Author Archives: Judy Zeidler

Panzanella (Tuscan Tomato and Bread Soup). Photos by Morgan Lieberman We just returned from another amazing adventure in Italy, one of many since our first visit 40 years ago. This was a short trip to see the Christo art installation … Continue reading →

Vegetables from the garden are basis for tasty, nutritious meals Jay Farbstein holds a freshly picked squash blossom. Photos by Lynn Pelkey When I think of the original baby boomer, I think of our friend Jay Farbstein. He is an … Continue reading →

Passover Meringues. Photo by Judy Zeidler Passover is our favorite family holiday — last year we hosted nearly 40 people at our house. It’s also one of the most complicated. The seder begins at sundown, but the formal dinner won’t … Continue reading →

Persian chicken with dried fruit and almond stuffing. Photo by Judy Zeidler Purim is the holiday that celebrates the liberation of the Persian Jewish community long, long ago. It is a happy time when families rejoice with eating, drinking, costume … Continue reading →

Smoked Salmon Pizza. Photos by Lynn Pelkey I have known Wolfgang Puck since he was about 19 or 20 years old and he was working as a chef at Ma Maison restaurant in West Hollywood. I met him at a … Continue reading →

A selection of Judy Zeidler’s Mandelbrot. Photo by Lynn Pelkey Tu B’Shevat, known as the Jewish celebration of trees, falls on Jan. 25 this year, in the middle of winter, and marks the time when barren fruit trees begin to … Continue reading →

Romanian Noodle Latkes. Photos by Lynn Pelkey. Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler Chanukah, which begins the night of Dec. 6, has always been a joyous holiday celebrated more in the home than in the synagogue. Every year, we … Continue reading →

Butternut Squash Soup. Photos by Lynn Pelkey. Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler In some ways, I’m pretty traditional when it comes to my family’s Thanksgiving Day meal: I like to plan a lot of old-fashioned farmhouse food for the … Continue reading →

Molded Chopped Liver with Concord Grape Wine Aspic. Photo by Morgan Lieberman Jewish cuisine has always gotten a bad rap, and very often I hear the expression that “heavy Jewish food” is not healthy, but we have been cooking nutritious … Continue reading →

Piroshkis With Chicken Liver Filling. Photos by Lynn Pelkey, Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler Now that the hot summer weather is behind us, we are looking forward to winter comfort food such as hearty soups, stews or chili … Continue reading →

Chicken Fricassee with Turkey meatballs. Photos by Morgan Lieberman Celebrated close together, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the High Holy Days, but each offers its own special food customs. Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown Sept. 13, … Continue reading →

Smoked salmon and cream cheese panini. Photos by Morgan Lieberman  Spending a lovely summer back home in the Los Angeles area, Morgan Lieberman was doing what she enjoys most: using her camera to shoot photos. From time to time during … Continue reading →

(Above) Tuna Salad Sandwich Photos by Morgan Lieberman. Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler If you have children in school, you know that making a lunch that pleases both you and your kids is not an easy assignment. Think of it as the school-lunch … Continue reading →

Peach Salad. Photos by Morgan Lieberman Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler When I think of baby boomers, I begin to realize how instrumental they are in the way people eat today. They have made us more aware of … Continue reading →

Nationwide, there are all sorts of activities to celebrate Father’s Day, different ways to honor the hard work of dads and their contribution to society. For our family, it is usually a fun party focused on enjoying each other’s company … Continue reading →

Stuffed Eggplant Rolls. Photos by Dan Kacvinski The holiday of Shavuot marks the receiving of the Ten Commandments by Moses, but it’s also a kind of Jewish Thanksgiving, when farm bounty and grains — “first fruits” — were brought to … Continue reading →

Mother’s Day is the traditional celebration honoring all the mothers in the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. To celebrate this special day — which is May 10 this year — I … Continue reading →

Rocky Road Clusters. Photos by Daniel Kacvinski This year, I gathered together all of the Passover dessert recipes I have made, dating back to our first seder in 1950 — more than 125. This was in anticipation of compiling them into … Continue reading →

We began receiving e-mails and telephone calls in early January from family members and friends asking to be included in one of our annual Passover seders. We usually plan a month or two in advance, but this was unusual — … Continue reading →

