What is it?

Babka -- originally from Poland, a sweet spongy yeast bread with raisins, traditionallymade in the form of a high cylinder.
 
Blintz -- a tender, ultra thin pancake that is rolled to enclose a filling of cottage cheese or fruit.  It's then sauteed until golden brown and frequently served with sour cream.
 
Challah -- a traditional Jewish yeast bread, rich with eggs.  It has a light, airy texture.  Served on the Sabbath, holidays, and other ceremonial occasions and for everyday consumption.
 
Falafel -- a Middle Eastern specialty consisting of small, deep-fried balls made of highly spiced, ground chickpeas.
 
Hummus -- a thick Middle Eastern sauce made from mashed chickpeas seasoned with lemon juice, garlic and olive or sesame oil.  Frequently served on Pita bread.
 
Kugel -- a baked pudding usually made with noodles, eggs and cottage cheese.
 
Latke -- a fried pancake usually made from grated potatoe, mixed with eggs, onions, matzo meal and seasonings.  Traditionally served at Hanukkah.
 
Mandelbrot -- Jewish 'biscotti,' a crisp bread that is eaten as a cookie.
 
Matzo Ball -- a small round dumpling made with matzo meal, eggs, chicken fat and seasonings, cooked and served in chicken soup.
 
Rugelach -- bite-size crescent-shaped cookies that can have one of several fillings including raisins, nuts, poppy-seed paste or jam.  They're generally made with a rich cream-cheese dough.
 
Schmear -- a dab of cream cheese that's spread on a bagel.