Tea With Claudia Roden

Tea With Claudia Roden

As soon as she opened the door and greeted us, I was enamored. She was the sweetest, most hospitable little lady Life is a fascinating journey, with interesting twists and coincidental turns along the way.  You may remember that Neil and I recently traveled to Madrid to visit our daughter Rebekah, who was studying on…

Royally Good Potatoes!

Royally Good Potatoes!

Over the years, whenever I wanted to make Alexandra happy, I would make roasted potatoes. Perhaps over the years of reading our column in the Jewish Journal, you’ve noticed the photo credit of Alexandra Gomperts?   Well, that’s Sharon’s daughter! She’s been alongside us Sephardic Spice Girls for the past three years, becoming our official food…

A Heavenly Sephardic Bread

A Heavenly Sephardic Bread

Called pan de siete cielos (seven heavens bread) it is a traditional Sephardic recipe that barely survived the Spanish Inquisition. Last week, in anticipation of Shavuot, Rachel and I hosted an amazing community baking class at Kahal Joseph Congregation in Westwood. It is always a pleasure for us to be at Kahal because it’s where…

Tortilla Espanola—The Classic Spanish Egg & Potato Dish

Tortilla Espanola—The Classic Spanish Egg & Potato Dish

This week we present the recipe for tortilla de patatas, lovingly handed down by Rachel’s Maman, who hailed from Larache, which was part of Spanish Morocco. This past week, Neil and I had the great pleasure of visiting our daughter Rebekah in Madrid, where she is doing her semester abroad. Since arriving here in January,…

An Iconic Israeli Sandwich

An Iconic Israeli Sandwich

In honor of Israel’s 75th celebration of modern statehood, we present to you the recipe for this crispy schnitzel and spicy matbucha sandwich. JEWISH JOURNAL Menu An Iconic Israeli Sandwich In honor of Israel’s 75th celebration of modern statehood, we present to you the recipe for this crispy schnitzel and spicy matbucha sandwich. Sharon Gomperts…

Marzipan Stuffed Dates Are the Ultimate Moroccan Jewish Treat

Marzipan Stuffed Dates Are the Ultimate Moroccan Jewish Treat

For Moroccan Jews, no celebration is complete without marzipan-stuffed dates, walnuts and prunes, including for Mimouna. PREP COOK YIELD READY IN 15 minutes + 1 hour setting time 0 minutes 36 dates 15 minutes + 1 hour setting time For Moroccan Jews, marzipan is central to celebratory occasions and Jewish holidays. Made from ground almonds and sugar,…

Sesame Brittle Is the Ultimate Jewish Celebration Candy

Sesame Brittle Is the Ultimate Jewish Celebration Candy

Vegan and gluten-free, it’s the perfect quick treat to add to your holidays. PREP COOK YIELD READY IN 5 minutes + 15 minutes cooling time 10 minutes 24 squares 15 minutes + 15 minutes cooling time Along with the cans of macaroons, jelly rings and coconut marshmallows, every Passover supermarket display includes bags of Joyva sesame…

A Lamb Recipe from Larache

A Lamb Recipe from Larache

Every Pesach, I still follow the lamb shank recipe passed down by my grandmother Simcha to my mother Rica Every Pesach, my Spanish Moroccan grandfather would she’cht (slaughter) a lamb. My grandmother would make a tagine style roast with the shanks. One of the lamb shanks would be displayed on the Seder plate to represent the ancient ritual…

Orange and Silan Chicken

Orange and Silan Chicken

This easy but flavorful recipe for Orange Silan Chicken is an ode to my grandmother and to my childhood in Australia. If I close my eyes, I am five years old, it is early afternoon and the bright Australian sunshine is streaming into my grandparents’ home in Rose Bay. My grandmother’s kitchen is pristine. There…

The Perfect Ratatouille

The Perfect Ratatouille

Ratatouille is the perfect recipe to make for Passover because it is so versatile. We always joke that when my husband Alan married me, he converted to Sephardic Judaism. People ask him if it was difficult to adapt to Sephardic minhagim. In his dry South African tone and a straight face, he says that he’s…