A Year of Reading

 

December 31, 2012 – A Year of Reading

One of the pleasures of this past year has been the additional time to read.  Maybe it’s unusual, but I’ve been keeping track of my reading since high school.  At first my list was in a little spiral notebook, then it was on index cards, and now I keep a spreadsheet on the computer.  Looking back over the list of the 31 books I read in 2012, I noticed that a certain thematic thread runs through many of them, both fiction and non-fiction.  Many deal with World War II, the Holocaust, and Holocaust survivors. 

Here are a few of the books I enjoyed this year:

Haven – by the amazing journalist Ruth Gruber.  Tells the story of a small number of refugees (less than 1,000) brought into the US during World War II and given haven in a former military camp in Oswego, NY.  It reveals how the US State department routinely suppressed cables coming from Europe that told of Hitler’s program to exterminate the entire Jewish population and the strong opposition to increasing immigration during this critical time period. 

American Dervish – by Akhtar Ayad.  A novel with a contemporary setting.  The main character is a Muslim American boy.  It deals with questions of identity and was a joy to read. 

The Sandcastle Girls – by Chris Bohjalian.  Fiction, but based on historical events, namely the Turkish attempt to exterminate the Armenians.  Set in what is now Syria around the time of World War I, when the area was still part of the Ottoman Empire. 

Honolulu – by Alan Brennert.  Historical fiction.  The setting is Hawaii in the late 19th/early 20^th century, and the focus is on the Korean immigrants. 

The Hare with Amber Eyes – by Edmund de Waal.  A beautifully written family memoir.  The author, who is an artist, tells his family history before, during, and after World War II, as he describes a netsuke collection that was passed down through generations. 

Raquela – by Ruth Gruber.  This is a biography of a woman whose family had lived in Jerusalem for 9 generations.  Through her life story, the author gives insight into conditions in Palestine in the years leading up to World War II, and the problems that followed the establishment of Israel. 

In the Garden of Beasts – by Erik Larson.  A great work of non-fiction.  Set in Berlin in the 1930s.  Through the eyes of the American ambassador and his daughter, we see the rise of Hitler and fascism in Germany. 

The Life of Objects – by Susanna Moore.  Fiction, dealing with World War II and the Holocaust.  Very moving.

On Gold Mountain – by Lisa See.  Another family memoir, set in China and California. American author Lisa See tells of her Chinese family members who immigrated to the U.S.  (She wrote Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.) 

The Chaperone – by Laura Moriarty.  Fiction set in the Roaring 20s, it recounts the story of film star Louise Brooks, told by the woman who accompanied her to New York City as her chaperone. 

I also enjoyed other novels, such as State of Wonder (Ann Patchett), Life of Pi (Yann Martel), and In the Kingdom of Men (Kim Barnes).  On a lighter note, I found Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential and Marcus Samuelsson’s Yes, Chef very entertaining.  Both are memoirs with lots of cooking and food. 

Happy reading in the new year!

Solo in the City

 

Friday, December 28, 2012 – Solo in the City

I’ve started making trips into DC on my own – something I haven’t done much in recent years – and I’ve discovered that it makes me feel young again.  There’s a thrill reminiscent of the feeling I had in my teens when I’d hop on the Long Island Railroad for the trip into New York City.  I’d walk around the streets, accountable to no one, not knowing what or whom I’d encounter.

Today’s plan was to attend a play at the DC JCC.  A few weeks earlier, I’d ordered a ticket for myself on impulse, without bothering to find a friend to accompany me.  (And the theater isn’t really close to a Metro station, so it would be hard for Elliott to attend.)  The sun was shining when I set out in the morning, but the temperatures were only in the 30s.  There’s nothing like a brisk walk in the bracing air to build up an appetite.  I got off the Metro at Farragut Square, walked diagonally across the park, stopping to gaze up at the statue of Farragut.  I’ve walked past this statue countless times, but today was the first time I’ve wondered about this Farragut character.  Unfortunately, there was no plaque with information about his significance.  Later, at home, I checked online and discovered that he is Admiral David Farragut, who served in the Union Navy during the Civil War.  He’s known for calling out, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"  Good to know.  

