Knockwurst Surprise and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, an inspirational message from Marc Gellman. ALL OF OUR SILLINESS: 01/23/2025 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: ALL OUR SILLINESS (“NARISHKEIT”) & “MESHUGA”-NESS . . .  . . . that we can share with our spouse, lover, partner, or friend can be so memorable and make for the fabric of our lives…

Lucky Salad and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, an uplifting motivational message from Marc Gellman. IGNORE THE SCHMEGGES:   01/16/2025  A Shabbat moment to think about other things:  IGNORE THE “SCHMEGEGGES” (a loser) . . .   . . . and the naysayers, or you will “Varf Avek” (throw away) your future.  It’s time to implement your New Year’s resolution. If you haven’t made…

Passionate Food: Chicken Posada Salad and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a passionate and timely message from Marc Gellman. THE WORLD HATES US ALL THE SAME: 01/09/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: THERE ARE SOME NATIONS IN THE WORLD . . . . . . that hate each of us all the same. We are Jews and should present ourselves to the…

Vinaigrette – a Russian Winter Salad (reiteration) and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First a heartfelt message from Marc Gellman. It’s Nice to Hang out With Jews 01/02/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: IT’S NICE TO HANG OUT . . . . . . with Jews. During these past eight days, I’ve attended several Chanukah celebrations. It’s been fun celebrating our festival of lights, as…

The Real Treasure of the Caribbean: Haiti, Part 3. Liberty Soup (reiteration)

With this last part of my Haitian series, my students and I wish you, Beautiful People, a happy and peaceful New Year! The final and the most important installment of this set of recipes (for Part 1, click here; for Part 2, click here) is unique – where else do you see a dish that symbolizes liberty?…

The Holy Hole-less Doughnuts (reiteration) and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a poignant and inspirational message from Marc Gellman. Memories of those gone: 12/26/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: MEMORIES OF THOSE GONE . . . . . . come to us during this holiday season, may bring on a tear, and can sorrow our holiday celebration. But the memories do bring…

Pollo Fritto Artistico (reiteration)

Before presenting to you, Beautiful People, a unique Chanukkah recipe originating in Italy and inspired by non-Jews, it is my great pleasure to share a lovely poem composed by a non-Jewish blogofriend Jonathan Coswell who chronicles everyday events in limericks. Please click on the link to enjoy the poem and come back for the recipe…

Gambling for Education and Retchene Latkes (reiteration)

To continue with the story of Chanukkah and latkes, Judea was eventually captured by the Romans. Some of the Roman rulers could care less about various religions of the occupied territories, or provinces, as long as the taxes were collected regularly and accurately. Some others, however, persecuted Jews relentlessly; Emperor Hadrian even earned the nickname “Destroyer of the…

But Hannah Did Not Have Potatoes! Latkes with a Tropical Twist (re-mix) and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a timely and very important message from Marc Gellman. CHANUKAH: 12/19/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: DURING THIS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS . . . . . . can our lights shine bright? Do we show who we are? Or . . . do we hide out-of-sight? It’s a time for our…

Florentine Salad in Memoriam and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a timely and very important message from Marc Gellman. Reach out . . . and touch others: 012/12/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: WANT AN EASY “MITZVAH” (good deed) . . . . . . Reach out and touch others and receive the most wondrous “Mitzvah.” Recently, I received a message…

Winning a Race Without Being There: Thanksgiving on the Boat

Can you win a race without being there? Without even knowing about it? We did, or, rather, our dinghy did, unbeknownst to us. It didn’t do it on its own, of course, and Harry Potter wasn’t there to wave his wand. Other youngsters, non-magical yet quite enterprising, found it on the beach where my husband…

Sweet Rose of Thanks (reiteration) and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a pithy message from Marc Gellman. Thanksgiving: 11/28/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: YOU’RE JEWISH . . . RIGHT . . . . . . so, what do you do to celebrate Thanksgiving? When my children were in high school, their classmates asked them this question about the American holiday of…