Summer Latkes in December

Hershel from Ostropol, the famous prankster, was traveling during Chanukkah. He stopped at an inn and asked for some traditional Chanukkah food. “Sure, -said the innkeeper, – We have three kinds of latkes (pancakes), and sufganiyot (doughnuts) with four different fillings! What’s your pleasure?” “Bring me the latkes first,” requested Hershel. A plate of hot,…

Flourless Chocolate Orange and Ginger Cake

Beautiful Bal of http://www.simpleglutenfreekitchen.com/ comes with a gorgeous gluten-free chocolate and ginger cake. Thank you, dear Bal, for a great recipe! Welcome to my kitchen! If, like me, you crave bright and fresh flavors in dark winter days, then this cake will give you every reason to smile and lift your mood! Citrus fruits are a…

SOUTHWEST BREAKFAST BOWL

From  http://therichmondavenue.com/, here comes lovely Jasmine with a Southwest Breakfast Bowl. I can’t figure out what it has to do with cats, ginger, and/or the charade, but it’s a fantastic recipe – enjoy! DECEMBER 2, 2016 This Thanksgiving I celebrated two holidays. That’s right, TWO. While the rest of America was enjoying their turkey and…

Ginger Biscuits by Alex

Alex of https://lilyandardbeg.wordpress.com/ comes to the party with her own cookies. Here is her recipe: It calls for ginger biscuits (cat shaped, perhaps?) The simplest recipe: Proper way: Ingredients: 110g margarine ( plus some extra for greasing), 110g caster sugar, 110g golden syrup, 225g self-raising flour, 2 tsp ground ginger and a pinch of salt and…

Blog Party and a Charade

I have a couple of things to celebrate, Beautiful People, so I am throwing a blog party – everyone is invited! A few days ago, I received two messages from WordPress. First of all, I was informed that I now have more than 500 followers. I thank all of you, my readers, my faithful followers!…

Chocolate on Chocolate with Extra Blessings

Jewish people are obligated to say one hundred blessings every day, and observant Jews are making every effort to do it, well, religiously. There are two reasons for it. First, in Deuteronomy, Moses poses a rhetorical question to the people:”What does G-d ask of you?” Says the Talmud that the word “Mah” (What) should be…

Festiv-e-teas

In an old Japanese tale, a poor peasant catches a badger. He puts the badger into his bag and starts walking home, to bring food to his family. But when he comes home and opens his bag, instead of a badger, he finds a teapot! “What shall I do with it? – cries the poor…

Gambling for Education and Retchene Latkes

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…

The Train Is Dead – Have a Cookie!

The train is dead, the train is dead! Ding Dong! The wicked train is dead! A few months ago I posted an urgent desperate plea to all of you, Beautiful People, to help us save our little island from a wicked corporation and corrupt politicians who had been threatening to destroy our unique environment, architectural…

Sweet Rose of Thanks

Flowers are symbolic, and roses are, probably, the most famous of all symbolic flowers. Red roses symbolize love, hope, and promise of new beginnings in most cultures. This beautiful rose and a beautiful sentiment by Paolo Coelho is for all of you, Beautiful People, with all my love and best wishes for Thanksgiving! I also…

Listen to Your Wife! Herbed and Spicy NOT Butter

My grandmother used to say that a man is the head of the house, but his wife is a neck:where the neck turns, the head looks. This week’s Torah reading is one of my favorite because in it we read how Sarah asked Abraham to do something, he didn’t really like it, and G-d Himself…

Dracula and Klyotzki Dumplings

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, which means Dragon in Romanian. He came by this name honestly, inheriting it from his father, Vlad II, who had joined a secret Order of the…