Admiral Farragut's statue in Farragut Square

Anyway, I was a little concerned about getting lunch since the play started at noon.  Would I find someplace to eat (someplace interesting and open early, that is) in the vicinity of the theater?  Fortunately, Café Luna on P Street opened at 10 a.m. and their pizza oven was already fired up when I walked in and ordered a pizza shortly before 11 a.m.  It was my first pizza in months, and it was a good one – crispy thin crust topped with spinach, mushrooms, and red peppers, plenty of cheese and lots of fresh garlic.  (I’m glad I found a Lindor chocolate truffle at the bottom of my bag to counter my garlic breath!)  I could only eat half the pizza, so I packed up the rest, just in case I got hungry at intermission time. 

Pizza at Café Luna

 

Apples from the Desert, a modern Israeli drama about the tensions between traditionally religious Sephardim and more secular Ashkenazi Israelis, is part of Theater J’sVoices from a Changing Middle East Festival.  I enjoyed the story and the performances, and the the Friday afternoon performance was surprisingly well-attended.  Who are all these people who don’t work during the day???

The play was over by 2 p.m., but I wasn’t in a hurry to get home.  I was enjoying my freedom and I wanted to linger in the city a bit longer.  I grazed my way back towards Farragut Square, stopping at Naan and Beyond, an Indian fast food place, for a veggie samosa (good) and a serving of Baingain Bharta (smoky eggplant, tomatoes, onions, tasty spices, but too much oil).  It was still relatively early when I finished up there, so I decided to be one of those coffee shop people – you know what I mean, people who sit for hours in a coffee shop with their electronic devices.  Except in my case, I didn’t have an electronic device with me.  However, I had a library book, so I went into Caribou Coffee, ordered a decaf cappuccino, and sat at a window table.  I lasted about 30 minutes before I got antsy and had to get up and move around.  How do those people sit there all day? 

At last, it was time to go home at last.  Of course, I was still carrying my leftover pizza in a carry-out container.  I really didn’t want to bring it back home with me.  I tried to give to a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk at the corner of 17^th and L, but he was only accepting cash donations.  I guess beggars CAN be choosers.  (sigh) 

The Case of the Unwelcome Leftovers

 

Friday, December 28, 2012 – The Case of the Unwelcome Leftovers

One of my ongoing domestic problems is overproduction in the kitchen.  Although it’s usually just the two of us eating at home, I tend to cook for a family of six.  Last night is a perfect example.  I tried a new recipe, Squash and Artichoke Paella, that had recently appeared in the Food section of The Washington Post.  It was part of the special Cooking for One column.  According to the author, the recipe made only 1-2 servings.  Since I had invited our friend Judy to join us for dinner, I decided I’d better increase the recipe.  At first, I was going to triple it, but at the last minute I decided to double it instead.  If there wasn’t enough to eat, I could always make an extra-big salad.  

Well, I shouldn’t have worried.  Doubling the recipe resulted in a lot more than 2-4 servings.  Even after Judy and I had second helpings (it was really delicious!), more than half the paella was left.  It is now sitting in my refrigerator.  I’ll serve it tonight, but after that, any remaining leftovers will be much less appealing.  I’ve given up trying to get Elliott to eat anything for more than two nights in a row.  Since the idea of throwing out perfectly good food goes against my upbringing and my values, I’ll end up picking at it the following day, eating a little directly from the container, while most of it will hover in the refrigerator, hiding behind a wall of ziplock bags stuffed with half lemons and limes and jars of pickles and peanut butter.  By the time I remember its existence, it will have grown some very interesting colors of mold. 

So, I’ve come up with two possible solutions to the leftover problem.  I can either cook in smaller quantities, or I can invite several people to dinner every night.  In either case, I’m looking forward to declaring my kitchen a Leftover-Free Zone in 2013. 

