Rosh Hashanah Survival Guide–Updated for 2017/5778

I first wrote the checklist below ten years ago. I'm republishing it as a new post, for the third time. I've also set up a page with the best posts about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Some of the tips below only apply when Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbat or leads into Shabbat. Don't hesitate to … [Read more...]

Interesting Links

In Israel we've enjoyed a mild spring and summer so far, with normal humidity and cool evenings. July is expected to get hotter, starting this Shabbat. Between my kids being home from school and preparing for an exam in lactation, things are hectic. Fortunately life provides unexpected … [Read more...]

State of the House, Passover 2011

What's Wrong with this Picture? The above picture appeared on the cover of Friday's alon, Matzav Haruach. Anyone notice a slight problem? My husband is convinced Israelis don't realize that the holidays are mentioned in the Torah portion of Re'eh in Devarim (Deuteronomy), as well as in Shemot … [Read more...]

Extreme Breastfeeding, Extreme Modesty and More

I've collected these links for your reading enjoyment: Almost Eden gives tips for keeping warm in the Israeli winter. Rafi reports about a wedding invitation asking women to dress in “shalim.” Leah Goodman wrote a guest post on making recipes vegetarian or kosher. The government is making … [Read more...]

Review: Kosher by Design Teens & 20-Somethings

The Kosher by Design series of cookbooks, by Suzie Fishbein, specializes in what some food bloggers jokingly call “food porn.” Readers of the new Kosher by Design Teens and Twenty-Somethings: Cooking for the Next Generation, won’t be disappointed. This beautifully designed KBD for young people … [Read more...]

Menu Planning for Rosh Hashanah

There are a lot of things I'd rather be writing about today, but I can't avoid the subject any longer. I'm talking about Rosh Hashanah, less than three weeks away beginning Wednesday evening, September 9. Not only is the two-day holiday followed immediately by Shabbat, making it a "three-day Yom … [Read more...]

Remembrance of (Blogging) Passovers Past

Image by roger_mommaerts via Flickr A guest post on Food Processors and Pesach is up at Orthonomics. Recent editions of Haveil Havalim can be found at Ima on the Bima and Yachdus. For some reason, preparing for Pesach inspires me to write. Below, I present the best Passover posts below … [Read more...]

Leftovers and the Kosher Kitchen

[Glossary below.] My mother z”l hardly ever threw out food. I think she managed this by serving five meat meals during the week. On the three “fleishig” weekdays, she transferred meaty leftovers from one main meal to the next. Whatever leftovers couldn’t go in a main course were recycled in the … [Read more...]

How I Make Shabbat in Two Hours

A reader asked me how she can cook for Shabbat in two hours or less. I referred her to my tips for winter Fridays. Today I'll describe what I actually do most weeks. The biggest revelation for me was that I could serve the same thing both on Friday night and Shabbat morning. My kids are all happy … [Read more...]

Chicken with Black Olives and Tomatoes

This is an adaptation of a recipe that appeared in the Jerusalem Post many years ago. It always gets compliments. Kosher for Passover, it can be prepared on top of the stove and served hot or cold. Chicken with Black Olives and Tomatoes Ingredients: 1 cut-up chicken Flour, or potato flour for … [Read more...]