What makes the holiday of Purim so special for our family is more than the heroic story of Queen Esther. These days, our celebration wouldn’t be complete without a holiday meal that starts with all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren dressed … Continue reading →

It is the custom to eat fresh or dried fruit for Tu b’Shevat, an ancient agricultural holiday that is often called New Year of the Trees. Although there are no specific dishes that have traditionally been prepared for Tu b’Shevat, the … Continue reading →

Chanukah is not just for children, but usually they have most of the fun. They open presents, light candles during the eight days of the holiday and get more than their share of cookies and potato latkes. Our Chanukah party … Continue reading →

The Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to invite family and friends to celebrate an American tradition with a home-cooked feast. The essential elements are turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and yams. And, of course, everyone looks forward to several delicious desserts. … Continue reading →

Sukkot is known as the Jewish Thanksgiving. It offers thanks for a bountiful autumn harvest of fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Many Jewish families begin building their outdoor sukkahthe day after Yom Kippur and will serve the first meal inside it … Continue reading →

Lorraine and Harris Zeidler prepared more than 150 kreplach, inviting family and friends to their traditional Rosh Hashanah kreplach tasting. Photo by Lorraine Zeidler I am always impressed by the fact that food plays such an important role during the … Continue reading →

When I was growing up in Los Angeles, Rosh Hashanah dinner always meant that my mother spent several days shopping and cooking. But with the current popularity of vegetable-centric menus and plenty of local farmers markets, I’m able to prepare … Continue reading →

When you feel like you are always packing the children’s lunch boxes with the same old boring foods, it is time to branch out with new ideas and ingredients. I am sure that school lunches can be more creative and … Continue reading →

Girls love guys who know their way around the kitchen There is an old saying that men don’t cook at home. Yet it is also said that women always appreciate men who cook. Only one of these is true. Can you … Continue reading →

Frozen Hazelnut Soufflés With Champagne Sauce, photo by Dan Kacvinski The addition of wine to your favorite recipes can impart wonderful flavor, but too much or the wrong style can potentially ruin a delicious dish. Example: Fish is usually better … Continue reading →

Bittersweet Chocolate Panini, Photo by Dan Kacvinski Baby boomers have childhood memories of eating all sorts of comfort foods: meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, french toast and tuna sandwiches. Over the years, though, Julia Child and … Continue reading →

Ricotta Cheese Tart Photo by Dan Kacvinski. Food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler Let’s have an outdoor summer party! Whether you have a tennis court, a swimming pool or a great lawn for playing croquet, now is the time … Continue reading →

This summer, gather your friends for outdoor fun and a feast Let’s have an outdoor summer party! Whether you have a tennis court, a swimming pool or a great lawn for playing croquet, now is the time to invite friends … Continue reading →

Kickstart your morning with an amazing kibbutz-inspired meal Can you imagine sitting down to a breakfast buffet of fresh fruit, yogurt, cheeses, smoked fish and eggs, and an amazing selection of salads, breads and pastries? For tourists, this is a typical … Continue reading →

Chocolate truffle cupcakes. Photo by Dan Kacvinski Wine is an important part of the observance of Passover — at least four cups are poured during the seder service. I’m sure we all have noticed how our wine tastes have changed … Continue reading →

A vegetarian seder can offer special delights The mainstays of a traditional Passover seder, celebrating the Exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt, tend to be a carnivore’s dream: gefilte fish, chicken soup with matzah balls, stuffed turkey and … Continue reading →

Chocolate poppy-seed hamantaschen and chocolate sorbet. Photos by Dan Kacvinski Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim tale, was quite a woman. Not only did she outwit the evil Haman and save the entire Jewish population of Persia, she did … Continue reading →

The festival of Purim is a fun-filled holiday, where the focus is on Queen Esther, who helped defeat the king’s wicked prime minister, Haman, in ancient Persia. It is a time when the children dress up in costumes, representing the … Continue reading →

For Valentine’s Day, share your passion for pasta that’s pretty in pink  We met Suzanne and Don Dunaway on a Valentine’s Day, while sitting at a small table during a reception for Julia Child’s American Institute of Wine & Food. … Continue reading →

