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Soup for a Soul Brother- Corn Chowder

By: Deanna Linder Twelve years ago I met Assaf, outside of the discotheque in Club Med in Eilat, while vacationing in Israel. It was one of those chance meetings that change your life in a drastic way. Incidentally though, along with meeting my soul mate, I also received a “soul-brother”. I just made up the term so I will elaborate. Yonatan was then 8 years old. I was 18. Exactly 10 years apart (to the day). I barely spoke Hebrew and he barely spoke English, but we understood each other. We bonded over our shared love for soccer, watching the same movies repeatedly, fresh squeezed juices, hanging by the pool, etc. We hung out for days on end (Assaf was in the army) simply enjoying each other’s company, and learning a different language (him English, me Hebrew).  At that time I was still living in the states and would come visit often. Every time I would leave, he would prepare for me a “flight-package”- a collection of crossword puzzles (he made himself), drawings, old photos... 
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Saturday Morning at the Beach and Borscht

By: Danya Weiner Last Saturday I woke up at six in the morning and looked at the sky. After a stormy night, the white clouds and rays of sun signaled to me that my plans to join a group of men for their breakfast on the beach were still on.  I know it may sound like some weird plans for a married mother of two but there is an interesting story behind it. A few weeks ago I asked my uncle, Josie, about to tell me all about his “Saturdays on the Beach”. For years now I know my uncle has been meeting with a group of his friends, all men, on the beach in Herzilya every Saturday and having a feast. I decided it was time to see what this was all about. Twenty eight years ago- yes 28!- a guy named Gideon Ackerstein sat on the beach after a run and had a snack of pickled herring with two of his friends who lived in Herzilya. Gideon knew my uncle from work and he asked him to join along one day, for a shot of vodka and some pickled herring after a run.  They started making it a weekly habit,... 
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Italian Bean and Pasta Soup (Pasta e Fagioli)

I have a theory that the world divides into two types of people based on several different categories. These categories include, but are not limited to the following: those who prefer to drive with the windows open/those who prefer to drive with air conditioning; those who prefer to sleep on the side of the bed next to the wall/ those who prefer sleeping away from the wall; and those who eat soup all year round/those who can only eat soup in the winter. I’m a drive with the windows down, sleep away from the wall and eat soup all year round kinda girl. Until recently I thought that these were innate qualities that are predetermined and attest to other parts of ones’ personality. I have been proven wrong. I not sure whether it’s the final stages of pregnancy or the lack of onset of winter, but the thought of eating soup for the past several months has made me cringe. Finally, well into the first week of December, the winter has briefly appeared. A few hours of rain, and the craving... 
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Lovely Summer Gazpacho

My husband loves to feel like he's eating healthy. Since he is definitely not the foodie in the family (he can make an omelet, and that’s it), he doesn’t really know what eating healthy means. One thing he does know is that when summer starts, the gazpacho is in the fridge, and he eats it up like it's going out of style. There is something so incredibly refreshing about eating a cold soup in the summer- but even more refreshing when that soup is made from completely fresh, uncooked vegetables. What could be a healthier? I love making him feel like he's eating healthy, and watching him finish the whole pot within two days (it really is that good). This version is adapted from Thomas Keller's version in his book "The French Laundry", named after his famous restaurant in Napa Valley, California. I'll be flying home (to Los Angeles) in a month and am looking forward to being inspired by some of the great restaurants, produce and products available. Any suggestions, new spots, or things... 
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French Onion Soup with Kashkaval Cheese Croutons

Ingredients for 4 servings: 1 oz. (30 grams) butter 6 yellow onions, peeled and sliced into thin slices 2 tablespoons all purpose flour ½ cup dry red wine or dry white wine 1 cup orange juice, preferably freshly squeezed 4 cups mineral water Salt and fresh ground pepper For the croutons: 8 slices of a day old baguette Olive oil 3 oz. sharp yellow cheese, such as Kashkaval, Provolone, Swiss, coarsely grated 2 sprigs fresh thyme Preparation: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat, add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Stir in the flour and wine and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the alcohol from the wine evaporates. Add the orange juice, water, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and cook for about 20 minutes, until the onions are very soft. Taste and season accordingly. Make the croutons: heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush the baguette slices with olive... 
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  • Food photography and food styling is what we do for a living. Day in and day out we work for a variety of clients, creating images made to order. This blog gives us the opportunity to work for ourselves, something that truly exhibits our work, through photos and stories.

    A love for aesthetics and passion for food… that’s what makes Matkonation.

    Enjoy, Danya (photography) and Deanna (styling)

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