The produce here is really good. And we learned how to make shakshuka 😀

The produce here is really good.  And we learned how to make shakshuka 😀

The produce here is really good.  You can get it in a variety of large grocery stores but there are also specific little fruit and vegetable stores along the street and they seem to have the best produce.  Honestly, the grocery store stuff is just fine – I think part of it maybe the sense of walking into a very small store right along the street and suddenly being totally surrounded on all sides by overflowing piles of amazing looking produce.  Its just a different sensory experience than being in a normal grocery store.

Now I know you can make this anywhere, but the fact is we haven’t until now.  Its the dish that Conan Obrien loved so much when he did his comedic trip to Israel a couple years ago.  Val and I (OK, mainly Val) learned how to make shakshuka.  And its pretty darn good!

 One great side effect of our being here and me being off work for a while is that Val and I have been able to spend more time together.  In an attempt not to be too annoying around the apartment, I’ve taken to being her sous-chef.  And we’ve done some great multi-tasking in the kitchen.  Here we’ve got scrambled eggs, pancakes, rice (for the thai chicken she makes) and of course, shakshuka, all going at the same time – not bad for a small Israeli kitchen!