The Kitchen Guru

My father introduced me to good food, fine wines and opened my eyes to the delights of cooking.   He was diabetic ( not good about it !)  But at an early age I learnt to adapt recipes.  30 years ago today with my cousin Mark (a chef)  help,  we made my father an enormous surprise birthday party, sadly it turned out to be his last. Tomorrow my father would be 86 had he lived, after nearly 30 years I still  make meal  on his birthday ,in his memory, Tomorrow night four  friends and I will sit down  to this meal.  Cock-a-leekie soup  is a Scottish soup dish of leeks and chicken stock. one of his  favourite  soups Fresh garden herb stuffed slow  roasted  organic  chicken, the herbs  gathered  this morning pictured above,  he loved stuffing. Double Roasted Spiced Cauliflower Fritters his second  favourite   vegetable   Col...

The first time I had Polenta was back in 1975, when a friend made it for lunch dish, She made the polenta in a pot, then spread it into a baking tray, She then made a cheesy tomato sauce  throwing over before serving it sliced  like a pizza. I remember liking the meal but never attempting to copy it. However two years ago I rediscovered Polenta, and realized how easy it is to prepare how versatile  and cheap. I have kept the basic recipe dairy free , feel free to add cheese & butter but then remember its not parve. Basic Creamy Polenta.  serves 6 Ingredients 6 cups water 2 teaspoons salt 1 3/4 cups yellow corn meal 3 tablespoons Parve non dairy cheese its about 2 slices or i teaspoon nutritional yeast. Black pepper to taste. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy  bottomed large Pot. Add  the 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens this takes 12-15 minutes, ...

It’s Avocado season in Israel, yesterday the shuk was overflowing with them Avocados are very healthy, they contain many nutrients ,  they are easy to digest and  are adaptable. Here are just some of the reasons to include them into your diet. Natural Protein .Unlike the protein  in animal products, which is difficult for many  people to digest, avocado protein is readily absorbed by the body because avocados also contain fiber. Beneficial Fats Avocados provide the healthy kind of fat that your body needs. Like olive oil, avocados boost levels of HDL (the "good" cholesterol).This type of cholesterol also helps regulate triglyceride levels, preventing diabetes. Oleic acid is the primary fatty acid in avocadoes and this is known to prevent heart disease Anti-Inflammatory   Avocados ' unique combination of Vitamins C and E, carotenoids, selenium, zinc, phytosterols and omega-3 fatty acids helps guard against inflammation. This means avocados can help ...

Oats are full of health benefits, they lower blood cholesterol , and are meant to prevent arterial disease Eating oats can spread the rise in blood sugars over a longer time period.so they are an ideal slow burning food to provide constant energy. Oats, like other grains and vegetables, contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer Oats rich in soluble fibre can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, Oats have a high fibre content, which  is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats also contain melatonin and complex carbohydrates that can help more tryptophan get into the brain to help you sleep. It also contains vitamin B6,. which helps with nervous exhaustion and combating stress. Oats for beauty, Oats are a great base for home-made face masks ,It deep cleanses  pores clean and helps get rid of dead skin. Oats are it also is a smart choice for a bedtime snack. The Scott...

This is my bookcase , with its links from the past my grandmother aka Bubbah and my grandchildren the future. O ne of my earliest childhood memories  was of the smell of hot latkes  bubbling away on the stove at my grandmothers, She didn't just make latkes for Hanukkah, but also to go with salt beef (corned beef in the US) My Grandmother had no food processor, everything was hand made  freshly cooked and served to a delighted group  of loving and hungry grandchildren.  My job as the eldest grandchild was to  peel & grate the potatoes.( by hand) H ere is her recipe   to serve 4 hungry grandchildren 1 kilo  potatoes , she preferred  red skin, 2 large onions 1 large egg checked & beaten  25 grms /  1 oz/ 1-2 table spoons  fine matzo meal.(you can use flour) 1 -2 Teaspoons salt. Oil for frying. Vegetable oil Peel the potatoes and put them in cold wa...

Tonight as Shabbat went out my neighbours came and got me to light the menorah, we bundled up to go outside where they lit, sang and danced with pure joy on their faces,then we all retreated inside for the children to light, a long process as my neighbour had her husband all six children, two son in laws, six grandchildren and myself gathered in the lounge. We sat together and watched the lights flicker then  sang & danced. The children played dreidel, not the wooden ones, I remember from my and my sons childhood, but all singing all lights flashing all self spinning state of the arc dreidels.  Fortunately, some traditions stay the same, I thought to myself ,  as the fresh  piping hot latkas flowed. Every family has their own recipes and favourite dips or sides,  for Hanukkah.  I like apple sauce with my latkes, (I also prefer mine oven baked as I try to avoid extra calories at this ever so enjoyable, but oh so fattening time of the year)! ...

Yesterday I had to go to Jerusalem to medical appointments, I got a ride in and as I had time I decided to get off the light railway a stop early and grab a coffee in Mahane Yehuda Market (The Shuk, )It was a cold crisp December morning, and although it was way past 8 am it was still early for this are of Jerusalem. As I turned into the market the central street was packed with delivery trucks, vegetable & Fruit boxes, trolleys, as well as market workers who were scrambling over each other to set up their goods. Almost all my senses were assaulted all at once as the sounds sights& smells,of the shuk greeted me. The vivid colours, of the seasonal fruit, fresh ripe avocados, succulent strawberry's,and perfectly polished oranges, reminded me if I needed any reminding from the temperature of my hands that it was winter season. Sounds of horns honking while traders called out instructions and greeted each other battered my eardrums and woke me up. In the air I could s...

I am " The Kitchen Guru", I am an enthusiastic creative skilled cook & foodie who takes pleasure in producing nourishing healthy food using local seasonal ingredients I come from a culinary family and started cooking at her grandmother's knee, over half a century ago over the years her cooking style has evolved , specializes in recreating recipes to suit peoples special dietary needs I ,understand food, cooking on a budget,cooking for a family, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, diabetic,low cholesterol, gluten free, lactose free, salt free, weight reduction diets and menu planning. My mission is to To share my culinary knowledge to support people who are new to or nervous about cooking, menu planning, budgeting, people who are new to kosher catering, facing dietary restrictions,or new olim having to adapt to seasonal food stuffs and a different way of cooking. In this blog I will share Food & Nutrition news, recipes culinary events.