Category: Side Dishes
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Yerushalmi Kugel Reinvented
I reinvented the Yerushalmi Kugel recipe. It is now simpler. It does not use margarine. And, it looks like a challah.
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Heimeshe Farfel
When he was younger, Aaron used to love to visit Bubby and Zaidy in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. While he enjoyed spending time with his grandparents, he was excited by the fact that there was nearly a dozen places where he could buy prepared farfel within a short radius of Bubby and Zaidy’s home. That meant something back then.
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Pesach Onion Kugel
I absolutely love a challenge! In a comment on my Simply Amazing Onion Kugel, Pearl asked about adjusting this simple and delicious recipe to Pesach (Passover) cooking. I worked on making this recipe suitable for Pesach and my family contends that this recipe is even better than the original.
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Out of the Bowl Tiered Salad
Who says that salad must be served in a salad and tossed? Today’s salad is about layering a gorgeous vessel with different vegetables and toppings. Its effortless simplicity achieves an elegance that highlights the colorful and flavorful vegetables themselves.
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Simple 10-Minute Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach pairs so well with deli, meat, fish and just about every protein. It is a favorite at steakhouses and delicatessens. The bright green wilted spinach takes only minutes to prepare and its creamy texture and fresh flavor tantalize the eye and the palate. This classic recipe can be easily prepared with soy or…
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Simply Amazing Onion Kugel
My life is rather like a “Chopped” competition. After all, so many of my favorite recipes are developed using the ingredients on hand, keeping the preparation quick and transforming simple ingredients into something more than the sum of the parts. Most often, my time is limited so I am racing the clock just like the…
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Abracadabra Potato Kugel
I have been preparing potato kugel for as long as I remember and most kugels share similar ingredients. I have two potato kugel recipes on this blog (Davida’s Awesome Potato Kugel, Simply the Best Potato Kugel Ever and ) and they are both delicious, but rather similar. There just doesn’t seem to be much new in…
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Fan Potatoes and Family Memories
When I was young, I vividly remember my mother preparing fan potatoes. She did not serve them often. They were a rare treat. I can picture in my mind how the potatoes fanned out and how delicious they were: crisp on the outside. soft and buttery on the inside. The fins of each fan potato created pockets of…
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Perfectly Roasted and Seasoned Bok Choy
Bok choy is one of our favorite ingredients in leafy salads. It is a powerhouse of nutrition, and has a signature taste and bold texture, making it the perfect ingredient for salads that are dressed in advance. I have incorporated it into a number of salads already highlighted on the blog (see Simple, Colorful and Crunchy…
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Simple Superstar Roasted Onions
Onions are the ultimate team player. They are used to start soups and sautes, taking very little credit for the impactful favor that they impart. They are sprinkled atop salads or roasts, adding spiciness and satisfying juiciness wherever they are used. They are the utility player that can be used here or there, always…
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Chana’s Low-Carb Broccoli Kugel
Last Shabbos, we hosted my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and niece for Shabbos. We always look forward to their visits. Yisroel and Chana are some of my favorite guests, so helpful and appreciative. We had a wonderful Shabbos, sharing divrei torah (words of Torah) and my father-in-law’s a’h favorite zemiros (Shabbos melodies) at our Shabbos table. Don…
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Davida’s Awesome Potato Kugel
It is so wonderful to have Davida back from Israel. The house is a more joyful abode and Davida and her friends fill our house with laughter, music and good food. No matter how chaotic things are, Davida seems to have just the right lighthearted joke and is always willing and able to prepare delicious…
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Watermelon Jicama Salad
A few weeks ago, we had very hot weather on Shabbos. It was one of those weeks that boasted a potpourri of weather patterns. We had rain, cold, overcast skies, bursts of sunshine and then a 40 degree rise in temperatures from Friday to Shabbos. We just did not have enough time for our bodies to…
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Firecracker Cauliflower
Every once in a while, I want to serve something that surprises everyone. Cauliflower is one of those side dishes that everyone enjoys and is simply good for you. When roasted, it has both delicious flavor and texture (see Rockstar Roasted Cauliflower). This week, I decided to wake everyone’s taste buds up by adding some heat…
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Zucchini Mushroom Kugel
Although I favor keeping my vegetables raw and simply prepared, this kugel has become one of my favorites. It highlights a simple list of fresh ingredients and this kugel is perfect for freezing in advance of a busy Yom Tov (holiday, lit: good day) like Pesach (Passover). Although zucchini squash has a high water content…
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Roasted Sweet Potato and Beet Salad
For our annual Purim seuda (festive meal), I decided to prepare a new salad. This salad took inspiration from a delicious battata (sweet potato) salad that I enjoyed at Cafe Greg in Rosh Pina in the Upper Galilee of Israel. It combined the delicious colors, flavors and textures of roasted sweet potatoes, candied almonds and shredded…
