As I am sitting and daydreaming of the Hanukkah potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce, and also pondering what will be the perfect Christmas cookies this year, I realized January of 2009 is almost too full of holidays. From New Year’s celebrations for many religions and nations, through Martin Luther King’s day and the Barack Obama inauguration, to World Religion Day, it was time to publish the calendar and help with the planning of January 2009 festivities. more…

December is here with the cold weather as a constant, DC just had first snow today, the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree Ceremony is behind us with president Bush in one of his last public appearances, Christmas decorations are popping all over town, Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone, and it is about time to publish the December 2008 holiday calendar. more…

Mid November in DC, and the nights are getting longer and colder. This week we have frost almost every night, and the slippery slope of eating more filling food to keep warm and feel good is smoother than ever. What can we eat on a cold night without feeling guilty about the pre-holidays diet? One simple tasty solution is soup: warm, filling and scrumptious. This is a great cold night dinner. Including suitable “good carbs”, it will make it a meal that will not leave us hungry half an hour later. more…

There is no color that says Fall more than orange, and there is no vegetable that says autumn more than pumpkin. Between Jack-O-Lantern, the pumpkin scones that show up at every Starbucks, pumpkin spice cake or pumpkin cream cheese muffins, one cannot have too much pumpkin. more…

A full meal in a pot. Tajin or Tabekha in North Africa, casserole, cassoulet or stew for the rest of the world, chicken thighs and green peas are flavored with Mediterranean spices and cooked together till flavors blend to a perfect dish for warming a chilly autumn night. A perfect dish for cumin lovers. Serve with couscous or brown rice for the full North African experience. more…

Thanksgiving. Autumn. Turning Leafs. Enjoy this low fat recipe that brings to light the rich and earthy flavors of fall as the opener for your Thanksgiving feast or as a warmer for a chilly autumn evening. more…

Mid October, the treats for Halloween are ready by the door, the pumpkins are along the entryway and the autumn wreath is hanging on the door. While planning for Thanksgiving I realized I did not post the November holiday calendar yet. Here is a detailed list of the coming holidays for November 2008. more…

End of summer and the markets are filled with fresh ripe fruits. To preserve the taste of summer, why not make a batch of jam from your favorite fruit? After all, what can be better in the dead of winter than a hot tea break with a warm toast smothered with your homemade summer jam?! more…

September holidays are here, but we still need to plan ahead! Here is a detailed list of the coming holidays for October 2008. Is there a holiday we are missing? A note about a holiday you think is worth mentioning? Feel free to comment. more…

To help you plan your holiday season, here is a detailed list of the coming holidays for September 2008. Note that in the Jewish and Muslim calendars a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, while Christian holidays are celebrated on the date. more…