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!

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

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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!

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