Holidays: Passover / Rosh HaShanah Courses: Desserts & Baked Goods Cuisines: Baked Goods / Fruit / Grain-Free/Gluten-Free Last night, some friends came for dinner and brought these delicious mini "cupcakes" (I'm calling them "bites".) As she handed them to me, Mona said, "I've observed that you hardly ever eat any bread, cake, or things like that, so I thought these would be perfect for you." (I'm on an anti-inflammatory grain-free diet for a neurological condition and follow it about 95% of the time). These yummy treats are absolutely divine! They are perfect for everyone (except for those who are allergic to nuts or eggs). They contain no added sugars, no flours of any kind, no added fats. The only ingredients are dried fruits, nuts and eggs! And they look gorgeous! Perfect for any occasion! I'm going to serve them for Rosh Hashanah and Passover! (from the Kitchen of Mona Saidens: Bella is Mona's mother)
Courses: Side Dishes Cuisines: Breakfast & Brunch / Fruit / Grain-Free/Gluten-Free / Vegetables / Vegetarian
When the temperature drops below freezing, and the snow has been falling for hours (or days!), there's no better way to help make the house feel warm and cozy than having the sweet smells of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg waft through your home.
Fruit butter (apple butter, pear butter and the like) takes hours of slow simmering on the stove. It also needs to be stirred every 15-20 minutes or so, so it doesn't get stuck on the bottom of the pot.
So when you are staying at home on a snowy day, or just staying at home "because" - that is the time to make this deliciously fragrant and silky pear butter.
The original recipe is from my brother, Ari M. Sobel. Ari is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef extraordinaire!
I have adapted the recipe and made some changes that suit my tastes. It's very flexible. You can use whatever fruit you like: apples, pears, a combination of the two. Or, in the summer, use plums, nectarines, peaches. You can add strawberries or blueberries. You can use all the spices I've added, or just cinnamon - or leave them out entirely.
Use your imagination!
