Author: SimpletoWow

I hope that you enjoy this blog dedicated to recipes, designs and inspirations that are simple, yet add that special "wow" to your table, your family and your life. I grew up in Cleveland, OH and currently live in Teaneck NJ. I would love to hear from you as you find those special simple things that create a "wow" for you.

Simple Table Props for Ju-Ju’s Little Man Party

little man party signs 2

For our grandson, Yehuda’s first birthday, we created a vintage little man theme.  For the first many months of his life, family members would remark that he looks like a “little man”,  just like his namesake, Yehuda (Leo) Schlusselberg a’H.

 

little man party signs

As cute table props, we printed some cute little man signs and displayed them on the drinks and dessert buffet.  To display the desserts, I procured an assortment of cigar boxes. I contacted my local cigar store and spoke to the manager who was more than happy to save some interesting and luxurious cigar boxes for me.  I then wrapped some long marshmallow sticks in black and gold napkins and created “cigar” labels for them.  I displayed some of these fun cigars in the cigar boxes.

little man cigars

 

 

 

real men eat cupcakes

Here are these printable signs for you.

PRINTABLES

real men eat cupcakes

If you mustache I am one

with a great stache comes great responsibility

BowTie Napkins: Folded with DIY Napkin Rings

Our grandson, Yehuda, also known as JuJu, just celebrated his first birthday.  Whenever family members would meet him, they would remark that he looks like a “little man.” Those that knew his namesake, Yehuda (Leo) Schlusselberg a’H, would consider JuJu a pint-size clone of him.

For his birthday, therefore, we chose a vintage Little Man theme.  For the table setting, we chose antique gold, cream and light blue as the colors.  We found gold polka-dot napkins and decided to tie them into large bow-ties. (more…)

Low-Carb Snacks: Simply Made with Love

Now that Don and I are on this low-carb, high-protein diet, we have encountered some challenges.  We realize that having snacks prepared and measured out in advance is key. Knowing that the snack is ready to eat at responsible intervals  helps curb cravings and satiate our appetites.

We had hoped to find some ready-made protein bars that meet the diet protocol and are certified kosher.  Alas,  we have not been successful in finding kosher protein bars that have low enough carbs and are readily available in our area.

Don and I struck a deal.  I will prepare most of the meals if he prepares the snacks in advance, either daily or weekly.  I purchased some ingredients and he did a terrific job, filling the fruit bins of our refrigerator with these pre-measured snack choices.  Now, each day, we can easily enjoy the snacks that he prepared at regular intervals and we are nailing this diet!

Here are some of our favorite low-carb snacks, prepared and measured out by Don:

 

Radishes: scrubbed and cut into wedges

Medium Size Pickle: skewered onto a stick

Small ripe avocado, bagged with a lemon wedge and plastic knife (to share)

avocado with lemon.jpg

Macadamia Nuts: 8-10 nuts per snack

macadamia nuts

Celery Sticks: scrubbed and sliced into sticks

celery sticks

Sugar Snap Peas: rinsed

Baby Peppers: rinsed whole or with tops and seeds removed

snow peas

Zucchini sticks: scrubbed and sliced into sticks

Cucumber sticks: scrubbed and sliced into sticks

Daffodils: Simply and Artfully Arranged

daffodil arrangement on counter-crop

 

Daffodils are in season and they are inexpensive and beautiful.  I like to buy bunches with blossoms that are mostly closed, so that they will last the longest.  I usually look for bunches that have only one or two blossoms showing and the rest are still tight buds.

My favorite arrangements are ones where the stems are as artfully arranged as the blossoms.  Because most of the daffodil blossoms on my bunches are still closed, this also makes the arrangement interesting, even when most of the blossoms have not yet opened. (more…)

Simple and Spiralized Salami Slinky: Three Ways

For our Purim seuda (festive meal), I wanted to prepare something that would be original, interesting to serve and fun enough for the kids.  I set up a dinner buffet with a carving station.  I wanted something that could be baked right in the oven with the other meats.  I came up with this simple and spiralized salami recipe.

The key to creating the spiral is to use the longest chopsticks that you own.  The skewered chopstick is threaded into the salami and the salami is cut in one long spiral, all the time turning the salami as you cut.  What you are left with a type of salami “slinky”.

