Alex’s Hobbies and Sushi Making

As I’ve mentioned before, Beautiful People, logistical considerations have prevented me from creating new posts. All will be revealed soon, I promised. Meanwhile, my funny and extremely creative son Alex stepped in with his own short story. Hobbies“When was the last time you had your eyes checked?” – Slava, my doubles partner, shouts at me.(And…

The Rivers of Exile: Nine-Day Pie

Originally posted on koolkosherkitchen:
I repeat this post every year at this time, and with it, I wish all those of you, Beautiful People, who observe this tragic day of mourning, an easy and meaningful fast. Traveling through the streets of Paris with his entourage, Napoleon passed a synagogue and heard heart-wrenching wailing from within.…

Well Hello Dolly!

Originally posted on A Jeanne in the Kitchen:
Our very own Dolly Aizerman is back as a guest chef, once again. Though Dolly and I have never met in person, as of yet, we both just know that once we do, we are going to be great friends. We have so much in common. Don’t…

Mchadi

Originally posted on koolkosherkitchen:
I hope you have soaked your red kidney beans for lobio, and all you need now is mchadi to dip in it. Well, to be perfectly honest, you also need suluguni cheese which is a semi-soft quite salty combination of cow or buffalo and goat milk, but a goat cheese or…

Kidney Bean Lobio

Originally posted on koolkosherkitchen:
Every time I make lobio, or any other Georgian dishes (that’s a country, not a state), it reminds me not only of the majestic Caucasus mountains, but also of the unique culture of Georgian people. Militant, fiercely independent, yet exceptionally warm and hospitable to strangers, they are fond of traditional, hours-long…

Secret Mango Flower Pie

Today is a National Mango Day, Beautiful People, so I am repeating one of my favorite dessert recipes. Flowers are not only pretty; they have meanings.  The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, has been used throughout the ages to express messages of love, longing, happiness, desire, pity, and sometimes even suspicion and sarcasm. Although…

Tyger! Tyger! eating right: Instant Pot Chicken Jalfrezi

Originally posted on koolkosherkitchen:
With all due respect to His Majesty the Lion King, there is a gorgeous majestic cat who is bigger, stronger, more ferocious, and by far more famous. He is the one, whose might and glory was proclaimed by two great authors , one after the other. https://youtu.be/11CtA7dfvik I confess, I am…

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…

Falafel Frida Defies Pharaoh

The fault is entirely mine! A timely reminder about an International Falafel Day (what will they come up with next, I wonder) had been issued by lovely and efficient Carol of https://carolcooks2.com, but between holidays, work, boat, and visiting grandchildren, I missed it. Perhaps you can forgive me, Beautiful People, if I bring you this…

My Shavuos Menu

Contrary to all other Jewish holidays, when we prepare festive meals that include both fish and meat, signifying rejoicing in His benevolence that grants us abundance, traditional Shavuos table is laden with dairy dishes, from blintzes to cheesecakes, and anything milky delicious you can think of.  One of the reasons for this unique menu is explained in…

Cheese and Raisins Pie

I am sure this was more of an afterthought. It was like, hey, we are already making traditional green savory pies, why not bake something sweet for kids to enjoy! I remember my father, the quintessential kid, sneaking into my grandmother’s kitchen to snack on the sweet filling while the dough was being rolled and…

Cheese and Scallions Pie

The holiday of Shavuos is starting in two days, and I have been volunteered by The Boss (my husband) to make our traditional cheese and scallions flaky pies for the entire congregation. I have just finished baking them and will deliver the baking sheet with four huge pies to the synagogue tomorrow, to be shoved…