If there’s one food I’ve missed since starting my newest diet, it’s Kefir. The last time I got to enjoy it was during the summer of 2015 at Pine Mountain Lake—the same time I came to accept that the delicious dairy beverage would never touch my lips again. My stomach had been flaring up each
Breakfast
German Pancake
We were in the hot and windy desert of Palm Springs when we visited a diner for breakfast. On the menu, there was an unfamiliar specialty item, a German Pancake. Now here are some facts for you Fact #1: No news to you, breakfast is still my favorite meal of the day. Fact #2: I
Morning Coffee Bowl
I like cooking from recipes, I do! Find a recipe, buy all the ingredients, pour a glass of wine and cook away. However, being a mom of two curious children who want to be a part of every after-school activity imaginable, this way of cooking no longer seems to work for me (most of the time.) So I
Poppy Seed Cake
This cake is like a little black dress: you can dress it up or down. A nice thick slice with a cup ‘o’ tea on a weekday morning. Or a thinner toasted slice, with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and handful of sliced strawberries on a weekend – with a glass of sweet bubbly. Deborah
Strawberries in Minted Honey Syrup
I start my day with a hot cup of Peet’s. Every day. I sip on freshly squeezed lemonade with my kids on the warm summer afternoons. Or bubbly Pellegrino. I drink red wine (the bolder variety) at dinner on non-gym nights, or with friends on weekends. Sometimes on gym nights as well. I reach for
Chocolate and Brie Panini
I am in love. And he is gorgeous! Long soft curly blonde locks. Kind eyes. Unwavering loyalty. He never speaks back. Always by my side. And never leaves his plate dirty. His name is Toby Gennadich Shpiler but you can simply call him Toby. I’ve only been around two pets when growing up, and for
Homemade Vanilla Extract
The following recipe is a no-brainer and only consists of three simple ingredients Vanilla beans Vodka Patience But it produces One very potent vanilla extract and Lots of sweetness and laughter My little girl, an older child, a dreamer, a Taylor Swift fan, came home from school, dropped her bag by the door, gave
New York-Style Bagel
This was my second time visiting Seattle. The design conference was over. The weather was dry. My friend was in town. And I had enough of the city. A trip to Mt. Reiner was overdue. We rented a car for a day, picked up a bag of gourmet bagels and drove through the snowy landscapes
Grilled Cheese Egg
Ah, the beauty of camping: simplicity, tranquility, nature. Having all the devices turned off, cookbooks stashed away. The smell of fresh summer air and grilled meat, fire-roasted potatoes, s’mores. No disturbances from the outside world, no interruptions, just you being one with nature. This is what I’ve known camping to be. My last camping trip was
An unconventional latke
Here is what makes me Jewish: My naturally curly hair My non-athletic children My hefty Yiddish vocabulary (go ahead, test me!) My extensive collection of latkes recipes Speaking of latkes recipes, this particular one is new, and a fun addition to my Hanukkah repertoire. A little unorthodox potato pancake that defies all laws of gravity
Crêpe Napoleon
Last week, on my way to work, I got startled by GENi‘s email announcement of my hubby’s approaching birthday. Four Zero! Gotto tell you, seeing such a mind blowing number next to my man’s name was pretty surreal! My man was abut to turn 40!!! That baby-faced boy, that I met as a teenager, is soon to celebrate
Crunchy Granola Cups
Is it very obvious that my family considers first meal of the day their favorite? Even with all of the breakfast recipes that I have up my sleeve (Almond Butter Smoothies, Pear Honey Pocket, Baked Oatmeal, Breakfast Polenta, Granola among many others) the demand for additional ideas simply refuses to taper off. So, every week or so, I keep coming up
Blueberry Almond Breakfast Polenta
Last Friday marked the beginning of Passover. Oats, buckwheat and wheat berries have been purposely stashed away; quinoa, cornmeal and amaranth made their way to the table. I have gotten pretty creative with the chametz-free lunches and dinners but breakfast has always been a Passover challenge for me, mainly because there are only so many
Baked Oatmeal
As the sweet cinnamon aroma penetrated the walls of the house we rented at the lake Bariessa last weekend, everyone gathered around the kitchen table: my innocently smiling nephew, who returned from crushing an unsuspecting snail with a heel of his shoe, his sleepy parents who spent half the night soothing their new baby, my
Homemade Farmer’s Cheese (aka Tvorog, Ricotta, Cottage Cheese)
“Mommy is making farmer’s cheese again,” I overheard my 5-year old talking to his sister, just as the sweet nursery-soothing scent of warm milk started to fill the house. “Can we make farmer’s cheese together some day?” he asked, as both of them crowded around the stove, watching me stir the pot. I never turn
Granola With Almonds and Coconut
This year, I had my birthday party catered by Insalata’s, a foodie-favored restaurant located north of San Francisco. A friend, who offered to deliver the food to my house on the night of the party, surprised me with a gift of a beautiful Insalata’s cookbook. By now, I’ve read the cookbook cover to cover. Twice.
Fermentation Experimentation
Yep, I make my very own milk Kefir (Кефир.) An Eastern European-style yogurt, Kefir is loaded with lots and lots of tummy-friendly bacteria. Not to brag, but I also curdle farmers cheese (Творог): a creamier, smoother, and milder form of cottage cheese. Surprisingly, fermenting dairy products at home is super easy, fast and fun! A
Almond Butter Pear Honey Pocket
If you were born and raised in the United States, you may find it hard to imagine that there are people out there who never had a PBJ sandwich. Here goes my epicurean Cucee Confession #3: until very recently, I had not tried the All-American Peanut-Butter-and-Jelly sandwich. (Confession #1: I am obsessed with anything-cauliflower, Confession #2:
Almond Butter Kefir Breakfast Smoothie
From pancakes to waffles to power shakes, our weekend always starts with a special breakfast. What’s a special breakfast? Pretty much anything that is not cereal or oatmeal – we are easy to please… With my kids, the tradition of a special breakfast now spans more than one generation. When I was little, my mom