The Sunflower Cure

 

Thursday, December 27, 2012 – The Sunflower Cure

What comes to mind when you heard the word “sunflower?”  A field of tall golden flowers in the South of France, or perhaps a still-life by Vincent Van Gogh?   Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?  Well, if you can’t hop on a plane to Nice, I have another idea about how to brighten up a dreary winter day:  stop by the SunflowerRestaurant in Vienna, Virginia.  You’ll enjoy Asian-inspired vegetarian cuisine, and the cheery sunflower-themed décor will lift your spirits. 

I met my friend Lilia there for lunch today.  Each of us started with a mug of green tea with toasted brown rice to take the chill off this cold and blustery afternoon.  After studying the lengthy menu, which is full of intriguingly named entrees, such as Adventure of Tempeh Land, Orange Imagination, Crispy Happiness, and Zen of Greens, I ordered Golden Nugget.  The menu describes this dish as marinated yuba (bean curd skin) wrapped around shredded shiitake mushrooms, soy protein and bamboo shoots.  It’s served with sautéed napa cabbage, broccoli, bean thread noodles and shredded carrots, all in a tasty brown sauce.   I also tasted the dish my friend Lilia ordered, General Tso’s Magic, and I believe it would have satisfied the most committed carnivore.  

The Golden Nuggets dish was delicious.

General Tso's Magic (it's vegan but you'd never guess).

 

I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Sunflower.  The Lily Flower Soup sounded tempting.  Should I follow that with the Sunflower Forest, or perhaps the Mizuni Sansai Soba Noodles?  And I’ll try to save room for dessert so I can sample their avocado and lemon pie, which was highly recommended by another friend.  

 

A Touch of White

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 – A Touch of White

 

It wasn’t exactly a winter wonderland this morning, but there was a touch of white outside.  The backyard had just a dusting and the roads were mostly clear.  The weather reporter on TV was calling for a wintery mix, so we made a slight modification in plans, postponing our errands until afternoon.  In the meantime, I was content to stay inside for a few hours, all warm and cozy, especially since I had a refrigerator full of yesterday’s leftovers from China Star:  cucumbers with garlic; crystal shrimp; stir-fried Shanghai bok choy; and Elliott’s favorite chow mein.  That, along with a couple of crunchy bites of Pam’s homemade peanut brittle, made a perfect midday meal. 

After lunch, the precipitation was purely liquid, so I pulled on my shiny rubber boots and ventured out.  Elliott and I were able to accomplish a lot.  Most importantly, we finally chose floor tile for our first bathroom remodeling project.  I am a little (no, very) anxious about starting this work so I’ve been putting it off for months.  Of course, Elliott isn’t going to do the manual labor himself, although he’d like to.  His official title is project supervisor. 

On the drive home this afternoon, the rain was pounding against the windshield of the car with such tremendous force that it was a relief to get back inside.  And the day was so dark that I lit a candle when we sat down for our quatre-heures (afternoon snack) of plum tea and toasted julekake.   Staying warm and cozy is on the agenda for this evening.  

Embracing the Season

 

Monday, December 24, 2012 – Embracing the Season

Temperatures plummeting, winds whipping, skies whitening – I can’t deny it any longer.  Winter is here.  And since it’s not going to depart anytime soon, I’ve decided I might as well embrace the season.  So, no more complaints about the cold, the darkness, etc.  For the next few months, I love winter.  And here are some of the reasons:

It gives me a perfect excuse to stay inside.

I get more reading done.

Time to cook comfort food (soups, vegetable stews, veggie chili, etc.)

Time to heat up the kitchen by baking  (muffins, quick breads, cookies)

Cardinals look beautiful against the snow.

Oranges, grapefruit, and clementines are at their peak.

A crackling fire in the fireplace

I can wear all the interesting scarves I’ve knitted.

Smoother hair

No mosquitos

Candlelight all day long

Fewer people at the museums in DC

And the days are already starting to get longer!

 

Now that that’s settled, I’m ready to enjoy my winter break from school.  On Saturday, we celebrated my mother’s 87^th birthday with lunch at Red Lobster with a couple of her Greenspring friends.  She enjoyed her shrimp tacos and dessert sampler.   

