Minted Fava-Pea Mash

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 | 7 comments My celebration of spring continues this week with two of my favorite seasonal ingredients: peas and fava beans. Though it’s a bit predictable, I can’t resist the pairing of peas, favas, and mint for it’s fresh, green taste. It just screams spring! Here I’ve simmered the peas and favas until tender (you can use frozen if fresh are not available), then mash them with some...
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Asparagus with Garlic Two Ways

Posted on Apr 19, 2013 | 11 comments It’s the start of springtime and that means a new abundance of fresh and exciting produce. I’m starting to see the first stone fruit in Israel – loquats, peaches and nectarines. Fresh garlic has peaked and I’ve stocked up as usual. And there’s even asparagus on supermarket shelves. I was working on a spring-themed meal for a piece in the Jewish Daily Forward (read it...
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Apple-Date Charoset and a Passover Recipes Blog Hop

Posted on Mar 22, 2013 | 8 comments Although I didn’t grow up celebrating Passover, I’ve been attending seders since I was 14, first with friends’ families then, for the past 12 years or so, with my husband’s family. It was love at first seder. Back at my first Pesach I was still an awkward, picky eater of a teenager, and as the charoset (haroset) passed by I put a dainty spoonful on a piece of matzo. But...
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Asian Cabbage Salad

Posted on Mar 4, 2013 | 27 comments If you don’t already have a salad like this in your repertoire, you need one. The “Asian” cabbage salad has become a mainstay of the American (and apparently Australian!) barbecue, potluck, and picnic and with good reason. It’s quick, easy, delicious, and travels well since the cabbage stays nice and crunchy even hours later. The Asian Cabbage Salad recipe is my pick for this month’s...
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Chubeza (Mallow) Patties and a Vegan Blog Hop

Posted on Feb 22, 2013 | 12 comments There are lots of pros to volunteering at a community garden. You get to meet wonderful, passionate people who care about the earth and sustainable eating. You get to spend time outdoors in nature, even if you live in a city. You learn about gardening, and are introduced to new types of plants, fruits, and vegetables. And, the best part, sometimes you get to take the fruit of your labor home....
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Orange Chia Pudding Parfait

Posted on Feb 4, 2013 | 14 comments I’ve been fascinated by chia seeds (salvia hispanica) for a while now. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids and, while they’re a tad pricey a little bit goes a long way. Until now, though, I’ve mostly been simply sprinkling them on top of my morning yogurt, or incorporating them into the occasional smoothie. This month’s Secret Recipe Club gave me the opportunity to...
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Three Bean Chili and a Chili Blog Hop

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 | 12 comments Is there anything more comforting on a cold day than a steaming hot bowl of chili? I usually go straight for my turkey chili recipe, but I was developing a healthy recipe in a jar recipe for the Jewish Daily Forward (check out the article and recipe here) and came up with this hearty, vegetarian three bean chili recipe. It is super flavorful and everything I could want out of a chili, plus...
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Quinoa Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts and a Brussels Sprouts Blog Hop

Posted on Dec 14, 2012 | 16 comments Are you as nuts about Brussels sprouts as I am? Though they’re not a vegetable I grew up eating, they’ve thankfully been reclaimed by chefs and home cooks who set out to prove that this once despised brassica is worth reconsidering. The mini cabbages (they’re actually related!) can be roasted and steamed, braised and eaten raw. If overcooked they can become bitter, hence their...
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Harissa Roasted Butternut Squash and a Thanksgiving Blog Hop

Posted on Nov 16, 2012 | 29 comments I’ve been looking forward to this blog hop for a long time. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and this will be my third year in a row spending it away from home. My Thanksgiving dishes, like all of my cooking, have taken on a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flare, and this harissa roasted butternut squash is an example of that. It’s flavorful and easy, cozy and, although I...
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Potato Leek Soup

Posted on Oct 28, 2012 | 16 comments As the weather starts to cool down (yes, even in the Middle East), it’s only appropriate that the theme for this month’s World on a Plate is soup. I love soup in all its comforting glory, and immediately began considering what variety I would make. It didn’t take me long to settle on potato leek soup. I know it’s not technically American (I represent the good ‘ol USA...
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