The weather is quickly turning cooler and the days are getting shorter. It’s hard to believe that fall is finally here. When my children were young, they loved to go apple-picking, bringing home bagfuls of apples to use in all sorts of ways. There’s nothing like eating a crisp, juicy apple right off the tree.

Summer is rapidly drawing to a close and the High Holidays are quickly approaching. The usual question on everyone’s mind is what to prepare for their holiday table and what can be prepared in advance in frozen. When I asked some of my foodie-friends for their tried and true holiday dishes, I received several recipes

I love berries of all sorts, but blueberries are my absolute favorite. Blueberries are considered a “super-food” because of their health benefits. They’re packed with phytonutrients, anthocyanins and other gigantic words that are used to describe the small, but mighty blueberry. But the best thing about blueberries is their fabulous flavor and the special memories

Shavuot is the festival that commemorates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is customary to eat dairy dishes, especially sweet ones such as cheese blintzes and cheesecakes, which symbolize the sweetness of the Torah. Blintzes are a traditional treat because they also represent the shape of the Torah. Other traditional dairy dishes

Everyone is familiar with the Four Questions asked at the Seder, but here is the big question that is on most people’s minds before the Seder: “How do I use up all that chametz in my kitchen so I don’t have to throw it out?” When you realize that Pesach is just around the corner,

If you feel like a basket case as Purim approaches and are searching for interesting items for your shaloach manot gift baskets, read on! You’ll find lots of tasty treats that are sure to please family and friends. Your baskets will runneth over! The best-known treat for Purim is hamantaschen, those scrumptious three-cornered pastries shaped

On the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar, we celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees. This year Tu B’Shevat falls on Shabbat, February 3rd. It is customary to eat fruits and nuts, particularly those associated with Israel. One should try to eat at least one fruit which they have not eaten

When the days are short and the long, cold nights descend early, the Festival of Chanukah arrives. This year Chanukah begins on Friday evening, December 15th. The flickering lights of the Chanukah menorah (chanukiah) will join the lights of the Shabbos candles. Once again we recall the miracle that took place over 2,000 years ago,

James Wolfe is the coordinator of a celebration called Basserfest, which takes place each fall in Washington Heights, New York. Basserfest first started at Columbia University in 1998. The word “basser” is the Hebrew word for “meat.” Shuey (Josh) Fogel and a group of 12 to 15 male university students decided to commemorate Parshat Noach

Each person has their own special memories of Sukkot, but one of the most beautiful memories I’ve ever heard was shared by my assistant Shelley Sefton. The first time she met her husband Daniel’s parents was on the first night of Sukkot. After dinner, Daniel asked his mother for her opinion of Shelley. His mother