Celebrating Katie's birthday

In the spirit of Christmas and friendship, Elliott and I attended a Sunday morning carol service at Fairfax United Methodist where friends Pam and Bud sing in the choir.  Then we spent a warm and cozy afternoon with dear friends Millicent and Andy (and their daughter, Taylor) at their home in Alexandria.  Our friendship dates back many years, to the time when we all lived in France.   

Taylor, Andy, and Millicent

with Marshall and Elliott

And today, Christmas Eve, I baked two loaves of julekake, the cardamom-scented Christmas bread, in honor of Elliott’s Norwegian heritage.  Marshall, who is traveling back to San Francisco today, will take one home with him.  

Two loaves of Norwegian "Julekake" cooling

Our plans for the 25^th include lunch at a Chinese restaurant with Matt – a Thompson family tradition.  We may go to a movie afterwards, or perhaps to the Fiddler on the Roof sing-along at the JCC.  Merry Christmas to all of my Christmas-celebrating friends and family members. 

Deja Vu at AHS

 

Saturday, December 22, 2012 – Déjà Vu at AHS

I’ve missed blogging so much.  These past few days of subbing have left me thoroughly exhausted, with no time at all to write down the thoughts going through my mind.  There was a sense of déjà vu, as I heard the alarm go off at 5 o’clock every morning.  Once I was out of bed, I fell into the old familiar routines – making oatmeal for breakfast, timing my drive to school so I could listen to Garrison Keillor read the day’s poem on the car radio, calling out good morning as I walked through the halls of AHS.  All that early-morning smiling felt wonderful, in fact.  And the days were fun, aside from the mad rush to get to the ladies room between classes and the winter pep rally in the gym.  Of course, I had to watch Frankenstein (the 1933 movie) three times, but I also got lots of reading done on my Kindle. 

The real problem began once the final bell rang at 2 pm, and I’m not talking about the challenge of getting out of the parking lot before the buses started rolling.  No, I’m talking about the post-school craving for a period of quiet, restful solitude; I didn’t want to talk to anyone, listen to anyone, or deal with anyone’s problems until I’d had a chance to recharge and replenish my physical and mental energy.  A nap, some reading time, a cup of tea would ideally be on the agenda. 

That wasn’t how these past few days worked out, however.  As usual, Elliott was so happy to see me when I got home that I didn’t even have a chance to take my coat off before he was trying to engage me in conversation.  And we’ve also had a houseguest, my stepson Marshall visiting from California, so I stepped into the role of hostess as soon as I walked into the house.  After running errands with “the boys,” cooking and cleaning up from dinner or spending an evening out at a restaurant, I couldn’t even fall into bed until well after 9 p.m. 

Ahh, but, the weekend is finally here – and the world didn’t end!  Just in case, we all went to a Mayan-themed end of world party last night at Pam and Bud’s house, complete with margaritas, sombreros, and a lavish buffet of Mexican food.  We enjoyed everything - taquitos, guacamole, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, tacos, Spanish rice, corn custard, frijoles refritos, salad, and Mexican cookies.  Notice the name tags?  Our names are written in Mayan glyphs. 

Here I am with one of our neighbors.

Bud makes delicious (and dangerous) margaritas.

Elliott thought the guacamole was a little too spicy to him!

Marshall, about to munch a taquito

Pam getting some help from one of the neighbors

 

The winter solstice occurred less than twenty-four hours ago, and the new season wasted no time transforming our weather.  By late Friday afternoon, frosty flakes were flying through the air on a biting wind, a portend of what’s likely to come our way in January and February.  While I was out buying paper for our annual holiday letter (late, as usual), I clutched my coat to my neck to keep out the vicious chill, and glanced up at the sky.  All day, it had been a painting in shades of gray.  Now, on this shortest day of the year, I was eager to get back home before the ominous darkness descended.  How many days until spring arrives?

