Everyone has their own minhag, or tradition, for a high holiday feast. What favorite foods do you enjoy to ring in the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah? For many, the two-day festival’s culinary delights aren’t limited to apples, honey and round challah (though, I admit, these are some of my favorite gastronomic traditions).
I also look forward hearty meat or chicken dishes, such as seven-hour braised brisket, served alongside seasonal vegetables and salads, like a a big bowl roasted zucchini with fresh basil. Of course, a decadent and fabulous dessert must (always, always!) make an appearance. Usually, our family enjoys an apple cake or lekach (honey cake), but this year I am considering throwing something glacé, rich and chocolatey into the mix – for an extra sweet new year, if no other reason! Almost flourless, fudgey brownies, studded with salty, crunchy pecans and rich, dark chocolate morsels are a consistent favorite of family, friends – and me. Leftover brownies freeze beautifully. Unfortunately, this method of preservations has not prevented a certain Kitchen Goddess from her nightly brownie à la mode.
Featured below are three recipes that are tried-and-true. They are straightforward and comforting – yet upscale and sure to impress your guests. As always, each dish is approached by my little munchkins, who have the most “discerning” and “refined” palettes – and are never, ever picky.
Read: My kids know what they like and what they don’t – and may be a little picky… just sometimes. B’tayavon!
Enjoy past and present Curls and Carrots recipes via the New Mexico Jewish Link publication.
Roasted Zucchini
Serves 4-6. Feel free to double recipe for a crowd.
Recipe inspired by the American Pi: Recipes from Atlanta’s Paideia School Cookbook
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons garlic-infused olive oil 2 Tablespoons butter or Earth Balance (dairy-free) Buttery Sticks 3 medium zucchini, cut into one-inch slices 1 pound baby portabella mushrooms, quartered 1/2 cup freshly chopped basil 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan, about 2 ounces (optional) salt and pepper, to taste Preparation:
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Seven Hour Braised Brisket
Serves 10-12
Loosely based on Patricia Wells’ recipe for “Seven Hour Leg of Lamb” Ingredients: 6 medium yellow onions, quartered 6 carrots, peeled and quartered 1 whole head of garlic, about ten cloves, peeled and halved 6 bay leaves 1 bunch of fresh thyme 1 bunch fresh oregano 1 bunch fresh rosemary 2, 3-pound each brisket, chuck or beef tender fillets 2, standard 750 mL bottles of dry white wine, such as pinot grigio 5 pounds large, red potatoes, quartered 5 large heirloom tomatoes, chopped into large chunks. Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh, chopped parsley or chives (optional) Preparation:
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Almost Flourless Brownies
Makes 24-32 squares.
These elegant brownies are inspired by Katharine Hepburn’s original recipe. Ingredients: 4 ounces, one entire package, unsweetened chocolate, chopped 2 sticks salted butter or Earth Balance (dairy-free) Buttery Sticks 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 cups white, granulated sugar 4 large eggs 2 Tablespoons espresso or very strong coffee 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups roasted Georgia pecans, chopped 2 cups 60% dark chocolate chips 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon salt Preparation:
©Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward, shannaward.com (2013-2014), unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without expressed and written permission from this blog’s author, Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward, and/or owner is strictly and completely prohibited. |
It all looks great! We always have brisket (which I make, but don’t eat), pumpkin-yellow split pea soup, homemade challah, and noodle kugel. And apple cake. The vegetables and salads vary. It’s one of my favorite meals with all sorts of great stuff for those who eat meat and those who don’t. But I usually make something chocolate, too. 😉
Merril, The day I have a dinner invitation to your house, I think the world will be a perfect place. 😉 Your food sound outstanding! Yum!
The feeling is mutual Shanna! 🙂
Traditions can be so different, but I find food is a great equalizer!
Thank you, Silva! I agree.
How delightful. I love what you dod with the brisket too! Is it Rosh Hashana already? Happy New Year to you and yours, Shanna!
It’s in September. Thank you for the kind note, Chef Janet!
Guess what my favorite part is! (Chocolate on chocolate)!
Me, too! Thanks, Susan!
Unsweetened chocolate? Is that similar to our 85% dark chocolate, do you reckon. I think I’ve read that you don’t do percentages with chocolate over there. Anyway, gotta try those brownies. Especially if Katharine made them! As for the brisket, that sounds amazing.
