Foods High In Iron

T F Got leeks and don't know what to do with them? Make these fabulous Sephardic leek patties.  If you are a reader of my blog, you may have remember that my husband is from the Middle East, and that some of their Jewish holiday customs differ from those of Jews from Eastern European descent like me. Middle Eastern Jews ( Mizrahi Jews) make a small "Seder" plate for the Rosh Hashanah ( the Jewish New Year ) dinner and use a variety of foods that take on a symbolic meaning to wish in a good new year! Leek patties are one of those symbolic foods ! They are simple to make and everyone looks forward to eating them. It is an easy gluten free vegetarian recipe that requires chopping up leeks. These chopped leeks symbolically represent  chopping up our bad habits so we can make positive changes in our lifestyle. (Ok, the original meaning was that our enemies should be chopped up and far away from us - but we have evolved.) There are as many variations for Sephardic Leek Patties ...

It's Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and my holiday menu includes both Jewish Eastern European traditional recipes and Jewish Sephardic or Mizrahi traditional recipes that I have changed to meet vegetarian and gluten free standards. My husband and I could be considered a mixed Jewish marriage; I am Ashkenzi ( of Eastern European descent)  and he is Sephardic/Mizrahi ( of Middle Eastern descent). Our Rosh Hashanah dinner menu reflects the rich traditions of both of our backgrounds. Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews ( Jews of Middle Eastern or Spanish origin)  celebrate the Jewish New Year dinner with a Rosh Hashanah ceremonial seder plate. Each food on the Seder plate has a special symbolic meaning assigned to it for the New Year. Some of these symbolic customs started as far back as 300 C.E. and were found in the writings of the Babylonian Talmud. Some of the symbolism comes from the meaning of the old Aramaic words. My husband's family ( with roots from Jerusalem, Egypt, Iraq an...

Sephardic Jews traditionally serve stuffed foods for Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)  like these delicious stuffed grape leaves. I use a simple vegan filling that is also gluten free. It seems like yesterday that I was on the picturesque coast of Greece, enjoying the scenery and the delicious food. One of my favorite Greek recipes is for  Stuffed Dolmades  or stuffed grape leaves. They are absolutely delicious but can be laborious to make until you have some practice making them. However, once you get the hang of rolling the grape leaves, you are good to go and will have one of the most delicious naturally gluten free appetizers or side dishes ever! My husband comes from a Middle Eastern/Greek/Turkish backgroun d, so stuffed grape leaves are a staple at all of our all of our holiday meals! My 91 year old mother in law ( Nona)  stuffs her grape leaves with meat and rice, my sister in law ( Danielle)  stuffs some of her grape leaves with meat and some with a vegan...

Do you love fresh beets? This beet and pomegranate salad is awesome and incorporates the fruits of the season. I'm making this fragrant recipe for my Rosh Hashanah meal tonight because pomegranates are a traditional fruit to eat on this holiday! I only cook fresh beets once in a while . They are so good for you, so delicious, and so easy to make, I don't know why I don't make them more often. It might be because my husband will not touch a single bite of a beet, or maybe it's because of the way they stain my hands. Seriously, beets are very easy to cook . I just wash the beet well, I do not peel it, and I put it in a covered pot with one of those little steamer baskets. The beets steam in 15-20 minutes and once cooked the tough skin will just literally rub right off. I now wear gloves for the rub off  the skin and my hands do not get stained. I keep the gloves on to cut the beet and all is well. I can just imagine the nourishment from that deep purple /red pigment . Th...

                                 This Sunday night begins the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah                                                         which is the Jewish New Year.. For those who celebrate, let me wish you a happy and healthy new year with peace and happiness. For those of other faith's I wish you blessings of good health, happiness and peace as well:                                                    This is a great Youtube Video-                        Uplifting Song and Message for Rosh Hashanah                  ...