Month: October 2022

A mother-in-law remembered, through za’atar

There’s a jar in my kitchen, a small Mason jar filled with a Middle Eastern spice mixture called za’atar. There’s a story behind that jar, and I cherish its contents.  It was a gift from my mother-in-law, brought home from a trip to Israel. Joan was many things, among them […]

Za’atar

  Makes ½ cup ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds 2 tablespoons dried sumac (see note) 1 tablespoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon each marjoram and oregano Stir together the ingredients and keep tightly closed in a glass jar. Keeps for 3 months.  Note: Sumac is a dried ground berry with a […]

Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Pudding

Serves 6 ½ cup sugar ⅓ cup brown sugar ¼ cup cornstarch 1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon clove ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 3 cups whole milk (almond or soy milk works too) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup pumpkin puree Whipped cream, for serving In a […]

Sweet Potato Hash with Za’atar

Serves 4 Olive oil 1 small red onion, peeled and chopped 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes Kosher salt 2 tablespoons water 2 slices pastrami, cut ½-inch thick (ask a deli clerk to help with this) 1 tablespoon za’atar  4 fried eggs In a large skillet, heat […]

Za’atar Roasted Chicken

Serves 4 One 2.5 pound chicken, quartered Olive oil 1 rounded teaspoon kosher salt One lemon, sliced into thin rounds 2 heads garlic, tops sliced 2 tablespoons za’atar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (see note about cooking temperatures and times.) Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. […]

Apple Cinnamon Scones

Makes 8 scones 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 tablespoon cinnamon ½ cup raw or golden sugar (see note) 6 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter ½ medium tart apple, peeled ½ cup milk For topping: ¼ cup raw sugar Butter, for serving […]

End of Summer/Early Fall Salad

Makes four servings Olive oil 1 delicata squash, seeds removed and sliced 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 4 shallots, peeled and sliced 4 cups salad greens 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Kernels cut from two ears of steamed corn 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted […]

Shrimp with Garlic Sauce

4 appetizer servings 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 10 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 1 heaping teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 heaping teaspoon sweet Spanish paprika 1 lb. large wild caught shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on Juice of one lemon 1 small handful fresh flat leaf parsley Sea […]