Showing entries from: Jewish History and Culture

The Shiksa in the Kitchen explores the history of Jews in India, and a kosher vintage Jewish cookbook published in Calcutta in 1922. Read More

This authentic recipe for Rena Carasso’s Kourabiedes, aka Greek Butter Cookies, appears in the Holocaust Survivor Cookbook. Kosher, Dairy. Read More

How to make Ashkephardic cholent – kosher Jewish chamin with Ashkenazi and Sephardic flavor influences. Slow cooked meat stew. Kosher, meat. Read More

These healthy and yummy muffins include the Seven Species of the Torah – Wheat, Barley, Fig, Date, Pomegranate, Grape and Fig. Kosher, Pareve. Read More

Mandelbrot cookies are an Ashkenazi Jewish dessert dating back to the early nineteenth century. Mandelbrot are closely related to the Italian cookies known as biscotti, which were first made in the Middle Ages. The word mandelbrot means almond (mandel) and … Read More

How to make crispy, delicious Middle Eastern Falafel the traditional way with chickpeas and spices. Includes step-by-step photos and recipes. Read More

Learn to make Yemenite Chicken Soup and Yemenite Beef Soup with hawayej spice blend Read More

Learn the history of latkes, dating back to 13th century Italy. Includes recipe for Italian-style ricotta cheese latkes. Kosher, dairy, Hanukkah. Read More

As those of you who read my recent article for BlogHer.com know, I celebrated my first Hanukkah eight years ago. This was back before I converted to Judaism when I was really and truly a shiksa (aka a non-Jewish woman). I had studied … Read More

Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” begins this evening. Ask anybody who is not Jewish to name a Jewish holiday, and most people will say Hanukkah. The funny thing is, it’s not a super-important holiday in a Judaic … Read More

The dietary laws found in the Torah have influenced the way Jews eat since Biblical times. These laws, known as kashrut, are the Biblical mandates required for making food kosher, or ritually pure for Jewish consumption. The degree to which … Read More

Funny list: The 10 Commandments of Jewish cooking. Read More

Did the Jewish holiday of Sukkot inspire the first Thanksgiving? The Pilgrims may have borrowed the holiday from Sephardic Jews in Holland. Read More

What is Yom Kippur? Why do we fast and seek atonement? What is the deeper meaning of this Jewish holiday? Read More

Learn to make challah bread for Shabbat with this step-by-step recipe and discover the significance of this tasty Jewish bread. Kosher, Pareve. Read More

Learn to make roasted peppers stuffed with goat cheese, topped with sesame seeds and fresh herbs. Recipe, Kosher, Dairy, Healthy, Jewish. Read More

During our last few days in Paris (see Paris, Part 1 for the first half of the trip), we visited many of the obligatory tourist spots—the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, the Basilique Sacré-Coeur, the Louvre. We seemed to have a chronic … Read More

In honor of our upcoming Independence Day weekend, I’d like to share with you a piece of writing by Jewish poet Emma Lazarus (1849-1887). Her poem “The New Colossus” is engraved on the Statue of Liberty, which became the symbol … Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I took a business trip to New York City for all kinds of exciting Shiksa-related meetings. On the trip, I also made it my mission to explore the Manhattan Jewish deli scene. The history of … Read More

Learn the history of the Shavuot holiday, then celebrate the holiday with a rich and delicious New York-style cheesecake recipe. Kosher, Dairy. Read More