Celebrating Modern Jewish Living Through Food, Tradition, and Family


The Backstory: In the sixth grade, I took a home economics class where I learned to set a table for four and to cook three things: cinnamon toast, grilled cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. Not such a bad class for a 12-year-old[…]-READ-MORE>

Our Rosh Hashanah honey cake is sweet and moist with a touch of whiskey for incredible depth of flavor. This is the perfect ending to your holiday meal.
The Backstory: Sponge cake usually surpasses honey cake in popularity as […]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: I first had this dish at my Aunt Lena’s house in Boston in 1948 or 1949. I was probably about 7 or 8 years old at the time. This was a very popular dairy dish that was commonly made in Kosher homes and almost alway[…]-READ-MORE>

Crisp falafel balls are simply perfect in a pita sandwich or in a salad in this classic Middle Eastern dish.
The Backstory: Oh how I love falafel and my road to discovering this classic Israeli street food started in my childh[…]-READ-MORE>

Low-fat rice pudding is sweet and creamy with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. This yummy classic cooks in 20 minutes and tastes just like the original.
The Backstory: This recipe is one of those that happened by accident. I was[…]-READ-MORE>

Salad with fruit, nuts and cheese, is bursting with textures and the perfect mix of savory and sweet flavors for a fabulous lunch or first course.
The Backstory:This is my kind of salad, I love fruit, nuts and cheese and when a[…]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: Another one of those classic buffet and party salads, comes the sweet and crunchy Carrot and Raisin Salad. Why didn’t I appreciate this masterpiece all those years ago when it showed up at nearly every family bris[…]-READ-MORE>

Come Friday, no matter what I’m doing (teaching at Boston University, shuffling kids to and from school), the other half of my brain is thinking about Shabbat. In between work and school drop off and pick up, I’m trying to figure […]-READ-MORE>

On Shavuout, we celebrate the gift of Torah by eating dairy foods (which liken the words from the Torah to the sweetness of the foods, “like milk and honey”. From blintzes to cheesecakes, we’ve got everything you need for a sweet […]-READ-MORE>

Creamy deviled eggs are a classic appetizer or first course for brunch, lunch, or a holiday meal.
The Backstory: For as long as I can remember, deviled eggs were one of those boring staple foods that showed up on the buffet ta[…]-READ-MORE>

Is there any child (big or small) who doesn’t get excited for The Festival of Lights? From the foods to the gifts to the lighting of the menorah, this eight-day festival is one of the best-known Jewish holidays, probably because i[…]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: I will eat potatoes in any way that they are prepared. Potatoes were a staple at every dinner my mother made. My dad was a meat and potatoes guy. The meal was almost always the same: mashed potatoes made with P[…]-READ-MORE>