Busy in Brooklyn – Modernizing traditional food, one dish at a time.

The smell of juicy, fruity peaches ushers in the start of summer, and I can’t wait to play with my favorite fruit. From peach amba, to peach bbq sauce, pickled peaches and peach salsas… there are so many ways to enjoy it! I love how the fruitiness and acidity play against the anise flavor of the fennel – shave on a mandolin for optimum enjoyment!

Fennel Peach Salad with Basil Lime Dressing

2 bulbs fennel, thinly sliced on a mandolin, fronds reserved
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 peaches or nectarines, thinly sliced
2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
1/4 cup roasted salted pistachios

Basil Lime Dressing
1/3 cup light olive oil
3 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tbsp honey
2 cubes frozen basil
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Mix the salad and dressing ingredients in a bowl and toss to combine. Garnish with fennel fronds.

VARIATION: Add feta or parmesan.

summer corn peach and quinoa salad
peach salad with chili lime dressing

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Sheet Pan Roasted Fish & Gnocchi

On June 9, 2026

by chanie

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I love me a sheet pan dinner, and this one has to be a favorite! When I learned that you can roast gnocchi in the oven instead of boiling it, it was LIFECHANGING. The dumplings take on a lovely chewy texture, and they caramelize around the edges for the most delicious bite! Adding fish fillets in the center of the pan makes Meatless Mondays a breeze!

Sheet Pan Roasted Fish & Gnocchi

For the gnocchi:
1 lb. store-bought gnocchi
1 cup grape tomatoes
1/2 medium zucchini, chopped
1 tsp lemon zest
2 cubes frozen basil
1 clove garlic, minced
pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
kosher salt, to taste
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

For the fish:
2 fillets striped bass, or white fish fillets of your choice
2 cubes frozen basil
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

On a sheet pan, combine the gnocchi, tomatoes, zucchini, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, slat, olive oil and balsamic, stir to combine. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven, stir, and move the gnocchi around the perimeter of the pan to make room for the fish. Place the fish fillets in the center. In a small bowl, mix the basil and olive oil, brush over the fish. Add the lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

sheet pan pesto gnocchi
shlishkes
Old Bay fish tacos
sheet pan branzino

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Spring Potato Salad

On June 2, 2026

by chanie

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Potato salad has always been a staple at summer gatherings, but this version feels a little more modern, a little fresher, and a lot lighter than the classic mayonnaise-heavy recipes many of us grew up with.

Instead of boiling the potatoes, I roast them until they’re golden and caramelized around the edges. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness and creates a deeper flavor that simply can’t be achieved by boiling. The potatoes stay fluffy on the inside while developing crispy edges that soak up the vinaigrette beautifully.

To complement the roasted potatoes, I add some of my favorite spring vegetables: tender asparagus, sweet peas, peppery radishes, and fresh scallions. Everything gets tossed with a bright dill vinaigrette resulting in a potato salad that feels vibrant and refreshing instead of heavy.

What I love most about this salad is that it celebrates the season. Asparagus and peas are at their peak in the spring and early summer, bringing color, sweetness, and freshness to every bite. The dill adds an herbaceous note that ties everything together, while soft-boiled eggs make it substantial enough to serve as a light lunch or brunch dish.

Whether you’re serving it for a Shabbos lunch, a backyard barbecue, or alongside grilled fish or chicken, this roasted potato salad is proof that sometimes the best updates to a classic recipe come from letting seasonal ingredients shine.

Spring Potato Salad

For the Salad
1 (1½-pound) bag baby red potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
16 asparagus spears, trimmed, cut into thirds, and blanched
1 cup peas, blanched
3 scallions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
3 large radishes, halved, thinly sliced
3 soft-boiled eggs, halved or quartered

For the Dressing
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, grated
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Toss the quartered potatoes with ¼ cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25-35 minutes, stirring once or twice, until golden and tender. Let cool.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus for 2 minutes until crisp-tender. Transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Blanch the peas for 1 minute and transfer to the ice bath as well. Drain well.

Add the eggs to the water and simmer for 7 minutes, transfer to an ice bath.

In a large bowl, combine the roasted potatoes, asparagus, peas, scallions, radishes, and fresh dill.

Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, whole-grain mustard, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Add soft boiled eggs.

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Triple Lotus No-Bake Cheesecake

On May 20, 2026

by chanie

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Shavuot is one of those holidays that feels deeply tied to family for me. Beyond the cheesecakes and dairy meals, I always find myself wanting to make dishes that feel personal — something that surprises my kids and feels connected to the things they love most. Food has always been one of the ways I show love, and somehow these holiday recipes end up becoming little time capsules of each stage of our family.

Growing up, my mom’s lasagna was that extra hug for the holiday, and in our house, it’s cheesecake.

