Mother of 3 wins cholent contest

JERUSALEM, Feb. 8 (JTA) — A 39-year-old mother of three is the Israeli champion of cholent. Esther Yisrael of Kfar Saba beat out more than 130 Israeli men and woman over the weekend in Tel Aviv with her recipe for the slow-cooked, casserole-like stew that is traditionally served on the Sabbath. Yisrael’s version of the dish included chicken, beef, semolina dumplings, stuffed vegetables and spinach, flavored with garlic, onion and a medley of herbs, including parsley and cilantro. With the modesty of a winner — and the perfectionism of a true cook — she said she did not include kishke or stuffed grape leaves because of a lack of time.