Chocolate and peanut butter is a match made in heaven. As in all good marriages, they bring out the best in one another, enhancing their finest qualities. There’s nothing quite like the taste of sweet, rich chocolate mixed with salty, creamy peanut butter. Most North Americans are crazy about the combination, which is why we see these two ingredients used together in so many desserts. The recipe that I’m sharing…
How was this Rosh Hashanah different than all other years? I attended prayer services in a tent that was open on three sides to the elements. The prayer gathering began at 7:00 a.m., around sunrise. The starkness of the surroundings led to very meaningful prayer on a day noted for its rejoicing but also serious introspection. It also led to some very cold feet and hands after being outside in…
Having company for brunch is one of my favorite ways of entertaining. It’s a relaxing way to catch up with family and friends and there’s inevitably something that satisfies the appetite of even the pickiest eater – blueberry muffins and fruit anyone? However, the late morning timing of brunch requires the host or hostess to be on their game. Organization is the key to pulling together a variety of foods…
In this week before Rosh Hashanah, traditionally a time for serious contemplation and introspection, I am happy to report that I have struggled, truly tussled with the issue…of whether I should post a recipe for honey cake or not. Honey cake, either completely beloved or disdained, has been a mainstay at Jewish celebrations before anybody thought of eating rice and raw fish wrapped in seaweed, in a synagogue. My own…
I gave my Nordicware rose cakelet pan one more wack and sent a prayer heavenward for the quick release of the mini squash kugels clinging tenaciously to this beautiful pan. They were stuck tight in the deep crevices and flourishes of the cake form and it appeared as if I was never going to be able to pry them out, when I heard a quiet little “thunk”. One kugelette had…
I looked down at the end of the dining room table where our teenage guests were huddled protectively over their plates. Male teenage guests, who apparently had not eaten in the last 6 months… or maybe 6 hours. The platter of brisket was fixed in position at their end of the table and would not be circulating again anytime soon. I hoped that the other guests had managed to stab…
Have you noticed a slight nip in the air in the evening? We were blessed with the second-hottest summer on record in the Greater Toronto Area, where I live, and the hottest August on record. The change of weather, the start of school, and the juicy, crimson pomegranates that are making their appearance in the supermarket, are all harbingers of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sunset,…
Students from London to Tel Aviv are returning to school this week, after months of staying home in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In light of this exciting milestone, I thought a pop quiz was in order today. (Don’t groan, I can hear you.) Who made the following statement: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”A. Abraham LincolnB. Albert EinsteinC. John Harvey Kellogg D. MomIf…
Have you ever had to prepare a sweet treat at the last minute and were looking for something quick and easy? These elegant chocolate chip sticks are going to become your new best friend. While not truly biscotti, they look and taste like the real thing. Slim and crisp, with warm caramel bass notes, these cookies are filled with chocolate in every bite. No special equipment is required to make…
Yesterday afternoon I found myself locked in a tooth and nail battle with my computer. With the pressure of my latest post deadline looming, the computer would not cede an inch. Finally, I had a breakthrough and started editing pictures like mad. When I glanced at the time, I realized I had 45 minutes to get supper on the table and I had nothing prepared. This recipe for garlic-mustard skewers…