milan, are almost always connected in some way, to his mothe...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Lucious Meatballs Nestled in Creamy Tehini

Lucious Meatballs Nestled in Creamy Tehini

Tahini is a remarkably versatile ingredient that has finally found a broad swath of fans outside of the Middle East. For kosher keepers and vegans, it has held a prized place in our cupboards for ages. Why do we love tehini? Its nutty flavor adds unique depth and character while calcium rich creaminess co...

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Simple Roasted Salsa Brings the Heat Home from Baja

Simple Roasted Salsa Brings the Heat Home from Baja

Working with local chefs and taking cooking classes are two of my favorite ways to get to know a culture when I travel. Stimulating conversations around regional ingredients and farmers' markets are always illuminating and the chances of getting some off-the-beaten path recommendations for quiet beaches and a...

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Sheet-Pan Latkes are a Game Changer

Sheet-Pan Latkes are a Game Changer

Frying up a a batch (or 10) of latkes for Chanukah celebrations is rewarding, sure. But it can be exhausting and time consuming. And how about that mess of splattered oil and the irresistible urge to wash your hair immediately after you've sizzled a few dozen? We have a better solution: Sheet-Pan Latkes. ...