STREUSEL APPLE CAKE

STREUSEL APPLE CAKE

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…

Tamarind Chicken

Tamarind Chicken

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…

MOROCCAN ORANGE AND CURED OLIVE SALAD

MOROCCAN ORANGE AND CURED OLIVE SALAD

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….

Cheese Sambusak Recipe

Cheese Sambusak Recipe

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…

Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Salad

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…

The Simple Art of Summer Salads

The Simple Art of Summer Salads

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…

Decadent Chocolate Lava Cakes

Decadent Chocolate Lava Cakes

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,…

Chocolate Kanafe Cups

Chocolate Kanafe Cups

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…

Lentil Soup Recipe

Lentil Soup Recipe

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…

A Lovely Lentil Soup

A Lovely Lentil Soup

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…

Poisson en papillote

Poisson en papillote

This recipe is for one portion of fish. Multiply the amount needed for each portion.  1 12”x16” piece of parchment paper1 6oz seabass filet1 large gold potato, thinly sliced on a mandolin6 thin asparagus spears1 roma tomato, cut into wedges1 garlic clove, minced2 tsp of olive oil, dividedSalt and pepper, to taste6 Kalamata olives, pittedA…

Summer Corn Salad

Summer Corn Salad

Dressing: 1/2 cup mayonnaise1 Tbsp honey1 Tbsp sriracha or hot sauce1 tsp granulated garlic powder1 tsp salt2 limes, juiced In a small bowl, add mayonnaise, honey, sriracha, garlic powder and salt. Mix to combine well.  Add lime juice and mix well.  Set aside.  Salad: 2 ears of fresh corn or 1 can of corn1 can of black…

Summer Reminiscing— A Fresh Salad for Hot Days

Summer Reminiscing— A Fresh Salad for Hot Days

With a recipe for fish “en papillote” This summer, my daughter Gabriella is spending her summer in Jerusalem on a Yeshiva University internship, writing for an Israeli online publication. In every phone call, she tells us about her interviews and of her exploits traveling around Israel visiting the Nova Festival site, Sderot, the Gaza envelope,…

Leek and Potato soup

Leek and Potato soup

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil4 large leeks6 cups chicken consommé, or vegetable broth2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces2 medium zucchini, diced1 tsp saffron threads1 tsp sea salt, to taste2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme1 bay leafPepper, to taste1 cup white wine  Slice the white and light green parts of the leeks crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place the…