IN My Kitchen April 2026

It's the beginning of a new month, and I'm joining Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for her monthly blog share of IN MY KITCHEN where anyone can join in the fun and share what's doing in their kitchen. 

I have 2 new decorative plates for display in my kitchen and probably use them for serving at parties.  

A friend came for dinner and gave me this stylish and useful tiled trivet that she brought back from her recent trip to Morocco.

I've been spring cleaning and de-cluttering all my kitchen cabinets and organizing them. This is my spice cabinet and some storage. I got rid of any expired spices or spices from companies with high lead and cadmium levels ( I checked online with Consumer Reports). 

I could not resist this beautiful colorful bowl and spoon that I saw at Homegoods! I believe it is supposed to be noodle soup bowl . 

I've been in the mood for green beans lately and have enjoyed making them in various ways. 

My husband got himself a jar of Italian peach jelly/jam? 

It's Passover, so I have a box of gluten-free matzoh .. 

I call this mud soup but it was actually a delicious black bean soup with avocado and lots of fresh lime. 

I picked up sone starfruit and cut it up for dessert one night.

This is the entrance/exit in or out of my kitchen. I made a collage of wall hangings. The top picture was made by my then 6 year old grandson. The middle two were items I picked up on our trip to Israel 2 and 1/2 years ago. The bottom picture was made by my then 8 year old grandson as a gift to me for Hanukkah. I really like how all the colors and styles come together and it's a cheerful entrance into my kitchen.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Happy Passover 2026

Wishing my readers who celebrate Passover a joyous holiday filled with the love of family and friends. 

The religious celebration of Passover begins Wednesday night (April 1st) at sundown and lasts for 8 days. The 1st two nights of the holiday, we have a ceremonial meal called a "Seder" where we join together with family and or friends and re-tell the Biblical story of Passover following 15 traditional steps outlined in the Passover Hagaddah booklet. 

 

My Extra Notes: 

My deeper explanation of the meaning of Passover to me and why we celebrate Passover

Jews all over the world celebrate Passover by reading from a Passover booklet called the "Hagaddah", and move through its fifteen steps of the Seder outlined and explained in the booklet (which includes the rituals of the meal, story telling, questions, answers, songs, etc.) It retells the biblical story of G-d taking the Jewish people from slavery to freedom physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

The fifteen steps of the Seder reminds us those miracles, our history as slaves, our redemption, and our faith in G-d's love and power. These important Biblical teachings are passed from generation to generation and continue to shape who we are as a people. The Seder not only reminds us of our past, but also of our responsibility to carry it forward and teach the values, miracles, faith in G-d, and traditions to our children.

At a time when rising antisemitism and acts of terrorism continue to threaten Jewish safety and freedom, the message of the Seder feels especially important. A reminder that our strong faith in G-d's power was, is, and always will always be the true source of love and inner strength.

The typical "Seder" plate on the table with symbolic foods 

Here are a few Passover recipes 

Askenazi Charoset

Sephardic Charoset 

Vegan Chopped Liver 

Gluten free matzo balls (vegetarian, not vegan) 

Did you miss my Dolce & Gabbana Exhibit Post with spectacular photos from the exhibit? 

Greek White Bean Dip (Creamy Garlicky and Better Than Hummus)

Do you like dips? You will love the simplicity of this Greek recipe,

We had lunch the other day at a local Greek restaurant, and I fell in love with the creamy dip that the server placed on the table that she  referred to as hummus.

I'm not a big fan of hummus so I was going to skip it.I was hungry, so while I was browsing the menu, I took a taste.

I was surprised. This dip tasted very. different than hummus—lighter, creamier, and somehow even more flavorful than traditional hummus. It had a bolder garlic flavor.

A Different Hummus

Turns out, their “hummus” wasn’t regular hummus, and it was not made with chickpeas.                                     

They made it using white beans. It was creamy, garlicky, lemony, and absolutely delicious. I immediately knew I wanted to recreate this dip at home.

The waitress gave me a basic idea of what was in it, but once I got home, I went online to scout out a few more exact recipes for Greek White Bean Dip (because yes, apparently this is a thing… and I’m so glad I discovered it!).

And the best part? You don't need to go to a Greek restaurant because it’s incredibly easy to make at home.

Ingredients for Greek White Bean Dip

• white beans

• lots of fresh garlic

• lemon juice

• cracked pepper

• salt

• water (to thin it out)

• olive oil (optional)

That’s it! It's a healthy dip to serve because it's high in fiber, protein, and antioxidants which is a winner in my book. I make it low in fat, but you don't have to.

My Oil-Free Option (Or the Restaurant-Style Version)

Personally, I prefer not to add oil when I make dips at home. The restaurant version was definitely thinned with olive oil, and let me tell you—it was outstanding.

But let’s be honest… calories add up quickly and olive oil adds  calories that I prefer not to consume.

 I tried thinning my version with water instead, and I actually still liked it. It stayed creamy, smooth, and still had that bold flavor.

                                     But will you like it that way? 

If you are good with the calories, by all means add the olive oil. 

Do you like my muffin tin server? 

I thought up this idea during Covid. Everyone got their own muffin tin not to spread germs. I thought it was so cute and useful that I still make my husband his own little snack tray when he is watching TV. Works for kids too.

I love making individual appetizer trays using muffin tins - no double dipping here!!

Perfect for Parties 

This dip is perfect served with a big platter of crunchy veggies (crudité), pita, or even whole grain GF crackers. It’s creamy enough to satisfy everyone.

