An Enticing Podcast Celebrating Jewish Arts, Culture & History!
Our Latest Episode
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...
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
Sephardic Journey (#45)
Guests: Eugenia Moliner & Denis Azabagic I took a bit of a jaunt off topic to introduce you to the musicians of Cavatina Duo- the theme music for The Big Schmear. i think you'll enjoy meeting them and hearing about their story behind the music. I hope you enjoy...
Introducing the Aussie Gourmet (#44)
Guest: Naomi Nachman There is this iconic cafe in Skokie, IL. It's called Emma's and it's a favorite place for those wanting a great selection of Kosher food from bagels and lox to wraps and soups. And this is where I caught up with Naomi Nachman. Just off the plane...
Feasting and Fasting: The History and Ethics of Jewish Food (#43)
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...
Fall is for Foraging Mushrooms (#42)
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...
Holiday Fast Food (#41)
Guest: Chef Laura Frankel Chef Laura Frankel and I talk about holiday food prep and planning for Yom Kippur. She shares some great ideas that will be helpful for menu selection through break-the-fast. We even get a chance to talk about Chef's favorite holiday, Sukkot.
Jewish Food Through an Ethiopian Lens (#40)
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...
What’s Up with The Big Schmear? (#39)
A brief word from Beth Hi Fellow Big Schmear listeners! I can't believe the summer is coming to a close so soon and it's already time to start thinking about the holidays. AND, I've been doing just that. I've got some interesting episodes planned that I think you are...
Kosher Food Coming Your Way from the Balkans (#38)
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...
Our Latest Recipes
Grandmother’s Zchug
Grandmother’s Zchug Wet Ingredients 1 bunch coriander leaves 20 green chili peppers 1 head of garlic Dry Ingredients 1 Tbs salt 1 Tbsp. ground black pepper 1 Tbsp. ground cumin 1 Tbsp. cardamom Peel garlic cloves. Discard stems of green peppers. Place both in a food...
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins 1 cup unsweetened applesauce ¾ cup peanut butter powder ⅓ cup xylitol 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 3/4 cups oats Sugar free chocolate...
Over the Top Sufganiyot
You could serve Classic Sufganiyot, or you could take your Chanukah OOT (over the top) with this doughnut. Tart lemon curd filling and sweet meringue topping make these doughnuts into mini pies. Over the Top Sufganiyot INGREDIENTS DOUGH: • 1¼ cups coconut milk...
POTATO PANCAKES RECIPE: EASY LATKES
Nothing like the way our bubbies made latkes in the old country! These latkes are not loaded with potato starch, flour, baking powder or other non-essential ingredients. Jamie's grandfather shared this recipe with her when she told him that she thought his were the...
Matzo Brei Anytime!
Stephanie and I talked about Matzo Brei when it was Passover time but what I already knew was that Matzo Brei is great any time of year! Matzo Brei Anytime! For Basic Matzo Brei1-2 sheets of Matzo1 egg per sheet of MatzoPinch of SaltFor Sweet Matzo BreiButter (or...
Sweet Blintzes
Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz from their book The Gefilte Manifesto. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:2]
Joan Nathan’s Shtritzlach, Blueberry Buns
This recipe comes from King Solomon’s Table: a Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World, a cookbook by the James Beard Award-winning, much-loved cookbook author and authority Joan Nathan. Shtritzlach, Blueberry Buns 2 3/4 cups all-purpose...
Remembering Rice Pudding
This is Ina Pinkney's recipe. Ina opened Ina's Kitchen in 1991, and it quickly became Chicago's premier breakfast restaurant. She was also the chef/owner of INA's restaurant and The Dessert Kitchen Ltd. catering company. She has appeared on the Food Network's Sweet...