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Nutty Beet Pesto Pasta
There are certain new recipes that have the power to surprise and delight. This one is one of those awesome recipes. It is colorful and delicious and at the same time, it is simple and versatile. The smooth texture of the beets offsets the nutty texture of the almonds and the gorgeous pink color offers…
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Simplest Sesame Noodles
When looking for a pareve and delicious pasta dish, this is my go-to recipe. It started out as a Kosher by Design recipe and I have adapted and simplified it over the years. It is still a winner and the perfect pasta dish. To upgrade this dish in the simplest way, I use interesting pasta…
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Sweet Potato Butternut Squash Marigolds
A few weeks ago, I invited our new neighbors over for Shabbos lunch. I was tired of my tried and true recipes so I decided to combine the ingredients and techniques from a couple of my favorite SimpletoWow recipes. I really wasn’t sure how it would work out. Luckily, the end-product was a most pleasant and…
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Simple Carrot Cranberry Kugel
There are some recipes that don’t look beautiful but have that special blend of wholesome ingredients, delicious taste and perfect texture. This recipe is one of those. I have prepared it with a pound of fresh, frozen or canned carrots. I have prepared this recipe a loaf pan, in a pyrex pie dish, in individual ramekins…
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Sweet Potato Gratin with Shallots and Grapes
A gratin is a dish that is baked or broiled in a shallow dish and has a crispy upper crust. Traditionally, a gratin employs cheese and/or breadcrumbs to achieve that crispy crunchy crust. This recipe is my own pareve and low-carb version of a gratin. It is roasted and baked in a shallow dish. Oh, and…
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Sweet Potato Cupcake Toppers
Sweet potato is a simple and versatile ingredient that is available year-round. Even the humble sweet potato can be easily dressed up. Its gorgeous orange color, its sweet flavor and its creamy smooth texture make this recipe a masterpiece. I have called this recipe “sweet potato cupcake toppers” because the mashed sweet potato pipes so…
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Savta’s Sweet Potato Latkes
Savta loves to make latkes and kugels. I vividly remember how delicious they were when we were growing up and Savta’s kugel and latkes have become a real delicacy for my children. This is Savta’s sweet potato latke recipe. It is perfect. INGREDIENTS 4 medium red potatoes, peeled 1-2 onions, peeled 1 sweet potato…
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Leah’s Parsnip Latkes
Leah has been in charge of preparing Sunday night’s dinner. Leah has a taste and flair for interesting vegetable combinations. Delegating the responsibility of preparing dinner frees me and gives others a renewed appreciation for all that dinner preparation entails. Best of all, it introduces all of us, the diners, to the cook’s creativity…
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Simple Rutabaga and Celery Saute
For me, one of the most exciting things about this blog is the introduction of new ingredients to myself and my readers. It is really about extending one’s comfort zone and affording new ingredients a chance to shine. For some, it is about exploring new ingredients. For others, it is about using old-hat ingredients in…
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Rockstar Roasted Cauliflower
Last week, I roasted cauliflower as a weekday side dish. It is one of our favorite sides and it is the perfect accompaniment for most any main dish. I have served it with all types of fish, poultry and meat. It is always a star side dish, so well received at my table. But, at…
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Thanksgiving Quinoa Salad
Thanksgiving celebrates the bounty of the harvest. Giving thanks is central to Judaism and offering thanks for agricultural success (Bekurim: First Fruits from Hollister) is an important Jewish theme. Traditionally, foods like cranberry, almonds and corn are included in the American Thanksgiving celebration. This salad celebrates the breadth of so many delicious salad ingredients, some old,…
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Kohlrabi Confetti Salad
We are in Israel for Sukkos and kohlrabi is plentiful here. It is sold in the Machane Yehuda shuk (market) and in fruit stands throughout the country. In the past, I have used kohlrabi in soups and have cooked it in a myriad of ways. Today, I prepared a shredded salad for dinner in the…
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Colorful Confetti Cabbage
Cabbage is one of those under-rated ingredients. It is available year-round, is low-carb and can be delicious in a saute or salad. This recipe is one that I prepare often and one that my family really enjoys. It is a simple recipe that started out as a mistake… Before one of the holidays, I had…
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Warm Zucchini-Mushroom Salad with Almonds and Sunflower Seeds
A warm salad can both accommodate our low-carb diet and satisfy our hearty side dish craving in a way that a cold salad never can. This salad starts with a cold base of chopped romaine lettuce and is topped with a warm saute of onions, zucchini, mushrooms, slivered almonds and sunflower seeds. The combination of salad…
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Farro: A Simple, Ancient and Fabulous Grain
I walk most days with my friend, Linda. Linda is a wealth of information and I always learn so much from her on our walks. We often share recipes, tips and plating ideas. A few weeks ago, Linda asked if I ever prepared farro. As I never had prepared farro, she offered to drop off a bag…