I recently posed the question on twitter: "how does one describe broccoli kugel to non-Kosher eating folks?" For someone like me, who grew up eating kosher, Jewish style foods, kugel is a no-brainer. But when you stop and think about it, try to determine how one can define kugel, it gets infinitely complicated. Is it a side dish? Maybe. Is it savory? Occasionally. A sweet dish? Can be. Something eaten on Shabbos (sabbath)? Often times. Is there one blanket definition of kugel? Sadly not. So while my Jewish readers will probably know exactly what a broccoli kugel is, it may be perplexing to my non-Jewish readers. What exactly is a broccoli kugel, you may be asking yourself. Well, … [Read more...]
Chocolate Covered Oatmeal Bars
I have a confession to make. I am terrible at reading and following directions. Take instruction manuals, for example. It isn't uncommon to find the instruction manual to an electronic device I bought a year ago sitting in a drawer, still sealed in it's plastic wrap. Instruction manuals, I reason, are for people of lesser intelligence. It may sound like I am bragging mightily here, so I will make a confession too, to even things out, y'know. I don't know that I can sit and read a manual. I don't have the attention span. Or the patience. And yet I have both the attention span and the patience to apply sprinkles to a chocolate covered pretzel with a pair of tweezers, to make sure it looks … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
The other day I was talking to one of my coworkers about...what else? Cookies. He was mentioning his preferences in cookie flavors, when he made a shocking statement. "I don't like chocolate. And I don't like peanut butter." I opened my mouth in shock and horror. "My wife," he continued, "always says-" and at the exact same moment as he finished his wife's statement, I was verbalizing the exact same sentiment. "What is wrong with you?!" This may be insulting to some, especially to said coworker who had such nice things to say about my blog, but I truly believe that it's difficult to be happy without chocolate. Throw in some peanut butter? That's pretty much bliss. Assuming you are among … [Read more...]
Easy Homemade Donuts
***Before we start – have you signed up for my email newsletters? You’ll get new recipes, cooking tips, menu suggestions, kitchen deals – and more! Click here to signup.*** I can't believe Chanuka is more than half over. Where did all those days go? And could you believe I haven't posted anything fried yet? Well, never fear, I have a delicious donut recipe to share with you. Isn't there always time for one more batch of donuts? Here's the thing about making donuts: people seem to think they are ultra complicated, something to attempt only in your most ambitious moments. But I am here to tell you that donuts are totally easy- or at least they should be. I'm usually the queen of … [Read more...]
Garlic and Shallot Topped Smashed Potatoes
If the name of these potatoes seems complicated and difficult for you to pronounce, you can call them by their other name: Good Sister Potatoes. Why, one might ask, would these potatoes catapult me into the realm of a good sister? Well, that is a very good question, my friend. Y'see, I made these only because my sister asked me to come up with some new side dish ideas for her. And because I had some baby potatoes to cook. And these are delicious. But let's not discuss that now, shall we? In case you haven't noticed, I love making desserts. You haven't? This must be your first time here. Sure, a gal's gotta eat, and I really do enjoy cooking, baking and desserts will always have a soft spot … [Read more...]
Snickerdoodles
Every now and then, I make a dessert recipe which is an enormous success, and half of me winds up regretting it. Why, you might ask, would I regret an amazingly successful dessert? The answer, my friends, is simple. I enjoy being creative with my baking. I enjoy playing around, adapting recipes, trying new things, etc. And for the most part, people around me are happy with that. I say for the most part, because when I make one of these disastrously successful desserts, I spend weeks, and, depending on just how successful it was, even months, hearing people respond to my delightful treats with comments such as "but what about your Snickerdoodles?" Or "these cookies are delicious, but you … [Read more...]
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
Let's talk for a minute about dieting willpower. I know, the title doesn't seem to introduce a post about diets, and the recipe certainly isn't intended for someone on one, but hear me out, there is a point here. There are different kinds of willpower people have when dieting and losing weight. There's the minor form of willpower. That's the kind that is generally found in skinny people who want to lose a pound or five. They can't figure out why they can't stay motivated to lose weight. I can. They don't need to badly enough. The second kind of willpower is the kind you find in someone with a significant amount of weight to lose. These people know how much depends on their weight … [Read more...]
Tiny Pecan Pies and a Pie Crust Tutorial
Until a couple of months ago I was absolutely terrified of making my own pie crust. Any and all desserts that involved pie crust started with one out of the freezer aisle in the grocery store. Then one of my coworkers asked if he could order a pie as a treat for his family for Rosh Hashanah. My first instinct was to say no, after all, I had never made a pie crust, and didn't want to try it for the first time on a customers. But as I have mentioned before, I never like to turn down a customer, so I did some research, and I said yes. I explained that it was going to be my first time making a homemade pie crust, and he agreed. I spent a long time searching the internet for advice and … [Read more...]
Maple Sandwich Cookies with Toasted Pecans
This post is dedicated to all of my awesome friends and followers on twitter, and the exploration of just how helpful twitter is in day-to-day life. And no, this isn't sponsored by the Twitter folks (like they'd care about lil 'ol me!) nor is it a fishing expedition for new twitter followers. (Although you should totally follow me.) Here's what happened. I was in the middle of baking cookies, and couldn't decide if I liked the rough shape or the smooth shape. I made a tray with half of each, figuring I would decide how they looked baked. They came out of the oven, and I still wasn't sure. So I took a picture, and I tweeted it, asking people which they liked better. I was amazed at the … [Read more...]
Nutella Crinkle Cookies…and I Survived a Blackout!
I often wonder what life would have been like had I been born a hundred and fifty years earlier. Maybe I shouldn't admit to this, but I sometimes think I would have sat in the darkness, staring at a candle, pining for an iPhone. Sure, iPhones wouldn't have existed in those, days, so I wouldn't have known what an iPhone would be, but still, I like to think I'd have wished for one. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but I do love my electronics. I am happier in front of a computer than almost anywhere else, and I would pick a shiny touch screen device over a shiny piece of jewelry any day. Future husband, take note. And so, had you told me a week ago that I would survive close to 36 hours … [Read more...]