Thanks, Johnny!
Chocolate: I don’t buy it if it doesn’t have a percentage. The good stuff always does. 🙂 Unsweetened chocolate is the pure, unadulterated cocoa glory (100%).
Thought I’d let you know that I baked a version, albeit loosely based, on the original recipe that I found on Saveur. Partly as I needed to use walnuts instead. I do love pecans, but they’re hideously expensive here! Anyway, for the first batch of brownies I’ve ever made they’ve turned out so, so well. Although, I should’ve made a pot of coffee to go with your idea of adding that. Are these brownies meant to be fudgy, though? Not that I care. As they’re too delicious as they are! Oh, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen 100% chocolate – certainly not where I live! Most of the chocolate here is rubbish.
lovely and amazing, Shanna! Been thinking about you–how are you?
Thanks, Liz! I will take lovely and amazing any day! Take care. 🙂
Yumm!! Who doesn’t love a slow-braised brisket?
Shanna every dish looks so scrumptious! I just finished dinner and I am craving a brownie right now. I don’t have any, so I will have to come up with another dessert for now. Thank you for the recipes!
Another delicious looking meal. Just can’t go wrong ending a celebratory meal with brownies!
Wow. That brisket looks unbelievable. I”m totally making that this year if i’m not at someone else’s house 🙂 And the brownies…yum!
Hi Shanna, Everything looks delicious! I’m cooking dinner right now however I don’t have a dessert planned. One of your brownies would be perfect.
Lots of recipes in one post, Shanna. They all look great. I am intrigued by the brisket braised in white wine, as red wine is more common for braising beef. I guess it makes it more elegant!
It looks like a perfect menu for a celebration. I’m sometimes not a very chocolate person, but the brownies with the strawberries, I just melt 😉
Oh, my! Three fabulous recipes to Pin and prepare! Blessings to you and your family in the year ahead!!
xo
Kathryn
Flourless brownies looks fantabulous Shanna ..just love the way it is flour less and unsweetened chocolate just sounds delish….
Oh my! Now that’s a meal!
These dishes looks so GREAT Shanna 😀 Looking at the pictures makes us hungry and wanna try all of them. And especially one particular dish…you will probably know by now which one hihihi Have a nice weekend! xx
so many recipes in one post Shanna! They look all delicious… brownies are my fav! Take care…I’ve been thinking about you lately, hoping you’re doing well. Xoxo Cris
What a feast! and chocolate brownies are the perfect ending to it!
Now that is what I call a delicious meal…I would be scraping my plate clean.
I’ve just come back to my blog reading habit after a month dealing with the moving of the blog. You do have a flair for yummy dishes. I could have a pair of each right now.
Take care and enjoy your week, dear Shanna. I hope you’re doing well.
What a treat ! Wow!
I love the idea of following pretty much anything by chocolate!
Lovely ones!!!
i guess it’s all should be ended with a good sex, lol
XOXO
Wow that was a lot of delicious food. I probably would have started with the almost flour-less brownie. It looks flawless and tasty. And the meat..two whole bottles of wine and cooked to perfection for 7 hours. I wonder what it tasted like. It must have been falling off the bone and the wine must have been fully absorbed. Thanks for sharing. I hope all is well with all your family. Best wishes!
Liz
The first two dishes look amazing but those brownies wiped everything else from my mind! Wow! They must have been awe-inspiringly delicious! And you definitely now how to dress them up 😉
*know*
Your zucchinis have found found a fan here with me, Shanna :). I love roasted veggies and when they’re coupled with garlic, they’re the best! I’ve missed you.
Yum, yum, and yum (to all 3 recipes)! You really know how to pull off a spectacular full course meal! The brownies sure do look elegant! Bookmarking this recipe. Thanks for sharing! 😀
Hii Shanna, how are you doin? Hopefully you and your family are doing fine! We are missing your post 🙂
We want to wish you a Happy New Year! It’s been a while ..hoping everything is okay. Warm regards, Ineke & Anneke
Can you pop over to sydney and make this for my fam please? 😁😁
Fantastic tasty recipes & I made those lovely brownies submerged into more lovely chocolately s
sauce & yummyness! x
Thanks, Sophie! 🙂
Thank you, Sophie… 🙂