For me it was breakfast at a diner the first time I headed south on a road trip, age 22. I had eggs with grits, toast bacon and sausage links. But those grits, mmmmmm, those grits. Buttery, creamy, salty, with just a little texture. I couldn't get enough. So every morning became a grits-fest.
Sweet potato pie for sure
Mine is Russion Jewish, so we made and noshed on brisket with horseradish, corned beef on rye, matzoh balls with chicken soup, lox and bagels. My Bubbe made the best stuffed cabbage, and my other loved smoked fish with onion rolls. I rarely eat this fare, but what I wouldn't do for the smell of my Bubbe's warm kitchen...
Peach cobbler
The most memorable family meal I ever experienced was when I was 16 years old and spent 2 months in Israel on a school program. We had some free time, and a cousin from New Jersey who married a Yemenite Jew and made her permanent residency in Beer Sheva picked me up and drove me to her home to stay for a long weekend. During that time, we went to her husband's parents' modest home for a family dinner. We all (his entire extended family) sat on the floor and shared the most amazing, memorable fresh salads, fritters, kabobs, spreads, flat breads... It's been more than 3 decades since that incredible experience, but I remember it like it was yesterday.
Grilled corn on the cob, Mexico City style
Pomegranate
Reheated fried rice with a farm fresh egg steamed on top, and a little drizzled over it.
My dream food cart is a falafel cart in Haifa, but I also dream of starting up a Hawaiian Shave Ice cart in downtown Toledo, OH.
Croissants with a hot, strong coffee. Can't be beat.
I like to roast potatoes (a variety of kinds and colors, cut into large chunks) lightly coated in olive oil, sprinkled with coriander and cumin in both powder and seed form, for texture, hot curry powder, a bit of cayenne, and sea salt. (Sometimes I roast broccoli with this.) I usually serve it at room temp with thick Greek yogurt, lemon wedges and a drizzle of tahini. It's delicious.
chiles rellenos
house special fried rice - 'love to eat the leftover rice with an egg steamed on top of it for breakfast the next morning...
chocolate with almonds - daily!
I have to say that while matzo isn't up there on my list of fave foods, I do crave that annual matzo lasagna - just one or two servings, once a year. And the matzo toffee crunch from Horizon Dairy's website a while back is REALLY YUM. Otherwise, if you think of matzo as Carr's Water Crackers, buy some great cheeses, fresh fruit and good white wine (kosher or not), the week can be pretty awesome.
BLT appetizers: hollow out a cherry tomato and fill it with a mixture of over-roasted candied bacon bits with chiffonade of arugula and/or basil, tiny bits of avocado, the tomato "filling" and a homemade sriracha mayo - so damn good!
My rum-raisin studded apple pie with a buttery, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth crust.
Southern fried chicken with a side of collard greens and a biscuit with honey and butter, served with sweet tea
Tiny biscotti with vin santo for dipping - delizioso!
LOVED Bugles!
crispy duck
I feel very inspired from your experiences, recipes and suggestions. Just about 10 days ago, I decided to reduce the meat and white flour (bagels and bread-y products) in my diet significantly, and have already lost 5 pounds without being hungry. I think I may just have to have a vegan week and delve into some of your yummy recipes. Thanks so much for your help!!
I loved my (late) Grandma Charlotte's stuffed cabbage. She was Hungarian-Jewish-American, and her father was a chef, so needless-to-say, it was "geschmack"! (She always added extra love...) And as far as potatoes go, I like to grow my own, slice them into long sixths, briefly par-boil them, then drain and drizzle with a good olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt, coriander seeds and lots of sweet paprika and finally roast them at 375 til toasty and yum-good.
We're heading to Austria for a few weeks in March and will be staying mostly in Vienna, with a few days in Salzburg. Any suggestions for where to eat and/or shop for foodie favorites? Please keep in mind a limited budget. Thanks much!
My garden is overflowing with fragrant Thai basil. I want to harvest, preserve and use as much of it as possible. Any suggestions?! I was hoping for a few recipes for Asian-inspired pestos and sauces that I could freeze and use all winter. Thanks!!
Heading to the in-laws with a day at Disneyland. We'd like a lunch recommendation near Disney, and some suggestions for a day at Venice Beach and Santa Monica, then a stay in Santa Barbara. (We know Santa Barbara's scene pretty well, but wondered if there might be some new little local joint that's a must that won't break the bank.) Please keep a limited budget in mind... Thanks!!
We're planning a drive from NW Ohio to Saratoga Springs, NY, to the Ben and Jerry's factory tour in Vermont and back. ' leaving at the beginning of July. Any suggestions?
My son and I made Turkish Delight yesterday, and all seemed fine. We let it sit out on the kitchen counter overnight to firm up, and cut it up and powdered sugared it at noon. But the consistency is a bit too soft, and the powdered sugar seems to be blend with the candy making a pastry mess on the bottom of my tin. How can I get the candy to dry out and firm up a bit? The confection tastes wonderful, sweet with pistachios and rose water flavors. But the consistency is off. I,m storing it on the kitchen counter, seemingly cool and dry... Any suggestions?
