Feasting and Fasting: The History and Ethics of Jewish Food (#43)

Feasting and Fasting: The History and Ethics of Jewish Food (#43)

Nov 11, 2019 | Culture, Episodes, Food, Jewish, Podcast

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Guest: Dr. Aaron S. Gross

I couldn’t resist searching out more information on this new book Feasting and Fasting! I hope you’ll find my conversation with Dr. Aaron S. Gross, co-editor as intriguing as I did. The book delves into Jewish food as a key component to exploring our history, culture, politics, and more. I know it’s going to be my next book purchase. And Aaron offers us a 30% discount if you order your book directly through New York University Press. It comes out in December, just in time for Hanukkah!

 

Fall is for Foraging Mushrooms (#42)

Fall is for Foraging Mushrooms (#42)

Oct 26, 2019 | Culture, Episodes, Food, Jewish, Podcast

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Guest: Maxim D. Shrayer

Are you thinking about seasonal menus for fall? Don’t forget to include mushrooms on your search. After listening to my conversation with Maxim D. Shrayer you’ll find yourself hunting in your favorite grocery store for some not so common varieties to try. And do check out his new book: A Russian Immigrant: Three Novellas. You can find out more about Maxim and his book here: http://www.shrayer.com and http://www.shrayer.com/russimm.html.

SlipperyJack

Kasha Varnishkes-A Modernized Classic

Kasha Varnishkes-A Modernized Classic

Oct 6, 2019 | Culture, Food, Jewish, Recipe

Kasha Varnishkes-A Modernized Classic

  • 2 cups bowtie pasta
  • 1/2 oz dry porcini mushrooms (Don’t skip this ingredient)
  • 1/2 cup schmaltz or extra virgin olive oil (divided)
  • 1 large yellow onion (diced)
  • 1 large leek (sliced thinly)
  • 1/2 lb cremini or button mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 cup kasha (preferably coarse)
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
  1. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. While pasta is cooking, in a small bowl soak porcini mushrooms in 3/4 cup of warm water for 10 minutes until softened. Drain mushrooms, retaining the soaking water. Mince mushrooms and set aside.
  3. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 1/4 cup of schmaltz or oil. Add onions, leek, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Saute until well-browned.
  4. Add porcini mushrooms and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until garlic is fragrant and has softened. Add kasha, pepper, and thyme sprigs and cook for 3-5 minutes to toast the kasha. Stir in stock, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
  5. Add cooked pasta to the pan and stir together. Garnish with parsley.

Chef Laura says this is the perfect autumnal side dish for pre-Yom Kippur or break fast. It’s also great as a choice for a Sukkot meal.

Kasha is an earthly and fiber-filled grain. It is one of the oldest known food staples in Eastern European cuisine. Also known as buckwheat groats, kasha is popular with descendants of Ashkenazi and Yiddish-speaking Jews form Eastern Europe and Russia.

Booking groats with rich porcini mushrooms and fresh herbs updates the classic dish by adding deep, earthy flavor from mushrooms and by substituting vegetable stock for chicken stock. Everyone, including vegetarians will enjoy this rendition of European comfort food.

Jewish Food Through an Ethiopian Lens (#40)

Jewish Food Through an Ethiopian Lens (#40)

Sep 17, 2019 | Culture, Episodes, Food, Jewish, Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:12 — 51.1MB) | Embed

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Guest: Zenash and her granddaughter Nebbe

I’m at Ras Dashen, a wonderful cozy Ethiopian restaurant in my own neighborhood in Chicago. I’m talking with owner and chef Zenash and her granddaughter Nebbe. She tells an amazing story of how she comes to Chicago and starts her own restaurant. She’s one of the most passionate food people I’ve ever met. To say she puts her whole self into everything she prepares does not do her food or her story justice. I’m sure you’ll find her as engaging and endearing as I did.

Kosher Food Coming Your Way from the Balkans (#38)

Kosher Food Coming Your Way from the Balkans (#38)

Aug 11, 2019 | Culture, Episodes, Food, Jewish, Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:11 — 51.1MB) | Embed

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Guest: Rabbi Yisroel Finman

While on a dream vacation in Greece I got a call about a Kosher food company focused on bringing kosher food from the Balkans to the US and Israel and around the world. What a crazy coincidence. Once back home I decided to follow up on that call and bring that information back to you. There’s nothing like olives and wine from Greece experienced in Greece but the next best thing is to try some of that at your own kitchen table.