Eliza, a mother of 3 living in Litchfield County, had an inspirational moment one day while grocery shopping. Tired of the usual meatballs, burgers and Bolognese rotation, she has begun a quest to cook authentic ethnic meals from a different region each week. Last time was Spain and this week is Israel.

With typical Israeli bravado, all the websites and cookbooks I perused insinuated that although the recipes were excellent, the dishes could not possibly be as delicious without access to the fresh fruits and vegetables found in the Israeli markets. And having seen those markets and tasted the produce, I understand the pride.  However, with a trip to my well stocked local health food store, New Mornings in Woodbury, I managed to make some delicious Israeli meals.

Israeli cuisine finds its origins in the wide swath of fertile to barren land from northern and eastern Europe down through the Middle East across northern Africa and into Spain.  And because the recipes traveled with immigrants, many carry stories and traditions.There were websites galore featuring Israeli recipes, but I ended up enjoying the dishes from one cookbook the most.