Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year – does everyone feel that way every year? I had suggested to my parents that we embrace “Thanksgivukkah” and serve a Jewish-themed appetizer course, followed by the traditional Thanksgiving meal. They did not require much convincing. Any excuse to eat latkes, lox, and pastrami is welcomed around these ... view more
alchemy
Challah with Apples and Honey
Tonight marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah. Happy New Year! I love this holiday and seize the opportunity for fresh beginnings. I treat it like a traditional new year and spend the day reflecting about the past year and year to come; straightening my apartment, organizing my life, and vowing to get to the gym; and cooking. ... view more
Roasted Garlic + Rosemary Beer Bread
Do you love fresh-baked bread ... but fear the thought of working with yeast? I recommend starting with a delicious baby-step: Beer bread! Beer bread is just what it sounds like - bread that is made with beer. What kind of beer? Any kind, really, and the bread will take on a subtle taste of the beer you choose. For this recipe, all you do is mix ... view more
Homemade Grilled Bread
At this month's Cooking Club, I acquainted myself with a propane grill at a good old-fashioned barbecue in AWP's backyard. My apartment building has a community grill on the roof, and I had not made much use of it - until now. Yes, the success of this bread has made me want to grill. For Cooking Club, I selected to make Grilled Flatbreads; we ... view more
Fresh Ricotta Cheese
al·che·my [al-kuh-mee], n. 1. a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life. 2. any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, ... view more