Vicky's Candied Etrog Recipe + Judaica Art
Hanukkah gift ideas
Remember this whole last year when we all got way too breathless and heartbroken following the news about Israel, only to end up spiraling into the toxic online reality for Jews after October 7th? Yeah, well, this Jewish year 5785, I’m really trying not to do that. Unfortunately, I’m still online too much—but at least now I’m finding things that are visually inspiring! Vicky's designs are a perfect example of that. I first connected with her on Etsy while searching for DIY challah covers, and her designs immediately stood out to me.
They were exactly what I had been looking for—creative, modern, and rooted in tradition. I’ve always believed that Judaica plays a crucial role in making our homes more meaningful, and as someone who loves crafting, I was drawn to the hands-on, personal touch in Vicky’s work. Her designs feel like a perfect blend of craft, design and tradition, and I’m excited to dive deeper into her process and the inspiration behind her beautiful creations.
As with all my interviews, I hope that reading them makes you feel more connected to our Jewish community and provides moments of comfort and inspiration during these times.
Please introduce yourself to our readers and share a bit about your background.
First, I want to express my gratitude to Kenden for inviting me as a guest on Jewish Food Hero. I've admired her Jewish calendar and recipes for a long time, so I was truly honored when she reached out to me. I'm thankful for the opportunity to answer her thoughtful interview questions—it helped me gain new insights about myself, and I hope you enjoy reading my answers!
Hi! I am Vicky Kazman, a freelance illustrator, born and raised in New Jersey, where I currently live with my husband and three children. My upbringing was shaped by both modern Orthodox and Conservative Judaism—my dad grew up Orthodox, while my mom was Conservative. Though my sisters and I were raised Conservative, my dad had us continue many of the traditional practices—keeping kosher, benching after meals, observing Shabbat. Although I didn’t understand the Hebrew, I enjoyed singing along to prayers and appreciated how religion brought our family together on a regular basis.
These strong roots in Judaism were shaken when my parents divorced and my dad went to live with a different family. It made me question much of what I had been taught, and I lost the religious connection to Judaism. What holds meaning for me now are the cultural aspects, particularly the art, food, and holiday celebrations.
From a young age, I was drawn to art, and my father encouraged my interests. I studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and earned my BFA in 1990. After graduating, I moved to NYC and worked in graphic design production while building my freelance illustration business on the side. Eventually, I transitioned to full-time illustration, focusing primarily on editorial work. What I love most about illustration is the balance between creativity and structure. Collaborating with writers and art directors to bring ideas to life is very fulfilling.
After years of living in the city, the constant noise and energy started to wear on me. I turned my attention to what brought me peace and calm, particularly plant life. I started collecting leaves and printing them into mandala shapes, highlighting their unique shapes and intricate veins. This simple, daily connection to nature deepened my appreciation for the natural world and reignited my childhood interest in plants. While raising my children, we spent time outdoors together, sketching insects, mushrooms, acorns—anything we discovered. Their curiosity and enthusiasm for the natural world sparked a deeper interest in me, and soon drawing from and learning about nature filled much of my free time. I later learned that this practice has a name—nature journaling! Once all three of my kids were school age, I began teaching nature journaling in New Jersey public schools. It's incredibly rewarding to inspire this screen-centric generation to connect with nature! I’m driven by the desire to share the joy of creation with others, blending my love for nature, Judaism, and community into my work. It’s about combining what I love with what I’ve found to be soul-awakening for others—hands-on experiences, sensory engagement, and the exploration of cultural heritage.
Your work beautifully intertwines art and Jewish culture. Can you share how your journey as an artist began, particularly in creating Judaica art, and what inspired you to start with your own chuppah and ketubah?
