I love Passover and the relaxed pace of the holiday. It is a great time to visit with family and friends. It is also a week long food fest. It seems as though all we do is EAT. This light supper salad is easy on the waistline while still very satisfying and delicious.

I know that Purim is a few weeks off-but somehow the holiday creeps in and often I am left unprepared.

Every year I wait until the last minute to even think about Purim, and making Hamantaschen, and before I know it the holiday sneaks up on me and I end up buying Hamantaschen at the store or bakery.

Long touted for its affect on stamina and arousal, the Italian libertine Casanova ate chocolate before bedding his conquests. While the jury is still out on the possibility of chocolate being a sexual enhancer-we do know that chocolate tastes great. Just the mention of warm, luscious chocolate lights a fire in most chocolate lover’s hearts.

Sliders or mini burgers are perfect for football’s biggest game, or anytime you want a flavorful, but not too hefty portion. I love the big juicy flavor of the spicy skirt steak but definitely want to save room for dessert.

Mandelbrodt, or almond bread, is an Ashkenazi confection that is usually twice baked. Similar to Italian Biscotti, Mandelbread are formed into loaves, sliced and baked. To keep the Mandelbread pareve, use dark chocolate for dipping instead of white.

Chili is the perfect accompaniment for Sunday game day or a movie night. I turned a dish that could be ordinary into something extraordinary by combining different types of beans, vegetables and peppers for layers of flavor. My family serves it steaming hot, right out of the slow cooker, accompanied by a platter filled with lots of tempting accompaniments.

Tu B’Shvat is this week and is the perfect day to reflect on how we might better take care of the earth and its resources. Though the holiday has changed throughout the centuries, Tu B’Shvat can be a day to celebrate the unique partnership between man and nature. It appears that now, more than ever, we need to be more conscious of everything we do and how it affects the planet.

So cupcakes are dead and pie is the new ….well, cupcake! Kumquats are the new pomegranate and vegetables, especially root vegetables are the new meat (I called that one last year). Kale is the new hottie in the sauté pan AND the salad bowl and not eating meat once a week is all the rage.

While New Year’s is not a hookup holiday, I am always happy to raise a glass and join friends and loved ones in a toast. The collective hope for good health, happiness, peace and prosperity is always welcome and I do not ever hesitate to join in. This past year, especially, has been a trying one for many people throughout the world and I, for one, am happy to see the secular year of 2010 pass.

Last year I was on a one-chef campaign to bring chop suey back en vogue with an updated version for Christmas. What else is there to do on Christmas except to invite some friends over and EAT?!