I am an artist whose current medium is my family’s dinner meal. Previously a potter, film-maker and painter, the complexities of family life have lead me to this most satisfying, functional yet transitory form — food art.
Our kitchen is always open.
All contents and photographs of “The Plate is My Canvas” blog ©2020 Dori Gordon Walker, all rights reserved.
Recipes from this blog are found in these cookbooks:
The Plate is My Canvas: Recipes and Stories from My Family’s Interfaith Kitchen
Written in the style of a family memoir, with stories from the author’s family, this book includes all of the Jewish classics, from rugelach to latkes. Married to a Lutheran man, Walker learned to cook her husband’s family’s classics as well—with help from her mother-in-law’s handwritten recipes. Stunning photographs accompany each recipe. A perfect gift for an interfaith family.
Essential Passover from Scratch: Recipes and Stories from My Mother’s Kitchen
From gefilte fish and prepared horseradish to charoset, chicken soup, and matzo balls, Dori Gordon Walker’s family cooks from scratch—and sometimes without a recipe. Growing up in an Ashkenazi Jewish family and watching her mother add a handful of this and a dash of that, Walker has since gathered her memories into clear, easy-to-follow recipes. With each recipe beautifully photographed, Essential Passover From Scratch offers the very best from the author’s kitchen.
You Can’t Have Dry Coffee: Papa’s Excuse to Have a Nosh And Nana’s Perfect Pastries
“You can’t have dry coffee,” was what my grandfather would say when reaching for one of my grandmother’s delicious cookies or pastries. Elegant rugelach and mandel bread, tart plum cake, delicate cream cheese cookies, and sweet babka—these fancy treats started me on my life-long love of baking. Along with those classics, this collection has challahs, bagels, bialys, plus modern-day luscious treats like chocolate cream cheese brownies, and the best chewy, peanut butter chocolate cookies I’ve ever had.Whether my grandfather was being ironic, or if something was lost in translation from Yiddish, I’ll never know. But ironic or not, a cup of coffee needs a good nosh, and this book is a compilation of our family’s best.
The Plate is My Canvas 
Dori,
You never cease to amaze me. You truly are an artist in every sense of the word and your family reaps the benefits.
Proud to know you,
Pat
Dori,
You inspire me in several ways. First- create my own inventive flavor combinations. Next- make the presentation an art. And then your words “turn on the radio, be patient” settle in my mind as I remember to slow down and find pleasure and peace in whatever I’m doing in the moment.
Debi
Thank you for the black bean and rice recipe. Will be anxious to try that next week.
Gloria, let us know how it turns out!
Dori, you wonderful girl, Gary made your salmon patties last week, and we both loved them! And he’s so proud of himself.
I love your blog, and I love you!
Love,
Candace
Beautiful ptotos! We used to go blueberry picking and my mother would make blueberry buns and a cordial. Still trying to find the recipe for the cordial but you can take a look at the bun recipe.
All the best,
Irene
http://bamitbach.wordpress.com
Hi Irene,
I enjoyed looking at your blog! You also make imberlach! Isn’t that the best?! I want to try the blueberry buns. I’ve never heard of that and it sounds delicious. Maybe on Friday with a little bit of challah dough? Thanks for sharing! Best, Dori
Dear Dori,
That’s Dori all over. Great pictures. (Too bad Gourmet went out of business.) Great recipes. Clean and careful layout.
As you may remember, I love reading cookbooks and, now, recipes on line. Yours is the best looking site I’ve seen, including many corporate ones.
I feel something strange pulling me toward the kitchen. Something about chocoalte chips, M&Ms, and 18 cups of oatmeal. Help! Monster Cookies!
Behold the beauty of food!
Lynise
Dear Lynise, I knew there was a good reason you are my dear friend. Stop by and we’ll do some cooking!
Hi Dori,
How did i happen to miss this piece of art. Love your new medium. Thanks for that memory of the broccoli and beef. Gosh that seems like forever ago. I think this blog is great…so much of food is memory, isn’t it. I am sure you have read one of my favorite food writers MFK Fisher. I recently picked up some of her books here in India and even if i can not get fresh oysters here i loved reading about them!! write me again! jani
Dori, this is an amazing blog. I love the pictures you shared as well! And I will be coming back for more 🙂