Sarah Newman

The recipe this week reflects the notion of life and death. The main ingredients are beets, and shallots, which grow deeply in the Earth and mushrooms, which grow in dark, damp places. The finely chopped nuts are dust-like to symbolize what we each become...

Here is a delicious, non-dairy dessert made with seasonal blueberries whose vibrant bluish-purple color makes the dish especially beautiful and appealing. It also has no added sugars, sweetened only with dates and bananas. Ingredients: 1½ 13- or 14-ounce ...

This dish comprises two dips that one can eat with breads, as a reminder of the breads that Sarah and Abraham offered the three strangers (angels) who entered their tent. In this Parshah, Hagar is sent away with Ishmael. He is Isaac’s half-brother, and th...

The recipe I created this week is symbolic of Abraham’s journey and covenant with G-d. Abraham is given five blessings and this dish has five vegetables that represent these blessings. The vegetables are cut into long ribbons, symbolizing our unique indiv...

This recipe uses eggplant as the “boat,” stuffed with a mix of colorful vegetables, covered with zucchini and sitting in a bit of liquid. Ingredients: 4 small or 2 large globe eggplants 2 tomatoes, chopped 1/2 yellow onion, chopped 1/2 celery root, trimme...

In creating this recipe, I was inspired by water. It’s essential for survival and nourishment. Looking out at the misty Pacific Ocean on a cool day, I see kelp beds floating, dolphins cresting, birds plucking fish and feel the sticky, salty, heavy air. Am...

In this week’s Torah portion, we read the story of Balaam, who is asked by Balak to curse the Israelis. Despite his intentions to vilify them, Balaam’s words become blessings. Balaam’s story makes clear that G-d gave us free will and we have the choice to...

I received a basket of enormous, homegrown onions from a family friend. Layers of thick dirt muted the rich golden tones of the onions. Each one had just been picked and a mass of dried out, dusty stalks, like wild hair, was sprouting from the bulbs. I wa...

The dish I created this week is inspired by the idea of standing at the precipice of the Promised Land. The simple walnuts represent the wilderness. A long stream of honey symbolizes the Jordan River. The yogurt and honey are also symbolic of Israel being...

The dish I made this week–vegan pancakes with strawberry compote–is inspired by Korach’s fire pans and the sweetness of Torah. Pancakes are a thin and humble dish, unlike Korach’s inflated sense of self. (If I was making a dish representative of Korach, t...