The Spanish tortilla, which is similar to a potato and onion omelet, has been the national dish of Spain for centuries. When sliced into squares or wedges, it made a perfect meal for soldiers to carry with them for nourishment. In Spain (and Basque Country) the tortilla is a popular dish in tapas and pintxos bars and the people take them very seriously.

It was in Israel that I first learned to make perfect hummus. One of the most important ingredients is tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds. Not all tahini tastes alike, so choose one with a rich nutty flavor. My favorite is Har Bracha Tahini, which is available on Amazon.

I love knowing I can get oranges at the market any time of the year. I especially love seeing varieties that are new to me, particularly those that have pink or blood-red fruit inside. This is a salad that looks beautiful on a holiday table, picnic table, or even the breakfast table. Just choose some colorful oranges and cut off all the rind; then slice them and remove the seeds.

This is one of the most versatile vegetarian sauces I have ever made. It takes less than thirty minutes, from start to finish, and can be served simply on toasted bread (a great party appetizer), or made into a creamy pasta dish, dip for chips, or hearty scrambled eggs. It only requires a little chopping and one big skillet. And if you have any leftovers, it keeps in the refrigerator up to 3 days, and freezes well. If you’re a fan of truffle oil, add it at the end of cooking, in order to preserve all the flavor.

When you enter the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem you’ll see carts piled high with large rings of crusty bagels. They’re not the bagels we’re used to that are heavy and dense, requiring a thick slab of cream cheese. These are light and airy, and slightly sweet. They’re coated in sesame seeds and sold in a piece of newspaper. Traditionally, they are dipped in the dry spice, za’atar or cumin seeds. I prefer to tear them and smear them into hummus or spicy yogurt. They’re easy to make, but require some time a nd patience, but It’s worth every second when you pull them from the oven, crispy on the outside and light the inside. They’re best served warm, of course!

Dukkah is an Egyptian mixture of aromatic nuts, seeds, and spices that is versatile enough to sprinkle on vegetables, feta cheese, rice, or leafy salads. There are many variations of dukkah, using different kinds of nuts and seeds, and it keeps well in an airtight jar for several weeks. For this salad I toss lots of greens with as many fresh vegetables I can find, but feel free to add whatever you like. The dressing is perfectly sweetened with honey and compliments the spicy dukkah topping. Ground sumac berries are optional, but add a tangy flavor and gorgous finish to this already colorful salad.

This easy no-cook sauce is delicious on any fish, and even great on chicken. I love it because the sauce isn’t cooked, although you can warm it if you want. It’s a perfect weeknight meal that takes minutes to prepare.

If you like crab cakes, this is a great alternative with a Mediterranean flare. You can form the patties and freeze before cooking on parchment paper in plastic bags, and pull out as many as you need from the freezer. 

My favorite way to prepare carrots is by roasting them in a hot oven until they’re nearly browned. In this recipe the honey and molasses drizzle kicks up the flavors, and sweetens the carrots just perfectly. Not only is this a delicious side dish for the holidays or any time of year, it’s also really beautiful!

Meatballs are so versatile! This is my favorite meatball recipe because there is a blast of melty cheese when you bite into them. And the fresh oregano makes them taste so earthy and delicious! These are great appetizers for a party when you serve them on picks with the Mustard Sauce on the side.

Fattoush is a middle eastern salad made with lots of fresh vegetables and “day-old” pita. It was likely a recipe started in Lebanon when the farmers’ wives would toss stale pita into a bowl of fresh vegetables, drizzle with olive oil and call it dinner.

I’ve been to the island of Santorini, Greece twice. The second time I went on a winery tour and cooking lesson in a local restaurant. The island is known for their cherry tomatoes that grow in abundance. The have tough skins to resist the heat and wind on the island, but the fruit is so sweet and juicy. 

I love mixing both fresh fruit and dried fruit in salads and desserts. The dried berries offer a tart flavor and chewy texture while the fresh fruit is juicy and sweet. While cooking with Chef Nir in Tel Aviv, we prepared fish with a salad of chopped cabbage and ripe blueberries from the Carmel Market. We set a table on the balcony of our friend, Inbal, which had a view of the Mediterranean Sea.

In Italy no bread goes to waste.“Day-old” bread is commonly put into soups and salads to absorb all the flavors it comes into contact with. I prefer to grill or toast the bread before adding it to this summery salad, vibrant with ripe tomatoes and peaches.

There is nothing like fresh pita hot out of a piping hot oven! I watched a woman in Nazareth quicky roll and bake the soft dough into pillowy mounds of the best bread I’d ever eaten. She let me try to make it myself, and she kindly showed me I was rolling the dough too thinly.

One of my favorite Disney movie characters is Remy, the rat who aspired to become a chef in the movie Ratatouille. The film brought recognition to the dish ratatouille, a popular dish in France. It’s simply a stew made from vegetables and seasonings, particularly those that are in season.

I love the rustic look of a galette, which is a pie without the pie pan. It’s almost like pizza, but the buttery crust makes it more decadent. Of course, the best time to make this tomato galette is the end of summer when tomatoes are boldly delicious and juicy. But, I admit to making this all year when I can get delicious cherry tomatoes at the market. Either way, this is a great snack or main course served with a salad.

In the heat of summer, sometimes the only relief is biting into a beautiful ripe tomato. I like to stuff them and bake until they’re juicy and blistered. You can fill them with just about any ground meats or vegetables, but I like to use rice or other grains mixed with a variety of roasted vegetables, cheese, and nuts.

I love orzo pasta! It looks like rice and tastes like pasta! This is a good way to use the veggies in your fridge that need somewhere to go. Just roast them up with olive oil, salt and pepper and toss them into the pasta with cheese and basil. I can eat this warm or cold, and it keeps in the fridge for several days. It’s perfect for a picnic or side dish at brunch. Let’s be honest, it’s perfect anytime.

I learned to make delicious hummus from Chef Nir Feller in Tel Aviv. It really makes a difference if you cook dried chickpeas, instead of using the ones in a tin. It takes some time to cook them, but you can cook a huge batch and freeze them for using later. Be sure to freeze the cooking liquid separately to use also.