Two Passover Flourless Cakes

I was the luckiest kid in the world.

Every time we had dinner at my grandparents' house, my family would constantly remind me of my incredible good fortune.

As they savored every morsel of chopped liver, matzoh ball soup, and succulent brisket, aunts and uncles would exclaim, "Your Bubby is The Best Cook In the Whole World!"

Of all the billions of people in the Whole World,  I was amazed that my own Bubby was bestowed with this honorable distinction!  And I got to eat at her house all the time!

Who wouldn't be grateful?!

Although there may have been a few other contenders for the title, she really was a great Jewish cook and made a mean flour-less Passover banana cake, which I'll share at this opportune time.  Although she never made a flour-less chocolate-almond torte, she might have if she'd known about it-

Manya Kleinman's Passover Banana Cake

8 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sweet wine (optional)
6 tbsp potato starch
6 tbsp matzoh cake meal
2 small mashed bananas
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Pre heat oven to 325.  Spray a 10" angel food pan and set aside.  Whip yolks until light, add sugar and beat until fluffy. If using wine, add to yolk mixture.  Add mashed bananas to the yolk mixture.  Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites, then sift in matzoh cake meal and potato starch until blended.  Gently fold in chopped nuts, if desired.  Bake for one hour and 10 minutes.  Turn pan upside down on rack when done and let cake cool in pan for 1 hour.

Flour-less Chocolate-Almond Torte 


1 cup whole almonds, toasted
7 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
7 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
unsweetened cocoa powder
lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter a 9" springform pan and set aside.  Combine almonds, chocolate, 1/2 cup of the sugar and the salt in a food processor until almonds and chocolate are very finely chopped but not completely pulverized.  Set aside.

Beat the egg whites with cream of tarter until soft peaks are formed.  Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue to beat until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.  Add 1/3 of the nut mixture to the egg whites and fold in.  Gradually fold in the remaining nuts.

Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Place pan on a rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then turn onto rack.  When cool, dust with cocoa powder.  Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Two Words: “Recycled” “Concrete”

As we head into our fourth year of this long recession, all of us in the landscaping profession have become increasingly astute about how to provide homeowners with landscaping remodels that they can afford.  Yet, while they request more economical garden installations, our clients continue to desire beautiful and, increasingly, environmentally sustainable design solutions.  The challenges presented by these requirements actually offer some surprisingly creative opportunities for landscape designers and contractors who are willing to try new and unconventional approaches. 

This quandary brings back memories of my wise grandmother who taught me about the treasure trove of beautiful and pragmatic solutions awaiting those who are imaginative- and economically savvy.

Repurposed concrete driveway

When she immigrated to the US in the early 1900’s, this impoverished young woman had nothing but hope for a better life- and gumption.  Her uncanny ability to fashion haute couture from salvaged remnants of fabric; to serve up feasts from cut-rate groceries; to cultivate lush, prolific gardens from scavenged seeds – all demonstrated an artful determination to transform scarcity into beautiful and valuable commodities. 

As a designer committed to providing quality landscapes to discerning clients during these challenging economic times, my grandmother’s wisdom constantly resonates with me. Homeowners have had to navigate the maze of this ongoing recession by being increasingly practical and creative about home improvements.  Their renovation priorities are typical: to enhance their quality of life by creating a more enjoyable outdoor space; to capitalize on the value of their home; and, for an increasing number of environmentally conscientious homeowners, to incorporate sustainable landscape features in their remodels.  Of course, all of these requirements must be economically viable.  

Graceful recycled concrete terraces

Given the above parameters, Grandma’s pragmatic adage, ‘Waste Not; Want Not,’ is often the best approach to modern landscape design.

The growing trend to use recycled concrete in landscaping projects perfectly illustrates this principle. From elegant terraces and innovative planter beds, to artistically reimagined driveways turned into patios, repurposed concrete provides an inexpensive alternative to new materials for constructing beautiful and functional landscape features.  Although labor costs can be similar to construction with new materials, overall costs are less using recycled concrete. Because pre-existing concrete is ubiquitous on many residential landscapes, repurposing it on-site rather than hauling it off to dumps reduces landfill waste, conserves fuel used in transporting materials off and onto the site, and reduces carbon emissions generated by transportation.  In addition, recycled concrete can add beautiful texture and color to a garden.


In the words of one wise grandma, “What’s not to like?”

Graceful recycled concrete terraces

Graceful recycled concrete terraces

Repurposed concrete driveway