Maple- Glazed Carrots and Leeks With Pomegranate Seeds For Rosh Hashanah

When was the last time you used leeks in a recipe? This recipe for sautéed leeks and carrots with pomegranate seeds is simple, sweet, colorful and delicious. I made it for Rosh Hashanah for our holiday meal. I meant to publish it last week, but got behind while traveling. ( If you just want the recipe and not the backstory, scroll down to the bottom of the post). 

Black Eyed Peas- Please!!

Looking for a healthy black-eyed pea recipe? 

This one is made with sautéed onions and baby spinach and is easy, wholesome, soothing and delicious.

Tabbouleh With A Pomegranate Glaze -

 

Do you like tabbouleh? 

If you’re looking for a fresh and flavorful side dish, this gluten-free tabbouleh recipe made with quinoa is worth a try. It’s light,vibrant, and full of Middle Eastern flavors such as pomegranate molasses and baharat spice blend. Inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi's green tabbouleh recipe, I think its a perfect choice for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday, for picnics, potlucks, or as a colorful side to just about any meal.

Rosh Hashanah October 2024

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated with thanksgiving, prayer, synagogue services, and family meals. Unlike New Years Eve and Day in the secular calendar, this is a 2 day religious holiday. You may like the recipes I'm sharing.

Black-Eyed Peas With Onions and Spinach

Have you ever cooked black-eyed peas? They are flavorful, creamy, and easy to make.

If you are looking for ways to increase your fiber intake, beans may be a logical solution. With just 80 calories and zero cholesterol, a cup of cooked black-eyed peas provides over 8 grams of fiber as well as many valuable nutrients and some protein. (other beans contain up to 15 grams of fiber)

Vegetable Tian - A Colorful and Flavorful Side Dish

This French inspired baked vegetable tian blends summer's abundant vegetables and fresh herbs to create an amazingly delicious healthy side dish.

It looks a little intimidating to make, but a classic tian is actually fairly easy to prepare and makes a truly beautiful presentation at the dinner table.  

A Peek In My Kitchen - September

September is here and it's time to take a peek into my kitchen again. 

Towards the end of the month, we will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, The Jewish New Year, so I've rounded up all my favorite Rosh Hashanah serving pieces to share what's IN MY KITCHEN In  this month. 

Leek, Chickpea, and Spinach Noodle Soup

Noodle soup is one of my favorites, and I love it in this healthy combination with leeks, carrots, spinach and chickpeas.

Apple Nachos-The Perfectly Healthy Dessert

Don't these healthy apple nachos look fabulous? 

No processed sugar, oil-free, gluten-free, vegan, parve.. oh my!!

Honey Cake for Rosh Hashanah-Egg-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free

Honey cake is one of the traditional desserts that we eat on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! My mother always made her honey cake using a cup of strong black tea and added chopped walnuts to the batter.

Carrot, Jicama,and Apple Coleslaw Recipes

If you are looking for an easy, but healthy simple vegan side dish, think about this sweet and juicy apple jicama coleslaw! 

Everyone seems to enjoy it, and it can literally be made in minutes using the shredding blade of your food processor. 

Vegan and Gluten Free Shabbat Dinner

This was Friday night Shabbat dinner for our Sabbath.

It's vegan, gluten free, filling, and healthy. 

Lots of greens and protein rich foods

A delicious vegan apple cake for dessert.

I think the photos say it all! 

I've included recipes and information about our traditions!

Butternut Squash Sage Soup- Instant Pot and vegan

Butternut squash seasoned with fresh sage makes a delightful soup that is both soothing and delicious. The temperatures are getting a little cooler, and I'm starting to think about fall flavors and comforting soups. I made my soup in the Instant Pot, but it can also be made on the stove top for those of you or are still holding out. 

The recipe has only 7 ingredients and is easy to make. It's a light soup that is low in calories, low in fat but high in nutrients and fiber.

Very Easy Gazpacho

Easy Tomato Gazpacho 

The end of summer is the perfect time to make tomato gazpacho when the local farmer's markets are overflowing with ripe fresh tomatoes, red peppers, and cucumbers!

Russian Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup

Are you looking for a delicious soup recipe that the entire family will love?  This sweet and sour cabbage soup tastes like a tangy vegetable soup. My husband who is a lemon lover thought it was exceptional.

It is naturally gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and soy free- ideal for a group with diverse eating needs. It is also a perfect Passover soup. 

Gluten Free and Vegan Jewish Apple Cake

Do you love Jewish apple cake? 
This gluten free Jewish apple cake is moist, easy to make, and delicious! It is very allergy friendly as it is egg free, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and nut free as well and it does taste good!!