Each year, about a month before Hanukkah, my mouth starts watering as I anticipate what fried foods I might whip up for those "eight crazy nights". Zeppole (Italian ricotta doughnuts) are always on the list, and at least one night we eat an Indian meal that includes vegetable pakoras with fresh radish chutney on the side. I start perusing cookbooks and look for ethnic dishes that we may not have ever known of before. We Jews have lived all over the globe since the diaspora, so it makes sense to think internationally and not limit the Hanukkah food to just latkes and jelly donuts. Not that there's anything wrong with latkes! We love Greek ones (with zucchini with dill, onion, kalamata bits and feta), and go Eastern European (with potatos, lox, and scallion, served with sour cream). And of course Southern-style sweet potato latkes are delish as well. What are your favorite fried foods for Hanukkah, and favorite latke variations? Happy holidays, and happy eating!
I am really anxious to stock up on Ben and Jerry's new and very hyped up flavor, Schweddy Balls, but can't find it anywhere (including Walmart, where they supposedly carry it!) in NW Ohio. It's so disappointing that the stores have decided what I can and can't purchase. I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS!! Not to mention the fact that a rummy malty vanilla ice cream will go great on the side of my soon-to-come-out-of-the-oven Northern Spy Apple Pie! As someone who avoids Walmart like the Plague, I battled there through rush hour traffic yesterday when I heard they actually carry the stuff, only to find they did not. Please help me locate this funny titled flavor. Our family is not all that hung up about the SNL skit - my 9-year-old was roaring along with her 15-year-old brother when she first saw it. So now we want to taste it! Please help.
Help! My CSA basket was filled with Fingerlings for the last 2 weeks, and between oodles of yummy potato hash and a cheesy gratin, I am getting "potatoed out". Any suggestions for storage or other preps? I think I'll make a potato curry with some of them, but will still have a ton left. If I par-boil and freeze them, will they last through the spring and still taste amazing?
My hubby is off to Huddersfield, England and I wondered where he should go for "the foodie thing". Any suggestions? He'll also briefly be in Manchester and York... Thanks!
The countdown is on, and in just 5 days, my CSA will have its first delivery, and in it will be kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and eggs. I plan on making the beautiful broccoli bread recipe from the Rose Cafe, and we love French breakfasts of buttered baguettes with thinly sliced radishes - my kids will devour them quickly! But I've never (to my knowledge) had kohlrabi. Any suggestions on how to prepare it and/or what to eat it with? Thanks!
Help! I was given 2 fresh duck eggs from a farmer friend, and want to make something delicious and unique with them. A long time ago, I fried up a duck egg and really didn't care for it. Any suggestions?
' just got home from spending the first night of Passover with my dear friends, my "family away from family", and enjoyed a fantastic dinner. For me, my favorite edible (other than "duck-y" matzoh ball soup) was a roasted eggplant and potato dish tossed in a lemony tahini dressing.
Any notables at your seders?
It's Honey Cake time again for so many of us celebrating the Jewish New Year. But with every Jewish holiday, along with all of the traditional Ashkenazic symbolic foods, (latkes at Chanukah, matzo brei at Passover), I go back to ancient times and grasp onto our true Sephardic roots. Last Purim I made a Syrian Jewish specialty: sweetened ricotta filled phyllo triangles smothered in a rose-water syrup - so much for Hamantashen! So I'm wondering what less than typical foods you might be eating/making/serving to ring in Rosh Hashanah. (Happy New Year!)
We're having a great vacation in Santa Barbara (visiting relatives) and are planning on heading up the coast for several days, going as far north as Ferndale. We'll spend a few days in San Fran, and hope to hit the Redwood Forest, and Mendocino (among other places). Any recommendations for great (but not too pricey) foodie stops? Thanks in advance!
I'm piling my kids (7 and 13) in the car after school tomorrow, driving from Toledo, OH to Peekskill, NY and am looking for a few yummy stops along the way. The main drive will be on I-80 across PA. Any great restaurant/foodie finds? Thanks in advance!
Each day we bring you a Dinner Tonight recipe for suppertime inspiration. Many are quick and easy to whip up with everyday cupboard items. Soups, salads, pasta, meatballs, and plenty more—these were our 10 most popular dinner recipes this year. More
I thought I was putting together a mean picnic. Until last week, when I experienced a picnic that left me thoroughly humbled. Let me walk you through the recipe. More
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A family and friends reunion at a beautiful nearby park with charcoal grills and picnic tables playgrounds and a lake. Best burgers ever with potluck fixin's and salads, desserts and drinks. Frisbees, volleyball, catch, fishing poles, row boats and swimming. Guitars strumming, and yummy fun for all.