Just in time for our Israel Independence Day Barbecues! Julie Remer and Paula Weinstein, in their new cookbook Dinner Du Jour and More!, have published this recipe for Shish Kabob Marinade. The marinade works for chicken, beef and fish. For a healthier marinade, the oil can be omitted.

_{Photo © 2008 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

This year Israel's Independence Day is on Wednesday night and Thursday (May 7-8, 2008). On Israel's Independence Day, Israelis packs their picnic baskets with charcoal, lots of meat, salads, pita bread and hummus. The country's parks are dotted with families outdoors barbecuing and enjoying "The Land." Even if you can't be picnicking outside in Israel this year, you can still enjoy a traditional Israel Independence Day meal.

_{Photo of Pita being made in Tel Aviv © 2006 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

Matboucha is a traditional Moroccan cooked tomato and bell pepper salad. It is so popular in Israel that it can be found right next to the Hummus on Israeli grocery store shelves. Once you make it yourself, you won't want to settle for store-bought Matboucha anymore. While Matboucha can be served hot or cold, I like it best cold on a cracker or fresh pita.

_{Photo © 2007 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

Hummus, made from garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chickpeas), is served as an appetizer, side dish or main course in Israel. Today grocery stores in Israel sell a variety of hummus spreads (with pine nuts, with za'atar, with tahina, lite, thick ...). Hummus tastes best when scooped up by a piece of warm pita bread.

More Israeli Food Recipes

_{Photo © 2006 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

Legumes like chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) are a main component of the Mediterranean diet. Hummus and felafel are two popular Israeli dishes that are made from chickpeas. This Chickpea Salad, from Paula Levine Weinstein and Julie Komerofsky Remer, is another way to enjoy this tasty, high fiber bean.

_{Photo © 2006 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

Whether eating in Israel in a restaurant or in someone's home, you are likely to find some version of this finely diced, tomato-cucumber based salad.

• Classic Israeli Salad
• Festive Israeli Salad

_{Photo © 2006 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

Once I ate this Mediterranean Zucchini at my neighbor's Israel Independence Day party, and since then I serve it every Yom HaAtzmaut too. It is a pareve dish that goes well with either meat or dairy meals. It is healthy, colorful and delicious. And to me it tastes like Israel.

_{Photo © 2006 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

I made this Cauliflower Broccoli Salad for our Israeli Independence Day picnic. The carrots and red onion add color, and the sunflower seeds and cashews add flavor. The simple dressing consists of mayonnaise, red wine vinegar and brown sugar. Be sure to chop the vegetables into small pieces. This salad makes a refreshing and lite accompaniment to grilled meat.

_{Photo © 2007 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

This child-friendly Macaroni Salad can be the starchy side dish on your barbecue menu. While this simple pasta salad can be easily dressed up with cherry tomatoes, red onion, broccoli, carrots or other raw vegetables, my kids prefer it plain.

_{Photo © 2007 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

A long, long time ago, when I was in preschool in Israel, I used to make these treats. And today in Israel, preschool children continue to make them. Israelis call them Kadori Shokolad (Chocolate Balls), but elsewhere they are referred to as truffles. By rolling them in a variety of coverings (powdered sugar, coconut, or candy sprinkles), they can make a colorful dessert.

_{Photo © 2007 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}