Thursday, September 13, 2007

Flaming Success!

Last night's dinner was so great! Everyone loved the food and really looked like they enjoyed themselves. My friend, Elana, commented that I looked really calm. I think she was referring back to prevous entertaining nights where I felt like my head was imploading. I told her this time was different because my mom did most of the cooking -- and it's true. I was set with my three or four dishes and luckily did not spend the entire day running around like a lunatic.


So I made:


Our Favorite Israeli Salad ---- deeeeeelicious! OMG. My dad made fun of me that I was looking at a recipe to make a salad, but it was really awesome! It was made distinct, I think, because of the dash of cinnamon and sumac ... and oh, the mint really brought it all together. It was a gorgeous salad.


Challah --- made this numerous and has been featured on this blog and my other one lots of times. This time did not disappoint. Since it is customary for the New Year to bake a round challah, rather than the braided, I wasn't sure how it would turn out because I'm not the most dexterous person. The challah was huge, but it was soooo good, and so well received. My sister's mother-in-law said she had never tasted a better piece of bread in her life. It was perfect. Still warm from the oven, soft, sweet. I was really pleased and was most excited about this.


Roasted eggplant w/ feta -- this didn't turn out like I thought. I imagined the feta would just melt into the eggplant and turn it a more buff color. But it was mostly just eggplant with specks of feta. It tasted nice, and people said it was a good combination, but I'm not sure it is something I will run to make again.


The cake I posted about last night did not fail to impress. Elana said that all her life she hated honey cakes because they were so dry. She said my cake changed her opinion about them. Yay! It was squidgy and moist. Sweet and fabulous!


What a fabulous night!

Enough from me... here are the pictures!






6 comments:

Sarah Nicole said...

I love the pictures Iliana. They all look so warm and every one looks so content. It's almost magazine like lol. The food looks great too. Yum!

xoxo
Sarah

Anonymous said...

All looks absolutely amazing Ilana, as always.

George x

Ms O said...

That salad looks so refreshing! Everything looks great -- your family included!

Lea x

vonsachsen said...

A belated Happy New Year! :)

vs
xx

vonsachsen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hag Sameah Ilana.

It looks like you had a lovely time with your family, well done for hosting it in your place.

I've got to agree with you on the salad -it's definitely the sumac that makes the difference.

neshikot, Francesca x