  Bruce Marder’s two-tone potato latkes This year, Chanukah and Thanksgiving coincide: Chanukah is celebrated for eight days by candle-lighting, gift exchanges and eating foods fried in oil, an ancient custom, commemorating a miraculous event at the Temple in Jerusalem, while … Continue reading →

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with traditional Italian creations Fried Cheese With Fresh Tomato Sauce. Photos by Dan Kacvinski, food preparation and styling by Judy Zeidler We are just back from a three-week vacation in Italy, where I had the … Continue reading →

Moshe Safdie, famed designer of L.A.’s Skirball Cultural Center, displays his creativity in the kitchen, too Branzino Baked in Foil. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food preparation and styling by Judy ZeidlerI first met architect Moshe Safdie about 30 years ago, … Continue reading →

Pomegranate Ice With Frosted Grapes. Photos by Dan Kacvinski Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is considered a High Holy Day, but it’s also a happy holiday, full of hope and optimism. I am always impressed by the fact that … Continue reading →

Honey adds special touch to Jewish New Year Honey Chocolate Fudge Bars. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler The use of honey for Rosh Hashanah symbolizes a sweet year and dates back to biblical times, when refined sugar … Continue reading →

Some teachers love to get things cookin’ in the classroom Judy’s Signature Strudel. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler. When I think of heroes, I think of schoolteachers. A good teacher can make a big difference in … Continue reading →

The kids may be gone, but the kitchen still gets a workout Chiles Rellenos My son Paul and his wife, Amber, were the original baby boomers, graduating from college in the ’80s, getting married and raising four children. They both … Continue reading →

Cooking up kids’ favorites can be delicious and nutritious Macaroni and Cheese. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler Kids can be picky eaters, but there are several dishes that they always seem to enjoy. Among the dishes … Continue reading →

  Hoop Cheese Blintzes. Photo by Dan Kacvinski Shavuot celebrates the receiving of the Ten Commandments and the arrival of the spring harvest. But, for food lovers, it is noted for the array of dairy foods that are served — … Continue reading →

Smoked Salmon and Dill Mini Sandwiches. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler Perhaps the most anticipated family event during May is Mother’s Day. If you are cooking for your wife, mom or mother-in-law for the first time, … Continue reading →

Richard’s Hummus, Lina Style. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler Who makes the best hummus? Everyone in Israel is passionate about the taste of genuine hummus, and each individual believes deeply that his or hers is the … Continue reading →

Chocolate Truffle Cupcakes. Photo by Dan Kacvinski Passover, the Festival of Freedom — also known as the Festival of Unleavened Bread — is celebrated for eight days. Over the centuries, Jewish cooks have produced a rich array of foods for … Continue reading →

Ground Beef and Matzah “Lasagna” (See page 2) Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler Families will gather at sundown on March 25 and begin the eight-day observance of Passover, commemorating the centuries-old flight of the Jewish people … Continue reading →

  What makes Purim so special? Maybe it’s the heroic story of Queen Esther. Whatever you decide, it is still one of the happiest of all Jewish holidays. Filled with accounts of bravery, it tells the story of Queen Esther … Continue reading →

Romantic dinners for two can be fun — and healthy, too Quinoa With Shiitake Mushrooms and Delicata Squash. Photos by Dan Kacvinski. Food coordinated by Judy Zeidler In a wild wedding party last year at the Hollywood Museum, our granddaughter … Continue reading →

Make kids holiday kitchen helpers with Chanukah cookies   Russian Tea Cakes Photos by Dan Kacvinski   This year at our family Chanukah get-together, we’re having a cookie exchange. Everyone will bring their favorite cookies to enjoy as part of … Continue reading →

Chef Brett Swartzman is a chef with passion. The Chicago native started working in his parents’ Jewish bakery when he was 10 years old, making bagels, muffins, cookies, challah and sandwiches. Chanukah was always a big celebration at his grandparents’ … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is a holiday when American-Jewish families can enjoy the best of both heritages — hearty American food and an occasion to give thanks for their blessings. Food has always been the center of the holiday celebration, and I like … Continue reading →

Add a bountiful dessert table to your Thanksgiving feast Pumpkin Date Nut Bread. Photos by Dan Kacvinski Thanksgiving dinner calls to mind roast turkey with stuffing and gravy, sweet potatoes, rolls and cranberries. But the holiday meal wouldn’t be the … Continue reading →

