Today is Erev Pesach (the day before Passover), the busiest day in the Jewish calendar filled with halachic and practical tasks to eliminate all chametz (unleavened bread) from our homes and prepare for the Seder tonight. This year we also commemorate an event that takes place once every 28 years. According to the Torah the sun was created on the fourth day of the week. The sages calculated that since the sun takes 365 and a quarter days to do a full rotation, it returns to its original position every 28 years (4 years to make up an entire day, times seven cycles to get back to Wednesday). The text of the recited blessing is the same as that said upon seeing other natural phenomena, like … [Read more...]
A Vote of Confidence
April 7, 2009 by 12 Comments
When I mentioned that I needed to take the meat out the freezer on Monday to allow it to defrost in the refrigerator, my 5-year-old suggested that I put it outside the window like she had seen the neighbor do. I said it was safer to use the refrigerator. Then my 19-year-old spoke up. "Other people do things for convenience or because they see everyone else doing it that way, but Ima knows how you're really supposed to do things." His decisiveness surprised me. "How do you know my way is always right?" I asked. He smiled and said he's lived with me long enough to know. Even if there's some truth to his comment, I have mixed feelings about it. I hope he won't say it to his wife. … [Read more...]
Pesach Excess
April 6, 2009 by 16 Comments
While my house gets turned upside-down in advance of Passover (and no, I won't tell you where I'm "holding"), I've gathered yet more thoughts about Pesach. First of all, it is hard. Even the minimum involves hard physical labor and more important, planning. Not everyone is blessed with organizational skills or the discipline to follow a strict schedule. But because it's Pesach, we let things get out of hand, and pay for it in all kinds of ways. Here are some examples: Too much kashering. I used to kasher my microwave just because I could, until I realized I only used it once or twice during Pesach. Now I have it available until the last minute. Same with some pots. After Pesach I … [Read more...]
Will Seeds Sprout in Microwaved Water? And My Son’s Surprise Experiment
March 5, 2009 by 12 Comments
I love to cook with my microwave. Sure, it's possible to manage without it, and there are better ways to defrost food. However, there are environmentally sound reasons for preferring it to conventional cooking: It only heats the moisture in food, so more energy is retained. Microwave cooking preserves nutrients in vegetables. And since many microwave utensils can go straight to the table and they scorch less, less water and detergent are needed for washing up. Because microwaves cook food using electromagnetic radiation, many people are afraid to use them. The FDA discusses the issue here. I'm not here to convince anyone to buy an electrical appliance they don't feel comfortable … [Read more...]
Creative Cooking Using Leftovers: Chicken Casserole
February 25, 2009 by 5 Comments
chicken casserole I am enjoying Mimi's challenge of cooking with whatever she has in the house. As food manager of a large family I have had to learn to keep well-stocked, but when I run low I try not to run across the street. We shop at a large grocery every three weeks or so, the shuk for produce once a week, and daily at the makolet (corner store) for bread and milk . I've talked with my husband about buying produce once in two weeks, but he fears we don't have enough room. We are enjoying the variety of inexpensive vegetables post-shmitah and I had put up a couple of batches of marinara sauce. I don't know why fresh tomatoes are so cheap while canned tomato products shrunk in size … [Read more...]
Matching socks–out. Coordinated socks–in.
December 7, 2008 by 21 Comments
An American company has determined what experienced mothers have known for a long time: Matching socks are not a fashion priority. In fact, it's more fashionable to have mismatched (but coordinating) socks--sold in threes instead of in pairs.I guess I won't have to complain about this anymore.An impressive gimmick. I wish I had thought of it. But I suppose you can't put one sock from one set of three with another set. Can you imagine trying to sort these in the laundry?Hat tip: Commenter Abbi. … [Read more...]
Easy Shabbat Links
December 3, 2008 by Leave a Comment
More posts on efficient Shabbat cooking:Ilana-Davita posted recipes for Egg Curry and Swedish Chowder.Mrs. S. over at "Our Shiputzim" shares her ideas. Don't be put off by the title of her blog--she warns you when she is going to write about home renovations. Here's how she makes freezable potato kugel.Last but not least, Beehive shares her ideas on Shabbos Preparations. … [Read more...]
Our Israeli Container Garden
December 1, 2008 by 14 Comments
The second floor of our apartment has a large, sunny porch. At one point we had a thriving herb garden, which now contains only a geranium, some sad-looking rosemary, and a miniature citrus tree. I am gratified that the tree survived long enough for us to enjoy the single kumquat, since we couldn't eat the fruit until the fourth year of neta revai (see the fourth paragraph here for more explanation). That tree came close to dying more than once.After picking the kumquat we had to let it be hefker, or ownerless, because it had kedushat shvi'it, the holiness of the sabbatical year. (All fruit from trees that bloomed after last Tu beShevat have this status). We had to leave it in a place where … [Read more...]
Recipe: Homemade Techina (Sesame Paste) Dressing
November 23, 2008 by 9 Comments
Ingredients:1 large clove garlicFresh parsley or coriander, washed and dried2 tbsp. lemon juice1/2 cup raw techina, or sesame paste1 tsp. ground cuminSalt to tasteAbout a half cup of water (Perhaps more.)Method: Chop the garlic and parsley in a dry food processor until fine. Add the other ingredients, keeping back some water until the mixture is the right texture. Most people prefer it slightly runny. Keep in mind that it congeals some in the refrigerator. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. If you use bottled lemon juice, the preservatives will help the techina keep longer (I'm not recommending this, I'm just saying.)When serving, put enough for one meal in a separate bowl and don't … [Read more...]
More on Microwaves
October 21, 2008 by 13 Comments
Image via Wikipedia In a comment on my last post, Robin pointed out that not all ceramic tableware is microwave-safe. She's right, and plastic can also be a problem. If your utensils don't have a label, you can use the following test for microwave compatibility. From The Great Microwave Dessert Book by Thelma Pressman, p. 2: Place a glass measuring cup filled with water in your microwave. Place the dish you want to test next to it, but do not allow the two to touch. Heat on high (600-700 watts) for one minute. [Note: Many modern microwaves use 900-1000 watts or more, so adjust the time accordingly.] At the end of that time, the water will be warm and the utensil should be cold. If … [Read more...]
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