Fruity Mixer

I can’t say I’ve done this on Tu B’Shevat before, but I just put together this delicious drink that’s definitely fruity and really yummy!

• 3 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 2 cups orange juice
• 2 cups flavored seltzer (I used white grape flavor)
• ½ cup water
• ⅓ of a water enhancer (I used the Coolmate peach-mango flavor)
• 2 mini fruit-flavored vodkas (optional; I used a peach flavor and a strawberry flavor)

Mix all together and place in freezer. Shake every half hour for two hours so it gets slushy. Serve in martini cups with a frozen strawberry floating in each cup.

—Faigy Grossman, recipe columnist

Apple-Cherry Crisp

This is one of those recipes that could be a dessert, but I prefer to use it as a sweet side. It’s a great way to sneak some dessert into the main course. Thanks to my sister-in-law Shana Frankel for the recipe, a fun upgrade on the typical apple crisp.

Crumbs

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1½ cups sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar
• dash cinnamon

Filling

• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 2 apples, grated

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Mix crumbs and filling in two separate bowls. Place two-thirds of the crumbs in an oven-proof dish or foil pan. (Alternatively, divide them between ramekins for individual servings.) Spread filling on top.

Crumble the remaining crumbs over the filling and bake in preheated oven until crumbs are browning. Serve warm.

—Rachel Samet, writer

Frozen Grapes

My favorite candy is actually frozen grapes. Just wash, remove from the stem, and store them in a ziplock in the freezer. Then pull out a handful for an after dinner snack or midafternoon boost. There’s nothing more sweet, satisfying, and refreshing. I have to fight with my six-year-old daughter over them. I’ve been told that they’re delicious dipped into chocolate and frozen, too. Definitely something I need to try!

—Sima Kazarnovsky, recipe contributor

Apple Trifle

This apple trifle is a winner from my old neighbor Mrs. Fried. It looks really pretty and is always finished to the last drop!

Fruit Salad

• 3 red apples
• 1 green apple
• 1 yellow apple
• 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 11-oz (310-g) can pineapple tidbits, juice reserved

Sauce

• ½ cup orange juice
• 1 12-oz (340-g) bag frozen strawberries
• 1 12-oz (340-g) bag frozen raspberries
• 2 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar
• drop of liqueur (optional)

Crunch

• 8 oz (225 g) roasted filberts or pecans, chopped
• ¼ cup (½ stick) Mehadrin Margarine
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup crisp rice

Blend all sauce ingredients until syrupy. Refrigerate until chilled.

Combine crunch ingredients in a baking pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5–10 minutes, until margarine is melted and mixture appears roasted. Set aside to cool.

Quarter all the apples, leaving the skin on, and slice thinly. Pour the juice from the pineapple tidbits over apples to prevent discoloring.

Place a tall or footed glass in the center of a trifle bowl and fill it with the sauce. Layer the fruit in the trifle bowl around the sauce. Sprinkle the crunch generously over the fruit.

—Esti Vago, production

Shivas Haminim Salad

Reprinted from Perfect Flavors, with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications
I love this salad because it’s such a nice tie-in to Tu B’Shevat.

• ⅔ cup barley
• oil, for deep frying
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 5 cups arugula or spinach
• 1 cup green grapes, halved
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• 8 dried figs, quartered

Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp silan
• juice of 2 limes
• ½ tsp whole-grain mustard
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Cook barley according to package directions. Set aside to cool.

Heat oil in a small pot over medium heat.

Toss ¹⁄₂ cup cooked barley with flour. Add to hot oil; fry for a few minutes, until golden and crispy. Set aside.

Prepare the dressing: Place all dressing ingredients into a small bowl. Whisk until combined.

Assemble salad: Place greens, grapes, pomegranate seeds, figs, and remaining cooked barley into a large bowl. Pour dressing over; toss to combine. Garnish with fried barley.

—Naomi Nachman, columnist

Custard-Filled Flan Pie

This looks beautiful garnished with fresh fruit. The coconut oil adds a velvety texture to the custard, but even without it, it’s really good. Cake and custard — a winning combo!

Cake

• 6 eggs, separated
• 6 Tbsp sugar
• 6 Tbsp flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour)

Custard

• 1 cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 tsp vanilla sugar
• 3 Tbsp flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour)
• ¼ cup coconut oil or trans-fat-free margarine

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Beat egg whites until stiff, gradually adding sugar. Lower mixer speed and add the yolks and the flour, mixing until everything is incorporated.

Spray a flan pan well. Pour mixture into pan and gently knock the pan on the counter to get rid of air bubbles. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until golden. (Don’t worry – it looks like it’s going to overflow, but it doesn’t!) Cool for 20 minutes. Turn over onto a serving platter and gently bang the bottom of the pan. The cake will pop out.

To make the custard: Place all the ingredients, except for the oil or margarine, in a medium saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly, over medium heat until the mixture thickens. (I use a whisk for this.) Do not leave for a second!! Turn off heat. Add coconut oil or margarine and stir until melted. Cool slightly.

Pour into the cake’s indentation. Decorate with assorted fruit. Enjoy!

—Brynie Greisman, recipe columnist

Peanut-Butter Stuffed Dates

These are a perfect after-dinner or anytime snack. Enjoy!

Cut all dates almost fully in half. Remove the pit.

Fill each date with ¹⁄₂ tsp peanut butter. You can add chopped nuts also, if desired. Place the dates on a plate and freeze for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt dark chocolate. Dip the frozen dates into the chocolate (or just drizzle it on top) and add your preferred toppings. Return to the freezer for 45 minutes.

Store in the fridge until ready to eat!

—Mindy Schon, accounting

15 Varieties

A customer once told me that her family does 15 fruits on Tu B’Shevat keneged the 15 Shir Hamaalos. I loved that idea, so between the dried and fresh fruit and the nuts, we make sure there are 15 varieties of fruit on our Tu B’Shevat platters. Things that are out-of-the-box nutty we buy for our own meal that night. You’re all invited because we always have too much of the weird stuff leftover!

—Chaia Frishman, columnist

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 829)