Passover begins at the end of this month, and the checklist starts to form with all my to-dos. My biggest focus every year is the food. How do I make Passover healthy for my kids, my husband and myself? For almost two years, I have been eating a more Paleo diet (a diet based on…
This month, my wonderful niece Elianna is getting married! It’s hard to believe that she’s all grown up and ready for this pivotal moment in her life. I still remember 13 years ago when Elianna and my niece Sarah were flower girls at my wedding. They were so small, and their big, bright eyes looked…
Usually, I would have started this column by sharing a healthy recipe encouraging good food choices and nutritional tips, but this year I’m attempting something slightly different. For the New Year (and in life in general) I believe in a ratio of 80/20 in everything we do, and everything that we eat. One must be…
“Oh Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come light the menorah, let’s have a Jewish-Mexican festival, we’ll all dance the lambada.” Well, in my house anyway! If you have been a guest of mine for the holidays, you walk away with a Jewish-Mexican experience. It has taken me a while to convert all my childhood Mexican recipes to…
Fall is here, and the weather is finally starting to cool down. Neighbors are coming out, people are walking, running, strolling, and everyone seems to be more pleasant and happier these days. With the holidays right around the corner, we are preparing ourselves for families to come together once again. We will be feasting, laughing…
This year, many of us, myself included, are experiencing a bar or bat mitzvah with one of our children. Our daughter Aviva has been preparing herself for this special day by studying weekly with her teacher (and cousin) Elianna, and going over party preparations! This past summer, we were fortunate enough to take Aviva and…
Summer is here, and the thought of eating hot soup may not be as appealing when the temperatures soar to 110 degrees. My family is a big fan of cold soup and enjoys a chilled bowlful of fruit or vegetable goodness throughout the year. Consider making a big batch of soup and savoring it throughout…
May 1 is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Celebrate the occasion by making shakshuka, a dish that closely competes with hummus and falafel as an Israeli staple. Originally introduced to Israel by Libyan and Tunisian Jews in the 1950s, shakshuka has since become a favorite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Israel is truly a melting…
I always wondered why I never saw a lamb dish at the seder table. A roasted lamb shank on the seder plate doesn’t qualify. I recently discovered that some Jews (depending on their level of observance) will not eat roasted poultry or meat – especially lamb – during the seder. It is appropriate to serve…
It’s hard to believe that we’re talking “camp” again. I haven’t even begun to think about what I’m doing next week, let alone this summer! But like most of us, we just get it done along with all the applications for schools and scholarships, not to mention filing our taxes. Personal assistant, anyone? I love…
