Della Croce - Food from our ancestors. The ultimate Jewish Shabbat dinner cookbook

Copyright 2017 by Liz Della Croce and The Lemon Bowl All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author. Photography by Ral Velasco with Alejandro Photography

Dedications And Thank You

This book is dedicated to my sons Asher and Jacob who light up my life every single day. Thank you to my husband Rich for your endless love and unwavering support over the last 15 years. You are my number one fan and I am forever grateful. Thank you for pushing me to follow my dreams. A special thank you to the Bono Family: Aunt Dolly, Uncle Vinny and cousin Richard, for opening up your kitchen and generously sharing your family recipes and stories with us. To all of The Lemon Bowl readers, thank you for all of your support and encouragement over the years. It is because of you that I am able to pursue my passion of cooking. I will forever be grateful. Lastly, thank you to all of my family and friends who have cheered me along and supported my dream over the years. It is because you believed in me that I was able to believe in myself.

About The Author

Liz Della Croce is the creator and author of The Lemon Bowl, a healthy food and travel blog. Since 2010, Liz has grown a loyal following of health-conscious readers from all over the world. Focusing on seasonal ingredients and whole foods, her collection of recipes is inspired by ethnic flavors from around the globe and the Lebanese dishes of her childhood.

Liz has appeared live on the TODAY Show and tapes regular cooking segments on her local NBC affiliate station. Liz has been featured in various publications including Real Simple Magazine, Shape Magazine, Food Network blog, Fitness Magazine, The Cooking Channel, TODAY Food and more.

Through healthy eating and regular exercise, Liz achieved long term weight loss success and has a passion for helping others reach similar goals. In 2013, Liz launched Healthy Habits, a feature on The Lemon Bowl where her loyal readers and growing audience can find practical advice, resources and information on creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Liz graduated from Boston University with a degree in Hospitality Administration and a minor in Marketing Management. She and her husband reside in Grand Rapids, MI along with their two young boys.

Connect with Liz directly on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or via email: Liz@thelemonbowl.com

Food From Our Ancestors: The Ultimate Jewish Shabbat Dinner

The third in a series of eCookbooks profiling Sunday dinner across America, The Ultimate Jewish Shabbat Dinner is a bit unique because this meal customarily takes place on Friday night, the Jewish Sabbath. As you may know, Sabbath is the English word for Shabbat, which is Judaisms day of rest and seventh day of the week. Like all days in the Jewish calendar, it begins at sunset on Friday evening and lasts until sunset on Saturday. Similar to the Sunday traditions in a Christian household, the Jewish Sabbath is a day to reflect and look inward, without the everyday distractions of work.

Shabbat dinner is an upbeat occasion, jovial and celebratory in nature, when the family gathers together. The ceremonial meal begins with the lighting of candles and a prayer thanking God for creating the universe. Next, theres a blessing given over the wine thanking God for the creation of fruit on the vine. Lastly, theres a blessing given over the challah to thank God for creating bread. Afterwards, friends and family sit down together to enjoy a home cooked meal.

Hands down, no one puts on a Shabbat dinner quite like my grandmother who we call Ema Ljuba. From a very early age, I have vivid memories of congregating around her large dining room table at her home in Berkeley, California. We would travel there as a family from Michigan to visit at least once a year, either for Passover or a bar mitzvah, a coming of age ritual. It was a pleasant escape from the cold, and I can still smell the eucalyptus aroma that permeated the Northern California air.

Not only is Ljuba the quintessential matriarch, but shes also a professional cantor (the person who sings solo or leads the singing), has officiated countless weddings and is an active member of her community. Whats more, she exudes joy with her very being. Shes a light whenever she walks into a room, and everyone is better off in her presence. Always smiling, full of energy and a natural star, people are drawn to her.

Perhaps the only thing that attracts people to Ljuba more than her aura is her ability in the kitchen. The utmost home cook, Ljuba is the master of turning everyday ingredients into enough food to feed an army. Always with an open door policy, it wasnt uncommon for various neighbors, long-time friends and other acquaintances to appear at Shabbat dinner. Afterall, if Ljuba is cooking, you want to be there.

Whats most unique about this cookbook is the simplicity of the recipes. Most dishes are made with humble cuts of meat like beef brisket or chicken drumsticks seasoned with pantry basics like cinnamon, garlic powder or seasoned salt. From challah bread to baked chicken, crispy potatoes to baklava, these family-friendly recipes will fill your home with warmth. The intoxicating smells that permeate the kitchen as each dish cooks are the ultimate source of happiness. I cant think of a better way to end a busy work week.

Whether you observe the tradition of Shabbat or not, I hope this collection of Ema Ljubas 15 most popular, time-honored recipes inspire you to gather your friends and family around the table. From my family to yours, I hope these recipes and photos leave you hungry for more.

Introduction

Growing up within a few miles of my entire extended family, there was always a Sunday dinner, birthday party or holiday gathering taking place. Like any good Middle Eastern family, these events centered around one thing and one thing only: the food.

For whatever reason, while my little sisters were busy running around the house, watching TV or playing outside, I always gravitated toward the kitchen. No matter how many cousins were visiting or what movies were playing, all I wanted to do was see what my mom and aunts were cooking together in the kitchen. The endless laughter, the plumes of cigarette smoke and countless cups of coffee, it was all oddly intoxicating. They were loud, they were funny, and their love for one another was palpable.

From as little as five years old, I can remember peering over the kitchen counter on my tiptoes begging my mom to let me help her dress the raw turkey at Thanksgiving. I can still picture my great aunt Vieve turning a platter of homemade hummus into a piece of artwork with minced parsley, toasted pine nuts and fragrant green onions.

At the end of the day, it didnt matter what they were cooking, I just wanted in. To this day, food is my love language, and cooking is my favorite form of therapy.

While I didnt always have a healthy relationship with food, I did reach a weight loss milestone in my mid-twenties. Through proper portion control and regular exercise, I have successfully maintained a 60-pound weight loss for more than nine years and through two pregnancies.

Over the years, one thing has always remained the same: Taking the time to cook from scratch is not only the healthier option, but its also always worth the extra effort. As a busy mother of two little boys, Ive learned that some of the best scratch cooking also happens to be some of the simplest.