A Sweet Date Truffle for the Magical Night of Mimouna

A Sweet Date Truffle for the Magical Night of Mimouna

For me, Mimouna will always be the joyous Moroccan celebration of springtime, friends, family and good fortune. In North Africa, after the sun would set on the last day of Passover, Muslim neighbors would bring flour to Jewish homes. The flour would be transformed into the first heavenly taste of chametz — freshly fried mufleta…

Between Times— A Provençal Eggplant and Herby Celery Salad

Between Times— A Provençal Eggplant and Herby Celery Salad

Over the years, I have given this dish my own Sephardic twist by layering the eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes on a bed of fennel and onions, as well as enlivening the sauce with Silan and pomegranate molasses. My cousin Daniella (follow on Instagram @daniellawolfcatering) and her husband Yakov had just hosted their son Alon’s bar…

A Joyous Purim Feast

A Joyous Purim Feast

This year our Purim seudah will be a Sephardic desayuno, a dairy lunch that usually includes a variety of burekas, boyos, cheeses, cuajado (frittata), huevos haminados (overnight brown eggs), salads and dips. There’s an old Ladino adage Neil loves to quote every year around this time. It goes “Purim por un lado, Pesah en la…

An Orange Soup to Capture the Moment

An Orange Soup to Capture the Moment

This last week, orange made the biggest statement. Orange balloons, orange sweatshirts, orange ribbons and orange heart emojis symbolized our heartbreak, our pain, our sorrow. As a child of the 70’s, I remember orange as a predominant color. Alongside brown, avocado green, dark purple and golden yellow, burnt orange featured in clothing, automobiles and interior…

Dreaming of Kubbah Hamusta

Dreaming of Kubbah Hamusta

Kubbah is the jewel of the Babylonian Jewish kitchen. I was a Sabra, with an ancient Babylonian Jewish lineage, transplanted to the very British environs of the southern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. At Kirrawee Public School, I wore a light brown plaid school uniform. I attended the compulsory Church of England scripture class and took…

A Sweet Lemon Loaf

A Sweet Lemon Loaf

Here’s a delightful citrusy lemon cake with that perfect crumb and luscious, creamy meringue My aunt Clara, my father’s older sister, was tall, thin and beautiful, with blue eyes and platinum blonde hair. She and her husband lived in Rabat. They never had their own children, but she was utterly devoted to his sisters, nieces…

A Warm Winter Quinoa Salad

A Warm Winter Quinoa Salad

The winter flavors and the indulgent ingredients of the salad are enhanced with a sweet, salty, spicy sesame oil and ginger dressing. Neil was in his teens when he met his mentor, Dr. José Nessim. Dr Nessim was a renowned obstetrician/gynecologist, who delivered generations of babies and treated women from many backgrounds, including the wives of…

Fluffy, Fried Burmuelos

Fluffy, Fried Burmuelos

If you have never made Hanukkah donuts, Sharon and I encourage you to make this recipe. Hanukkah is truly a magical holiday! I love that I have eight nights to celebrate with special friends and beloved family. To listen to corny Hanukkah songs. To indulge in insanely addictive Krispy Kreme donuts and fluffy pillows of…