I prepared this recipe with three different sauces.  The last two sauces can be used for Pesach (Passover) with Kosher for Passover sauce ingredients.

baked spiarlized salami-ingredients

 

INGREDIENTS

salami
1 or 2 long chopsticks

SPICY LOW-CARB SAUCE

4 teaspoons soy sauce
1/4 cup mustard
squeeze of sriracha

SWEET SAUCE

1/4 cup marmalade or jam
1/4 cup barbecue or chili sauce
splash of orange liquor (optional)

PASSOVER SAUCE

1/4 cup marmalade or duck sauce
squeeze of ketchup
2 cloves minced garlic or garlic powder
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A Purim to Remember

Tzippy Respler
Purim 5776

In memory of Chaya Sharona bas Shraga Feivel a’H

There are people and events in your life that transform the way you view things. Sometimes you recognize the enormity of the influence while you are engaged with that person or at the time that you experience the event.  Sometimes you don’t realize how transformative someone or something is until the event is over and the person is no longer with you.

The person is Sharona Nagler a’H and the event was Purim 5766.  Sharona was a friend whom I visited with my family and my friend, Lori, almost every Shabbos afternoon. I had moved to Teaneck a short while after Sharona underwent a heart transplant at Columbia Hospital in New York City .

I initially volunteered to visit Sharona when she was severely immunocompromised and unable to leave her home.  I visited her, played board games with her and over the next weeks, months and years, I got to know her well.   We continued to visit her late Shabbos afternoons, even when her immune system was strong enough for her to leave home.

We arrived at Sharona’s house just about every Shabbos afternoon, just as the sun was about to set. The younger kids would play with the toys in the family room, the older kids would show Sharona their latest gymnastic moves and the adults would talk. What I discovered in Sharona was a smart, courageous and appreciative friend. Sharona worked hard at recuperating from her heart transplant, and learned everything she could about her health and her medications. Sharona was a very attentive friend and never forgot a friend’s  birthday or special occasion. She spent hours finding the perfect gift and could not wait to present it once she had selected the perfect present.

Sharona had the most wonderful group of friends.  In fact, Sharona’s friends became my own friends.  One friend would take her shopping, one would run errands with her, another would drive her to  doctor appointments,and yet another would regularly get together with Sharona for coffee and fat-free muffins.  Over the years that we knew Sharona, we attended birthday parties for her and heart-transplant anniversaries. There was joy, laughter and lots of small gifts.

As the  years after her heart transplant went by, Sharona became weaker.  She visited Columbia Hospital more regularly and we visited her there when we were able.  When she was released from Columbia, she often moved to a rehabilitation care center nearby. We would visit her there and attend bingo with her.

Purim 5766 arrived and Sharona was recuperating at the rehabilitation center in a neighboring town.  My husband, Don, was working that Purim, so I was on my own to deliver the Mishloach Manos and to set up for the seuda.  There was so much to do and my stress level was high.

As I delivered Mishloach Manos to my friends, several of them asked me to send their best to Sharona because they would be unable to visit her.  One even gave me Mishloach Manos to deliver to Sharona.  I wasn’t sure that I would have the time to visit, but after realizing that none of her friends were able to visit, I felt compelled to stop by to see her.

It was an hour before our scheduled seuda.   I packed up the kids and prepared  Mishloach Manos for Sharona.  I headed over to the rehab center. I was stressed, because I had not yet set the tables for the seuda and I was expecting a  large number of guests.

When I arrived at the rehab center, I decided to stay in the car and send the kids in to deliver the Mishloach Manos to Sharona.  I told the kids to hurry and to send my best to Sharona.  I reminded them to explain that I had lots of company arriving and I was way behind schedule.  They raced out to see her.

I impatiently waited in the car for the kids to return.  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I saw them walking to the car ever so slowly.  When the came to the car, they delivered news that I didn’t want to hear.  Sharona was insisting that I come in to see her.

I told them that it was impossible and that they should explain to Sharona that I had lots still to do in preparation for the seuda.   As much as I protested, my children insisted that I go in and visit with Sharona.  To calm me down, my daughter, Michelle, kept reminding me that our Purim guests always arrive late and that I would be better served visiting Sharona.

