On the Chocolate Trail

Wherever Jews have lived, we have enjoyed fried doughs. They popped out of our ancient frying pans and much later they ‘made aliyah’ to the Holy Land from Poland filled with red jelly. Now they are the ubiquitous soufganiyot. But other Jewish communities have commemorated Hanukkah with variously named, distinctly shaped, regionally influenced, yeast risen

On the Bread Trail serves up explorations of heritage Jewish breads. Puffy yeast doughs, as expansive and mysterious as the survival of the Jewish people, mix with Jewish celebrations to yield surprising and diverse treats for all seasons. Feed your family and friends from the spirit and creativity of our ancestors through their migrations and

Chocolate chip cookies are on the menu at the Biden White House, part of its recipe for governing in 2021. Visitors to the Oval Office snag chocolate chip cookies wrapped with the Presidential seal. When first lady Jill Biden stopped at the U.S. Capitol immediately after the inauguration, she delivered baskets of chocolate chip cookies

It happened every Passover during my decades as a congregational rabbi. A curious small-print-reading synagogue member would ask why a recently purchased, certified for Passover, matzah box said: “CHALLAH IS TAKEN.” Odd. Everyone knows (and many complain) that leavened foods such as Shabbat challah are prohibited during the festival. Exacting requirements to prevent fermentation–from the

Ingredients:1 cup unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 3 large eggs* *1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5–6 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Instructions:Cut the butter into small pieces and put in a blender. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla, and blend well. Add the cocoa powder and blend well again. Put in a container and refrigerate. Serve