Shepherd’s Pie and a Gluten Free Blog Hop

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 | 11 comments This time of year the weather can be fickle. Even in Israel, where it tends to be significantly warmer than my native New York, we still have the occasional cool evening and even the days aren’t nearly as hot as they will be. So for some last minute cool-weather comfort food (or for those of you in the Southern hemisphere who are on the cusp of winter), here’s a naturally gluten free...
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Shredded Beef Tacos and a Taco Blog Hop

Posted on Jan 11, 2013 | 9 comments I adore tacos but living in Israel they’re not particularly plentiful. Luckily they’re easy to make at home and open to endless variation. I’ve already shared my vegetarian tofu tacos and my light and healthy fish tacos, but today I’ve got something a little more substantial and comforting for winter (although it would be equally delicious any time of year). These braised,...
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Sweet and Sour Stuffed Onions

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 | 27 comments Before I moved to Israel, the extent of my experience with stuffed vegetables was peppers and cabbage, and it was limited even at that. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine has opened me up to a whole world of vegetables that can be stuffed with a variety of meat or vegetarian fillings and simmered in any number of sauces. Stuffed peppers and cabbages appear, but not nearly as often as...
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Saffron Lasagna ~ Lasagna alla Zafferano from A Family Farm in Tuscany

Posted on Oct 31, 2012 | 18 comments As an Italian-American, I’ve eaten plenty of lasagna in my day. But none like this. I’m used to layers of noodles and sauce that are cemented with mounds of cheese. This authentic Italian lasagna, however, relies primarily on a saffron-hued béchamel sauce to act as the glue. There’s no mozzarella, no ricotta. Just grated Parmesan, meat sauce, and a luscious besciamella made with butter,...
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Beef Rendang and a Beef Blog Hop

Posted on Oct 19, 2012 | 27 comments You know those recipes that immediately pop out at you, that you bookmark or pin on Pinterest and you just can’t forget? Beef Rendang – a Malaysian beef curry – was one such recipe for me. I pinned two different recipes for this tempting, coconut-infused beef curry on my Asian Inspiration board, each with a slightly different method and equally enticing result. It’s just...
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A Burger a Week, And the Best Burger in New York

Posted on Oct 16, 2012 | 23 comments When I was home in New York over the summer, I had a standing Monday lunch date with my dad and sister. Although our lunch dates were nothing new, this summer they took on new purpose: We would eat a burger a week and decide which was our favorite. I’m not entirely sure where the idea stemmed from, but once we set our minds to it we stuck to the plan. For eight Mondays. That’s probably about...
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Cheese-Stuffed Burgers for World on a Plate

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 35 comments Just in time for Memorial Day, this month’s theme for World on a Plate is grilling! I don’t have a backyard, or a grill, but I do have a cast iron pan, which can be a worthy substitute. Since I’m representing America, I immediately knew that I would be bringing burgers to the party. But I didn’t want to go with just any old burger – so I stuffed some cheese inside to...
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Kofte and a Meatball Blog Hop

Posted on May 18, 2012 | 35 comments Just as I became obsessed with Greek food (like chicken souvlaki and Greek salad) after our trip to Rhodes, I’ve returned from Istanbul with a hunger for all things Turkish. The incredible flavors, intoxicating scents, and evocative spices have left their mark on my palate, and I find myself trying to recreate little bites of our trip at home. As I mentioned in my post about where to eat in...
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs for World on a Plate

Posted on Mar 25, 2012 | 60 comments I am excited about this post for so many reasons! First of all I get to share with you what may be the world’s greatest recipe: my mother-in-law’s sweet and sour meatballs. Second of all, I am part of a wonderful new blogging group called World on a Plate! Started by Pola from Italian in the Midwest, World on a Plate is a purposefully small group that is all about cultural exchange....
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Irish Beef Stew Recipe and a St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop

Posted on Mar 16, 2012 | 62 comments In case you couldn’t tell from my last name, I’m not Irish. But growing up in New York City, come St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish. It’s fun and festive, rowdy and chaotic. I know that drinking lots of beer is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition (an entirely made up one, by the way – but who’s to argue?!), but this weekend why not save some of that brew for...
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