Returning from a beautiful day beside the lake, I glimpsed a sight that made me catch my breath with trepidation… and no, it was not the price of the farmstand corn (a dollar a cob!). I spied maple trees that had started to display their autumn colors. As summer turns into fall it’s time to enjoy the last of the locally available stone fruits, including nectarines.…
Travel can broaden your culinary horizons allowing you to taste flavors and combinations of food that you never would have tried at home. That includes enjoying Shabbat with your children in an exotic locale such as Jackson, New Jersey. On a recent visit, my daughter-in-law served sushi salad at one of the family meals. I watched as my grandchildren dug in, scooping up generous portions of grilled salmon, sliced Persian…
Carrots, arise and protest (why not, everybody else is doing it!). Saddled unfairly with a reputation for being bland and boring, this Moroccan carrot salad will make you think of that unjustly maligned root vegetable in an entirely new way. In this preparation, carrots that are just on the firm side of tender, are dressed in lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and date honey, enlivened with the warmth of…
This week we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet, and that means only one thing: Purim is fast approaching and Passover is not far behind. But there is no reason to panic. This easy broccoli slaw will guarantee you a seat of honor at whatever Purim seudah you are invited to, provided that you bring along enough salad for everyone to have at least two helpings. And the good news is…
I smiled as I stood at my front door and watched my neighbor Ilan skateboard down the middle of our street, while two members of his large brood scootered excitedly behind him. There were a couple of unusual things about this idyllic picture. This scene took place on a record-setting mild day this past January. And nobody enjoyed this unseasonably balmy weather more than Ilan. He’s my snow plow contractor.…
I glanced up at the cerulean, sunny sky and rejoiced in my last precious day in Israel. Then I bent down to pluck another kohlrabi from the ground, twisting, pulling, and removing the roots and leaves, before depositing it in the bucket at my feet. As part of our volunteer work mission in Israel, our group assignment on this cloudless day was to harvest two (very) long rows of kohlrabi…
This year, the holiday of Sukkot was one of the most beautiful celebrations that I remember. The weather was unseasonably warm and we spent brilliant, sunny days in the sukkah surrounded by family. On Shemini Atzeret, the temperature dropped 20 degrees Celsius overnight. We sat in the sukkah for one last day, huddled in our coats, eyeing the threatening, gray clouds that were suspended in the sky overhead. Incommunicado because…
Nothing says summer like freshly picked corn, slathered with butter, and a judicious sprinkling of salt. But if you’re looking for inspiration beyond boiling it and eating it on the cob, this recipe for grilled corn salad fits the bill. The rich flavors of charred sweet corn, nutty roasted broccoli, and sugary sweet potatoes, are highlighted with a smoky paprika dressing in this summery salad. This eye-catching side dish by…
I conceded defeat in my battle against the squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits that wreaked havoc in my garden and came to the shocking realization that I had probably spent $12 on each of the three homegrown cherry tomatoes that Thumper, Chip and Dale had overlooked. Regretfully, I took a pause from growing vegetables last year. But the allure of heirloom tomato plants at my local garden center with enticing sounding…
I am in the midst of my annual pre-Passover purge. The nether regions of my deep freezer are surrendering mysterious snowy packages and neatly labelled single serving containers of leftovers that nobody wanted to eat in the first place. After I suddenly realized that I forgot to prepare anything for supper one night, Hubby and I made short work of the neglected pan of cabbage rolls that had been languishing…