Chanukah gives Shaina the opportunity to stop—in the middle of school projects and finals!—and think about tradition, life outside whatever is currently consuming her and, of course, latkes.
Letting Light into Life’s Black Holes
About the Author
Shaina Shealy (daughter) is currently spending a year in Jerusalem where she’s exploring abundant vegetables at Israel's many markets and studying for a Masters Degree in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Hebrew University in conjunction with The George Washington University. She’s prone to existential crises every two weeks and spends 20 percent of her 20-something life washing, peeling, cooking or eating vegetables. Known to throw elaborate dinner parties with her housemates, her pantry is always stocked with extra virgin coconut oil, tahini, raw almonds and Himalayan sea salt. She hates olives.
Mint Chutney
Latkes are my favorite winter tradition. Four years ago, I threw a Chanukah party in India. I grated potatoes with three friends, two knifes and one hand peeler. We poked holes into a bottle gourd for a menorah. We covered the floors with newspaper to soak up the grease. We left the door open in…
Curry Cashew Cream
Here’s an alternative to sour cream that will make the vegans in your life happy and serves as a dairy-free latke accompaniment if you’re making meat. The curry is a throwback to the Chanukah I spent in India a few years ago.
A Quick Breakfast for Slowing Down
The high holidays were a quiet time of introspection, but as soon as they were over, Shaina was back to full speed. Now it takes time and effort (and special breakfasts) to slow back down.
Raw Buckwheat Breakfast Porridge
One of my favorite breakfasts-in-a-jar is buckwheat porridge. I’ve been playing around with buckwheat a lot. As life seems to get faster and faster, I feel drawn to foods that evoke slowness, foods scented with nostalgia that remind me of times when the clock did not seem to tick so fast. Times in which life…
Like Salad for Elephants
A lot of Americans return from trips to Israel feeling inspired by community, oneness and connection to the land. Shaina, on the other hand, comes back inspired by all the salads.
Herby Beets with Crushed Hazelnuts
I think a lot of Americans return from trips to Israel feeling inspired by community, oneness and connection to the land. I always return feeling inspired by vegetables. In the days that I’ve been back in the States from Israel, I’ve been in heavy veggie-chopping mode. This beet salad is part of the aftermath—a bright,…
Balancing the Comforts of Home
Home before flying off to Israel for the summer, Shaina enjoyed plenty of her mom’s blintzes, cookies and cakes, while a trip to the farm with her dad resulted in baby kale for balancing green smoothies.
Kale Coconut Smoothie
When I was home, my dad and I went on an outing to the farm. We picked over ten pounds of tender baby kale. The sautés, salads and smoothies were a nice balance to the cookies, cakes and quiches with which my mom stuffed me. This smoothie is one of the best I’ve made in…
No Fear When It Comes to Food
Now studying journalism, Shaina reflects on her chosen profession, which is challenging and anxiety inducing, versus cooking, which comes naturally and is completely free of fear.
