Yalla Magazine Issue 8

Everyone who has been to my house knows they will always find a RECIPES
big jar of homemade biscotti in my kitchen. Though I tend to stick to
the same basic recipe, I sometimes play around with the flavouring
to change things up a bit. I came up with this recipe by accident. I
combined my husband’s favourite flavours (lemon and almond) with
my no-fail biscotti recipe. The result is amazing, and now these have
become a favourite among friends and family. I call them “Capri
biscotti” because these are the flavours of the Italian island of Capri.

INGREDIENTS • Zest of 1 lemon
• ½ cup (45g) plus 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• ½ cup (100g) coconut sugar or brown sugar • 1½ cups (175g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (120ml) light olive oil • ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 large egg • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon lemon extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the coconut sugar, oil, egg, extracts and lemon zest
on high speed for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and add the 1/2 cup (45g) sliced almonds, flour, baking soda
and salt. Beat until a dough forms, about 2 minutes.
Use wet hands to divide the dough into two equal portions. Place the portions on the prepared baking sheet,
spacing them about 3 inches ( 7.5cm) apart. Shape each portion into a log, about 4 inches (10cm) in diameter and 10
inches (25cm) long. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds over the top of each log; use your hands to press the
almonds into the top of the logs and flatten them slightly.
Bake the logs in the oven until golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet. Reduce the
oven temperature to 150°C (300°F).
Transfer the logs to a cutting board and use a chef’s knife to cut them crosswise into about 15 slices, each about 3/4
inch (2cm) thick. Place the slices cut side down onto the same parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and bake in the
oven until biscotti are crisp, about 10 minutes.

M A K E - A H E A D T I P : Capri biscotti can be stored C A N I F R E E Z E I T ? Capri biscotti can be stored in
in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to one an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.
month.
Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E 151

GRATITUDE

COUNT YOUR

blessings

GRATITUDE

During challenging times when darkness
threatens to overwhelm you, an attitude

of gratitude can be a life-saver.

SUSAN MENASHE

It was December 2018, I was spending 10 magical days with The following 10 days were filled with more tests and medical
my parents, my two siblings and their families in Puerta procedures and lots of agonising waiting in between, until a
Vallarta, Mexico. My parents, both fit and well in their 70s, biopsy finally revealed our worst fears. My son was diagnosed
posed for a photographer as they were embraced by their 10 with a Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly aggressive
smiling grandchildren on an idyllic beach as the sun began malignant type of cancer that began growing from muscle
to set. It was a rare occurrence that all 18 of us, living in cells alongside his left testicle. Each medical appointment
different parts of the globe, got the opportunity to holiday seemed to be pushing us further into a dark pit as we learned
together. I gazed at this beautiful scene wishing I could that his tumour was too large to be safely removed, and we
capture the moment, and felt extremely blessed. were informed of all the details of his lengthy treatments and
As the holiday drew to a close, we all said our goodbyes, surgery that would be required to restore him back to health,
knowing that in only a couple of months’ time, we would all G-d willing.
hopefully be together again to celebrate my niece’s bat mitzvah The weeks and months that followed now seem like a blur
in San Diego, and then once again be fortunate to be reunited of chemotherapy, hospital admissions, surgery as well as all
in London for my daughter’s bat mitzvah in June. My diary the unpleasant side-effects and unexpected challenges that
seemed to be filling up with exciting events and trips abroad accompany such events. Our lives had been turned upside
as I eagerly prepared for a wonderful 2019, jam-packed with down and the major impact was felt by all five of our family
all the promising things the year seemed to have in store for members. 2019 didn’t seem to be delivering all the wonder it
my family. had promised. However, there was one factor in this equation
that we could control, and that was our attitudes.

By the middle of March, the year didn’t seem to be While it would have been all too easy to focus on the darker
following our intended path, as my husband and I suddenly aspects of our situation, the fact remained that there was
found ourselves accompanying our 14-year-old son to The an abundance of light and positivity surrounding us. First
Macmillan Cancer Centre, in London, one day after an MRI and foremost was that we had access to world-class medical
scan had revealed a large, dangerous lump in my son’s body. professionals and treatment less than six miles from our
Sitting in the taxi, I was overcome with enormous shock and home in London, all provided by our incredible National
fear for what lay ahead, and was in total denial that we could Health Service. My son immediately began responding well
even be on our way to such a destination. It simply didn’t to his treatment despite its very harsh side-effects. We were
make sense that only a few days before, our son was sprinting extremely fortunate to be constantly showered with love and
across a muddy football pitch, as his weekly match went ahead endless support provided by family, friends and acquaintances.
in the pouring rain. He had seemed the picture of health.

Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E 153

GRATITUDE

“I am grateful for
witnessing my son’s
indomitable spirit,
resilience and strength
of character that shone
through, even during his
most difficult days, and all
that he taught me during

that time.”

154 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

GRATITUDE

A spiritual army of over 100 kind, loving individuals across It hurt me and my family to go through the ordeal of my
many continents formed a WhatsApp group that continually son’s serious illness and necessary treatments and I had
recited the very powerful book of Tehillim over and over, constantly wished that he could have been spared so many of
and this group continues to this day to allow members to the challenges and disappointments he had to endure at such
add other names of loved ones requiring healing. So many a young age. At the same time, I am also aware of the insight
incredible acts of kindness – such as baking challahs , lighting we, as a family, gained having gone through this experience.
Shabbat candles on time, davening at holy sites all over the As I type these words during the last few days of December, I
world, packing food parcels for those less fortunate and hours will try and remind myself not to view the year 2019 only as a
of learning were all done in our son’s merit, and we could challenging time. We experienced pain, missed opportunities
only feel humbled and blessed. and numerous disappointments, but I hope that I may also be
With immense gratitude to Hashem at this point in time, able to reflect on my son’s miraculous outcome, the enormous
I feel blessed that our son’s outcome has been the best we outpouring of love, faith and unity from so many human
could have hoped for and he is now in remission. However, angels, as well as the personal spiritual growth that 2019
I have learned there is even so much more than that I need yielded.
to be grateful for. I feel it is a true gift to simply recognise the No words can possibly describe just how blessed I feel!
thousands of blessings that stare at me in the face each day. I
am fortunate to be alive in this world. I am grateful for being
aware that I should not limit my generosity and care to my
own circle of friends and family, but should always strive to
reach out to anyone going through the many life challenges.

I am grateful for the new dimension of sensitivity and
empathy I feel towards someone else’s pain and suffering. I am
grateful for witnessing my son’s indomitable spirit, resilience
and strength of character that shone through, even during his
most difficult days, and all that he taught me during that time.
I am grateful that our experience might have the potential
to uplift others in need of inspiration. I am grateful for my
new understanding of what it really means to appreciate the
sunshine after the so-called storm.

SUSAN MENASHE qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of the Witwatersrand in
Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999, where she worked in a private practice until 2001. In 2001,
she moved to London and worked as an inpatient physiotherapist at various hospitals throughout
London for 10 years. She is no longer practising her work as a physio and is now a full-time mum
to her three children.

[email protected] www.wearechazak.com