Eggplant Marmalade. Photos by Dan KacvinskiThe eggplant has an important place in my kitchen and is one of my favorite vegetables to serve during Sukkot, the seven-day harvest festival that begins this year at sundown Sept. 30. The beautiful, glossy … Continue reading →

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a holiday for serious fasting — no food or drink for 25 hours. At the end of the day, our thoughts inevitably turn to what we want to eat at sundown to break the … Continue reading →

Dipping freshly baked challah in honey is a tradition observed during the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This act combines the Shabbat bread with hopes for a sweet New Year. The custom is to serve a round … Continue reading →

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins this year on Sept. 16 at sundown. In planning the holiday menu, I like to include some of the traditional recipes that many of us learned in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ kitchens, but … Continue reading →

We love entertaining friends. The process is easy: We check our calendar, pick a date and discuss whom to invite, usually eight to 10 guests. It is fun to mix couples who have the same interests but have never met. … Continue reading →

Recently we had guests over for dinner and the conversation turned to how to achieve the best backyard barbecue. Fortunately, several of the people were serious home chefs who love to cook. Two of our foodie friends, Lou and Stephen, … Continue reading →

We all have memories of how Mom made us feel special and loved beyond compare. This month, it’s time to return the favor. If your mom, or the mother in your life, likes breakfast in bed, then by all means … Continue reading →

After many years of reciting the Passover story around our dining room table, we made a major change. My family decided to re-create the seders held long ago. According to the haggadah, when people live in freedom, they can eat … Continue reading →

Baking desserts during Passover is a challenge. No leavened foods may be used — nor any leavening ingredients, such as flour, grains, cornstarch, baking powder or baking soda. The baker must substitute matzah meal, potato starch and egg whites to … Continue reading →

It all began with Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story, who became a vegan when she married King Ahasuerus and moved into the palace. She favored fruits, beans and grains in her diet, and legend has it that … Continue reading →

How can you not love a holiday that tells you to dress up in costume, make loud noises with a grogger, forget your troubles, enjoy delicious food and drink lots of wine? Of course, it is Purim — often called … Continue reading →

The only soups I remember from my childhood are chicken soup and cabbage borscht. But that changed when I got married. My husband, Marvin, loves making soup. When I hear him rattling the pots and pans and using the blender, … Continue reading →

Around this time of year, I think of my grandmother and the stories she told me about making beef brisket and potato latkes for her first Chanukah dinner in America. She loved to cook, and sharing her recipes from Russia … Continue reading →

While enjoying my favorite foods on a recent trip to Italy, I began to think about Chanukah, even though it was only October. This was a natural association, because the Italians love to prepare foods with olive oil, and the … Continue reading →

Whether you call it Thanksgiving or Turkey Day, the holiday is a festive time for American Jewish families to enjoy the best of both heritages — hearty American food and an occasion to give thanks for blessings. When it comes … Continue reading →

Apples, honey and a freshly baked round challah are traditionally served at the beginning of our Rosh Hashanah dinner. The shape of the challah represents unending happiness, and foods sweetened with honey symbolize a sweet and happy new year ahead. … Continue reading →

As the sound of the shofar officially closes the long day of Yom Kippur prayer, people head home a little weary but spiritually uplifted. It has been a tradition for our family to gather upon returning from synagogue for a … Continue reading →

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a holiday full of hope and optimism as well as apples, honey and round challahs. Many of the traditional dishes that are served feature honey and apples to assure “a sweet new year.” … Continue reading →

Summer is a perfect time to share a picnic meal with friends. There is something exciting about eating outdoors, even if you are only heading to the local park. We have had season tickets for the Hollywood Bowl for as … Continue reading →

During Shavuot, it’s a custom to serve dairy foods, such as cheese blintzes, cheese noodle kugels, cheesecake and even ice cream. But have you wondered where this tradition comes from? There are many explanations, but I like the theory that, … Continue reading →

It all started with Signora Grazia, an elderly cheese maker in Panzano, Italy. While vacationing in this Tuscan village, just 30 minutes south of Florence, we walked by her farm early one morning and saw the sign that read “Pecorino … Continue reading →

