Jewish Holiday Food Archives - Page 2 of 4

Chinese Food on Christmas

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The custom apparently started in Manhattan, around the turn of the last century. Immigrant Jewish and Chinese neighbors did not share in the celebration of Christmas with other New Yorkers. So it seems that Jews were grateful to find Chinese restaurants were open on a holiday when all other restaurants were closed…

OK, fast forward to today. Jewish people eating Chinese food on Christmas has become an American tradition. It’s become part of the holiday spirit. And nobody’s kvetching.

Christmas Menu

Soup Dumplings

Roast Duck Two Ways

Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles

Stir-Fry Vegetables

Three Sauces

Chinese Food at Home

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Lokshen Kugel (baked noodle pudding)

Lokshen Kugel
(baked noodle pudding)

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Happy Hanukkah! We celebrated the first night of Hanukkah this year with a delicious family meal.

Fortunately, my brother Bill was passing through town this holiday, on his way back to The Philippines. Along with sister Paula and chef/brother-in-law Ron, we cooked up a fabulous celebratory meal. Kudos to Paula and Ron for preparing the best latkes, ever. And kudos to Bill for assembling the most delicious kugel.

Sending our family’s warmest wishes to you at Hanukkah. May you be blessed with joy, good health, good food, and peace.

Noodle Kugel Recipe

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Brisket, Horseradish Polenta

Brisket and Horseradish Polenta

Oven-Roasted, Super-Tender, Umami-Rich
Beef Brisket
With Horseradish Polenta

L’Shana Tova Tikatevu

May Your Name be Inscribed in The Book of Life
For a Good Year

My tried and true, tender and tasty, umami-rich, oven-roasted beef brisket has a new look for Rosh Hashanah and the celebration of the New Year 5783. The brisket recipe hasn’t changed much, but the presentation has…

This year our beloved brisket is paired with horseradish polenta. I know that spicy pungent horseradish is not for everyone but horseradish lovers will certainly swoon. Everyone else can enjoy it with traditional polenta and be just as happy.

After the brisket is cooked, I add carrots to the sauce for flavor, texture, and color and as another symbol of the holiday. To observe Rosh Hashanah, traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served. They symbolize sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

Brisket and Horseradish Polenta

Brisket and Horseradish Polenta Recipes

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Matzoh Ball Soup, Vietnamese Flavors

Matzoh Ball Chicken Soup, Vietnamese Flavors (Pho)

Yes, of course, I still make my traditional matzoh balls… hundreds of them in fact. But I also like to mix it up a bit, and surprise my guests with some exotic flavors… such as my mysterious Saffron Matzoh Balls, super-flavorful Mexican Matzoh Balls, and the Thanksgiving/Hanukkah Poultry-Seasoned Turkey Matzoh Balls. Those fancy Fried Matzoh Balls from Passover 2021 were an outrageous hit, too.

This year the inspiration comes from Pho Ga, that fragrant herby Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup. Here, matzoh balls are subtly spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger and stand in for the rice noodles. The chicken broth is flavored with blackened onion and ginger, lemongrass, and star anise where the smoky-salty-sweet-umami layers are simply intoxicating.

Matzoh Ball Chicken Soup
Vietnamese Flavors Recipe

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Turkey Matzo Ball Soup

Turkey Soup with Poultry-Seasoned Matzo Balls
Egg Noodles, Peas, Carrots, Shredded Turkey

A blend of thyme, sage, black pepper, marjoram, rosemary and nutmeg – this traditional Thanksgiving seasoning adds a unique savory flavor to my Hanukkah matzoh balls.

When Hanukkah falls right after Thanksgiving on the calendar, a special opportunity arises. Here, we are merging the best flavors and recipes of both holidays…With this seasoning, the matzoh balls have a taste reminiscent of turkey!