Forbidden Pleasure

Pork in Israel is considered tref or forbidden. A cookbook about it is not only forbidden more or less but also controversial. Yet one has just been published and by an Israeli who grew up eating black market sausages. It's full of delicious recipes and makes good use of every part of the pig.

I read about the author Dr Eli Landau in yesterday;s Dining section of The New York Times. The interview was conducted by Jeffrey Yoskowitz and it;s an interesting one. The cookbook is called "The White Book" a reference to pork;s code name "white steak ".The phrase is used in restaurants throughout Israel because there are laws restricting the sales of it. Pigs can be raised in non secular communities thanks to legal loopholes citing that it's done in the name of science.

The recipes are wonderful . The Times published a great spaghetti sauce that features pork loin. As anyone knows sauce made with pork is much more fragrant and tastier than beef based ones.There are also ones that feature pork and polenta stuffed cabbage along with pork meatballs with fennel seeds.It mostly a Mediterranean based book save for one good weiner schnitzel recipe.

Pork recipes are rarely controversial. yet Dr, Landau created a stir by compiling this fascinating cookbook. It's a salute to a great meat , tref or not.

Rhubarb A Garden Fresh Treat

This is time when many gardens yield rhubarb. A lot of foodies don't know what to to with it or are even afraid to try the stalks. However once you cook and sweeten the fruit, it'll fast become a family favorite. It'll be wonderful in all sorts of dessert from pies to ice cream.



The plant does have a bad rap because its' leaves are highly poisonous. However the stalks are fine to eat however they must be boiled. Take the stalks and simmer in a shallow pot of water. Why shallow? because the stalks contain a lot of water themselves and if you add more liquid you'll have an overflow. Add a dash or lemon or lime juice and then cinnamon or nutmeg, Since the stalks are some what bitter, add 1/2 to 2/3 cups of sugar. Be warned. Rhubarb stalks can get very mushy when cooked.



What can you do with this mash? Most people add strawberries or apples for more sweetness. You can also add pectin to this or the cooked rhubarb to make a nice jam. Plain cooked rhubarb and strawberry make an excellent filling for a simple pie. You can also take this mix and add it to pudding or ice cream for an unusual treat or even to plain yogurt. Some people make a rhubarb chutney which accompanies chicken but mostly pork recipes.



Rhubarb is a wonderful garden treat. Don't be afraid to cook with it and use it n a variety of desserts.You'll enjoy its; earthy sweet flavor - a true taste of a summer harvest