Kasha Pumpkin Pilaf with Shitake Mushrooms (Gluten Free)

My goal was to build a healthy and delicious grain bowl that was low-fat and filling. This combo of sweet pumpkin, sautéed crunchy cabbage and flavorful shitakes fits the bill. A good friend whose diet is gluten-free was dubious when I assured him that the kasha pilaf I'd brought to a temple pot luck was indeed gluten-free. Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat. Kasha comes from the buckwheat plant, which belongs to the same family as rhubarb. Though it looks and cooks like a grain, it's act
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Cooking Hacks & Recipes

Reform Judaism •

18 Easy-to-Make Jewish Comfort Foods

In her New York Times essay about cornbread and the solace that comfort food brings, Margaret Renkl describes the matriarchs in her family who survived wars and pandemics. “Whatever else is happening outside my windows, whatever struggles are still ahead,” she writes, “just the sight of that golden disk of battery goodness can make me feel a tiny bit better.” During this time of social isolation and physical distancing, cooking simple, comfort foods can serve as a welcome and calming distracti
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21 Jewish Recipes That Use Ingredients You Have at Home

People around the world are staying home right now as we try to "self-isolate" to help curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Whether you're an avid and experienced home cook or just using this time to try some new-to-you recipes, we've rounded up a list of our favorite Jewishly inspired dishes that call for main ingredients you may already have on hand. Get cookin' – and tag us on Facebook or Twitter to show us what you've made. If you have eggs… • Shakshuka: This Sephardic favorite, whic
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Air Fryer Potato Latkes

Interested in a healthier version of traditional deep-fried Hanukkah latkes (potato pancakes)? Meet the air fryer. These mini convection ovens work in a fraction of the time it takes to cook in a conventional oven. My dear cousin Michael sent me an air fryer for a recent birthday. Before I understood its capabilities, I reluctantly cleared countertop space for my new all-in-one air fryer-toaster oven. In fact, I learned that this appliance works by circulating hot air around foods at a high spe
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

9 Purim Cocktails for a Spirited Party!

Purim is a happy holiday that affirms Jewish survival and continuity throughout history. We’ve imagined what each character in the Book of Esther might have imbibed on such a happy occasion. Which cocktail resembles who you’d be in the Purim story? Find your drink, or try the whole M’gillah. L’chaim! • Add the mint leaves, the juice of half of a lime and simple syrup to a highball glass. • Muddle the ingredients in the glass. • Fill the glass halfway with ice, add rum, and stir. • Fill the rest
Reform Judaism •

Kasha Pumpkin Pilaf with Shitake Mushrooms (Gluten Free)

My goal was to build a healthy and delicious grain bowl that was low-fat and filling. This combo of sweet pumpkin, sautéed crunchy cabbage and flavorful shitakes fits the bill. A good friend whose diet is gluten-free was dubious when I assured him that the kasha pilaf I'd brought to a temple pot luck was indeed gluten-free. Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat. Kasha comes from the buckwheat plant, which belongs to the same family as rhubarb. Though it looks and cooks like a grain, it's act
Reform Judaism •

All Things Challah: 14 Recipes to Sweeten Shabbat - Plus, Helpful Hacks and More

At age 12, intrigued by the idea of baking challah, I chose the simplest recipe I could find in our temple’s cookbook; my venture into yeast-based baking was a lot more fun than any science project at school! These days, I remain a challah-baking enthusiast, but now I rely on an important challah hack, thanks to ReformJudaism.org’s food editor, Tina Wasserman, and my sister, Jan. Let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight, inside a plastic bag sprayed lightly inside with oil), then shape
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18 Israeli Recipes to Spice up Independence Day

As a stream of Israeli chefs continue to achieve renown in the food world – creating exciting new dishes and re-creating tried-and-true favorites – Israeli food has developed into one of the world’s most vibrant and eclectic cuisines, explains food expert Tina Wasserman. Even so, I’m a lover of hummus and pita, and in addition to trying the five varieties below, I enjoy creating my own flavors, including zesty lemon. If I’m rushed, I generally used canned chickpeas, but when I have time, I pres
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18 Jewish Recipes for a Picture-Perfect Picnic

What better way to celebrate warm, sunny days than a festive picnic? Whether you’re dining al fresco in July, which is National Picnic Month in the United States, or during the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, which is synonymous with outdoor bonfires and picnics, you’re sure to love these picnic-perfect recipes, all best served at room temperature (a.k.a. the temperature inside your picnic basket). Keep it simple! Pick one recipe from each category, pack a blanket, and go – but don’t forget to in
Reform Judaism •

18 Recipes for a Jewishly Inspired Independence Day Menu

Fire up the grill, Independence Day is coming! Add a little bit of Jewish flavor to your American celebration with one of these original, Jewish-inspired recipes from ReformJudaism.org. And if you’re not doing the cookout thing this Fourth of July, don’t worry: These recipes are a delicious delight all summer long. • Israeli Green Salad with Strawberries: Israel's Ramat Hasharon was once famous for its strawberry fields, though now only a few remain. This bright salad from Chef Orly Ziv highligh
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Apple Dapple Cake

A good friend found this recipe on a Jewish New Year handout from her daughter's preschool. The first time I tried the recipe – the afternoon of Erev Rosh HaShanah – the batter was so thick, I called her in a slight panic. She reassured me, explaining that it's an extremely thick batter that has to be spooned in clumps into the cake pan before baking. As it turns out, this is a dessert I can't resist, and admit to sampling the drippings from the caramel topping before the cake is served. Use fre
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Matzah Brei and Beyond: Recipes for a Festive Passover Brunch

Passover is the most celebrated Jewish holiday in America, with almost 90 percent of American Jews attending some sort of Passover gathering – which also makes it a great time to invite friends and family for brunch. Choose one or two dishes from each category below, send out the invites, and on the day of your fête, make things easier on yourself by setting up a self-serve buffet. Enjoy! Want even more Jewish recipes? If you love eating, cooking, browsing cookbooks, and taste-testing new reci
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9 Recipes to Indulge in Chameitz after Passover

Whether you observe seven or eight days of Passover and its dietary restrictions, get ready to indulge in chameitz (leavened foods) as it ends. Enjoy some of our favorite breads and desserts for breaking Passover this year – and b’tayavon! • None Chocolate Babka: This babka is so easy to make that baking it almost feels like cheating. You can bake the babka in a single loaf or in muffin tins for individual servings – and the leftovers make for excellent bread pudding or French toast. This babka
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13 Jewish Recipes for Summer Brunch

Summer days are fleeting. Why not seize the moment and celebrate summer by hosting a healthy and pretty brunch – with a Jewish twist? A few of our favorite brunch recipes are listed below. Kim Kushner’s smoked salmon frittata is really foolproof with her brainstorm to bake it in a springform pan (who knew?), and it takes literally minutes to make Tina Wasserman’s colorful beet hummus, using canned beets, chickpeas, and everyday spices you probably already have in your cabinet. Top it all off wi
Reform Judaism •

Horseradish

There's nothing like eating freshly-ground horseradish at the Passover seder to remember the bitterness of the Israelites' suffering under slavery. This recipe will bring a tear to your eye and possibly clear out clogged sinuses. Horseradish grew in my parent's backyard garden, and the beautiful leaves belied the strength of this ferocious bitter root. My dad would use a hand grinder to make it outdoors just a day before our seders, and my sisters and I would point to his tearing eyes, and rema