Hello, Stranger, Have Some Soup! (re-mix) and Shabbat Shalom from a friend.

First, a wonderful message from Marc Gellman – a great lesson for all of us. NO! PASSOVER is not the Jewish Easter!  04/18/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: NO! PASSOVER . . . . . . is not the Jewish Easter! We would travel from western New Jersey to eastern Long Island…

Nostalgic Cabbage Moments and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, another heartwarming and poignant message from Marc Gellman: Inspire parents and children to capture the moments: 04/04/2024 A Shabbat moment to think about other things: INSPIRE PARENTS AND CHILDREN . . .  . . . to capture the moments. When we deliberately dedicate time to reflect on our past, we can better understand, appreciate,…

The Fighter Gene, Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf with Black Beans (remix) and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, an inspiring and wise message from Marc Gellman. We learn from our parents: 03/07/2024 We “LERNEN” (learn) from our parents . . . . . . during our growing up years, following their leadership and guidance. If we’re fortunate during our lifetime, along the way, we meet other people too. “Menschen” (people) . ….

Roll’ing Sushi and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a somewhat caustic, but very timely message from Marc Gellman, quite applicable to the world at large. ORTHODOX JEWS . . .  walking down the middle of the street. 02/15/2024 A SHANDA (shameful) . . .   . . . ORTHODOX JEWS walking down the center of the street in Surfside, Florida, is a…

Tricolor Pepper Salad and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a delightful message from Marc Gellman urging us to keep and nurture the inner child. ALL OUR SILLINESS & “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 together. When it comes to…

Happy New Year to the Trees with More Pickled Veggies! (reiteration)

My apologies to the fans of Marc Gellman’s weekly Shabbat Shalom. Marc had an extremely busy week and simply ran out of time to pen his message. This week, Beautiful People, all you get is me. Because I was waiting for Marc’s e-mail and then for his response to my concerned e-mail, I am a…

It All Started in Kyiv: Rassol’nik – Sour Barley Soup

I’ve heard that today was National Pickles Day, and since at the eleventh hour – literally! – I couldn’t come up with a new post, I am repeating the one about a soup made with pickles. I hope this counts! This is the most sobering experience you’ve ever had, and I mean literally. Rassol means brine, the…

A Basket of Apples and Shabbat Shalom from a Friend

First, a message from a dear friend. HOLD ON TO HOPE: 11/02/2023 HOLD ON TO “HOFN” . . . . . . the Yiddish word for HOPE. Last month, October, was breast cancer awareness month. In the past, I’ve been invited to be the guest speaker at events for Breast Cancer Awareness. The main message…

Dracula and Klyotzki Dumplings (reiteration)

It looks like my Monster Squares were not scary enough for you, Beautiful People. Let me introduce you to some truly terrible real monsters who have become legendary. Count Dracula really existed. He was born in Transylvania in fifteenth century and ruled the province called Wallachia. His name was Vlad III, and his last name was Dracul,…

Autumnal Bounty in a Pumpkin Spinach Soup

First, Shabbar Shalom Message from a Friend: BEGEISTERN:  Inspire and to fill with enthusiasm. 10/19/2023 BEGEISTERN . . . . . . is the Yiddish word to inspire and to fill with enthusiasm. A word my bubbe would use to describe her intentions when I needed motivation to juggle a busy schedule. Nowadays, my busy…

Fish for the Mountain King’s Buffet – Sugudai.

Let me introduce you, Beautiful People, to one of the funniest characters in the world’s folk tales, the hero of Henrik Ibsen’s drama Peer Gynt and the eponymous suites composed by Edvard Grieg for the play per Ibsen’s request. Once upon a time in a quaint Norwegian village, there lived a young man named Peer…

Greens Combo Salad

On one of my visits to sunny Georgia (a country, not a state), I saw two salads on the table crowded with many unique vegetable creations. These two, however, looked very similar to each other, but different colors. One was completely green. The other – oh, the other! – it was wonderfully green and red…