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!
Share
Lovely recipes for Tu B'Av - the Jewish festival of LOVE! π₯°
Published 4 months agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello my lovely friend!
This Shabbat (9 August) is Tu B'Av - the Jewish festival of Lπ«ΆVE!
This very minor festival dates back to Temple times, when it marked the beginning of the grape harvest. The Talmud states that the unmarried girls of Jerusalem would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards. Young single men would follow them and hope to find a bride. So the day became associated with love and romance.
Interestingly, tradition claims that the girls would wear borrowed dresses. This was so that no-one would be ashamed if they couldnβt afford a new dress, and the boys wouldnβt be tempted to choose a girl based on her clothes or other material concerns. This reminds us to look beneath the surface when seeking a romantic partner - or when meeting anyone for the first time!
Today the holiday is celebrated by singing, dancing, and giving gifts of flowers. I think it's a great opportunity to tell those you love - romantically or otherwise! - that you love them! Below are some of my favourite Tu B'Av foods. These are recipes with a romantic twist, a heart-shape, or some other theme that ties them to the day. Even if it's just because they're my own DH's favourites π₯°
You might also like to try this luscious new recipe for grilledpeach, pecan and feta salad. It's a mouth-watering combination of crispy, savoury, sweet, and crunchy. I think it would make a terrific light and romantic meal, or just treat yourself!
Whether or not you celebrate, I hope your Tu B'Av is filled with love!
β
Romantic recipes for a day of love
Show the people you love how you feel with a delicious dish! These tasty treats will win over your beloved and make anyone who eats them feel loved and cherished.
β'Love apple' soup with cheesy toast heartsβ A rich and delicious tomato soup, topped with heart-shaped cheesy croutons. It's quick to cook, and makes a perfect low-stress romantic supper.
βCrispy potato rosesβ The most beautiful thing you can do with a potato! Seriously, who wouldn't be swept off their feet by a 'bouquet' of golden, savoury potato flowers?
βMini potato kugel heartsβ βAnother treat for the carb-lovers. With the perfect ratio of crispy edge to soft middle, these individual potato kugels are a scrumptious way to say 'I love you'.
βSmoked mackerel kedgereeβ One of DH's favourites, a nutritious, lightly spiced and delicious dinner is a great way to spoil your loved ones!
βSahlab - hot drink/pudding/Medieval aphrodisiac!β This gorgeously slurpable sweet and floral drink is somewhere between a hot beverage and a dessert, especially when topped with nuts and spices. Maimonides claimed it had curative and aphrodisiac properties and who are we to argue?
βGolden grape jamβ Remember the biblical grape harvests with a spoonful of this luscious preserve, perfect with yogurt or drizzled on toast.
βVegan panna cotta with roasted rhubarbβ Set in heart-shaped moulds for a sweet and romantic dessert. This panna cotta is also delicious with Summer berries or a simple drizzle of fruit coulis.
βSeven species granola barsβ Another nod to the grape harvest and the ancient species of the Land of Israel. These delicious chewy bars make great snacks and are perfect for picnics and lunchboxes!
Are you off on your hols this summer? We are venturing around the British Isles but no further, seeing friends and family, and enjoying a change of scenery in places we know and love. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us!
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom - Good Shabbos! May it bring love, peace, joy, and many blessings to us all.
With love, Helen x.
TEA FUND!
All my cooking, recipe-writing, photography, research - even this newsletter! - is fuelled by TEA! So every cuppa you provide is very much appreciated! π
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. (It currently goes back to December 2024 but more will be added soon!)
Family, friends and food are three of lifeβs most important things. Letβs celebrate them!
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!
Hello my friend, Tomorrow, 21 November, is World Hello Day! This annual global event began in response to the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel in 1973. On World Hello Day, everyone is encouraged to greet at least 10 others with a cheery 'hello'. The organisers hope that these simple greetings will encourage the use of communication rather than force to settle conflicts. World Hello Day has been observed in 180 countries, as a small way to express a sincere wish for world peace. I hope...
Hello again my friend! Is there anything better on a cold, grey, November day, than entering a warm and cosy kitchen, filled with the aroma of a delicious dinner as it burbles away on the stove or in the oven? These are the days when I get the dinner on early, and the kitchen really does become the heart of the home. Pop the kettle on and browse a cookbook while your ingredients turn themselves into something tasty and nutritious. Hearty Winter meals always soothe the soul in a way that a...
Hello there my friend! November is here, and Summer is but a distant memory. And while you may think that there's not much growing locally these days, you couldn't be more wrong! Even as we slide towards Winter, local farmers are still hard at work providing us with delicious fruits and vegetables, including: Fruits and nutsApples π, Cranberries, Elderberries, Pears π, Persimmons (Sharon fruits), Quince, Chestnuts π°. VegetablesBeetroots, Brussels sprouts, Butternut squash, Cabbage π₯¬, Carrots...
β
β