Celebrating Modern Jewish Living Through Food, Tradition, and Family


The Backstory: When I think of kugel, I can’t help but think of my father doing his standard joke in a heavily accented Polish dialect, “Is it kugel or is it pujjink?” (meaning noodle pudding). You see, when it comes to kugel, mo[…]-READ-MORE>

Eggplant Dip is a savory, tomato-y, slighty sweet spread that’s perfect with crusty bread, crackers, or as a dip for veggies. A perfect make-ahead dish.
The Backstory: Eggplant dip is one of my favorite, go-to appetizers when […]-READ-MORE>

Classic Kosher flanken is having a comeback and that’s a good thing: this delicious cut of meat is as tender as it gets. This recipe is 100% foolproof with sweet and savory notes guaranteed to satisfy even the most diehard flanken[…]-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>

If you need a perfect chocolate cake, look no further than Nana’s chocolate cake with fudge frosting. This is the one you’ve been waiting for.
The Backstory: Until I was almost seven years old, my cousin Hara and I lived side […]-READ-MORE>

Our cabbage soup with flanken recipe turns out a classic, slow-simmering soup with tender beef that simply shreds in the tangy broth.
The Backstory: I well remember my mother making cabbage soup with flanken. Usually she use[…]-READ-MORE>

Grilled herbed potatoes are the best of both worlds: crispy outside and soft and tender inside. Savory herbs add zest and a smoky wow factor!
The Backstory: This recipe for grilled herbed potatoes is one of my all-time favorit[…]-READ-MORE>

Savory Swiss steak is fork tender, juicy, and sweet from sauteed onions and peppers. This is a hearty, one-pot meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or Shabbat.
The Backstory: I love making one-pot meals and Swiss steak is[…]-READ-MORE>

Our classic round challah recipe bakes up golden, sweet challah every time. Make two loaves–one for Shabbat and one for noshing!
The Backstory: On Rosh Hashanah, classic round challah has a symbolic meaning. The shape signifi[…]-READ-MORE>

Braised short ribs are tender, savory, hearty, and the meat just falls off the bone. A perfect Shabbat or holiday meal.
The Backstory: Braised short ribs sound much more complicated to cook than they really are and truth be to[…]-READ-MORE>

You’ll go bananas over this deliciously sweet, classic treat. Perfect with a cup of coffee or tea or as a little nosh.
The Backstory: There really is no backstory for this recipe, at least in terms of classic Jewish history or[…]-READ-MORE>

Microwave salmon is a quick and easy recipe that lets you prepare a proper meal in minutes without sacrificing flavor.
The Backstory: Believe it or not, microwave cooking can sometimes be as good as doing it the old-fashioned […]-READ-MORE>