Cooking in French

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 – Cooking in French

Today we celebrated twenty-nine years of marriage.  It’s hard to believe we’ve been married that long because it seems like just yesterday that Elliott and I were standing before a glowing fire at Tiger Lilies Restaurant on Beacon Hill, exchanging our wedding vows.  Since we met in Paris and moved to France soon after our wedding, our annual anniversary celebration usually has a French connection.  We could have gone out for lunch or dinner at one of the French restaurants in the area.  But instead, I found a better option this year:  I signed us up for a French cooking class.  And since it’s the winter holiday season, the theme of the class was Fete de Noel, which immediately brought to mind the beautifully decorated buches de Noel (yule logs) we used to see in our village bakery at Christmastime. 

So not long after breakfast, we packed up our aprons, containers, camera, and rubber gloves (for dishwashing) and headed over to class.  Under the guidance of our delightful instructor, Madame Gaston, we learned how to make not only the buche de Noel, but also a velvety chestnut soup and escargots with garlic butter.  That butter (with garlic, shallots, and parsley) was so delicious on French bread that I’d be happy skipping the escargots.  The buche was a bit time-consuming to make but I’m glad I learned some techniques for making the cake and the butter cream, which we flavored with Nutella and sweetened chestnut purée.  

Making garlic butter for the escargots

Our instructor, Madame Gaston

Elliott making the cake for the buche de Noel

The sweetened chestnut purée for the buche de Noel

A completed buche de Noel

Escargots are hiding under the garlic butter

Elliott sampling the buches de Noel

It was after 2 in the afternoon when we got back from the class, and we were both suffering from a serious case of butter overload.  I think the best remedy would be a spoonful of olive oil.  (I’d forgotten how much butter is used in classic French cuisine because most of my “French” cooking is really Provençal.)

Aida, with Popcorn

 

Sunday, December 15, 2012 – Aida, with Popcorn

You’ve probably heard the triumphal march from Act II of Verdi’s opera Aida.  It’s widely recognized because it’s so often used as a processional at graduation ceremonies.  In fact, I’ve heard it countless times at Annandale High School graduations.  Although I have no trouble humming the familiar melody, I’d never actually seen a production of the complete opera.  I had to rely on my imagination to conjure up the grand spectacle on stage with a cast of hundreds, elaborate costumes, and sets that convey the magnificence of ancient Egypt.  But as far as the story itself was concerned, I was pretty ignorant.  Then the MetropolitanOpera Company came to the rescue,

No, I did not rush up to New York City to catch yesterday’s performance of Aida at Lincoln Center.  However, I did the next best thing – I went to a local movie theater and watched the Met’s matinee performance via an HD simulcast presentation.  So instead of rubbing shoulders with impeccably dressed New Yorkers at the Opera House, I crowded into a local movie theater along with a casually-clad group of popcorn munching opera lovers. 

I had my usual problem, i.e. falling asleep as soon as the lights went out, so I missed a good bit of Act I.  However, I stayed awake enough to follow the action and to see that a classic love triangle is at the crux of the opera.  Aida, the former Ethiopian princess now enslaved by her Egyptian captors, and Amneris, the Egyptian pharaoh’s daughter, are both in love with the Egyptian warrior, Radames.

Of the singers in the principal roles, the only name I recognized was tenor Roberto Alagna, who sang the role of Radames.  The role of Aida was sung by the Ukranian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska, who made her Met debut just a few weeks ago.  She was a mesmerizing presence on stage, with a beautifully expressive voice, and totally convincing in the title role.  Amneris, Aida’s rival for the love of Radames, was sung by mezzo soprano Olga Borodina.  The acting skills of the cast brought the emotional impact of the opera to the fore. 

Since Aida is a Very Long Opera, there were two lengthy intermissions, which I put to good use as stretch and exercise breaks.  Two flights of stairs separated the theater itself from the entrance lobby so I scampered up the stairs, down the stairs, up the stairs, down the stairs, etc. until it was time to go back to my seat.  (I was a little surprised that no one seemed to notice this bizarre behavior – or maybe they just thought I was somewhat deranged and kept out of my way.) 

