I love surprise parties, but never have I ever been to one as prolonged as the one in this week’s portion, Parshat Miketz . Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt seeking relief from the famine, and Joseph, who is in charge of food rationing, recognizes them immediately. But they don’t recognize him. Read More »

Last week ‘s food on a stick – very enjoyable. Pumpkin Pie on a Stick Last year, for this week’s portion, Parshat Vayishlach,  we talked about the fraught reunion of brothers Jacob and Esav. The year before that covered Jacob’s struggle with the angel. This year I want to string the two together, as the stories are in fact intertwined. Read More »

After 14 years of being bullied by his father-in-law Lavan, Jacob finally stands up for himself. Sure, he was a sucker for spending seven years working for the privilege of marrying Rachel only to be handed her sister Leah and a sap to keep working another seven years to stay with Rachel. Read More »

To quote a friend ; “holey Double Portions,” it’s our two year anniversary here at this blog! How to celebrate? Perhaps with a full day of cooking and eating without any restrictions on picture taking. Coming soon. You could also help celebrate by making one of the past two recipes for this week’s portion (see the bottom of this post). Read More »

While the name for this week’s portion, Parshat Chayay Sarah, is translated as “the life of Sarah,” it actually opens with the death of our matriarch. Though Sarah lived a long life, dying at age 127, Abraham is still beside himself with the loss. He mourns for Sarah and then sets about finding a proper place to bury his beloved. Read More »

Avraham and Sarah sure know how to show guests a good time in this week’s portion, Parshat Vayeyra . They tell a trio of traveling men who happen upon their tent to make themselves comfy, offer them a little shade, a little water and then parade out an entire feast – freshly baked bread, tender meat and fresh cheese. Read More »

Citrus brightening our kitchen this week We first get to know Abraham in this week’s portion, Parshat Lech Lecha, as he begins his journey of self discovery. We learn that he is son to Terach, husband to fellow God-devotee Sara, and uncle/fellow sheepherder to the sketchy character Lot. Read More »

The blueberry base is quite dense as it is a muffin recipe, but nice citrus and tart yogurt flavors. The chocolate cake/arc is super moist and I like that it has olive oil in it – a nod to the olive branch that the dove brought to Noah. Read More »

Sam and I spent a blissful four days with my parents in their home in Upstate NY last weekend. Aside from rediscovering how much I love napping in an indoor hammock, I found a treasure – a picture of an early mabul cake I baked for Parshat Noach. Read More »

I’ve been blogging for two years now, but haven’t written a post about Parshat Breishit – the very first portion in the Torah. In year one I went public a few weeks too late and in year two I got caught up in the swing of the holidays. This year I’m not gonna let that happen. Read More »

Sam helping to build a Cambridge Sukkah last year Last night was supposed to be the night that Sam and I went to buy our set of four species (lulav/palm frond, etrog/citron, hadasim/myrtle and aravot/willow) for Sukkot , the week long holiday which Read More »

For all the weeks I’ve been absent here, I’m coming back on a double portion to make it up to you, with a rather long post. I’ll do the usual, portion explanation and food dish – but also give you a sneak peek at my Rosh Hashana menu. And at the bottom is a flash back to this week last year. Enjoy! You win some and you lose some. Read More »

Things are down hill from here for Moses. In this week’s portion, Parshat Vaetchanan, Moses makes a final plea to God to let him enter the land of Israel but gets shut down. “Enough, never speak to me about this again.” The best he gets is to go on top of a mountain and look at the land he has been yearning for all these decades. Read More »

On a rainy summer day like today, that throws a wrench in your outdoor plans , I think we could all use some eye candy. Sorry things have been so quite here at Double Portion – hopefully I’ll have a new post to share with you this week. Read More »

God likes to be punctual – and wants His nation to follow suit. In this week’s portion, Parshat Pinchas, God asks the nation to be punctual with presenting all the offerings – from the daily offering to special holiday and Shabbat sacrifices. Read More »

Last year there was shavuot, graduation and Parshat Naso all in the same week. Well the graduation parties ended last weekend and Shavuot isn’t until next week, but we will read the weekly portion of Naso this week, and I’d like to revisit a theme: the Nazir. Read More »

This week we got a gorgeous new GE stove (complete with Sabbath mode !). While I’m terribly excited to have kissed my squeeky-doored, off-by-100-degrees oven, I’m kind of nervous about messing the new one up. Right now it is so sparkly and clean and I just want to keep it that way forever. Read More »

Hi There! Miss me? Sorry for the hiatus. This week hardly seems like the time to come back, with a portion chock full of bodily maladies, but I’ve missed it here.This week we’ll read Parshat Tazriyah which appropriately enough for spring, kicks off with babies being born and people getting sick. Read More »

There is a lot of Purim prep going on in our house this week and I ran out of time to tell you about the weekly Portion – so instead I’m going to share my twist on hamantashen this year. Read More »

After Moses shares a laundry list of rules with the nation in this weeks portion, Parshat Mishpatim, the nation famously responds – “All the things that God has commanded we will do!” This attitude doesn’t last for too long during their trek in the Read More »