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 decided to ask members of our family to submit a dish they would like to share for a potluck extravaganza. We will have great-grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers represented at this…

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 will be shared by four generations this year because our two great-granddaughters will be joining us. In planning a Chanukah dinner for the entire family, I always try to remember…

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 a student’s life. Our daughter Kathy is one of those teachers who I think of as a hero. When Kathy was a little girl, she had a reading problem, and…

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 from slavery in Egypt to their subsequent freedom. It is also known as the Festival of Matzah, or unleavened bread, because in their exodus, the Jews had little time to…

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 same without a variety of pies and pumpkin desserts. My friend, chef Michel Richard, who started his career as a pastry chef, was once asked if dessert is necessary. “I…

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 architect specializing in the design of large government buildings, and he lives on his family’s original property off Sunset Boulevard, in a rural area of Pacific Palisades. He grew up…