Claudette’s Granola

Claudette's Granola This isn’t the first granola recipe we’ve posted. And it definitely won’t be the last. But hey, there are tons of ways in this word to enjoy granola. In a bowl with milk, on top of yogurt, in a parfait, as an ice cream topping, plain as a snack, mixed with apples and thrown all over your kitchen floor…wait, that one isn’t so enjoyable. But you get the idea. Granola is a staple in our kitchens and it should be in yours, too. If not because the blend of oats, nuts, and fruit is good for you and an easy, homemade, and unprocessed snack, then because it makes the entire kitchen (and house) smell amazing as it bakes!

Continue reading

Strawberry and Apricot Crisp

Strawberry and Apricot Crisp

I love fruit crisps. I love fruit in general, but something about cooking fruit and bringing out the natural sugars just makes it extra delicious. Usually we make crisps and pies all summer, but with peaches, apples, cherries, and blueberries. So when I saw this recipe for strawberries and apricots, two of my favorite fruits, I knew I had to try it. The only problem? Pine nuts! They are just way too expensive and I didn’t have any in my kitchen, so I changed up the recipe a little bit and came up with my own variation. The result? A shabbat dessert that we finished that night! Next time, I’m doubling the recipe. Continue reading

Hamud

Hamud by the Kosher Foodies

Hamud is a delicious lemony vegetable broth or sour sauce flavored with mint and filled with kibbe (haven’t heard of kibbe yet? Look at all the things you can do with it!). It’s a traditional Shabbat dish that we love eating on Friday night over rice. You see different families make it with different twists. Some people use citric acid, or sour salt to make theirs tart. I use fresh lemon juice. Continue reading

Asparagus Custard Tart

asparagus tart, by the kosher foodies

Spring is here! And spring means asparagus is in season. No more boring roasted or grilled asparagus, we’re going gourmet here. Now, gourmet doesn’t mean hard. Actually, while there are a few steps in this recipe (you should read it over once before actually attempting it – you’ll need to do a bit of juggling), it’s quite easy! and impressive looking. Feel free to use store-bought pie crust or even puff pastry, as in the original recipe.  Continue reading

Pierogis

pierogis!

A few weeks ago, I just got into my head that I should make pierogis. Not the Mrs. T’s kind, either. Real from scratch ones with sour cream in the dough and shallots in the potato stuffing. Now, I’ve never made pierogis before. I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I wanted some. And all I can say is that, if I can do these, you can, too! I pretty much made them on a whim and they turned out awesome.  Continue reading

Sweet Glazed Corned Beef

IMG_4702

Corned beef is really quite easy to make. You basically put it in a pot with lots of water and watch it boil. It takes a long time (three + hours), but you don’t actually have to do anything…unless you’re doing the corning by yourself, but that’s a different story. Continue reading

Kibbe!

…Finally!

Shabbat shalom! In honor of this wonderful shabbat, we’re sharing a our kibbe recipe with you, as well as what I think are pretty good directions on how to shape them. I tried taking a video, but let’s just say my phone got covered in oily meat and had to be wiped clean very carefully. Stephanie and I have been writing about kibbe for a long time now. We use it in recipes all the time. It’s a Friday night staple in the Blanco house, and it’s actually surprising if we don’t eat kibbe for Shabbat dinner.

IMG_4681

Well what is a kibbe, you ask? They’re really small meatballs. Meat-stuffed-meatballs. Continue reading

Happy Birthday + Maple Crunch Layer Cake

Happy birthday to Stephanie and Jessica! Yup, that’s right, it’s our birthday today!

side of cake

Today we turn 27 (or 54, if you add us together). And what better way to celebrate our birthday than an amazing maple cake? We’re not sure when the actual maple season is, but I think it’s a fallish flavor, and fall is ending right about now, so why not go with a maple cake? That, and I have been dying to make this cake ever since I got this cookbook.

Continue reading

Dinner Rolls

This is one of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever made. And they were really easy! I know a lot of people are scared of yeasted breads, but this one is so impressive when served to guests, especially if you’re making a dinner party, that you should really just try.

Plus, I adapted this hand-kneading recipe to use with a mixer so there’s hardly anything you need to do. I also made it pareve, since I ate it with a meaty stew. I’m sure it would be even more amazing with some melted butter on top, though I love the flavor of a good olive oil. Or, you can dress it up with some herbed oil.

Continue reading

Chocolate Caramel Slice

Even though we’re Jewish, it’s impossible to ignore all of the Halloween in the air! That means tons of candy and treats for the kids. For my kid, it’s homemade candy; so if you want to make a special homemade treat, give this recipe a try! And if you can find the correct sized tart pan, buy one for me. I’ll pay you back.

When I saw the photo of this candy/dessert in my friend Daniella’s Bon Appetit Desserts book, I KNEW I had to buy the book right away. And I did, thanks to the Amazon app on my iPhone. Then I bookmarked way too many desserts and put this one off for a little while. I’m glad I came back to it. It was actually quite easy, and I had all the ingredients in my pantry except for the sweetened condensed milk. That’s easy to find in the supermarket. Oh, golden syrup is great. If you don’t have it, you can use corn syrup, but I don’t like to use corn syrup. I find Lyle’s golden syrup in the regular supermarket, but if you can’t find it, try AmazonContinue reading