Not too graciously, I stepped into the rehab center to see Sharona.  When Sharona heard me coming, she met me in the doorway of her room.  She dropped another bombshell.  She wanted me to take her to her mother’s home for the family Purim seuda.

I rolled my eyes and explained to her that I was way behind schedule. I would take her, but she really needed to hurry up.  I would go back to the car and pull around to the entrance near Sharona’s room.  The kids would help her with her shoes and coat for the ride back home.

I returned to the car and raced around to the entrance near Sharona’s room.  I waited and waited, but Sharona did not come out with the kids.  I stomped back inside and my children patiently explained that Sharona was having difficulty getting her shoes on.  I should have seen that as a red flag, but in my stressed state, I could only think of the unset table at home.  I told Sharona that she would just have to wear her slippers and I helped her with her coat.

We got into the car as quickly as we could and the kids kept trying to calm me by saying that they would help me when we got home, that our guests never arrive on time and that everything would turn out fine.  My stress level was rising and by now, it was past the called seuda time.

We arrived at Sharona’s home and the kids insisted that we all walk Sharona to the door.  I finally listened to them and we all walked Sharona to the door.  We embraced her and wished her family a Happy Purim.  We arrived home in plenty of time to finish setting up before the guests arrived.

That was the very last time that Sharona had the opportunity to go home.  She passed away just days later.

After her passing, I reviewed the events of that Purim.  It forced me to really assess priorities.  Why was I so stressed?  What would have happened if my guests would have arrived and the table would not have been set?  What if I would have missed the opportunity to bring Sharona home for one last time?  What are my true priorities?

That Purim ten years ago transformed me.  It made me take a real look at what things are fleeting and what things in life have eternal priority.  I thank my children for helping me do the right thing.  Most of all, I thank Sharona for being the type of friend who transformed me.

 

 

 

 

Simple Forsythia Arrangement: Bringing the Outside Inside

Our forsythia hedges are blossoming.  Their yellow flowers are a burst of sunshine to announce the coming of spring.  The forsythia hedges are rather ordinary in the summer, but create gorgeous, showy yellow blossoms on bare branches in early spring.

forsythia branch

To decorate our Shabbos table last week, I snipped a few branches and arranged them in a simple silver vase.  They make the most gorgeous arrangement and make our home feel like springtime.

forsythia arrangement (more…)

Mason Jar Salad with Purim Croutons: A Simple Purim Mishloach Manos Wow

mason jar arugula salad0finished with tag

 

Purim is coming!  One of the mitzvos (commandments) unique to the Jewish holiday of Purim is to deliver gifts of food, called Mishloach Manos, to friends and family. The parameters of this mitzvah require each Jewish adult to send a minimum of two ready-to-eat-foods to at least one person.

I like to send Mishloach Manos that are nutritious and can be served at the Purim seudah, the festive meal served on Purim day.   One of my favorite ideas for  Mishloach Manos are mason jar salads served with croutons.  They  are simple to prepare in advance,  easy to package and are well-received by our recipients.

Mason Jars allow for preparing salad up to two days in advance and are really just an upside down salad. The dressing lays on the bottom of the jar and the salad is layered with the heaviest and wettest ingredients on bottom, working up to lighter ingredients with the salad greens at the top of the mason jar.  It is important to keep the mason jar upright until ready to serve so that the delicate greens are protected from the dressing on the bottom.

Once ready to serve, simply shake the salad vigorously and decant into a bowl.

 mason jar arugula salad

The croutons can me made from leftover bread or challah.  It is a great way to use up leftover bread and challah that you have stored in the freezer.  The mason jars themselves are useful to those receiving them and can be reused in a myriad of different ways.

 

The source for Mishloach Manos is read on Purim from the Purim Megillah, the scroll chronicling the story of Purim in Hebrew.   After the Purim victory , Mordechai, the hero of the Purim narrative,  ordered his fellow Jews ” to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar… feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

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Five Simple Tips to Keep the Wow in Purim

Tzippy Respler

Adar II, 5776

the Purim Grinch

For years, I had been remarking that Purim is more stressful for me than Pesach (Passover).  Most people scoff when they hear that.   I had become the Purim Grinch, especially because the Holiday of Purim is one that is based upon fun, joy and goodwill.

