The Family Who Cooks Together…

by Zehorit Heilicher, Tastemaker in Residence       

A Yemenite Shabbat Recipe… For Breakfast

My adult children have traveled and settled across the country, separated from me by the geography of mountains, miles, and time. And yet, we are all bound together by the aroma of slowly simmering rice, the flavor of hot and flaky, decadent chocolate babka, and the anticipation for a Shabbat Yemenite breakfast of Kubaneh, patiently baked overnight. We are imbued by the joys of shared sessions of rolling flaky dough, of lemony roasted chicken meals prepared and consumed together. The sizzle of onions caramelizing and the scent of added garlic perfuming our every inhale, brings us back into the family circle and to its essence – love.

Yes, that is what cooking means to me. So, no wonder that when all my kids converged at home this month for a visit, what we did most is cook together. This pandemic enhanced our need for family togetherness while presenting us with challenges of how to actually achieve it. But in order to celebrate a graduation - we made it happen!

Imagine these scenes! The kitchen island was dusty with flour for a lemon poppy seed cake on one side, lovingly frosted by my youngest daughter.  On the other side, over a cutting board, my oldest daughter was wielding a chef’s knife with assurance, slicing vegetables for a salad. The lonesome dining table rejoiced with familiar bodies surrounding it, banter and discussions sailing across it, tested and contested by our son. My platters came out of their hideout and were filled with pearly, glistening rice and caramelized, crisped broccoli, my middle daughter’s favorite. My kids’ hands, once small and uncertain, were now capable and assured. This mama was in heaven…

These are all my dividends on investments of time, kitchen clean up, and drawn out cooking sessions during their childhood. Don’t get me wrong – there are no guarantees! They could all have matured into adults who stir clear of the kitchen…

I did get very lucky: I shared my love and it was reciprocated. In many ways.

This gamble is worth taking, I believe. My hope is that if you choose to do the same – your reward will be just as rich!

Here’s a recipe straight from our family table! Spatchcock Chicken - Lemon Rosemary

photo from https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/lemon-poppyseed-cake/