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 in a reclining or relaxed manner. We asked our guests to bring pillows or cushions to lean against as we celebrated Passover with a seder on our living room floor,…

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 characters in the story, and take part in masquerades, singing, dancing, playing games and more. The grown-ups have their rewards, too, because it is the only holiday where a generous…

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 nutrition, healthful food and time-saving recipes. They are setting a trend of eating more organic foods and demanding products that support healthful eating and living. They are becoming much more…

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 best. In Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, hummus remains a daily staple. Village streets are dotted with tiny shops that prepare hummus swirled in a brown-and-cream-colored bowl, drizzled with extra virgin…

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, singing songs, exchanging gifts and playing the dreidel game all add up to quality family time. What makes Chanukah such a festive occasion? Perhaps it starts with the aroma of…

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, at this time of the year, sheep and goats are still feeding their young, and milk products abound. Dishes prepared with wheat, barley, honey, olives and other “first fruits” of…