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Kosher Cookbook Giveaway

October 20, 2010 by 69 Comments
Kosher by Design for Teens and Twenty-Somethings

On Sunday, October 24 I’ll be reviewing Susie Fishbein’s new book, Kosher by Design: Teens and and 20-Somethings and giving away a free copy to one lucky reader. Instructions for entering giveaway (below). Update: The review can be found here, and the scone recipe here. Susie Fishbein’s cookbooks, published by Artscroll, are famous for their stunning food presentation, beautiful photography, and creative party ideas. In her new book, she chooses simple recipes to appeal to teens and twenty-somethings—whether they are doing the cooking or just eating. You’ll be glad to know that the recipes are lighter and healthier than in her earlier books. I’ll be posting a full review on … [Read more...]

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The Worm in the Avocado

May 9, 2010 by 6 Comments
avocado-worm-caterpillar

What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding a worm in your avocado. According to the rabbinate avocados can be considered free of insect infestation, with the caveat that extremely ripe ones should be checked. Avocados generally top the list of foods that are low in pesticides. While a variety of pests like avocado leaves, only a few bother with the fruit. And its thick skin prevents pesticides from penetrating the flesh of the avocado. So I was surprised on Friday afternoon when my daughter let out a shriek in the middle of making avocado salad. The worm, or more accurately, caterpillar was crawling in the flesh near the peel. By the time I snapped this picture, it had … [Read more...]

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Kosher Cooking Carnival #41: From Matzah to Lasagna

April 22, 2009 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 41st edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival, founded by Batya of Me-Ander.  Below is a list of previous editions. Write to Batya if you would like to host. #1 #2 #3 Thanks Ezzie #4 Thanks Sarah #5 #6 #7 Thanks Sadie #8 #9 Thanks Sarah #10Thanks, Elf #11 #12 Thanks Renegade KC #13 #14 Thanks Elisheva #15 #16 #17 Thanks Baleboosteh #18 #19 Thanks Baleboosteh #20 Thanks Mom in Israel #21 Thanks Juggling Frogs KC meta-Carnival, Thanks Juggling Frogs #22 #23 Thanks Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen #24 #25 #26 #27 Thanks Gillian-Food History #28 Thanks Little Frum House #29 Thanks Mother in Israel #30 #31 Thanks West Bank Mama #32 Thanks Soccer Dad #33 Thanks Leora-Here in HP … [Read more...]

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Navigating an Israeli Supermarket

May 7, 2008 by 50 Comments

I once read a blog post by an American on an extended visit to Israel, raving about how much easier it is to keep kosher in Israel than in the US. True, a variety of kosher food is available just about everywhere in Israel. But keeping kosher in Israel is far from simple.Lately we have been shopping at Aleph, one of the haredi chains. They tend to focus more on basic items and family-sized packages. The disadvantage is that meat and dairy products with a mehadrin/haredi supervision are much more expensive. But a few years ago Aleph added a selection of meat and dairy products under the supervision of the Israeli rabbinate.Another issue with products under haredi supervision is that they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Aliyah, Kosher, Shopping

Rosh Chodesh Av: Kosher Cooking Carnival # 20

July 16, 2007 by 4 Comments

Blog Carnivalkosher cooking carnivalarchives | submit post Welcome to the July 16, 2007, 20th edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival! When I suggested this date to Batya, I didn't realize that it fell on the first day of the Hebrew month of Av. According to the mishnah, "Mishenichnas Av mamaatin be-simcha." When Av enters, one minimizes happiness. The ninth of Av commemorates the destruction of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem, and Jews observe a semi-mourning period from the first day of Av through the middle of the tenth day that includes refraining from meat, unnecessary laundry and bathing, and parties, including weddings. So while it feels a bit inappropriate to host … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holidays, Homemaking, Kosher, Recipes, Shabbat

Riddle answer

May 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment

The riddle can be found here. Rafi figured it out right away. Here's what happened:After the annual Yom Haatzmaut family barbecue was cancelled because of illness, we decided to go on a hike. (Unfortunately some of us ended up sitting at the rest area because of a child with a stomachache who refused to walk, but never mind.) Because I like to be organized, I had a quick dinner planned for afterward: I put up water for spaghetti, and put some fresh tomatoes into a fleishig (meat) pot along with tomato paste (because I was out of canned tomatoes), some cooked beans (I usually keep a supply in the freezer) and meat sauce leftover from Pesach, also from the freezer (you may remember my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Homemaking, Judaism, Kosher

A Halachic Riddle

May 16, 2007 by 17 Comments

I cooked something in my kitchen. It's completely pareve and edible, but I can't add it to a dairy dish nor to a meat dish. I can only eat it as is, or improve it by adding other pareve items.In a few days I will describe how I (accidentally) made this dish. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Homemaking, Judaism, Kosher

The Orthodox Homemaker’s Quest for Flour

April 20, 2007 by 6 Comments

A few months ago a friend stopped me on the street to ask me if I knew anything about 70 and 100% flour; she had learned about it from her children living in the Jerusalem area. Many religious like-minded women in the Tel Aviv area are constantly looking for good sources of flour. Standard bleached white flour is readily available here, and while cheap, it must be sifted for bugs, and results in goods with a gluey consistency that are not good for your digestion. I don't feel good about spending time baking for my family with such an inferior product. I can buy whole wheat flour in the grocery store, but who knows how long it has been sitting there. It's also hard to sift properly, and many … [Read more...]

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Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Keeping Kosher

May 24, 2006 by 4 Comments

Ever wonder why those Jewish neighbors of yours don't want to eat in your house? Learning more about Judaism and wondering about keeping kosher? Here are some of the obscure things your neighbors might be concerned about. Keep in mind that not every Jew who keeps kosher observes the laws strictly, and even within Orthodoxy there are many variations. Naturally, ask your local Orthodox rabbi for more details. . . Knives. When it comes to knives and sharp foods such as onions and garlic, the halacha (Jewish law) is strict. If you cut an onion with a clean dairy knife, you have to slice off the layer of onion that touched the knife before using the rest of the onion in a meat … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Israeli Living, Judaism, Kosher