Celebrating Modern Jewish Living Through Food, Tradition, and Family


Rich, decadent, and a totally indulgent dessert when you really want to go all out.
The Backstory: Bread pudding is a rich, hearty, decadent dessert that is thought to be borne out of the age old question of what to do with le[…]-READ-MORE>

Gooey, cheesy, and downright delicious, artichoke chili dip is a foolproof party dish your guests will devour!
The Backstory: This delicious, cheesy, gooey appetizer comes to you from Lisa Dunne, one of the first people I met […]-READ-MORE>

Shirlee’s sugar cookies are truly melt-in-your mouth perfect butter cookies that are impossible to put down after just one bite. These are delicious with coffee, tea, or tucked inside a lunch box. Decorate them for showers, Bar or[…]-READ-MORE>

Blini with smoked salmon are elegant appetizers that hit on all fronts: salty, creamy, and perfect two bite noshes.
The Backstory: I first went to The Russian Tea Room in 1999. I was 35 years old and as a born and bred New Yor[…]-READ-MORE>

Baked brie in puff pastry combine with tangy apricot preserves in this decadent (and spectacular) appetizer your guests will devour!
The Backstory: This recipe has absolutely no tie whatsoever to any Jewish folklore, story, or[…]-READ-MORE>

The fancy name for the basic white sauce is Bechamel Sauce. Bechamel is considered one of the base French sauces upon which other sauces are built, such as Mornay Sauce and Mustard Sauce. Think of it as a great foundation for so[…]-READ-MORE>

Creamy, mild and delicious, whitefish salad is perfect for sandwiches, as a dip, or on a crisp bed of lettuce.
The Backstory: A whole Smoked Whitefish is considered a typical Jewish food. I don’t know if this fish was introd[…]-READ-MORE>

A classic diner favorite: our lemon meringue pie has perfect crust, lemony filling and light meringue. What could be bad?
The Backstory: This is my all-time, absolute favorite pie in the world. In fact, this might be up there […]-READ-MORE>

No matter how fancy or casual your party, the fun doesn’t start without homemade pigs in a blanket–a traditional fan favorite!
The Backstory: Let’s be honest with each other: no matter how fancy the shindig or how high-end the […]-READ-MORE>

Lemon Poppy Seed cake is sweet, tart, moist and truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
The Backstory: I’m a firm believer that you should be able to have your cake and not feel guilty about it. After all, life is about enjoying o[…]-READ-MORE>