Holidays: ChanukahCourses: Desserts & Baked GoodsCuisines: Holiday CookingThree of my little sweet shot-glasses. So yummy!I belong to a "members-only" Facebook cooking page established by my friend, famed Canadian chef, Norene Gilletz. People share recipes, pose query's and exchange ideas. Someone posted a blog from "The Watering Mouth"that includes a recipe and video link for how to make these peppermint candy shot-glasses. It's a homemade YouTube video and very funny. I was going to visit some friends during the Chanukah/Christmas/New Year's season and thought these would be a fun gift to bring.
Holidays: ChanukahCourses: Desserts & Baked GoodsCuisines: Holiday CookingBob Blumer, chef and Canadian(Inspired by Bob Blumer)
At Chanukah, it’s traditional to eat fried foods: crispy potato latkes (pancakes), sweet jelly doughnuts (known as sufganiyot in Hebrew).
I fell in love with Canadian chef Bob Blumer while I lived in Toronto. He had a TV show called “The Surreal Gourmet” and cooked fun and delicious foods out of an RV decked out like a huge toaster (complete with toast popping out of the top).
Bob believes that food should be delicious, fun and amusing. He loves to make things that remind you of something else: a pink, frothy drink served up in Pepto-Bismol bottles, for instance. Or roasted cauliflower bites served up in popcorn containers.
When I saw his recipe for Chocolate Wontons – I thought this would be great to make for CHANUKAH. Because:
a) they are fried
b) it’s a participatory experience: kids and adults get to make their own (but have an adult do the actual frying)
c) people can choose which ingredients they want to put inside.
d) Everyone has a lot of fun making them and then eating them!
I have been making these around Chanukah-time now for three years and they are a huge hit! They taste like a cross between a banana fritter and a rich and gooey S’more. Who doesn’t love those?!
Holidays: PassoverCourses: Desserts & Baked GoodsCuisines: Baked Goods / Holiday CookingWhen I lived in Toronto, Sue Devor, the owner of "Sweet Sue's" pastry shop was my congregant. She often led a "baking for Passover" cooking demo at my congregation. Passover baked goods shouldn't taste like "Passover". She introduced me to this rich and gooey chocolate torte.
This recipe has become one of my most requested YEAR-ROUND favourites. My brother (the Culinary Institute of America trained chef) declared: "Wow! This cake is better than one of mine!"
I've modified Sue's original recipe to make it serve a larger group and added a chocolate glaze.
You can flavour it with mint extract (if you like mint), or use a strong espresso (in place of water) if you like a mocha flavour. This is sure to be a show-stopper and a big hit! Here is my version of Sue's fabulous recipe. Thank you, Sue!
Holidays: PassoverCourses: Soups & SaladsCuisines: Holiday Cooking / Vegetables / VegetarianSusie Fishbein creates dishes that are both delicious and beautiful to look at! These matzah balls are gorgeous, easy to make and you can make them ahead of time, store them in the fridge until you are ready to heat them and serve them in your soup. They make an unusual and special presentation for Pesach (Passover). If you are gluten-free, use gluten-free matzah-ball mix.
Holidays: Chanukah Courses: Desserts & Baked Goods Cuisines: Holiday Cooking 
Holidays: Rosh HaShanah / Shabbat Courses: Desserts & Baked Goods Cuisines: Baked Goods / Holiday Cooking
My mother’s challah with the addition of apples and raisins for the High Holy Days.
Holidays: Chanukah Courses: Desserts & Baked Goods Cuisines: Holiday Cooking
Holidays: Passover Courses: Desserts & Baked Goods Cuisines: Baked Goods / Holiday Cooking
When I lived in Toronto, Sue Devor, the owner of "Sweet Sue's" pastry shop was my congregant. She often led a "baking for Passover" cooking demo at my congregation. Passover baked goods shouldn't taste like "Passover". She introduced me to this rich and gooey chocolate torte.
This recipe has become one of my most requested YEAR-ROUND favourites. My brother (the Culinary Institute of America trained chef) declared: "Wow! This cake is better than one of mine!"
I've modified Sue's original recipe to make it serve a larger group and added a chocolate glaze.
You can flavour it with mint extract (if you like mint), or use a strong espresso (in place of water) if you like a mocha flavour. This is sure to be a show-stopper and a big hit! Here is my version of Sue's fabulous recipe. Thank you, Sue!
Holidays: Passover Courses: Soups & Salads Cuisines: Holiday Cooking / Vegetables / Vegetarian
Susie Fishbein creates dishes that are both delicious and beautiful to look at! These matzah balls are gorgeous, easy to make and you can make them ahead of time, store them in the fridge until you are ready to heat them and serve them in your soup. They make an unusual and special presentation for Pesach (Passover). If you are gluten-free, use gluten-free matzah-ball mix.