Venetian Carrot Cake

This Venetian Carrot Cake is thought to originate with Venetian Jews in the original ghetto. Established in 1516, the Venetian Ghetto was the first enforced Jewish ghetto in Europe. The word "ghetto" itself comes from the Venetian word for the area, which previously housed metal foundries. Jews were forced to reside within the designated area, separated from the rest of Venice by canals and only accessible through two bridges with restricted opening hours.

This cake is quite different from the American version. It's denser, uses olive oil instead of butter (making it potentially kosher for meals with meat), and lacks the cream cheese frosting. Oh, it also has the added bonus of being gluten-free.

My favorite Nigella-ism in the instructions — “I use my freestanding mixer, but it wouldn't be much of a faff by hand”. Faffing is one of my favorite British terms, which basically means - To spend time doing unimportant things instead of focusing on the main task.

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Grilled Citrusy Marinated Tri-Tip

Grilled Citrusy Marinated Tri-Tip is very flavorful. Marinating the beef in this citrusy mixture helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with bright, zesty flavors. Tri-tip is much easier to find in states on the West Coast, particularly California where it's a popular cut. It can be trickier to find on the East Coast. Butchers can cut the same section of beef (the bottom sirloin) in different ways. On the West Coast, they often separate a triangular portion as a Tri-Tip, while East Coast butchers might incorporate it into roasts, steaks (called sirloin cap or sirloin tip), or even ground beef. My theory is that Tri-Tip is almost always grilled and we tend to grill year-round on the West Coast.

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Potatoes Anna (Pommes Anna)

Potatoes Anna, or Pommes Anna, is a French dish featuring thinly sliced potatoes, bathed in butter and baked to crispy perfection. Its history goes back to mid-19th century Paris. The dish is credited to chef Adolphe Dugléré, who worked at the famed Café Anglais, a leading Parisian restaurant during the reign of Napoleon III. There's some debate about who the "Anna" in the name refers to. Popular theories suggest it could be: Anna Deslions, a well-known Parisian courtesan and a regular at Café Anglais, or Anna Judic, a famous actress of the time. Who knows! Praised for its simplicity and deliciousness, Pommes Anna remains a classic French side dish.

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Smokin’ Hot Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Orange Honey Glaze

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Noodle Kugel with Caramelized Onions & Brown Butter

Our dear friend Liz passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was an amazing woman and a big part of our family's life. After the service, we went to her home to sit Shiva, which literally means “seven” – a period of seven days when a Jewish family has a formal mourning time to honor their loved one. It was a beautiful service and day, in which we shared many stories about our friend Liz. I brought this Noodle Kugel with Caramelized Onions & Brown Butter. I have made kugels before, but I think this will forever be my go-to recipe. Yehi Zichrah Baruch - May her memory be a blessing.

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Chile Rellenos Soup

Chile Rellenos Soup is a creamy and cheesy soup inspired by the classic Mexican Chile Rellenos. Roasted poblano peppers, cheese, and chicken capture the flavors of the traditional dish in an easier-to-make format. To make it easier, I used rotisserie chicken and topped with with crushed tortilla chips. It's really delicious.

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Wild Rice & Chicken Casserole

I used to make this Wild Rice & Chicken Casserole when we were first married for dinner parties.  It was "cheap and cheerful" as we would say.  It features cooked chicken, wild rice (personally, I prefer to use a wild rice blend when making this dish, which does make it cheaper!), mushrooms, pimentos, and a creamy sauce. It's then topped with slivered almonds and baked in the oven until bubbly and golden brown on top.

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Judy Hesser’s Oven-Fried Chicken

This Oven-Fried Chicken is a recipe for delicious fried chicken made in the oven, skipping the mess and hassle of deep frying. The chicken is dredged in a seasoned flour mixture and baked in the oven. There's minimal flipping involved, making it a relatively hands-off approach. Despite using minimal butter, the chicken achieves a crispy, flavorful crust.

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Roasted Broccoli with Garlic Mustard Sauce

I made this Roasted Broccoli with Garlic Mustard Sauce and my family LOVED it. It's so simple and yet so incredibly delicious. This is a must-make side dish.

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Parmesan Mushroom Casserole

This Parmesan Mushroom Casserole is absolutely delicious and the best thing is that it can be made ahead and finished off in the oven. The sliced mushrooms are bathed in a creamy sauce, topped with a crispy parmesan breadcrumb mixture. It's a vegetarian side dish that goes well with many main courses. All I can say is YUM, so good!

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