I get that.  But for me, the issue was that so much on Purim must be accomplished in a mere twenty-four hours.   Within the short day of Purim, we are commanded to listen to the Megillah (scrolled story of Purim) twice,  to give Matanos L’evyonim (gifts to the poor) and to prepare and deliver Mishloach Manos (edible portions) to others. Costumes must be made and adjusted.  A Seudah (festive meal) must be prepared and eaten.  Oh, and Purim falls out right on the heels of a fast day, Taanes Esther.

While so many women tend to stress over Pesach, I find Pesach so much easier to master. Yes, the house needs to become chometz-free and special  foods, utensils and dishes must be used.  Yes, the Seder must be set and it continues into the  wee hours of the morning. But, Pesach can be as relaxing as you allow it to be and it is simple to relegate the Pesach cleaning to only ridding the house of chometz (leavened food).  Pesach has order.  Pesach has structure.  Pesach is pure.  Pesach is clean.

Purim on the other hand can be messy.   (more…)

Homemade Iced Tea, a True Gift

 

iced tea ingredients

 

I always loved tea. Tea offers so many different varieties and flavors and can really warm your soul. I find sipping a cup of tea to be deliciously relaxing and comforting.

When my kids were little, they wanted to drink tea just like me. When I offered it to them, they asked for spoonsful of sugar to sweeten the tea. I would tell them that they were only ready to enjoy tea when they were willing to sip the tea without the sugar. It became “a coming of age” ritual in our family.

My high-protein, low carb diet does not allow for sugar, so I am drinking lots of water. When the weather was cooler, I enjoyed hot tea with my main meals in addition to water. Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, I miss the flavor and comfort of tea at mealtime, but do not want something hot. I have been preparing iced tea, instead. (more…)

Simple Baby Arugula Salad with Red Peppers, Tomatoes and Avocado

arugula salad for mason jar-tossed up close

 

I love the dark green color, peppery taste and crisp texture of baby arugula. It is one of those ingredients that has its own audacious personality and must be bought as fresh as possible. It is one of those love-hate greens: some love it and others cannot tolerate its assertive flavor. I embrace it for exactly what it represents, a super green that comes with its unique dose of attitude. Perhaps, living in the New York area has transformed my Midwest timidness into an appreciation for the assertive.

Baby (or wild) arugula has beautifully shaped leaves and is very low in Cholesterol. It is a good source of protein, thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Manganese. It is simply a green with wow powers.

This baby arugula salad uses an assortment of tomatoes and red peppers. It takes slivered celery slices and some small cubed avocado. It is served with just a light drizzle of dressing so as to preserve the freshness of the baby arugula greens.

I usually try to eliminate or reduce the oil in salad dressings. I find that the spices and acid components of dressings are essential for flavor and most of the time, the oil is unnecessary or can be greatly reduced.

The dressing for this salad is best made by sprinkling the spices and drizzling the liquid ingredients directly on the vegetables right before serving. That way, the salad remains light, fresh and not weighed down by the dressing. Any additional toppings (see variations) should be sprinkled on after the dressing and then tossed right before serving.

arugula salad for mason jar-tossed

 

INGREDIENTS

2-4 cups of Baby or Wild Arugula, soaked, rinsed and cut/torn into bite size (see notes below)
Any combination of the the following vegetables:

peppers, any color, cut into small strips
cucumbers, scrubbed and cut into slices
small heirloom, cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
celery, cut into thin slices

DRESSING

Kosher salt, sprinkle generously
Coarse black pepper, just a pinch to taste
Balsamic vinegar, lightly drizzled
Olive or canola oil, lightly drizzled (optional)

 

 

arugula salad for mason jar-before tossing

DIRECTIONS

Right before serving, sprinkle salt and pepper on top of vegetables. Lightly drizzle with balsamic vinegar and oil. Toss all salad ingredients together. Enjoy!

 

KOSHER NOTES

Kosher laws disallow the eating of any whole insects and therefore most greens require a process of soaking, rinsing and in some cases, pureeing. Kashrut authorities differ somewhat on the proper checking of leafy vegetables. This blog was not designed to be your kosher authority, so please consult your local rabbinic authority regarding using greens such as arugula.

