Tofu Can Bite, Too!

When Avrohom (Abraham) Our Father was traveling in the desert, he would make sure to position his tent at the crossroads and make entrances on all four sides, open to travelers coming from every direction. He would then treat them to a sumptuous feast, making sure every guest was offered food of his preference. After…

I’ve Got Some Explaining to Do

Our gracious host Renard of https://renardsworld.wordpress.com has kindly published my guest post that features the Indian Goddess Lakshmi and my recipe for stir-fried lotus root. In my post, I have neglected to explain the link between the two, and anyway, why is Lakshmi always depicted sitting on a lotus flower? Here is the answer, Beautiful…

Fruit Rainbow: Light, Love, Laugh

A beautiful shimmering symbol of peace, both a natural phenomenon and a Divine promise to protect and preserve the world, the rainbow is a living statement, a map, if you will, of what really transpires in our lives.  A rainbow is formed when pure white light refracts into seven shades. Red is nearest the original…

Ponce de Leon, Diamond Lil, and the Secret of Eternal Youth

There is a quaint little town on the East Coast of Florida called St Augustine. It is considered the oldest continuous European settlement in the continental United States. But that’s not what makes it famous. Tourists flock to St Augustine because they are dying to stay young forever. According to the official Fountain of Youth…

Happy New Year to the Trees with More Pickled Veggies!

This is a re-post, Beautiful People. Tomorrow is Tu b’Shvat, the New Year of the Trees in the Hebrew Calendar, and I thought this post was worth repeating. We are celebrating yet another New Year – the New Year of the Trees. In the old times, in ancient Israel, this day, 15th of the month…

Double Chocolate Avocado Mousse

It’s all Carol’s fault – she made me do it! Lovely Carol of Retired? No one told me! She reminds us about the National Mousse Day and then makes an excellent point about all these “national” food days. You have to read her post to get the brunt of her argument: National Mousse Day…Yet another…

Tweaked Green Papaya Salad and Carol’s Naughty Corner

South Florida is a crazy patchwork of little cities, towns, and villages, each boasting tropical flavor and colorful history. However, only one bears an official title City Beautiful, the City of Coral Gables. One of the seven cities in the United States influenced by the City Beautiful North American architectural movement which promoted “beautification and…

Don’t Blame the Chard!

I had the honor of being a guest on fabulous Renard’s World, Beautiful People, and I am giving you an offer you can’t refuse!

Squash Thai and I

Dear Beautiful People, I was honored to have been invited to do a guest post on Renard’s World, a fabulous blog that offers a plethora of insights and helpful advice on blogging. Here is my humble contribution.

Quince – Birthday or Fruit?

Teenage Jewish American girls of Hispanic origin have three significant birthdays celebrated in lavish style befitting a wedding. As most  Jewish girls, when they turn 12, they celebrate the traditional Jewish coming of age, Bas (Bat) Mitzvah (boys have to wait an extra year; their big day, Bar Mitzvah, is at 13). As most American…

Counting Beans to Bake Falafels

How many lentils are in a bowl of lentil soup? Don’t start laughing yet, Beautiful People; this was an earnest question posed to my husband by his nutritionist. Well, how does he know? He eats what I put in front of him, and sometimes snacks on what he finds in the refrigerator, which is what…