How confusing to celebrate two New Years each year. Can I pledge allegiance to one of them, or at least find some resonance beyond the occasion for a holiday meal or a midnight kiss? Because I live in the Galilee, from whose agricultural landscape the practice of declaring a New Year at the end of … Read More »
galilee
House Blend Herb Tea
On these roasting summer days, one can never drink enough, and I try to keep a pitcher of chilled herb tea in the fridge at all times. Very auspiciously, the path leading to my front door is lined with herbs – starting with rosemary, followed by zaatar (Syrian marjoram), lemon verbena, thyme, zuta levana (white … Read More »
An Okra Post
This is a summer post about generosity, serendipity, and okra. On a recent visit to my esteemed friends Abu Malek and Um Malek in Kfar Manda, inevitably I left bearing gifts – two plastic bags with produce freshly picked that morning – the lubia (fresh black eyed peas in their casings) and okra that Um … Read More »
Fig Season
Again, the figs are here. It seems like I’ve been waiting so long. To squeeze and rend their skins, gauge the sweetness in the filaments of flesh, and pop the delicate seeds between my teeth. They will consume my attention throughout their brief season. Ron has draped netting over our fig trees – the birds … Read More »
Cactus Spirit
I recently returned from a very eventful visit to the United States, which included, among family visits and presentations, a meeting with the wonderful environmentalist, writer and local foods pioneer, Gary Paul Nabhan. Several years ago, I read his seminal book, “Coming Home to Eat”, and his description of a visit to extended family in … Read More »