Vegan Breakfast Idea | One Point on Weight Watchers

What does a vegan or someone gluten sensitive eat for breakfast?

That's a good question, and I have a great suggestion- Apple rings (slicing the apple through the middle) are fresh, healthy, delicious and no points of Weight Watchers. I use the apple as my base for this delicious breakfast.

Hearts of Palm and Avocado Salad

Do you like hearts of palm? I do, and I love it in salad with chopped avocado. This is one of my favorite salads. It can serve as an entree or a side.The flavors are amazing and the presentation is beautiful.

Waldorf Kale Salad with an Apple and Honey Citrus Dressing

This beautiful kale Waldorf super salad brings together apples and honey just in time for Rosh Hashanah- the Jewish New Year!

Kale is still plentiful and local apples are just beginning to show their faces in the farmer's markets ( I live in Pennsylvania) .

On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year which begins Wednesday evening through Friday evening, it is traditional to dip apples in honey to welcome in a sweet new year. In addition, we keep our menus on the sweet side serving sweet kugels, sweet potato tzimmis, apple cakes, etc.

This year I decided to serve a salad recipe for our celebration dinner that incorporates our holiday theme. I've added chopped apples, walnuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, grated carrots, and celery to curly fall kale and dressed it with my slightly sweet apple and honey citrus dressing.

                                        sweet apple and honey citrus dressing.

Holiday recipes are notorious for depending on rich heavy ingredients that although tasty, are caloric and not so healthy. My super salad is delicious, festive, and brings a balance of tradition and nutrition to the holiday table.

Kale is rich in nutrients, helps the body detoxify, and gives the salad a base.
The carrots, celery, and apple add flavor and crunch, while the nuts and seeds add some protein and healthy fat.

This is a holiday recipe you can enjoy and still feel good serving it at Rosh Hashanah or any
occasion.

Ingredients: 

2 cups of chopped kale ( de ribbed) 
2 cups of grated carrot
1/2 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of chopped organic apple ( with skin)
1/2 cup of organic raisins or dried cranberries or both
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
1/4 cup of raw sunflower seeds


Directions:  

In a large bowl mix all ingredients and toss well in  honey citrus dressing.

Shared on Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking where anyone can share a food related post. 

and also on Deb's Souper Sunday where anyone can share a soup, salad, or sammie recipe

Apple and Honey Citrus Dressing for Rosh Hashanah

How sweet it is to dip apples into honey in celebration of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). 

This year I expanded the traditional custom by also making a special apple and honey salad dressing to dress our salad at our Rosh Hashanah holiday dinner. 

After a few interesting attempts, I was delighted with the outcome of this oil-free, gluten-free, vegetarian dressing.  The dressing is sweet, yet tangy and tastes amazing on my fabulous (link to recipes) Israeli dried apricot and carrot salad  , mango coleslaw, Kohlrabi and carrot slaw, shredded carrot salad, Waldorf salad or even a fruit salad. 

It looks creamy and delicious with just a hint of red specks from the apple. 

Since I use organic apples, I leave on the skin and even use the seeds ( which are good for you) . 

Why Apples Must Be Organic

Apples are one of the fruits on the dirty dozen list published each year from EWG which lists fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentration of pesticides. 

Since apples are one of the fruits that contain the highest amount of pesticides, I always buy organic. I can usually pick up a 3 pound bag that runs about $1.99 pound- or a bag at Trader Joes which is usually  even more reasonable. 

I will be serving this dressing tonight for our Rosh Hashanah holiday meal on my delicious Kale Super Salad. 

If you are looking for vegan or vegetarian and gluten free Jewish holiday ideas see my previous Rosh Hashanah round ups! 

I've converted some traditional foods such as (link) vegan chopped liver, vegetarian gluten free matzo balls, vegetarian 1 hour gluten free challah, and vegan un-chicken soup. 

This Incredible Salad Dressing Recipe

Ingredients: 

Juice of one large organic lime or lemon

1 large organic apple, cored and diced 

1 heaping tablespoon of raw honey (vegans substitute maple syrup)1 organic red apple, sliced

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

optional: 1/2 teaspoon of zest from an organic lime

Directions: 

Using a Vitamix or other very strong blender, whiz all ingredients together until well mixed and perfectly smooth. Serve on carrot salad, fruit salad, or as the dressing on a Waldorf salad.

My Notes: 
This dressing will last in the refrigerator for 5 days and still taste great!!