We Belong at the Table | Highlighting traditions and history through food

Celebrate Your Family’s Food Traditions with Us!

A photo of many different foods from throughout the Jewish diasporaIn a world filled with overwhelming news, we find solace and joy in reconnecting with our family traditions. One heartwarming way to do this is by sharing the special foods that have been passed down through generations and bring us together at the dinner table.

This initiative seeks to center Sephardi, Mizrahi, and Jewish Families of Color’s culinary traditions, in an effort to uplift diverse stories and highlight the power of cultural traditions. We are inviting community members to share traditional (or non traditional) recipes and family stories, culminating in a virtual ‘Recipe Box of Tradition’ to be shared widely.

Recently, one of our amazing jkid4all families, the Ungar Family, took this idea to heart. Tanya shared her family’s journey of exploring their Jewish Ecuadorian heritage through cherished recipes:

“I wanted to let you know how deeply meaningful this project has been for our family. We came together to name our cuisine, agree on the recipes that reflect our Ecuadorian and Jewish roots, and enjoyed creating them for a photo shoot (shoutout to my son for the fantastic photography!). We had so much fun reminiscing about these dishes and the kids are even encouraging me to create a family recipe book and explore more fusion recipes! Oy veh! Haha!”

Tanya’s story reminds us of the joy and connection that come from exploring our heritage through food.

We invite YOU to share your family’s culinary traditions with us!

This initiative is funded by a grant from the Jews of Color Initiative.

Here’s how you can get involved:

  1. Gather Your Loved Ones: Sit down with your family and talk about the foods that have been important in your family’s history.
  2. Share Your Recipes & Stories: Submit your favorite traditional (or non-traditional) recipes and family stories to our Recipe Box of Tradition.
  3. Use The Fun Questions to the Right to Get Started
    • What’s a favorite dish from your family’s tradition?
    • Who in your family is known for making this dish?
    • Are there any special memories or stories associated with this recipe?
    • How did this dish become part of your family’s traditions?
    • What ingredients are essential for this dish and why?

Your recipes and stories will help create a rich tapestry of
diverse culinary traditions from around the world!

To give you a taste of what we’re doing, we’re excited to share some of our jkidphilly family recipes with you as a preview!

Leftover Brisket Empanadas Makes 18 empanadas Ingredients: 1 ½ cup left over brisket with sauce but not wet, minced 2 cups flour 2/3 cups butter 1/3 cup ice water 1 tsp salt Egg white mixed with a little water, if baking Olive oil, if frying Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make empanada disks: Combine the flour, butter, salt and ice water in a bowl or food processor until small crumbs form. Place the dough onto the counter and form a ball. Divide in half and roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut the dough with a round cookie cutter to form the empanada disks. Place the brisket in the center of the disk, being careful not to overfill and leaving a ¼ inch of the disk clear. Wet the bottom half of the disk with water and fold the top of the disk over to match the bottom edge. Press with a fork to seal completely. Baking: Brush empanadas with egg white and water mixture. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the empanadas are golden brown. Frying: Fill deep pan with 1 inch of olive oil. Fry in medium heat until the empanadas turn light brown, flip and fry the other side. Remove to a napkin.

For more information about this initiative, contact Sarah Kolker. We can’t wait to read your stories and try your recipes!

Let’s celebrate the power of food and family traditions together!

We Belong at the Table | Recipe Submission Form

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