An Enticing Podcast Celebrating Jewish Arts, Culture & History!
Our Latest Episode
The Inside Story: Judaica at the MFA, Boston
It’s still fall! New England is in that in-between time; beautiful sunny days with temps going back and forth between unseasonably warm and yikes, it really will be winter soon.It’s on the ‘gonna get colder’ days that I think about my recent times at the Museum of...
Beth Schenker, Host & Executive Producer
The Big Schmear conversations are with prominent chefs, musicians, authors, visual artists and more talking about their passion for Jewish life.
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Our Episodes
Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah
Happy New Year! I hope your New Year celebration was meaningful and joyous. I'm looking forward to all the audio adventures we will be on together in 5785. I already have great guests on-board with stories to share that I know you'll enjoy. This brings me to our first...
Exploring Israeli Cinema
The Big Schmear is back and I'm happy to have you all here! I've had some time to think about the relevance of The Big Schmear while on a break and it's pretty clear to me that Jewish food continues to be a great connector for us all. And I plan to continue...
Yidstock 2022
I'm on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Through my conversation with Lisa Newman and Seth Rogovoy you'll learn about the Yiddish Book Center and Yidstock, The Festival of New Yiddish Music. I hope you enjoy this taste of Yiddish culture and...
The Everything Spice for Everyone
Guest: Chef Laura Frankel Need to spice up your meals? Here's an easy fix that can be used as your new basic 'everything spice' to change up, well everything: fish, chicken, french toast...it's limitless and so easy. And we have some recipes to share too. Let's close...
No Guilt Gelt – Just in Time for Hanukkah
Guest: Cheryl Rich Heisler If you are in the mood for fun this Hanukkah then you have to give this episode a listen. Helpful note: you may want to have your own cocktail at the ready. I've invited back mixologist Cheryl Rich Heisler to talk about cocktail ideas for...
Jews & Thanksgiving
Guest: Dr. Beth S. Wenger I decided to push the envelope a bit on this Thanksgiving holiday episode. I knew everyone would be stressed with holiday plans, menus and figuring out ways to celebrate the holiday despite all the compromises to put in place to be safe. I...
Woops…Avoiding Missteps in the Kitchen
Guest: Chef Laura Frankel Talking about kitchen safety isn't the sexiest of topics but I thought it would be a great review for all of us as we embark on holiday cooking - whatever that's going to look like this year. I always have fun chatting with Chef Laura who...
What’s Cooking for YOU on Friday Night?
Guest: Aliza Kline, CEO OneTable This episode is all about Shabbat. OneTable is an amazing organization that provides resources for everything it takes to prepare your meal. Their website includes so much valuable information; recipes, ideas for meal themes, cool ways...
Our Latest Recipes
Spicing it up with The Everything Spice
The Everything Spice + Everything Crackers 1/4 cup poppy seeds1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds (toast seeds in a dry pan over medium heat)2 tbsp dried garlic flakes (not garlic salt)2 tbsp dried onion flakes (not onion salt)1 tbsp coarse sea salt1 tsp crushed chili...
No Guilt Gelt
No Guilt Gelt 2 oz Potato Vodka.5 oz Chocolate Liqueur.5 oz Coffee LiqueurSugar, whipped cream, chocolate coin (for garnish) Wet rim of coupe glass and roll in sugar to coat. Add liquid ingredients and ice to cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into sugared glass. Add...
Skillet Veggie Pasta
Skillet Veggie Pasta 2 cups uncooked penne or corkscrew pasta1 cup frozen broccoli1 cup frozen sliced mushrooms3 tbsps olive oil3 cloves garlic (finely diced)1 sm yellow onion (chopped)1 jar marinara sauce2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)1/2 tsp Maldon salt1 tsp...
Roast Chicken with Thyme and Honey PLUS Leah’s Apple Schalet
Thank you to LA Times for Recipe Photos Roast Chicken with Thyme and Honey 3 Parsnips - medium size (peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces)3 Carrots - medium size (peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces)2 Onions - small (each cut into 8...
A Little Taste of Heaven
A Little Taste of Heaven 1.5 oz Heaven's Door (or your best bourbon)3.0 oz Tart Cherry Juice1 Lime Wedge Lime Seltzer (optional)1 Lime Wheel Mix Bourbon and Tart Cherry Juice in a rocks glass over your biggest ice cube. Squeeze in Lime Wedge; discard. Top...
Ukranian Chicken Liver Pie
Ukrainian Chicken Liver Pie (Pechinkoviy Tort) Photo Credit: Max Avdeev INGREDIENTS 1 lb. chicken livers, cleaned and rinsed 1 medium Onion 4 large eggs 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. corn or sunflower oil, plus more for greasing 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 2 tsp. kosher...
Black and White Cookies
Black and White Cookies For the Cookies1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour1/2 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp salt1 tsp pure vanilla extract1/4 cup whole milk1 tsp fresh lemon juice6 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)1/2 cup granulated sugar1 large egg (room...
Cholent
Cholent 3 large red potatoes1/2 lb. white malanga1/2 lb. yuca2 onions (chopped)2 1/2 lbs beef brisket (cut into chunks)1 cup dried beans (white beans, pinto, chickpeas, red beans)1/2 cup kasha3 whole garlic cloves28 oz can crushed tomatoes1/2 tsp black pepper1...