Challah is a bread Jews consume on the Sabbath and holidays and it is surrounded by folklore, tradition, and symbolism. Braided challahs with three, four, or six strands are the most common. And because the braids look like arms intertwined, many people believe that they represent love. Noah’s Bar Mitzvah This is Noah’s favorite challah […]

I will always be a Badger. UW-Madison was an amazing place to go to school. It was beyond cold, but that aside, it is an incredible school. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded when Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848, UW–Madison is the official state university of Wisconsin […]

The first thing my boys said to me when I made Easter bread for the first time, was; why the heck are you baking Easter eggs into the challah? Those, are Jewish kids for you. I had a good laugh, but in fairness to them, I get it. When you break it down, Easter bread […]

German Stollen, also called “Christstollen” has been around for nearly 700 years and is considered one of the most famous Christmas treats. Sweet breads and cakes flavored with candied fruits and nuts are perhaps the hallmark of the Christmas baking  season in many counties around of the world.  Examples of this include; fruitcakes which is traditional […]

There are several things that I loved about Denmark; the people, the casual lifestyle, the beautiful architecture and of course the food. Copenhagen itself was a city I had heard so much about and it undoubtedly did not disappoint. For one week, a couple years ago, my family and I immersed ourselves in all that […]

I’m Jewish, but I was born Christian. I’ve blogged about this before. The short story is, I converted years ago when I got married. Growing up, my family was not really religious at all, but we celebrated the major Christian holidays, mainly through food, family time and gifting. Easter was a favorite. I loved glazed […]

Bread, of all kinds, has been the internet darling during the COVID pandemic. I too fell into that rabbit hole. I have spent weeks perfecting the texture and crumb of each type of bread I tackled. This Dutch oven bread, also called no-knead bread, is one of the first easy breads I took on. This […]

Let’s call this for what it is, absolutely incredible. Seriously, I can’t take how delicious (or stunning) this braised cocoa and peanut butter brioche is. This is not my recipe, this amazing recipe is from the magazine Bake from Scratch and it is a killer one. The moment I saw it, I had to make […]

My life was forever changed the first time I tried Japanese milk bread. I’m totally serious, there is nothing truly like it. Pillowy is the word that comes to mind really. I’ve made many breads in my lifetime, but Japanese milk bread is in a category of its own and a worthy try if you […]

Homemade buttermilk biscuits are a true weakness of mine. But biscuits, I’ve learned, are an incredibly personal thing. Those who love them, have strong options, and I totally get that. Historically, biscuits were considered a delicacy and so revered, in the pre-Civil War South, that they were typically reserved only for Sunday night dinners. To […]

Sometime homemade is simply better, as is the case with pita bread. Be honest, you know exactly what I’m talking about. While store bought pita has its purpose, like when making homemade bread is not an option, but a lot is lost by sitting on the shelf. And that cardboard taste is real. I’m not […]

As a kid, I was never a big bread eater. Crackers, of almost any variety, were my go-to. There were however, a few breads I never said no to, and naan was one of them. Naan, the well-known Indian favorite is a flatbread typically made with a dry yeast, all-purpose flour, warm water, sugar, salt, […]

During the Christmas season, Americans enjoy decorated sugar cookies, the English have plum or Christmas pudding and the Italians have panettone, a sweet Milanese bread with hints of citrus, vanilla, and candied fruit. Panettone is a staple of Italian festivities dating back to the Middle Ages. Back then, people celebrated Christmas by replacing their traditional […]

I love living in California, but I will always consider myself a New Yorker at heart.  Why I’m Still A New Yorker I talk fast. Relaxing is challenging for me. 90% of things in my closet (clothing, shoes, and handbags) are black. Good restaurant service can make or break a restaurant experience for me. I […]

Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread product that is similar in style and texture to pizza dough. Crispy on the bottom, thanks to the generous amount of olive oil it is baked in, and soft, almost pillowy on top. This tasty savory bread is fantastic served by itself, but is versatile both in toppings and uses, […]