In Jewish households, cooking often brings mothers and daughters together. That especially occurs at holiday time. So Bonnie Rabicoff, the host of “In the Kitchen with Bonnie,” decided to have her mother, Ida Mour, in the kitchen with her for her holiday show this year.
“I learned to cook from my mother and she hers. Together we have three generations of knowledge,” Rabicoff said.
This episode of “In the Kitchen with Bonnie” is a departure from the norm. Usually the show is produced at the restaurant of the celebrity chef and the chef does the cooking.
“We discuss the chef’s journey, his or her inspiration for cooking, plating it … all things about food,” Rabicoff explained.
The show highlights food products, preparation, presentation, beverage pairings, a behind-the-scenes chat with the chef and features a celebrity taster. The show, which has been on the air for about a year and a half, has featured such local celebrities as Michael Stern and Bryan Busby.
In fact, Rabicoff, who serves as the producer as well as the host, said this will be the first time the show has ever been produced in her kitchen.
“The production team and the staff will be the tasters for this episode,” she said.
Mour is proud of her daughter, noting that “she calls me every day. She’s a fabulous cook.”
The 85-year-old Mour, who is a Jewish educator, is happy to be helping her daughter with this episode.
“Potato latkes are very healthy. They’re just eggs and potatoes, not a bunch of junk. They are so luscious and were used in those days for sustenance. Potatoes were very important in their diet,” she explained.
Mour, who described herself “as a pretty good cook” as well, pointed out that food is important to the Jewish people.
“We don’t have a holiday without food,” said Mour, who has taught religious school at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom and the old Community High School. A member of B’nai Jehudah, she still tutors Torah and chanting to Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.
Before the actual cooking demonstration begins, Mour will tell the story of Chanukah. She said she will explain that the holiday is really a celebration of religious freedom.
“It’s a festival, not a holy day,” Mour said.
The Rabbicoff-Mour potato latke recipe is old fashioned and simple. It uses ground potatoes, eggs, onion, salt, pepper, baking powder and matzah meal or flour.
“It’s not the ingredients, it’s the technique,” explained Rabicoff. “And we don’t use schmaltz anymore, like my grandmother did, but the flavor is just as good.”
The pair will demonstrate the technique on the television show. But it’s not a technique Mour particularly loves these days.
“I won’t grind the potatoes. You grate them, and I’ll make them,” she said.
However, Rabicoff said she has made more contemporary versions of potato latkes.
“Besides onion, we have used scallions. The little specs of green give it a little brighter flavor. We’ve used shredded potatoes and green onions to give it a bright, fresh taste,” Rabicoff said.
The family has always favored serving the latkes with sour cream, not applesauce. To make that more contemporary, they have added chives to the sour cream mixture.
While this show will feature family, a celebrity will also be included in the “At Home for the Holidays” special. Tyler Florence will share a sweet potato casserole recipe.
Rabicoff has worked in television for more than 20 years. Before beginning the show, she spent 11 years as the vice president of development for KCPT Public Television. Prior to her work at the station, she was the director of marketing for The Barstow School where she founded and coordinated “The Barstow School Organic Farmers’ Market and Chef Series.” Her career began administering social services for youth at risk under Mayor Richard Berkley’s Youth Council.
About ‘In the Kitchen with Bonnie’
The episode of “In the Kitchen with Bonnie” featuring Bonnie Rabicoff’s mother, Ida Mour, will be broadcast Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. This multi-media “foodie” series can be seen on education television channels in the Kansas City metro area and at www.inthekitchenwithbonnie.com website. A complete schedule of show times can be found on the website. The show is available on the Time Warner and Comcast cable systems in both Kansas and Missouri and Surewest in Kansas.
The one-hour broadcast of “In the Kitchen with Bonnie” can also be heard on Radio Bach Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. (1660 AM, 96.5 FM in HD and streaming on the Web at RadioBach.com). It can also be heard at 7 p.m. Sunday evenings on KMBZ (NewsRadio 98.1 FM, NewsRadio 980 AM and streaming on the Web at KMBZ.com).
The entire series is available on the “Show Archive” page at www.inthekitchenwithbonnie.com.