This cake has magical synergy. With no flour at all, this delicate and tender almond cake is based on the taste of ancient recipes, yet it’s made with modern cake-baking techniques. You’ll bake this cake in a jelly roll pan and split it into threes to make the layers. We’ll keep running with the theme of almonds with a nutty chocolate cream cheese filling. To finish, the cake is covered with chocolate ganache and toasted almonds.
(Image credit: Quentin Bacon)
Passover lasts an entire week. A very, very long pizza-less and pasta-free week. Fortunately, bubbes have come to the rescue. Over many generations, some pretty inventive grandmas and great-grandmas have come up with Passover-friendly dishes to sustain their hungry families and friends during that week — recipes that are inexpensive, made with easy-to-find ingredients, and don’t require much work. Matzo brei is exactly that. It remains a staple breakfast and lunch food, and it’s been around so long for one other reason: it tastes great.
The unspoken party code (for a certain type of party) dictates that if you are invited, it is incumbent upon you to bring beer. Wine is also acceptable, even preferable, depending on the crowd and the occasion. I do not bring hard liquor, on account of general ignorance, but I have seen it done to great effect, and I commend those efforts.
But alcohol is not appropriate for all occasions. What if you don’t drink, or your host doesn’t drink? What if your host is pregnant, or is on a detoxifying cleanse, or the party is at 10 a.m. and in celebration of the birthday of a toddler? What if you are simply tired of bringing six packs, which go unnoticed because there are always too many six packs?
Here is the answer: Bring something else. There is a world of festive offerings beyond booze — offerings that will be met with unbridled enthusiasm and consumed with gusto.
Getting invited to your middle school friend’s bat mitzvah is a lot different than getting invited to a Passover Seder. For one, you got to wear a frilly dress and dance around on bubble wrap with an inflatable guitar. A Seder is, well, centered around a lot more rules and rituals.
Headed to your first Seder? You’ll have fun: It’s a ceremonial event marked with storytelling, food, songs, and prayers. Here’s what you should know before you go.
If your goal is to make a filling salad for dinner that won’t leave you reaching for frozen pizza an hour later, then you need to make sure protein-packed chickpeas are front and center. With a chameleon-like ability to adapt to whatever flavors that surround it, this legume can be combined with any number of fresh greens and veggies for a wholesome, nourishing salad designed for dinner satisfaction.
(Image credit: Dolly and Oatmeal)
If you’re trying to up your veggie intake, a great way to do so is to squeeze in a few at breakfast. That way you’re starting your day on a vegetable-filled note! Smoothies are the perfect vessels for this, as they can be super filling (if you’re smart about what you add!) and mask the flavor of things like spinach and, in this case, sweet potato and cauliflower.
Are you renovating or remodeling your kitchen? Good for you! Get even more good out of the situation by donating a lot of the stuff you’re no longer using to a home salvage center. There are tons of organizations (on a local or national level) that will take your old stuff and either use it to build a home for a family in need or sell it for money to put toward a project. Some places may even handle the pick-up for you. You get a tax write-off, help those in need, and keep stuff out of landfills. It’s a win-win-win!
Keep reading to see what you can donate. If you’re unsure about something on this list (or even something that’s not!), call a donation center near you and see what they say.
(Image credit: Maria Siriano)
Come spring there are few desserts quite as delightful as those bursting with bright, lemony freshness. That’s precisely why we’re big fans of this yogurt-filled play on lemon cream pie.
This no-bake sheet pan lemon tart is big enough for all your get-togethers. If it doesn’t win you over with its sweet bite, the supreme ease of it sure will. Each bite of this tart greets you with a sandy graham cracker crust holding up a lush lemon yogurt center, topped with a thick swirl of Cool Whip. Be prepared to go back for seconds.
These veggie melts answer the call for easy comfort food after you’ve had one of those days. You know the kind — when you want something nourishing but also a little indulgent. Since they’re stuffed with a mess of sautéed vegetables and melted cheese, and treated to a swipe of tangy spread, these melts deliver the familiar comfort you love from a grilled cheese, while using those vegetables hanging out in the crisper for a veggie-packed meal.
When people think of leeks, they think of the supporting role leeks take in recipes — blended in soups and stews, infused into sauces, or paired with potatoes in what might be an otherwise bland dish. But leeks can be the star of the show. This dish of braised leeks and lentils allows leeks to shine by embracing their flavor and leaving them whole. By braising them, you get the true taste of a leek, which is far more mellow than one might expect. Pairing the creamy leeks with the toothsome green lentils is an excellent contrast of textures and brings a nutty taste to the dish.