VARIATIONS

For a lighter flavor, substitute cider vinegar, lemon juice or lime juice for balsamic vinegar

Add any of the following additional toppings and sprinkle on after the dressing and toss right before serving

hearts of palm, well-drained and cut into thin slices
almonds or pine nuts, chopped

Dressing may also be made in advance and refrigerated.

Serve salad with strips of grilled or fried chicken cutlets and top with spicy mayo or jalapeno dip

arugula salad for mason jar-serving suggestion

Enjoy!

Mason Jar Mishloach Manos: Soup with Purim Croutons

Purim is coming!  One of the mitzvos (commandments) unique to the Jewish holiday of Purim is to deliver gifts of food, called Mishloach Manos, to friends and family. The parameters of this mitzvah require each Jewish adult to send a minimum of two ready-to-eat-foods to at least one person.

I like to send Mishloach Manos that are nutritious and can be served at the Purim seudah, the festive meal served on Purim day.   One of my favorite ideas for  Mishloach Manos are mason jar soups served with croutons.  They  are simple to prepare in advance,  easy to package and are well-received by our recipients.  The croutons can me made from leftover bread or challah.  It is a great way to use up leftover bread and challah that you have stored in the freezer.  The mason jars themselves are useful to those receiving them and can be reused in a myriad of different ways.

mason jar MM feature photo

The source for Mishloach Manos is read on Purim from the Megillah, the scroll chronicling the story of Purim in Hebrew.   After the Purim victory , Mordechai, the hero of the Purim narrative,  ordered his fellow Jews ” to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar… feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

(more…)

Simply the Best Low-Carb Zucchini Soup

zucchini soup-ingredients

On my low-carb diet, I often eat soup for lunch. They are filling, hearty and warm the soul. One of the things that I am enjoying and hope to retain once I complete the diet is the idea of making regular times for meals and snacks. I find that I am more satiated by meals and snacks that I anticipate and actively prepare in advance.

I have never made a zucchini soup before and decided to try and create a low-carb one for lunch. The only zucchini soup that I have enjoyed in the past is one made by my friend, Malka, and it is delicious. I hope that this low-carb variety comes close to hers.

Zucchini is a rather bland vegetable, comprised of 95% water. Believe it or not, a whole zucchini has more potassium than a banana and is only about 33 calories. This soup will need sauteed onions and garlic, a rich broth and some fresh herbs to wake up the bland, but nutritious zucchini.  Since zucchini and herbs take very little time to cook, the added benefit of this soup is that it does not take long to prepare, even in a crockpot. (more…)

Robot Mishloach Manos: a Robot-Themed Purim with Printables

My daughter, Kaitlyn, created a Robot-themed Purim. Each member of the family dressed up as a robot and she created Mishloach Manos to fit the theme. It was simple and it was a wow.

I asked her to share a picture of the robot-themed bags and the printable designs.

 

robot mishloach manos

One of the mitzvos (commandments) unique to the Jewish holiday of Purim is to deliver gifts of food, called Mishloach Manos, to friends and family. The parameters of this mitzvah require each Jewish adult to send a minimum of two ready-to-eat-foods to at least one person.

The source for this lovely mitzvah is from the Purim Megillah, the scroll detailing the story of Purim read on the Purim Holiday in Hebrew.   It is chronicled after the Purim victory that  Mordechai, the hero of the Purim narrative,  ordered his fellow Jews ” to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar… feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

(more…)

Robot Costume…Fashioned from Dollar Store Finds

 

robot costume

My daughter, Kaitlyn, creates the cutest costumes ever!  This is one of my favorites.  This robot costume is one that she designed for her husband, Aaron, to wear on Purim.

There is a custom to dress up in disguises on Purim to commemorate the events in ancient Persia whereby the Jewish nation was saved from a terrible decree of extermination. Unlike the outright miracles in the Jewish exodus from Egypt commemorated on Passover, the Purim story is one of natural events coordinated in such a way that the “hidden hand” of G-d was evident. We dress up on Purim to commemorate the disguised miracles for the Jewish people in Ancient Persia.

This robot costume is designed entirely out of dollar store and upcycled finds and it is creative, practical and very unique. Kaitlyn scoured her local dollar store for items that she could use for this costume.  You may find other items to use that will create your own robot design. Please feel free to share your own designs.

