One of the coolest parts of blogging is getting to connect with other bloggers who share similar interests. One of my favorite new blogs is Almost Kosher. As the name suggests, this awesome site is devoted to “Kosher-style,” cooking (food which is not technically kosher but could be produced as kosher if one wishes).

Started by a talented lady named Chava, she views cooking as a spiritual journey that connects her to people and Judaism through food. Raised in the Bay Area of California, she was exposed to a myriad of cultures and learned to appreciate many ethnic flavors and incorporate them into her own creations.

Browse through the recipe collection and you’ll find tasty tidbits from Israel, India, Africa, Mexico, China, and more! Anyone dealing with a restrictive diet will appreciate the selection of dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan foods. Lots of good options for holidays and Shabbos as well. Some of my favorites include:

Apricot Chipotle Chicken

Chicken Tandoori (Slow Cooker version)

Israeli Garlic Roasted Chicken

All three are flavorful, filling, and provide much needed inspiration to snap out of the plain old chicken rut. (We eat chicken 3 times a week at least, and some days, I get so sick of it!)

Another neat idea that I can’t wait to try is making a brisket in a pressure cooker. While I’ve made/eaten many, many briskets in my life, I’ve never tried that particular method. Doesn’t this meat look amazing?!

If you’re searching for an easy way to put a unique spin on classic dishes, Almost Kosher should be on your list.