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For nearly a year and a half, Keith Siegel lived through the unimaginable. An Israeli American originally from North Carolina, Keith and his wife, Aviva, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. Aviva was released during a ceasefire in November 2023, but Keith remained in Gaza for 484 days. He was shuttled between more than 30 hiding places — sometimes held with fellow captives, other times left for months entirely alone. In this episode, Keith opens up about what it was like to endure those 484 days. 

Keith’s Pancake Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups (450 ml) buttermilk
½ cup (90 ml) oil
2 cups (80 g) flour
2 eggs
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda


Preparation:

Mix the wet ingredients - buttermilk, oil, and eggs.
In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
Gently fold the wet and dry mixtures together until just combined, then let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes.
Lightly grease a hot pan with oil and pour in a full ladle of batter for thick pancakes. Cook for about 2 minutes or until bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook for a short time on the other side.
Serve with real maple syrup on top.