Last Sunday morning I looked up into the sky and felt the first flakes of snow falling gently on my face. And then I watched in amazement as the snow continued to descend steadily the rest of the day. By 5:00 p.m. there was an accumulation of at least six inches on my driveway as we inched our way down the street to a Covid-compliant family wedding, our first nuptial…
Once upon a time, pre-Covid19…I carefully studied the pictures of the salads on offer at the kosher Aroma Espresso Bar, where I was meeting friends for lunch. Each offering looked more inviting than the next, but my eye was repeatedly drawn back to the sweet potato lentil salad. Vibrant green arugula. Shiny dark lentils. Chunks of orange sweet potatoes. All tossed with a dressing of lemon and olive oil and…
Last Friday, the temperature in Toronto was a balmy 24 C. (approximately 75 F.). I pushed my down coat to the back of the closet and started planning al fresco meals with friends again. My excitement was very short-lived when the high the next day was 7 C. (about 45 F.) and I had to pull out my heavy coat again, with a pair of sheepskin gloves thrown in for…
Falafel night with my Auntie Malka and Uncle Avram was as exotic as it got in my family. The falafel balls were piping hot and fresh, the crunchy cabbage was chopped by hand à la minute, the pitas were warm and the tahini drizzled over it all was creamy and nutty. Since then, tahini has become the darling of chefs internationally, found in everything from cookies and brownies to salmon…
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…
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,…
I’m growing zucchini this year for the very first time. I’ve been peering at my zucchini plant daily and anticipating the overabundance of zucchini that everyone seems to complain about, leaving bags of zucchini on the front steps of unsuspecting neighbors . So far the total zucchini tally is three and the score is Nanette two, squirrels one. The recipe for this zucchini broccoli soup was beckoning to me, calling…
This is the perfect salad to serve at any backyard barbecue gathering. Smoky, with a hint of lime and the heat of just a little bit of jalapeno pepper, this flavorful dish combines a variety of colorful vegetables and cooked or canned beans. It comes together in minutes with ingredients that are readily available. In fact, you might have everything that you need to make this versatile side dish right…
I hope by now, that you’re enjoying that incredible recipe for roasted vegetables that I shared with you. And remember that excellent advice that I gave you about doubling the recipe? Good. Because we’re going to use those delicious roasted vegetables in this amazing salad. This salad is the perfect combination of luscious roasted vegetables, protein packed quinoa and mixed salad greens. A Southwestern chipotle vinaigrette pulls all those elements…