Celebrating Modern Jewish Living Through Food, Tradition, and Family


Exactly what mandel bread should be: crisp, sweet, and golden brown.
The Backstory: I met Lorraine about a year ago. She was a fill in at a Mah Jongg game. When you play Mah Jongg (or any game) with the same group of girls[…]-READ-MORE>

Latkes with salmon roe and sour cream are an elegant twist on traditional latkes and give a salty, tangy note to this classic holiday dish.
The Backstory: The very first time I saw salmon roe, it was dotted ever-so-perfectly a[…]-READ-MORE>

A classic, old-time side that’s as delicious and flavorful as it ever was.
The Backstory: I was raised on Jewish soul foods. This included Stuffed Derma (Kishka), chopped liver, chicken soup, and a whole bunch of foods that to[…]-READ-MORE>

An old-fashioned dessert gets an elegant, modern makeover.
The Backstory: One of my favorite childhood memories is stopping off at a bakery not too far from my father’s own bagel bakery in Borough Park, Brooklyn to pick up a c[…]-READ-MORE>

This layered gefilte fish torte is an elegant take on the old classic. It’s easy to make and tastes as good as it looks.
The Backstory: There are hundreds of variations of this classic, Jewish first course but this layered gef[…]-READ-MORE>

Our beet salad with goat cheese and nuts is everything: sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy. Add chicken to make this a full lunch or dinner and some fresh bread and you’ll find yourself making this meal over and over again.
The […]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: Chicken is chicken. It seems as though there must be zillions of recipes out there. Baked, fried, boiled, braised etc. Get the picture? Practically every culture has their favorites. More of the Backstory after[…]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: Whenever I make this side dish, I am reminded of the Jewish holidays. In the early years of my life, my mom always had sweet potatoes as a side dish for every special occasion. Truth be told, the sweet potatoes mo[…]-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>

The Backstory: Just about every restaurant, delicatessen, wedding reception, dinner party or holiday gathering seems to have a fish offering these days, and most times, it’s a plain salmon dish. Well, who can get excited about th[…]-READ-MORE>

Rice stuffed chicken is a deliciously savory main dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners, company, or special Shabbat celebrations.
The Backstory: This recipe comes to me by way of my friend, Lorraine. Lorraine is one of […]-READ-MORE>

The Backstory: My girlfriend Gloria is an excellent cook. About 30 years ago my husband and I were invited to her home for dinner. This casserole was one of the delectable foods she prepared that night. Whatever she served wa[…]-READ-MORE>