Seeing an opera this way is a great bargain.  For only $23, I was able to enjoy one of the world’s finest opera companies on stage.  And, thanks to the great camera work, I was able to get an up-close view of the costumes, makeup, and facial expressions that add so much to the opera experience.  In addition, the broadcast, hosted by opera superstar Renee Fleming, featured interviews with the principals and the conductor between acts, and showed the work going on backstage to make the production possible. 

Elliott wanted to join me but he knew that he’d be uncomfortable having to be upright for so many hours.  So he stayed at home, monitoring his pain level so he can give the doctor a report next week on the effectiveness of the most recent injections.  It seems that I’m becoming Elliott’s surrogate, i.e. going out and doing more and more on my own, then coming home and giving him all the details of what he missed.

After being out of the house for several hours on Saturday, it was a relief to be able to stay home on Sunday.  And knowing that I’ll be subbing four days this coming week, I designated this day as a day of domesticity.  In other words, it’s a day devoted to laundry, cooking, baking, straightening up around the house, reading and maybe even taking an afternoon nap.  So there’s no need to get dressed, and no need for makeup or contact lenses.  In fact, looking in mirrors is not allowed.

Celebrating 100 Years, 6 Months, and 18 Days

Friday, December 14, 2012 – Celebrating 100 Years, 6 Months, and 18 Days

We’ll take any excuse to celebrate.  Yesterday, Elliott turned 100 years, 6 months, and 18 days old.  That sounds like a good enough reason to go out for a special lunch.  Actually, it was a belated birthday celebration hosted by Andrea and Ken, our long-time brokers, who were disappointed that they weren’t able to come to the big party last May.  We all enjoyed a delicious meal at the Capital Grille in Tysons Corner.  Lobster roll and truffle Parmesan fries for Elliott, seared scallops and tricolored cauliflower for me.  And I insisted on ordering dessert, a deeply delicious slice of chocolate hazelnut cake that we all shared.  After all, you can’t have a birthday celebration without birthday cake!  

The happy birthday boy

Elliott and Ken

Robin and Andrea

The "birthday" cake

Earlier on Thursday, Elliott went back to the pain center for another round of treatment.  He’s been experiencing more severe pain as well as pain in new areas since early December, and we hope these latest injections in his back will bring some relief.  So far, in the first 24 hours after the facet joint injections, he reports a big improvement.  We’ll see how long it lasts.  The doctor mentioned additional treatment options depending on the results of the injections.  Pain management is tricky with this kind of condition (spinal stenosis).  Over the past year, we’ve learned more than we ever wanted to know about the effects of aging.

Speaking of aging, our elderly geezermobile (the 2001 Lincoln Town Car my mother used to drive when she lived in Texas) has been making some very unhappy sounds for the past few weeks.  I know next to nothing about car anatomy (despite 7^th grade science class) and I tried ignoring the sounds for a while, hoping they’d go away.  When even Elliott, with his hearing problem, noticed the sounds, I finally brought the car in to our mechanic who did a quick check and diagnosed the problem(s).  To fix everything, it needs new tie rods, ball joints, pitman arm, and idler arm – things I’ve never even heard of before.  In addition, the mechanic cautioned me not to drive the car any more than necessary.  Ugh.  Sometimes I wish I could just move back into the city and ditch the car altogether.  In the meantime, while we’re waiting for parts and repair work, I’m driving a rental car.  We’ve discussed buying another car to replace the Lincoln.  I know many people don’t keep cars as long as we do.  How many human years does 11 car years equal?  But it only has 85,000 miles and its engine is in good condition.  I’d feel like I was abandoning an elderly family member.   Any advice? 

Hummus, Shakshuka and More

 

Sunday, December 9, 2012 – Hummus, Shakshuka, and More

So, this is about food, specifically food that is enjoyed in Israel.  Let’s start with hummus since that’s an item you can always find in my refrigerator.  I can’t imagine a day going by without dipping some crackers or raw veggies into the tasty chickpea based mixture.  In fact, when I’m on vacation and can’t have my daily ration of hummus, I experience hummus withdrawal.  Currently, my hummus of choice is Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Hummus with the parsley, red pepper, and pine nuts on top. 

