Challah

I have been making this particular recipe for over 35 years, since my daughter Shira was in pre-school and Rosa, one of the Moms, shared it with me. I used to make challah fairly regularly when the kids were growing up, but then Norm started making it, and I pretty much stopped, other than for […]

Cinnamon Rolls

Over the last few weeks, there has been a noticeable shift in my approach to cooking.  Growing up, after having a day or two of leftovers my Mom would toss them out and declare she had eaten enough bad food in her life.  She didn’t repurpose food, she never froze leftovers, frugality was not part […]

Ribollita

It is the fourth day of Chanukah and, for Los Angeles, it is cold, gray and dreary.  I decided that instead of latkes, I’ll make soup.  One of those hearty filling soups that only needs a good piece of bread to go with it,  and a glass of red wine. I first tasted this dish […]

Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup

Last month we went to Philadelphia for a family wedding.  It was not only great to be there for Beth and Zach, but it was also a reunion of the remaining first cousins of the Graf family.  There were six of us present (including myself and my sister) and after the wedding weekend, five of […]

Harissa

After almost 50 years in the workforce I am finally retiring.  People having been asking how I’ll fill my time, and that is yet to be seen.  I hope to pursue some of the things I have missed, like gardening, having more time to read, taking some trips, seeing friends, and taking better care of […]

Blueberry Cornmeal Cake

There are so many things that I love about summer, one of them is blueberries.  More than any other fruit, you pretty much can find them in my fridge all summer long. Another is eating outside. As an adult I have discovered how much I love eating outdoors, with the long summer days and warm weather, […]

Cod Fish Cakes

It is 2:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur is quickly approaching, never an easy day, physically or emotionally.  But each year, just days before, I wait in anticipation for this small thing that has become as much a part of my ritual as many other small things that I focus on as the holiday approaches.  I […]