“What do you plan on cooking for the young one’s birthday?” asked my better half, “I haven’t really thought about it”. I answered ,“maybe finger food?” “sounds good” she said “I’m sure it will be finger licking good”. The expression on the birthday boy face that was sitting by the table changed from joy to light concern.
The first time I had ever heard about banana bread was from an American friend in Paris way back in the ‘80s. The combination of bread and bananas sounded pretty weird. You put bananas on bread? What’s next, orange bread? “You’ve never had banana bread?” my friend asked in astonishment, looking at me as if I had a deprived childhood.
"What cookies will you make this time?” my younger son asked when the cookie jar was almost empty. “I think I’ll make tahini cookies”. There was no mistake in his expression, “Tahini??” “yes” I answered, “you like Halva, right?” “yes” he said “well, tahini and halva are made out of the same ingredient, sesame”. “Ok” he answered and went to his room. What this “ok” really meant was something along the lines of: ugh, another one of my dad’s non-edible kitchen improvisations…
Moroccan tea biscuit – Riffaat
A few months ago, when some friends told us that they are coming to visit I fell into a baking mood. Although I do cook regularly, and some may say that I’m quite good at it, baking is a whole different ball game. However, friends were coming over and my mother always said, “you just can’t serve tea without cookies.” My mom had been gone a long time; my Dad is not with us either so where can I find a good cookie recipe? Luckily in one of my visits to Israel I met Aunt Dina, Uncle Moshe’s wife, who is known in the family for her baking talent, and she was willing to share with me the recipe for her… “cookies? I have an amazing recipe for you, easy as pie.”