Homemade Challah with Honey

Challah is the quintessential Jewish Sabbath and holiday bread.  Bread baked from the staff of life has a spiritual essence that affirms our connection to the earth’s harvest and sustains us.  This Challah is sweet and moist.  It has a long stranded texture,

Weekday Lentil Soup

Lentils are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet used as part of a complete protein in vegetarian diets or used as a low calorie, vitamin and fibre rich part of any diet.  There are many different colors of lentils,  with different cooking times and textures.  Lentils are a staple in the Middle and Near East and India, while cooked in some European countries also.  They can be paired

Seattle Blackberry Crisp

 While growing up in Seattle, I developed a passion for blackberries and raspberries.  Blackberries grew plentifully on every vacant lot and on every little untended strip of soil all over the city.  On late summer afternoons, we would put on old clothes

Lasagna per Cousin Paula

Once in a while, a big baking dish of lasagna, smelling of cheese and tomatoes, crispy edges of lasagna noodles sticking up in the corners,

Boreka Video

Take a look at my first attempt at a food instruction video.  It is a funny, but instructonal video showing how to make cheese borekas.  Enjoy.

Osso Bucco for Sisters

Friday was here again!  I blinked and the week passed.  For me it was time to plan another Friday night dinner, Shabbat dinner, since I am the keeper

Mid Winter Family Shabbat Dinner

Rain

This week has been incredibly rainy and gloomy.  With a low cloud deck overhead I listened to my own rhythmic breathing and focused my attention on all the thoughts buzzing around in my head, my inner monologue.  I decided on Monday that it was a week for thanksgiving and I would invite all the immediate family for a Shabbat dinner.  You see my house is not in danger of sliding because

Ghormeh Sabzi Soup, Persian Green Herb Soup

Living in Beverly Hills affords me the opportunity to be up close and personal with many Iranians.  There is a very large Persian population

Hazelnut Biscotti with Chocolate Chips and Currents

 I love biscotti, as I sit at my desk working I crave one.  For many years, I struggled to make them taste good and be able to slice them into thin enough pieces.  The dilemma was

Green Bean and Tomato Stew (Fasoulia con Tomat y Carne)

Sometimes everyone in my household is running in a different direction