In my early teens, I was obsessed with this magazine called YM – do you remember it? “Young and Modern.” Shortly after, I moved on to the slightly mature Seventeen and then to the ever-trampier Cosmopolitan. Like most young women, I looked at the pimple-free Cover Girl faces and toned-stomach beauties, agonizing over how they could possibly …
What are you thankful for? That you can make it to all of your kids’ sports games? That you have a job? That you have good health? I have a lot to be thankful for this week. Our vet found a rare tick hidden on this little guy’s body that paralyzed and nearly killed him. But …
Routine getting you down? This is a Middle Eastern take on the classic & boring American hamburger. It’s very similar to the Persian-style kebab, koobideh (koob-ee-deh), but the shape of the patty is slightly different. The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth and the baharat gives the kebab a gorgeous aroma and …
Ohhhh yeah, that’s right, these are the Orna & Ella’s sweet potato pancakes, yogurt-chive dip and cucumber slices. Orna & Ella’s is a fantastic restaurant on the hip Sheinken St. in Tel Aviv, and if you’ve ever seen the Israeli film “HaBuah (The Bubble)” then you’ll recognize this dish as one that was mentioned and …
Not pictured: vinegar-spiked water dripping down my forearm as I munch on these and type. Hamutzim (pronounced: khawm-ooo-tzeem) are the Israeli version of the plate of bread that comes before your meal at a restaurant. And they are insanely addictive. Once I have one I have to eat the entire bowl and then I can’t …
When I went to by the fresh thyme for this salad, I didn’t recognize it amidst all the rosemary, basil, mint, parsley, chives, and all the rest. And then I saw the pretty little flowers and asked for a bunch. The man said, “You’re making meat in this heat?” I said, “No, it’s for salad,” …
Tabbouleh, meaning “little spicy” in Arabic, is a bulgur, parsley, mint and tomato salad doused in lemon juice, olive oil and salt. It is served all over the Middle East with slight variations including more or less bulgur and the salad representing a main course or served as part of a mezze. We’ve already made …
This salad comes from Cafe Mizrahi in the shuk and is known as the “Ya-Ya Salad.” I haven’t adapted anything in it because it’s simply perfect the way it is, and I can’t wait to share it with you. After I ordered it one day, I bought all the ingredients, went home and tried my …
I read somewhere that Basbousa, in Arabic, means “just a kiss.” So that’s cute. “Just a kiss cake.” It goes by many other names, as well, Namourah, Harisseh, Revani/Ravani and Sooji. If that’s any indication how delicious it is, lots of different countries have claimed it as their own. Basbousa is honestly one of the …
I spent all morning today in one of my favorite places in the shuk, a small, ten-year-old shop filled with customers searching to heal ailments such as hypertension, migraines, sore throats and urinary problems. Once I heard someone ask how to heal her joint pain. His prescription: don’t be so judgmental, and then he also …
my jerusalem kitchen 