Years ago, before Lotus products flooded the kosher market from Israel, getting your hands on anything Biscoff-related was nearly impossible. The only kosher version I could find came from Amsterdam, so I had my cousin ship some to me. Some of my blogger friends and I tried making Biscoff desserts from scratch, and I made these cinnamon buns from the cookies, because the spread wasn’t available on the kosher market yet.

Now Lotus spread is my youngest daughter’s absolute favorite, so this year’s Shavuot cheesecake became hers. A creamy no-bake Lotus cheesecake with a buttery cookie crust and a crunchy caramelized topping that tastes like candy shards on top. I can’t wait to surprise her with it this holiday!

My orange creamsicle cheesecake from Millennial Kosher is my older son’s favorite and my Oreo version is my younger son’s pick. I can’t make them all, so they’re on rotation!

This cheesecake has everything I love in a Shavuot dessert: no baking, lots of texture, and that perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, caramelized, and slightly salty. It feels nostalgic and modern at the same time.

Triple Lotus No-Bake Cheesecake

For the crust
1 package Lotus Biscoff cookies
1 stick melted butter

For the filling
16 ounces whipped cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Lotus Biscoff spread

For the crunchy topping
2 1/2 cups cornflakes
3.5oz white chocolate
1/2 cup Lotus Biscoff spread
Pinch of salt
flaky salt, for finishing

To make the crust, crush the Biscoff cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor or blender and add the melted butter, pulsing until evenly combined. Press firmly into the bottom of a pie dish or springform pan and place in the fridge while preparing the filling.

For the cheesecake layer, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and Lotus spread until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture. Spread the filling evenly over the chilled crust and refrigerate for several hours or overnight until set.

For the topping, melt the white chocolate gently over a double boiler and stir in the Lotus spread until smooth. Fold in the cornflakes until fully coated and add a pinch of salt. Spread the mixture over the chilled cheesecake and top with flaky salt, if desired. Return the cheesecake to the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Related Recipes:

Lotus cinnamon buns

cookie butter pumpkin pie

Lotus puppy chow

Lotus pancakes

no-bake frozen cheesecake affogato

cottage cheese cheesecake

easy no-bake cheesecake

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Warm Halloumi Salad

On May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

by chanie

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There are certain restaurant dishes that completely take over your ordering habits, and for me, warm halloumi salad is one of them. The second I see it on a menu at an Israeli restaurant, I’m ordering it.

Over the years, I’ve had so many different versions — piled into crispy edible baskets, layered over greens, topped with sautéed vegetables, sometimes sweeter, sometimes saltier — but they all had the same irresistible combination of textures and flavors: warm salty cheese, savory vegetables, fresh greens, and that glossy teriyaki-style sauce that pulls everything together.

This version is inspired by all of those salads I couldn’t stop thinking about afterward. Peppery arugula gets topped with sautéed red peppers, onions, and mushrooms, then finished with sesame-crusted halloumi that’s crisp on the outside and soft and chewy in the center. And then comes the sauce. Sweet, savory, sticky, and deeply umami, it coats the warm vegetables and halloumi in the best possible way.

I especially love serving it for Shavuot because it feels festive without trying too hard. Halloumi always gives a dish a little drama, and paired with the warm vegetables and teriyaki flavors, it totally steals the show.

Hearty, comforting, salty, fresh, and honestly craveable enough to build an entire meal around – the perfect holiday centerpiece!

Halloumi Salad

10oz. halloumi (may also use feta or fresh mozzarella)
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sesame seeds
canola oil, for frying
1 red pepper, cut into strips
1 red onion, cut into strips
16oz. mushrooms sliced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup silan
1 clove garlic, grated on a micrplane
2 tbsp harissa
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup water
1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
5 oz. arugula

Method:

First, fry the halloumi: cut the halloumi into cubes. In a large Ziploc bag, mix flour with salt and pepper, add halloumi and shake to coat. In a shallow bowl, beat eggs with salt and pepper, stir the halloumi in the eggs to fully coat. Add the sesame seeds to a large Ziploc bag and add halloumi, shaking off the excess eggs as you add to the bag, shake to coat.

Heat canola oil in a skillet and add the halloumi, fry until golden brown on both sides, drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

In a bowl or glass measuring cup, add the soy sauce, silan, garlic, harissa, orange juice, water and cornstarch, whisk to combine.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the onions, peppers and mushrooms and saute until softened and starting to caramelize around the edges. Add the sauce and stir until the sauce thickened and vegetables are glazed.

Spread arugula out on a platter, top with halloumi and the sauteed vegetables, taking care to coat the halloumi cubes in the sauce.

Serve warm.

NOTES:

For a shortcut, you can use store-bought teriyaki sauce instead of making the sauce.

Since this salad is served warm with fried halloumi, it’s best to prepare the day of serving, but if you’d like to prepare in advance, you can prepare the sauteed vegetables ahead of time and warm them before serving. You can grill or saute the halloumi without breading and add it to the sauteed mixture (breading will get soggy if made in advance).

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