My journey into Judaica art began with our wedding. Although I had always been drawn to the "stuff" of Judaism (the tactile and visual details like the Torah dressings and stained glass are what captivated me during services), it wasn’t until I became engaged that I thought about creating my own Judaica. The Jewish rituals and ritual objects felt like an important part of our wedding. I wanted these symbols of our commitment to be both beautiful and personal. I never considered purchasing these items; it was the act of creating them that made everything feel real. I designed our ketubah to reflect what was meaningful to us as a couple. My husband wrote the surrounding text, while I designed and painted images to symbolize our relationship. The chuppah was my first attempt at sewing as an adult—just a simple hem and ties—but it began my interest in textiles. I used silk painting techniques to create an abstract image of intertwined lovers. Today, 25 years later, both the ketubah and chuppah still hang on our walls, serving as constant reminders of our commitment to each other and to raising our children in a Jewish home with Jewish values.
You've designed a range of Judaica items, from challah covers to mezuzahs. How do you approach creating these meaningful pieces, and what role do tradition and innovation play in your design process?
When designing Judaica, I begin by reading about the history and significance of the ritual item. Afterwards, I add my personal spin, whether through materials, imagery, or concept. Understanding the traditions allows for thoughtful creativity, allowing me to add personal meaning while still honoring the past. In reading about the history of the challah cover, I learned that traditionally, it needs to cover two loaves of challah to symbolize the double portion of manna that the Israelites received in the desert on Fridays before Shabbat. This extra portion ensured they would have enough to last through the day of rest, as gathering food on Shabbat was prohibited. Other than that, (as far as I know) challah covers can range from disposable paper napkins to embroidered works of art. This makes challah covers the perfect vehicle for artistic expression—a blank canvas! I believe that each generation of artists brings a fresh interpretation to ritual objects, allowing people to connect with designs that feel contemporary and relevant. Just look at all the exciting options available on Etsy! Personally, I love incorporating symbols rooted in Judaism that also resonate with me, especially those inspired by nature, like plants, fish, and birds.
You started teaching the "Jewish Art Workshop" at your synagogue. How has this experience of educating others influenced your own artistic practice, especially in connecting people to Jewish culture through art?
In preparation for teaching the "Jewish Art Workshop" at my synagogue, I immersed myself in the history of Jewish art and its artists, studied symbols, traditions, and stories, and attended teacher workshops at the Jewish Museum in NYC. This experience broadened my understanding and connection to the world of Jewish art. When planning each project, I aimed to provide the historical context and roots behind the art while allowing space for self-expression. It was rewarding to see how each student approached the same assignment uniquely, bringing their own perspective and creating a final piece they felt connected to and proud of. I realized that even those who didn’t see themselves as "arts and crafters" became fully engaged in the process.This inspired me to offer a similar experience to a broader audience, leading me to design color-your-own challah cover panels, which I began selling on Spoonflower. I've even received requests from Hebrew schools to resize the panels for more affordability, and I was happy to accommodate. [Images 18-19] Since each class was only 45 minutes, teaching also required me to plan lessons that could be completed in a short amount of time. This has influenced my DIY challah cover designs, making them something that can be accomplished in one sitting. Also, in each class, there was always at least one student who struggled with perfectionism, becoming stressed rather than enjoying the process. Some even wanted to quit if they made what they perceived as a mistake. To encourage and relax them, I’d show them my sample, pointing out the “mistakes” I’d turned into happy accidents and other imperfections, explaining that these are part of what make their work unique. I also emphasized that art is a process—you never know exactly what you’re going to get. With this in mind, I design my DIY patterns to incorporate a raw, unfinished look—leaving cut marks on shapes and offering alternatives to sewing, like gluing. I want makers to have an enjoyable—rather than frustrating—experience!
Nature journaling seems to be another significant aspect of your creative work. How do you see the connection between engaging with nature and your Jewish identity, and how does this influence your art?