This is one dip you’ll want to keep in your regular entertaining rotation because it's so easy to make and a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked white beans, drained (canned beans work)

3 large cloves of fresh garlic, pressed

1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Cracked pepper and Salt

Optional: 3 tablespoons of olive oil 

Directions: 

Whiz everything together in the food processor.

What is your favorite dip? 

Don't miss my Dolce & Gabbana Exhibit Post with spectacular

 photos

Dolce & Gabbana in Miami - Spectacular Exhibit

Hold on to your seat—because I’m buzzing with excitement. I just experienced the Dolce & Gabbana: From Heart to Hands exhibit in Downtown Miami, and it was nothing short of spectacular. 

This wasn’t simply a fashion display. Yes, there were breathtaking garments, shoes, and handbags of wearable art—but each of the many rooms on multiple floors unfolded like a fully immersive world of its own to match the artistic creations. 

Every detail was layered in opulence: dramatic interiors, sweeping Italian opera and classical music, the unmistakable scent of Dolce & Gabbana fragrance drifting through the air,(although it started to bother me after a while) and artwork that far exceeded anything I imagined. Unfortunately, the rooms were crowded and my photos captured only individual items, not the entire ambiance which is hard to describe.

From the moment I stepped into the first room, I was completely mesmerized. “Gorgeous” hardly does it justice. The pieces weren’t just presented—they were integrated into their surroundings, as if each outfit belonged to the room itself. 

The combination of fashion, art, music, fragrance, and even the furnishings created a sense of grandeur that felt almost royal. The only comparison that comes close is visiting a palace—like the Royal Palace of Madrid, which we explored last April—where every detail is designed to awe.

The exhibit, From Heart to Hands, is currently on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami through June 14. Miami is the first stop in the United States, which followed the shows in Milan, Paris, and Rome. Where will it go to next?—that is to be announced. No one knows as of now.

If you are near Miami- it's a must to go see. 

If it travels to a city near you, don’t hesitate. This is more than an exhibit—it’s a full sensory experience, and one I won’t soon forget.

My photos could not even begin to capture the glory of it all!! 

What do you think of these creative pieces of work?

My notes: 

I asked one of the workers (who were trained to answer questions) how much these type of items go for. She generalized and said hundreds of thousands to millions. 

Should Holiday Food Be Healthy? Rate Your Meal

A Fresh Take on Easter and Passover Meals

I'm already thinking about the upcoming holidays (Easter and Passover). I'm thinking about the indulgences and wondering why holiday food can't just be healthy food? Should it? 

 

Manatee Sightings

I am extremely excited to share with you some manatee photos seen from our friend's condo balcony on the 10th floor over the intracoastal.  The photos were taken with a cell phone. It appears to be an adult with a baby. 

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Spring Mushroom Soup (Instant Pot or Stovetop Recipe)

What's in my soup pot right now? 

With the first signs of spring beginning to appear, my trusty soup pot naturally starts to feel a little lighter, and I start to think about making my light spring mushroom soup.  

Pink Martini Steals The Show

Are you familiar with the musical group called, Pink Martini? Do you like International music? 

Chocolate Chia/Flax Pudding- A Heart Healthy Dessert

Do you love a rich chocolatey pudding? 

What if I told you this pudding recipe is not only rich, creamy and indulgent, but actually nourishing too? 

In MY Kitchen March 2026

Yay! It's March first and I invite you to take a peek into what's been happening in my kitchen this past month. I'm sharing on Sherri's monthly In My Kitchen Share. 

Last Friday night I hosted a Shabbat (Sabbath) dinner.  I invited four couples to share the evening dinner with us. 

A Manatee Outside My Condo Building

Guess What I saw in the water outside my condo last week !!

He is hiding in the foliage and eating away happily. 

He is swimming away after being satisfied with his meal. 

I was beyond excited seeing a manatee swimming around and eating the foliage in the intracoastal waters outside of my condo building. I think he was a baby. 

Instant Pot Carrot Apple Ginger Soup (6 Ingredients & Easy)

When the temperatures drop and everyone starts talking about snowstorms, all I want is a warm, cozy bowl of soup. Even though there’s no snow here in sunny Florida, my family in Pennsylvania and New York has been sending blizzard photos — and let’s just say, it’s serious soup weather up there!

Transform Pretty Decorative Napkins Into Beautiful Mod Podge Plates

Have you ever Mod Podged? I'm not a crafter but I made this little soap dish plate for my bathroom using a very simple craft technique . I just wanted to share it.

Ditch Your Teabags -They May Contain Plastics That Leach Into Your Tea

Are you a tea drinker?  Then you need to read this. 

Alert: Did you know that many popular tea brands of regular, green tea, or herbal teas, use tea bags that contain micro plastics that can leach into your cup of tea when steeped in hot water? I had no idea and it could be serious.

Scary, right?

Valentine Balloons Along The Waterfront Marina For Passing Boaters

Happy Valentines Day!

Yesterday on my routine morning walk, I strolled along the marina side of Haulover Park (in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida) and saw the sweetest surprise that was displayed for all the boaters. — 

A whole section decorated for Valentine’s Day with balloon pop-ups for the boaters to see as they passed by on their boats!

Instant Pot Black Bean Soup: My Shortcut Recipe Everyone Loves

Easy Instant Pot Black Bean Soup (Perfect for game night)

Looking for a soup recipe that you can throw together quickly for a last minute weeknight meal or get together?

I love a good bowl of hearty black bean soup, especially when it’s quick, comforting, and easy to make at home. The other night, I had friends over for a fun evening of playing Rummikub, and I thought—why not turn it into a soup and salad dinner before the game.

Yellow Squash Soup Recipe (High Fiber & Delicious)

What To Do With Yellow Squash?

I made this delicious yellow squash soup!