A few years ago I started making sephardic-style charoset for Passover... and I never stopped. Although it is not the classic apple and walnut dish of my youth, I like the flavors better and I find it easier to manage on a piece of matzah with horseradish.

This year, I discovered this Serious Eats recipe, which I found not only tasty but also easy to make. Win win!

This is my basic jam recipe. It can be used for just about any type of fruit jam (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, apricot, peach, blueberry, etc.).

Yield: 4 half-pints

4 heaping cups of fruit
1/2 to 1 cup water (depending on natural juiciness of fruit)
1 package no-sugar pectin (= 3 Tbsp no-sugar pectin)
sugar to taste (probably about 1/4 cup)
Pinch of spices, if desired (things like allspice, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel can be a nice addition, depending on the fruit)

Adapted from a recipe we found online, this flatbread or pizza is easy to make and tasty. Cut it into small squares to serve at a party.

For some reason, I got on a baking kick this week. And I decided to make rugelach. Rugelach is a jewish pastry, sort of. Like all "jewish" foods, its a European thing, brought to America first by Jews, and adopted into Jewish culture. I like them, and I thought I'd try and make them.

From http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Thai-Spiced-Waterme...

For soup
5 cups coarsely chopped seeded watermelon (from a 4-lb piece, rind discarded)
1 fresh lemongrass stalk*
3 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons mild olive oil
1 small hot green chile such as Thai or serrano, finely chopped (including seeds), or to taste
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

For crab

From http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chilled-Watermelon-... , but the flavor profile would probably also make a great salad.

6 pounds yellow or red seedless watermelon, diced (9 cups)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup lightly sweet white wine (such as Riesling) or 3/4 cup water mixed with 1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon chopped ginger
8 teaspoons crumbled feta
1/4 cup sparkling wine (or sparkling water)

In a stand mixer, beat together for 15 minutes on high speed (or a little lower if using a higher-speed handheld mixer) :

5 eggs (large, whole eggs - not super yolky / not farmraised)
1 cup sugar (add gradually as eggs are being beaten)
pinch of salt

Then fold in, carefully,
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour

Line 2 cake pans with parchment (or waxed) paper...*do not grease pans*
Spoon batter equally into pans

Bake 18-20 minutes at about 350 degrees.

In Austin, there used to be a fantastic Turkish restaurant called Ararat - one of Austin's best kept restaurant secrets (that everyone knows). They had bellydancing all weekend and live bands during the week, and some of the best middle eastern food you'll find. It was a small place with rug-covered walls that was always jam-packed.