Just recently, I mentioned to Elisa that I used to make my own hummus because, thirty years ago, you couldn’t just walk into a supermarket and buy it ready-made.  I remember quite well dumping chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice into a blender (this was when I lived in Boston, before I had a food processor) and surprising my friends with the “exotic” flavors.  Times have certainly changed.  With hummus as prevalent as peanut butter in nearly every grocery store, I haven’t even thought about making my own.  Until Sunday, that is, when I spent a delightful afternoon at an Israeli cooking class organized by my Hadassah group.  For two hours, in the company of 22 Hadassah ladies, I chopped, stirred, and tasted my way through a typical Israeli meal.  Our instructor, Yael, chose a menu of tahini, hummus, eggplant salad, pita, shakshuka (more about that shortly), Israeli salad and halva.  

Yael, our Israeli cooking teacher

 

First of all, I learned the difference between raw (or naked) tahini and the kind that’s served as a dip or dressing.  The raw tahini, which you can buy in jars, is simply ground sesame seeds.  When you add lemon juice, garlic, salt and cold water, you turn it into a tangy sauce that you can drizzle on salads or cooked vegetables, or use as a dip for pita.  The raw tahini is also an important ingredient in hummus.  It took just a few minutes for us to whip up a batch of hummus in the food processor, and it was delicious.

Homemade hummus

While we were making the tahini sauce and the hummus, eggplants brushed with olive oil were roasting in the oven.  When they were tender, we scooped out the smoky flesh and mixed it with a little of our fresh tahini sauce for a delightful eggplant salad that we gobbled up with pita bread triangles.  The Israeli salad is a dish that I often make at home.  It’s a very simple mixture of chopped fresh vegetables (tomatoes, red onions, sweet peppers, cucumbers, carrots), fresh herbs (parsley, mint, cilantro are fine), extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  There are countless variations to this salad.  Just remember, if you make it yourself, not to combine the ingredients until just before serving.  

But the real revelation of the afternoon was shakshuka.  I don’t recall when I first heard of this dish of eggs poached in a bed of simmering tomatoes, onions, and red peppers.  I’ve read about restaurants in Israel that base their fame on their shakshuka.  Somehow, I missed it when I was in Israel many, many years ago.  Finally, I was able to remedy this lapse.  We sautéed the chopped up vegetables with garlic in olive oil and simmered them for a good half hour until we had a thick chunky sauce in the pan (and a mouth-watering aroma in the kitchen).  Then we dropped whole eggs into shallow depressions in the sauce and let the dish cook until the eggs were just set.  I wish I knew how to say delicious in Hebrew.  

Shakshuka, before the eggs have set

After sampling all of the good food we’d prepared, we nibbled on halva for dessert.  This sugary sesame seed paste brings back memories of my childhood.  When I was growing up on Long island, my mother would often buy a slab of it at the deli since it was one of my father’s favorite treats.  Looking around at the Hadassah group made me think especially of my mother.  Throughout her life, she devoted many volunteer hours to this women’s organization that supports a major hospital, medical research and other worthy programs in Israel.  Until a few years ago, she would have enjoyed this program very much, and I’m sad that she can no longer participate in such activities. 

Happy Hanukkah

 

Saturday, December 8, 2012 – Happy Hanukkah

 

For the first night of Hanukkah, Matt came over with a couple of friends, making it a very joyous occasion.  After we lit the first night candle in the menorah and said the Hebrew blessings, we explained the history of the holiday to his (non-Jewish) friends and the significance of eating food cooked in oil.  I made two kinds of latkes – the regular potato kind, and curried sweet potato pancakes, my personal favorite.  I found the recipe about four or five years ago in Joan Nathan’s excellent book, Jewish Cooking in America, and they instantly became a Hanukkah tradition in our family.  These tasty latkes are good with applesauce, cranberry relish, Greek yogurt, sour cream, or just plain.  I should have taken a photo of the platter piled high with the golden crispy pancakes.  Alas, they all disappeared before I could get my camera.

