Almond Baklava

While not technically one of the seven species, almonds (shaked in Hebrew) have become a sort of unofficial eighth species due to their close association with Tu B’Shvat. Almond trees grow all over Israel today and they tend to bloom right around the time that Tu B’Shvat usually occurs. Look for cardamom in your spice…

Rasberry squares

Ingredients 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ¼ cups quick cooking oats 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup light brown sugar ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped pecans 1 and ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened 1 cup rasberry preserves Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 inch square…

Perfect Brownies

*I realize that brownies are by no means a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean tradition.  I’m not even going to feign a connection.  However, I feel compelled to share with you this brownie recipe from my America’s Test Kitchen cookbook.  Brownies and pecan pie are my go to desert for company and so I’m always looking for…

Caramel apple crisp

Ingredients Apple Filling: 5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin ½ cup white sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ cup water Crumble: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup quick cooking oats 1 cup butter, softened and cut into pieces Caramel Sauce: 1 ½…

Honey Cake

Ingredients 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cloves 3 large eggs 1 cup honey 1 cup sugar 1 cup vegetable oil ½ cup brewed coffee ¼ cup water Directions 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a bundt pan or loaf pans. 2) In a…

Banana Nut Torte

With the close of Passover, I imagine by now you have restocked your pantry with flour, baking soda, and your other baking needs.  I eat my fair share of chocolate covered matzah during Passover but I’m still ready for a nice baked desert once the season of unleavened bread is over.  If you love bananas…

Easy strawberry mousse

Ingredients 10 ounce package of frozen strawberries, unsweetened 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 teaspoon lemon juice Directions 1) Mix all ingredients in a blender and freeze. *Recipe by Shelley Neese, vice president of The Jerusalem Connection. Click here for her articles and videos.

Hamantashen

*The hamantashen is the classic purim cookie, served in every classroom party across Israel.  In theory, the idea of the cookie is a little gross.  The cookie’s three-cornered shape represents Haman’s clipped ears.   Move past the fact that a poppy-seed filling seems like the ear hair (YIKES) and these cookies are a wonderful treat and a fun activity for Purim. …

Purim Hamantashen

Ingredients 5 cups flour, sifted 1 cup sugar 1 cup oil 4 eggs 2 teaspoons baking powder pinch of salt 1/4 cup orange juice Filling: any flavor pie filling, preserves, jam Directions 1) Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. 2) Refrigerate the dough for several hours. 3) Roll out the dough on floured pastry…