Chanukah Sameach! Wishing you a wonderful Chanukah and all the best for 2026 🀩


Hello my friend, and welcome to my final email of 2025! 😳

Yes, I know there's a few weeks left, but my plan for the rest of December is to enjoy Chanukah with my family, and then take some time to regroup, refresh and make plans for 2026. So I'll see you again in January raring to go!

In the meantime, here's a rundown of some highlights from the past 12 months:

And behind the scenes...

  • Countless hours spent researching, cooking, baking, tasting, refining recipes, taking photos, and putting it altogether, just for YOU!

Cheers and L'Chaim to a year full of good things!

A big thank you!

Of course I couldn't do it without YOU, so here's a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's subscribed, read the emails, cooked the recipes, sent me messages, commented on FB, shared my posts, bought me a cuppa, and generally been here and been awesome!

As a little gift to you, here's a ​​handy calendar of Jewish dates for 2026. Download and print it out and you'll always have the info available. I hope you like it!

Wishing you a very Happy Chanukah

I'm sure you're aware that Chanukah starts in just a few days. The first candle is lit this Sunday evening, 14 December. So I'd like to wish everyone a Chanukah Sameach - a very happy Chanukah indeed!

May your lights be bright, your latkes be crispy, and your maoz tsur be tuneful and harmonious. I hope this Chanukah is a joyful time that brings 2025 to a happy and uplifting end.

If you missed last week's newsletter, which included Chanukah meal plans and quick links to helpful guides and resources, you can find it here. ​

And in case you need them, you'll find all of my Chanukah recipes and ideas here.​

Shabbat Shalom

But first, my final email Shabbat Shalom of 2025! I can't believe this year has gone by so fast. I'm definitely ready to take some time to breathe and realign myself before the start of 2026, and I fully intend to get started on that this Shabbat!

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Shabbat, that brings love, joy, happiness, health, peace and all the good things in heaven and earth! May the next few weeks be everything you wish, filled with blessings and celebration.

Wishing Shabbat Shalom - a Good Shabbos! - to one and all.
With much love, Helen x.

PS Don't forget your instant download of my Ultimate Family Chanukah ​ebook. Pay as you feel, and get 35 pages of recipes, crafts, games, printables, family activities and more!

Tip Jar/Tea Fund!

If I have ever given you value from any of my emails, recipes, social media posts or comments, please consider leaving a tip, so I can continue to do the same for others for free.

​You can buy me a cuppa here β˜•οΈ Thank you so much!

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

If you've ever searched your inbox to find a recipe link, recommendation etc, you can now find the Family-Friends-Food newsletter archive here.

Family Friends Food, Unit 138524, PO Box 7169, Poole, Dorset BH15 9EL
​Unsubscribe Β· Preferences​

Family Friends Food

Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!

Read more from Family Friends Food
Different types of beans, seeds, nuts, fruits, pulses, vegetables etc. arranged to form a square.

Hello there my friend, I hope you've had a good week, and enjoyed the avocado, orange and watercress salad in last week's email. Here's this week's recommendation... Shabbat recipe of the week - strawberry banana bread You'll love this deliciously moist banana bread loaf, swirled with a layer of strawberry batter and topped with fresh strawberries. It's fruity, flavourful, and delicious as a dessert with ice-cream, or just sliced and served with a cup of tea. Make the most of abundant summer...

Hello again my friend! Holiday season is very nearly upon us, and I'm here to remind you that you don’t need travel plans to start eating like you’re on holiday. Below I've set out my top tips for holiday dining at home, but first... Shabbat recipe of the week - avocado, orange & watercress salad with olives This is absolutely one of my all-time favourite salads. It was one of my Mum's recipes, and it never fails to delight. The citrussy fruit is the perfect foil to the creamy avocado, and...

Hello my friend, and happy July! The summeriest of the summer months began yesterday, and there's a huge variety of fruits and vegetables in season. More on that below, but first... Shabbat recipe of the week - halva ice-cream pie! Since these Shabbat recipes have proved so popular they're getting moved up the running order! This week's delight is the amazing 10-minute halva ice-cream pie. With just three simple ingredients, you can make it dairy or parve, and this delicious frozen dessert...