My fascination with Israeli food started the first time I tasted a falafel laced with tahini at a little sidewalk cafe in Westwood, near UCLA. Inspired by this simple Israeli dish, I began developing a list of Middle Eastern recipes … Continue reading →

I have always enjoyed researching and developing new dishes to serve during Passover, but have you ever heard of Mock Gefilte Fish? Because everyone loves chicken, I am constantly looking for new and different chicken dishes to prepare, and I … Continue reading →

In Argentina, although Passover comes in the fall, the celebration is much like that observed by Jews in the United States, and the food is similar to Eastern European dishes, but with a South American flair. Argentina has a Jewish … Continue reading →

Fresh ingredients for a soup are a chef’s dream, and the best place to find them is at your local farmers market — fresh fennel, squash, mushrooms, ripe tomatoes of all shapes as well as root vegetables. Our first experience … Continue reading →

It will be a night of glitz and glamour, surprises and speeches. From red carpet hits and misses to backstage interviews with the winners, the Academy Awards is Hollywood’s biggest night. Celebrate the 83rd Oscars on Feb. 27 with an … Continue reading →

When I was growing up in Los Angeles, the highlights of our Chanukah celebration included visiting with extended family — uncles, aunts and cousins — lighting the Chanukah candles and eagerly awaiting the platters of fried potato latkes. In our … Continue reading →

There is something special about Chanukah, a time when all of our children and grandchildren gather from across the country to celebrate the holiday, which begins this year at sundown on Dec. 1. Lighting the candles, followed by family meals, … Continue reading →

After 55 years of celebrating Thanksgiving in our home with family and friends, our son Zeke and son-in-law Jay announced that they wanted to take over the responsibility for Thanksgiving dinner. Our first reaction was to say no, but we … Continue reading →

Simchat Torah translates as “rejoicing with/of the Torah,” and it is one of the most joyful of all the holidays. Congregants sing and dance in synagogues as the Torah is carried around the bimah seven times, and children are encouraged … Continue reading →

By Judy Zeidler Photo by Dan Kacvinski Rosh Hashanah, literally translated as head of the year, begins this year at sundown on Sept. 8, ushering in a 10-day period for reflection on the past year and making resolutions for the … Continue reading →

 By Judy Zeidler (Photo by Dan Kacvinski) If you are in a dilemma about what to serve your family for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, expand your menu options to include dishes that can be served in both the … Continue reading →

BY JUDY ZEIDLER Whether you are taking a picnic to the beach, a local park or the Hollywood Bowl, desserts made from fresh fruits — peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and all kinds of berries — are a refreshing complement to … Continue reading →

In the early 1960s, we bought a 45-acre ranch with a big, sprawling house in Topanga Canyon, not far from Pacific Coast Highway. The lush panorama seemed to stretch for miles into Malibu. Our rambling ranch house was a dream … Continue reading →

Shavuot marks an important religious event — the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. In ancient times, Shavuot was also celebrated as a spring harvest holiday, featuring foods gathered from the fields. Today, the traditional dishes we serve … Continue reading →

Arriving at the crowded restaurant Itzik Hagadol Grill in Encino is like entering the hustle and bustle of Israel. Large groups of happy, noisy people talk at once while consuming platters of wonderful salad dishes and grilled meats that overflow … Continue reading →

Food plays an important role during Passover — from the six symbolic items on the seder plate to those foods avoided during the eight-day holiday, like chametz (leavened grains) and kitniyot (legumes). But the dinner that follows the seder on … Continue reading →

While growing up in Jewish Los Angeles, I was exposed to many traditional Ashkenazic dishes — kreplach, cheese blintzes and strudel, to name a few. But it wasn’t until I developed an interest in cooking that I realized most other … Continue reading →

When we were invited for a Tuscan Chanukah dinner at the home of our friends chef Jeff Thickman and musician Igor Polesitsky, who live in a wonderful villa in the wooded hills of Roveta, just outside Florence, the menu included … Continue reading →

Sukkot, one of the happiest of all Jewish festivals, is a home-centered holiday that actually takes place outside of the home. The festival’s main symbol is the decorated sukkah, a temporary outdoor booth or hut, where Jewish law requires Jews … Continue reading →