Our sincerest wishes for a sweet, happy, healthy, and most peaceful New Year. About 15 years ago, I was on a visit to Israel and staying at my aunt Daisy’s home in Ramat Gan. On motzai Shabbat (Saturday night), there was a gentle knock at the door. I went to open the door with Shevy, my…
Okra season in Southern California comes from midsummer until October. (Luckily, frozen baby okra is available all year long.) The key to success is selecting smaller size okras that have less moisture content and fewer seeds. 1 pound fresh okra or 1 bag frozen baby okra, defrosted2 14oz cans cherry tomatoes2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1…
2 onions, peeled and diced2 lb ground beef5 tsp tomato saucea dash of cayenne pepper (or pepperflakes) and garlic powderSalt & Pepper to taste1/4 cup rice1 egg1/2 cup chopped parsley¼ cup water 1. Parboil rice. To do so, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Add 1/4 cup rinsed rice. Cook covered on stove approximately…
4 Tbsp active dry yeast4 1/2 cups warm water2 Tbsp sugar5 lbs high gluten bread flour1/2 cup sugar2 Tbsp salt3 large eggs1/4 cup honey1¼ cup vegetable oilEgg Wash1 egg and 1 Tbsp honey, beaten Combine yeast, warm water and sugar in a glass bowl. Cover with a towel and set aside to proof for 10…
May our homes always be filled with the sweet, fragrant aroma of freshly baked Challah. When my beloved grandmother Nana Aziza passed away, my grandfather Aba Naji was 90 years old. Although he was sad and bereft, he was determined to write his memoir. Every day, he and I sat with a hot cup of…
This cake is perfect for Rosh Hashanah and any special occasion. Writing this recipe made an old childhood memory pop up. I hadn’t thought about it in a million years. Perhaps it entered my consciousness because in a few weeks Beverly Hills High School will be hosting my 40th reunion. (I’m still undecided about going.)…
Streusel½ cup melted vegan butter1 cup firmly packed brown sugar½ cup all-purpose flour1 tablespoon cinnamon½ teaspoon cardamom (optional)1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped into cubes1 cup roughly chopped walnuts Melt butter in microwave for 20 seconds.Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, cardamom and melted butter. Then mix in apple and walnuts until well combined.Set aside. 5…
Spice Rub1 tsp cinnamon1 tsp paprika½ tsp cumin½ tsp salt½ tsp pepper 8-10 pieces of chicken, thighs and drumsticks, patted dry2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil4 onions, peeled and quartered6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped2 bay leaves 2 Tbsp consommé1 cup water 2 Tbsp tomato purée2 Tbsp tamarind2 Tbsp…
Tamarind is an indispensable ingredient in the kitchen, lending dishes a sweet and sour complexity. When my children were little, the only way they would eat chicken was when I cooked it with a barbecue sauce. And they loved it when I would spoon the sweet mesquite flavored juices over the rice. Nowadays, on Friday…
Dressing2 limes, juiced2 tablespoon fruity extravirgin olive oil1 teaspoon sweet paprika1/2 teaspoon cumin or cumin seeds1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 cup chopped cilantro In a bowl, whisk the lime juice and olive oil, then add paprika, cumin,cayenne and salt.Set aside. 3 medium oranges, chilled in therefrigerator1/2 cup oil-cured dried black olives Peel oranges….
Dough2 packets active dry yeast1 tsp sugar1 tsp kosher salt2 cups warm water, divided7 cups all purpose flour, sifted1 cup avocado or vegetable oil1 tsp fennel or nigella seeds Filling1 1/2 cups shredded Muenster cheese1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheesePinch of pepperPinch of salt3 eggs, beaten1 egg, for egg washSesame seeds, for garnish In a…
Sambusak make a truly nutritious snack that are just perfect for hectic school mornings. Despite its Aboriginal name, Kirrawee was a very white, very Christian neighborhood. A sleepy, leafy green, idyllic suburb in the southern reaches of Sydney. If there were any Jews there, we didn’t know them. There were certainly no Iraqi Jews besides…
Dressing1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1/8 of a cup balsamic vinegar1 Tbsp SilanSalt and pepper3 medium heirloom tomatoes, sliced6 oz fresh arugula Arrange arugula and tomato on a large plate. Add dressing.
Dressing1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1/4 cup white wine vinegarSalt and pepper1/4 tsp of Aleppo pepper3 medium cucumbers, sliced 1/8 inch8 radishes, thinly sliced1/2 cup finely chopped chives2 Tbsp black sesame seeds Arrange radishes in a single layer on a serving plate. Pile the cucumbers on top of the radishes. Sprinkle the chives in the center…
With tomatoes and cucumbers at the peak of freshness, Rachel and I wanted to share some enticing and bright summer salad recipes. I’m writing this from New York City. I’m here with my daughters Gabriella and Alexandra, “helping” them move into their respective dorm rooms at Yeshiva University. We’re having a great time dining, shopping…
Dressing2 limes, juiced3 tablespoons olive oil1/2 teaspoon salt 4 medium tomatoes, quartered3 roasted green peppers, diced(canned) Place tomatoes and peppers into a bowl and add dressing.
6oz bittersweet chocolate4 oz butter or avocado oil3 large eggs1/4 cup sugar¼ cup flour or two tablespoons potato starch1 tsp vanilla extract½ tsp cinnamon½ tsp Instant coffee or espresso powder optional Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter and dust 6 (4 oz) ramekins with cocoa powder or sugar; set aside. In a medium microwave-safe bowl,…
In honor of Tu B’Av, we are presenting you with two fabulous, very easy chocolate recipes. When I was a little girl, my mother worked as a sales lady at David’s World of Fashion, a chain of fashion boutiques in the western and southern suburbs of Sydney, owned by her younger brothers. She worked at…
1 cup kataifi pastry1/4 cup tahini2 tbsp maple syrup12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips2 tablespoons avocado oil Line a cupcake sheet with paper cupcake holders.Toast shredded kataifi in a dry pan over low heat.In a small bowl, blend the tahini with the maple syrup, then add the toasted kataifi. Set aside.In a glass bowl, melt the…
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 medium onions, chopped to a fine dice6 stalks celery, chopped to a fine dice2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped to a fine dice2 medium yellow carrots, peeled and chopped to a fine dice1 medium parsnip, peeled and chopped to a fine dice2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and…
For Sephardic Jews, it is customary to eat lentils during the nine days before Tisha B’Av as lentils are a mourner’s food. When we came from Casablanca to Los Angeles, my uncle Albert insisted that my parents rent an apartment in Beverly Hills. So, my parents rented a small apartment on the corner of Charleville…
