The Nosh Pit

Caramel Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

07/19/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

This weekend is the start of the Nine Days, when observant Jews abstain from both any meat products or wine. So while you're switching your chicken and steak for mac and cheese or fried tilapia, you can pair your dinner with this delicious, indulgent cheesecake.

The base and crust are super simple, but topping them with both a swirl of chocolate ganache and sticky caramel brings it to a whole new level. This is one dessert you'll want to bring back throughout the year - and of course at Shavuot.

Roasted Peach Crumb Cake

07/13/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

Whenever I wander through the market near my home in Jerusalem, I'm drawn - both by smell and by sight - to the mounds of ripe peaches and nectarines snuggled up alongside the plums, grapes, cherries and melons at every fruit stand.

Beef Lo Mein

06/27/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

I'm a good Jew. And by that, I mean I love Chinese food. Even not on Christmas, I develop cravings for crispy egg rolls, wonton soup and sweet and sour chicken. And while it's nice to order in and line up those little cardboard containers on the table, it's also nice to be able to cook at home sometimes, which is where this recipe for beef lo mein comes in.

Mini lemon tartlets

06/22/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

I love mini desserts. And I love lemon desserts. It clearly goes without saying (but when did that stop me from talking) that I love mini lemon desserts. And these tartlets really fit the bill. While any dough that you make yourself will taste better than a storebought one, in a pinch you can certainly use frozen pie crusts and make the super-quick filling in the microwave for a still-impressive dessert.

Crispy onion chicken fingers

06/14/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

I may not have kids, but I'm basically a big kid myself, so I like making fun, simple foods that I know children will love. Case in point: these chicken fingers. A little more interesting than simple schnitzel, these strips of chicken are coating in crispy onions which add both a crunch and a nice flavor. Enjoy them by themselves or in your favorite dipping sauce - or even on a sandwich.

Chocolate caramel thumbprint cookies

06/08/2012 | Amy Spiro | Online Jewish Week Columnist | The Nosh Pit

There are times I want to spend 10 minutes mixing up a cake, then toss it in the oven and serve it later straight from the pan. And then there are times I like spending a couple hours in the kitchen, creating a special baked good that will wow people's eyes as much as their taste buds. This is one of the latter times.