There are so many variations of potato latkes--zucchini, carrot, beet, sweet potato, celery root--just to name a few. But my favorite latkes are the classic potato latkes. I call my recipe the 1-2-3-4 latke recipe. The numbers make it easy to remember the amounts of each ingredient. These are the BEST EVER LATKES--crisp on the [...]
Stuffed foods are a tradition for Sukkot. In keeping with the concept of abundance and plenitude, stuffed meats, poultry, fruits, and vegetables are often served as a meal in the Sukkah. A colorful medley of bell peppers, filled to the brim with brown and wild rice pilaf is the quintessential side dish to serve on [...]
This is my version of Tsimmes--a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish of stewed vegetables and dried fruits. It has sweet overtones to evoke a Sweet New Year. "Tsimmes" is Yiddish for "fuss". This Tsimmes comes together quickly and is not too "fussy".
I first sampled shakshouka during my travels in Israel. Widely popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions, it hails from Tunisia in North Africa. The word “shakshouka” is Arabic for ”all mixed up.” Shakshouka in its most basic form is a toothsome dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. You may be familiar [...]
Here’s a healthy version of the traditional deep fat fried onion rings. These are dipped in egg whites instead of a rich batter, then they are baked instead of fried. They bake up crisp and golden and are almost as addictive as the original high calorie version. Baked onion rings are light, low-fat, low-calorie and [...]
This Israeli Seven Layer Mosaic Spread has become my new go-to dish when I’m looking for an hors d’oeuvre or appetizer that’s fun and festive and visually appealing. It features two popular Middle Eastern spreads: Hummus—made with mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic—and Baba ghanoush, made with baked or grilled eggplant, [...]
This Sweet Potato Pecan Casserole with a Secret Ingredient is a great Thanksgiving Day Side Dish. It's make ahead and you can whip it up in no time. 3 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces 1 banana, mashed juice of 1 lemon 1/3 cup maple syrup 1 egg 2 [...]
Here is a tasty recipe for a quiche-like vegetable pie that lends credence to the saying “easy as pie.” Once you’ve prepped all the ingredients, you simply place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. The mixture is then poured into a prepared pie plate [...]
A cheese ball is a real crowd pleaser and the perfect appetizer/snack to have on hand for the holiday season. Place it on your open house holiday table; bring one along to a potluck dinner; serve it as an appetizer on New Year’s Eve. This festive, tasty cheese ball will even tide you over to [...]
I am often asked for suggestions for Thanksgiving side dishes. This recipe for roasted autumn vegetables is one of my favorite side dishes to make for Thanksgiving and other festive autumn and winter get-togethers. It has a beautiful array or autumn tastes, textures, and colors and is a great accompaniment to turkey, chicken, or beef. [...]