Cecilia was a ‘10’ on a scale of one to two. She had unmitigated primal passion. Her sexual appetite was unparalleled and horizontal. It was vertical and diagonal. When I suggested to Cecilia that we spend the Fourth of July in Hawaii, she responded by giving me a fireworks show in the bedroom that went on till daybreak.
After Cecilia made my night, I made travel plans. We would first go to Hanalei Bay on the North Shore of Kauai. Then to Maui – Kaanapali Beach and Hana.
As I was packing for the trip, the phone rang. It was Cecilia. She stammered and fumfered and did everything audibly possible without actually forming words.
“What’re you trying to tell me?” I asked repeatedly.
“I can’t go,” she finally said.
Holiday Goodies
Holiday Goodies
Goat Cheese with Cranberries & Pistachios
The festiveness of the holidays is upon us and it's time to make a plan of attack. What to serve? How to serve it? What I am bringing where? And how the heck am I going to feed all these people?
Anyway, I'm hardly the first one who thought of this but it's a staple around here during the holiday season. This is one of those great, quick appetizers you make in a moments notice. Stock your fridge with a few logs of goat cheese (it lasts a long time), some dried cranberries and shelled pistachios.
The sweet cranberries, salty nuts and earthy taste of the goat cheese are a great combination.
If you have unexpected guests, or have to work late before a party and don't want to show up empty handed...this is perfect. Also, if you have to travel a long way and need something to hold up in the car....this works well. Even if you have planned every detail down to the millisecond, this is still the perfect appetizer to put out for your guests.
Holiday Traditions
It’s not easy being Jewish during the Christmas season, especially if
you’re a kid. Chanukah is great, don’t get me wrong. Presents for eight
nights in a row. Lighting the candles and watching them flicker in the
menorah until they gradually fade away. And I’m a big fan of the latke.
But compared to Christmas? Really?
Imagine, then, what my son Luke had to contend with, growing up Jewish
and having an older brother who got to celebrate Chanukah and Christmas
while he celebrated only the Festival of Lights. And it was all my
fault. I married a non-Jew, had a son with him and got divorced. Then I
met my true love (Luke’s father) and created our modern nuclear family.
Three Jews and a mixed-breed (sorry, Craig), who marched in a Christmas
pageant at his father’s church wearing the robe of a king – the same
year he was deep in preparation for his bar mitzvah. Holiday time in
our household was always a bit fraught.
Whole Wheat Honey Cake
Fall always symbolizes new beginnings; fresh school supplies, cozy scarves, and the celebration of the Jewish New Year.
Traditionally, we eat apples and honey which represent a sweet new year. For the next 10 days I try to incorporate honey into most of what I cook. And lately, I have been turned onto raw honey and I am loving the results.
Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, a honey cake is a wonderful way to end any meal. Drizzle some chocolate glaze over the top and you will have your kids (as well as the spouse), begging for more.
Apple Fritters with Honey Syrup
Homemade, doughnuts and fritters are the absolute best. They far surpass any "donut" shop doughnuts. When I'm in the mood for doughnuts but don't have the patience to wait for dough to rise, I like to make fritters. They fulfill my craving as fast as I can fry them. Their crispy fried exterior and fluffy interior are what make them a favorite sweet treat for many people. A batch of fritters is very easy to put together and they are great for any occasion. But they make a special treat for Hanukkah, which is celebrated with fried foods like latkes and fritters.
The interesting thing about fritters is that you can find versions of them in many cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. Greeks have Loukoumades, which are balls of fried dough doused in honey syrup. The French have beignets. Italians have zeppole. In Spain and Latin America there are buñuelos. In India there are gulab jamun, balls soaked in spiced sugar syrup. In the United States you can find apple fritter rings, which look just like doughnuts. I'd like to think it possible that the original recipe for fritters made its way through all the different cultures, who then adapted it to their liking.
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