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You Say Tomato…I Say Heirloom Tomato Salad
heirloom tomato saladLeafy salads are fresh and delicious, but take quite a bit of prep time.  Soaking, rinsing and drying lettuce just seems to take forever.  Here is one salad that go from the refrigerator to the table in record time.  It uses an assortment of tomatoes and optional scallions.  Rinse, slice, dice, halve or leave small tomatoes whole. Then, dress it. That’s it.  Period.

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Sunny Yellow Floral Arrangements

yellow arrangements 3

 

Cut daffodils are for sale and that signals that spring is near.

I was so excited to see the sunny daffodil blossoms.  I decided to create a grouping of yellow floral arrangements to welcome and complement the gorgeous daffodils.

Creating several smaller arrangements, rather than one large floral arrangement offers versatility. This allows me to spread the different floral arrangements throughout the house or to sequence them on the Shabbos table differently for each meal. (more…)

Our Backyard is for the Birds…now that I have discovered suet feeders
We enjoy sitting at the kitchen table and watching the variety of gorgeous birds that frequent our backyard.  Over the years, I have purchased and created many different bird feeders.  Some were not sturdy enough, others attracted too many squirrels, but most were just too difficult to refill.

Last year, our favorite birdhouse feeder was knocked over by a large fallen tree limb and broken beyond repair . It was time to replace it and I was looking for something that could draw birds as close to our kitchen window as possible.  I wanted something sturdy and inexpensive, something that that would draw birds without squirrels, and something that would be simple to refill.

At the supermarket, I discovered suet bird feeders.  They are simply coated metal grid-like feeders that hold suet cakes securely.  To feed, the birds peck at the suet cake through the metal grid, while squirrels cannot.  These suet feeders are easy to refill by just opening a sturdy latch and they can be hung just about anywhere.  Best of all, they only cost a couple of dollars.

I purchased a few suet feeders to hang near our kitchen window.  I hung one off of a thin but strong ribbon that I tossed over a sturdy branch on the magnolia tree behind the kitchen. I hung the others on the light posts near the window.  I have tried a variety of suet cakes which are simple to install in the suet holders. Now we get an assortment of woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals, robins and finches (with no squirrels) joining our family for breakfast.

Our backyard is simply for the birds….

.

Rainbow Carrot Curls: A Wow Garnish

Trader Joe’s sells bags of organic rainbow carrots.  The carrots come in all hues of the rainbow: dark red, white, bright yellow and the “ordinary” orange carrots.  It is a small splurge, but well worth it in the “wow” factor.

rainbow carrots ingredients

These carrots are low in calories and powerful in vitamin A and antioxidants. Rainbow carrot curls will add a pop of color and a delicious flavor to your plating.  Here is the simple technique to create rainbow carrot curls.

 

(more…)

Davida’s Simple Roasted Corn Salad

roasted corn salad-finished

This simple salad is one that you can prepare when you think you have no salad ingredients at hand because it uses simple ingredients including…wait for it….canned corn.

This recipe was developed by my youngest daughter, Davida.  We had an ongoing friendly disagreement.   I was certain that a good corn salad recipe required fresh or grilled corn and she was determined that she could create a recipe with canned corn that was just as good.

I was wrong and she was right.

Davida developed a roasted corn recipe that uses canned corn and is even better than any grilled corn salads we have enjoyed in the past.  It has excellent texture and taste.  It is simple and it is delicious. Best of all, it can be served hot, cold or at room temperature.
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Wow Waffles: A Recipe Simple Enough for Papa

Avigail (age 2) and JuJu (age 11 months) are here to visit.  Avigail announced that she would like “eggies” for dinner and that JuJu would like waffles.

We all know that JuJu enjoys anything that Avigail decides for him and will even finish Avigail’s omelet, if given the chance.  JuJu loves to eat, especially when his sister has been involved in the food decision.

Sure enough, Avigail ate most of her omelet and then fed the rest to JuJu.  Once finished, she announced,”so when are we making the waffles for JuJu?”.  I was thinking that she was ready for bedtime, but my husband, Don (“Papa” to the grandchildren), took the request as the opportunity to start a cooking adventure with his two year-old granddaughter, Avigail (at close to 9 P.M.!).

Don asked questions like “where do I find your waffle recipe?”, “what does vanilla look like?” and “where do you store the waffle iron?”

