Date-Fig Bars
This recipe is adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion's recipe for Bakery Date Squares.
Techina Cookies
My husband introduced me to techina (tahini), a staple found in most Israeli kitchens, as soon as we made aliyah in 1992.
Stuffed Peppers with Rice
Stuffed vegetables are hugely popular in Israel and this is a dish you can find at workingman restaurants and Shabbat tables across the country. On Fridays we can smell it cooking throughout our building. I prefer small peppers for stuffing as opposed to the large ones.
Israeli Green Salad with Strawberries
Ramat Hasharon, where I live, was once famous for its strawberry fields.
Israeli Birthday Cake
Every birthday deserves a great cake. This iconic, cocoa-based, richly iced cake fits the bill.
Chocolate Babka
This babka is so easy, baking it almost feels like cheating. I have a hard time not eating it as it comes out of the oven.
Tu BiShvat: Happy Birthday, You Beautiful Trees!
My commute to work every morning is not typical. I drive through the Roaring Fork Valley with majestic, now snow-covered, mountains on my left and my right. The sky is often a clear, bright blue, and the sun glimmers off the powdery snow that shifts in the wind. I am the cantor at the Aspen Jewish Congregation, and I certainly feel blessed to live and work in such a beautiful place. This quote from Isaiah is particularly fitting for this part of the country, as the people here are very in touch with the nature around them - often finding their spiritual center while skiing a run or hiking in the hills.
In Honor of Tu BiShvat, Some Facts About Trees
Tu BiShvat, the birthday of the trees (or the new year of the trees) is a minor Jewish holiday.
At Tu BiShvat, Digging for Spiritual Growth
While my neighbors were putting their Christmas trees to the curb, in what seems like a ritual of replacement, I was preparing to plant for Tu BiShvat.