Engaging with nature helps me stay present, grounding me in the moment outside of my constant stream of thoughts. Slowing down to notice the details of a flower, insect, or tree bark creates a feeling of awe and wonder within me that can only be explained by a higher power. Since my Judaism is more cultural than G-d-centered, nature is my way of connecting to something far greater than myself—you could say the woods are my temple! The interconnectedness of all living things—the energy shared between plants and people—represents, for me, a version of G-d, a larger power that connects all living beings. When making art, I think the awe and wonder I feel in nature naturally influence my design choices and style. I’m often captivated by shape, line, and contrast rather than color, and my style reflects that in the use of natural forms, flat graphic shapes, and high contrast. I’m drawn to natural materials like burlap, cotton, linen, wood, and clay, while my color palette is usually limited to one or two hues. Even in designs without nature-based imagery, I aim to capture the energy shared among all living things—a sense of organic, earthy animation.
In addition to visual art, you also illustrate recipes and are planning to compile them into a book. How do you see the relationship between art, food, and family traditions in your work, and what do you hope to achieve with this upcoming project?
When I was a child, we celebrated all the major holidays with big family dinners at my grandmother’s house. My mom had eight siblings, and my grandparents’ house was bursting with cousins and extended family members. Food was the center of our celebrations. There were traditional Jewish recipes like kugel and brisket alongside dishes my dad made that weren’t particularly Jewish, like veal marsala and chicken cutlets. The aromas of these dishes immediately transport me back to those family gatherings. The memories are deliciously vivid, but some of the recipes have been forgotten over time. I began illustrating recipes to preserve these memories in a new way, and I’m working on creating an illustrated recipe book to share with my family. Although I’m still in the planning stages, I envision it being the type of book my kids can pull off the shelf when they’re grown and say, "I want to make Grandma’s brisket today," much like we do with my grandmother’s handwritten recipe cards. I want it to be a keepsake that’s not only practical but also brings comfort through these traditional family recipes and memories.
Speaking of recipes, you’ve shared a special candied etrog recipe with us! Can you tell us more about the significance of this recipe and how it came to be a part of your family's tradition?
For the past several years, I’ve made candied etrog every Sukkot. It’s a multi-day process, so the end result feels more like a labor of love than a culinary achievement! I’d always been curious about the idea of preserving our etrog after Sukkot but didn’t know how. My childhood memories of candying lemon peels with my father inspired me to try candying the etrog, and the tradition stuck. It also holds special meaning because my uncle grew an etrog tree from seed, and his care of it produced many beautiful etrogim (etrogim = plural of etrog). He’s since passed away, but I carry on his love of growing, eating, and preserving fruit with my candied etrog.
Candied Etrog Recipe
Pareve
Prep time: 2.5 hours
Dry time: 1 - 2 hours
Total time: 3.5 - 4.5 hours
Yield: Approximately 3 cups
Ingredients:
1 etrog
1 cup sugar (plus more for dusting)
Water
Rinse the etrog well and cut it into thin slices, removing the seeds.Trim off the white part inside (the pith) which tends to be super bitter.
Place the etrog slices in a pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain the water.
Repeat the boiling and draining process two more times to remove bitterness.
After the third boiling, measure the water needed to just cover the etrog slices, then add an equal amount of sugar to the pot.
Simmer the etrog and sugar mixture on low heat until the liquid thickens into a syrup, and the etrog slices become translucent (about 30–45 minutes).
Using a slotted spoon, remove the slices from the pot and place them on a wire rack to cool and dry for 1–2 hours.
Once dry, dust the slices with additional sugar.
Store in an airtight container. Candied etrog makes a great snack, garnish, or addition to baked goods!
Connecting with Vicky
Write to her by e-mail // vickykatzman@gmail.com
Her artwork can be found on:
I hope you enjoyed meeting Vicky, learning about her creative process, and seeing photos of her beautiful & heartfelt work. Personally, I can’t wait for the day Vicky hosts a Judaica craft class, whether online or in person—I'll be the first to sign up!
Am Yisrael Chai ✌️✡️
Shanah Tovah U’metukah (שנה טובה ומתוקה) – "A good and sweet year."
Kenden