Moroccan anise Cookie (Reifat)

Alex: what are you making mommy?Me: I’m making Moroccan anise cookies.Alex: can you make American cookies?Me: no, I’m craving mama’s cookies.Oh mama mama, I miss you. Mama is my maternal grandmother. She used to make a huge container of these cookies…

Middle Eastern Pizza

My mother makes the best pizza. She is not even Italian. Her pizza has Middle Eastern flavors. Instead of using tomato sauce she uses fresh sliced tomatoes (the beefy kind, such as Roma). After she covers the dough with tomatoes and mozzarella, she…

Bruschetta

It’s strange to cook for one when you used to cook for two, four, or more. This week I am home alone. Hallelujah! My husband is in New York and the boys are in school. I was content eating my…

Focaccia

My mother – a bread worshiper – and I agreed that focaccia is the best bread for people like us whose favorite part of the bread is the crust. Focaccia is basically one big crust.

Homemade Bread

There was a single, short period when I completely lost interest in cooking. It was exactly three years ago, when my youngest sister, Inbar, passed away at the age of 27. When she left, my joy of cooking and baking left with her. Like everyone…

bread rolls & challahs

As a kid I couldn’t take my eyes away from my mother or grandmother, when they made home-bread for Shabbat. I was hypnotized by Eema and Mama’s swift gestures and from the process itself. For years I assumed that it…

Black Cherry Jammers

I was so happy when she said yes and wrote this post for my blog. Introducing, Yael, the woman who thought me almost everything I know about baking!  When Shelly asked me to be a guest at her blog, I…

Harissa

Harissa is a Moroccan spicy condiment made with  red chile peppers and small hot chili peppers and spices. We eat harissa with braised dishes, sandwiches, soups, salads, couscous, omelets, etc. My husband likes to mix it with ketchup and dip…

Simple Granola with Poppyseeds

I find most store-bought granolas and granola bars too sweet and too expensive. Why spend $10 for a small bag when you can easily make it yourself? The preparation is takes less than 5 minutes, you can control the sweetness…