I was so happy that Matt loved the sweet potato latkes because his taste in food is still somewhat limited.  In fact, I think I’ll ask him to come back before Hanukkah is over so I can show him how to make them.  Another Hanukkah tradition is donuts, a stand-in for Israeli sufganiyot, small fried balls of dough filled with jelly. I don’t even attempt to make these at home so Matt brought over an assortment from Dunkin’ Donuts for our dessert.  After dinner, we all played the game of dreidl, but not for money.  It was a wonderful start to the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.  I just wish Elisa and Christian could have shared the holiday celebration with us.  I’ll have to cook some latkes for them the next time I go up to New York.   

Holiday Time in Boca

Thursday, December 6, 2012 – Holiday Time in Boca

Definitely not DC

Even with holiday lights in the palm trees, it’s hard to believe that it’s December.  Temperatures in the 70s when Hanukkah and Christmas are right around the corner?  I’m feeling a bit disoriented here in Boca Raton, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  It just reinforces the sense of being far from the DC area. 

It’s an interesting cultural experience.  I turned on the car radio to a Haitian station, yet in many ways, this part of Florida is reminiscent of Long Island, where I grew up.  Unlike in northern Virginia, you will find plenty of kosher-style delis around here.  Any time you feel like having a bowl of chicken soup with matzoh balls or a plate of blintzes, you’ll be able to satisfy your desire within a few minutes’ drive.  On Wednesday, I met up with some cousins from my mother’s generation at Ruven’s Deli in Delray Beach.  One look at the restaurant’s display case, with its array of sliced meats, fish, and salads, triggered a certain nostalgia for the foods of my childhood.    

While we studied the menu, the waitress set down one heaping bowl full of coleslaw and another one brimming with sour pickles.  Since I rarely eat meat, I wasn’t going to order a piled-high corned beef or pastrami sandwich on rye (although I briefly entertained the thought of getting a Reuben sandwich).  Cousins Sylvia and Shirley, both in their eighties, ordered identical lunches:  cold borscht with sour cream, and tongue sandwiches.  Yuck.  But I enjoyed the whitefish salad, a bowl of mushroom-barley soup and a few bites of a pickle.  And we all shared a plate of delicious rugelach for dessert.  

With cousin Sylvia at Ruven's Deli in Delray

Chilled borscht with sour cream and potatoes

Mmm - delicious rugelach

Not all of the food I ate during my visit was traditional Jewish food, however.  With Bryna, my aunt, I dined out at a Thai-Japanese restaurant and had an excellent Daimyo roll (tuna, salmon, hamachi, asparagus, avocado and roe).  And today, my last full day here in the Florida sun, Bryna and I treated ourselves to lunch at Seasons 52. I didn’t even have room for a mini-dessert by the time I finished up my arugula salad with portabella mushrooms, truffle oil vinaigrette, and Parmesan and the delightful autumn vegetarian sampler.  Perhaps I should explain that one of my goals here in Florida is to help Bryna put on a few pounds – without gaining any weight myself!  

Autumn vegetarian sampler at Seasons 52 in Boca

My aunt Bryna, stylish as ever, with Claudette

 

In order to maintain my weight, I’ve been trying to get some exercise everyday.  Friday morning I went out for an early nature walk.  Here’s my report:

Clouds – zero

Birds – 1 slender aquatic bird with a long narrow beak standing by the lake (a heron?); one zaftig (that’s Yiddish for quite plump) duck with a red face walking down the sidewalk; two white gulls flying high overhead

Palm trees – at least 300 (I had to stop counting)

Tennis players – a couple of dozen

Geckos – zero (do they sleep late?)

Humidity level – let’s just say that I call my new hairstyle the Florida-Fro

Elliott is managing just fine during my absence.  He was even invited over to have dinner with our neighbors (thank you, Pam and Bud).  When I spoke to him on the phone, it sounded like he was having a great time.  Maybe I should get away more often.