I am now into my third week in Israel. The first two weeks were spent touring around with friends, some in the group had never been to Israel before. It was nice seeing the country through fresh new eyes. When you have lived somewhere long enough for it to feel like your home, you forget to see how amazing this little country is. Some of the highlights included sitting in a chair with my feet in the Kinneret for hours, visiting the Kibbutz that was my home for so many years, spending time with my friend-a brand new savta (grandmother) -on the day her grandson began to smile and sitting on this lovely porch in Yafo writing this.
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/5/3/52534141/684390.jpg?250)
On this trip I discovered one of the secrets of the Israeli salad. Fresh parsley, cilantro and mint chopped up very fine. I know it sounds like a bit of a weird combination but along with cucumbers and tmatoes chopped up small it is a pretty perky salad.
When I make salad at home I chop up the cucumbers and tomatoes earlier in the day and leave it dry. I chop up an avocado and put lemon juice salt and pepper in a small container. Then I add this to the dry salad just before serving it. This technique took me years to develop. Did I tell you that I am a "slow cooker". Anyway, now I am looking forward to trying the new spice combination as well.
Wednesday I will be home and back to slow cooking. More recipes and more fun to share with you.
On a sad note, i tried to make two of the cheesecakes in the slow cooker before the trip (for Shavuot) and while they were tasty, they did not firm up as I had hoped. If I can get this to work, I will share it later. In the meantime, I can't recommend the cake recipes.
Shalom from Yafo
Donna
When I make salad at home I chop up the cucumbers and tomatoes earlier in the day and leave it dry. I chop up an avocado and put lemon juice salt and pepper in a small container. Then I add this to the dry salad just before serving it. This technique took me years to develop. Did I tell you that I am a "slow cooker". Anyway, now I am looking forward to trying the new spice combination as well.
Wednesday I will be home and back to slow cooking. More recipes and more fun to share with you.
On a sad note, i tried to make two of the cheesecakes in the slow cooker before the trip (for Shavuot) and while they were tasty, they did not firm up as I had hoped. If I can get this to work, I will share it later. In the meantime, I can't recommend the cake recipes.
Shalom from Yafo
Donna