I was scared.  Avigail and  “Papa” were delighted. (more…)

A Contemporary Tied Stem Tulip Arrangement

I get excited once I start to see tulips appear because it signals that spring is not far away.   Tulips come in such an extraordinary variety of colors and petal edges.  Amazingly, most tulip varieties are perfectly symmetrical.  Tulips are from the lily family and are beautiful when closed as buds and when fully open.

I bought a bouquet of tulips for Shabbos.    I took them home and laid them out on the counter before deciding how to arrange them.  Since they have such straight stems, I thought that I would arrange them so that both the stems and the blossoms are arranged in an interesting manner. (more…)

Simply the best chicken soup…ever!

What would a kosher blog be without a recipe for chicken soup?

I have been making chicken soup for the past nearly thirty years of marriage.  I serve chicken soup at just about  every Friday night Shabbos dinner in my home. It is on my Shabbos menu whether the weather is frightfully cold or unbearably hot.  It is one of those recipes that I almost never make during the week, except for a special occasion or weekday holiday.

My first chicken soup in the eighties used whole vegetables and chicken parts.  Over the past decades, I made changes to suit my family and their different tastes.

When the kids were little, I started cutting the vegetables into chunks so that I could easily measure out what each one wanted.  I replaced  chicken parts with boneless chicken breasts because it yielded too much of the gray nastiness on the sides of the pot  and required me to skim the soup.  There were phases when I used cheesecloth packets for the chicken and herbs and phases where I made a more rustic soup.

Now that the dust has settled, here is where I am: (more…)

When Crayons Must Learn Boundaries: Simple Ways to Clean Crayon Marks on Walls

Our daughter, Kaitlyn, recently called me in a panic.  “Help!  Avigail colored with her crayons on the wall in the play area.  How in the world do I clean it up?

For Kaitlyn, this is a first occurrence and the mess seemed to be isolated to a small unnoticeable part of the wall. Most mothers have encountered this messy problem, not always successfully.  In raising my own children, this was something that happened repeatedly.  My daughter, Leah’s art never learned boundaries.  She colored on walls, she colored on tables, she colored on desks and even decided to transform her favorite grey dress into a rainbow-colored garment using markers.

There are several options for cleaning crayon off a surface.  It is always best to start with the gentlest technique, one that will cause the least amount of collateral damage. I listed them to Kaitlyn, cautioning her to start with a small hidden area first to determine if the technique worked.  If that technique did not work, I explained to her to try the next technique until she found one that cleaned the crayon drawings. (more…)

Kale and Cabbage Kugel: a Pareve Souffle

I grew up believing that spinach was the most powerful vegetable in the universe (remember Popeye?) I have raised kids in a generation that views kale the same way that we viewed spinach. Kale is the new spinach.

My daughter, Leah, loves kale. To keep her happy (and healthy), I try to always have a large bag of kale available for her in the freezer. I buy a large package of fresh kale, clean it and store it in the freezer. Then, it is available for all her favorite kale recipes. She uses kale in smoothies and pesto and she has tried to convince the rest of the family to love it, too. Some of us will eat it and others are just not there…yet.

Leah developed this kale and cabbage kugel recipe using some of her favorite ingredients. It is bright, green and healthy.

If you prefer spinach, you may substitute spinach for some or all of the kale.

kale and cabbage

INGREDIENTS

Oil for sauteing
2 cups cabbage
1 large onion
2-3 cloves garlic (optional)
2 cups of kale or spinach (see kosher notes below)
4-5 eggs
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-2 teaspoons salt
Pepper to taste

kale cabbage kugels in oven

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a large baking dish.  Saute onions, garlic and cabbage until soft and golden brown (about 20-25 minutes).  Puree kale with eggs, vinegar and seasonings in food processor or blender.

Combine cabbage mixture with kale and egg mixture.  Pour mixture into Pyrex or baking pan.  Bake kugel 30-40 minutes.

 

VARIATIONS

Sprinkle nuts, crumbs or crispy fried onions on top of mixture before baking for an extra bit of texture and crunch.

 

KOSHER NOTES

Kosher laws disallow the eating of  any whole insects and therefore most greens require a process of soaking, rinsing and in some cases, pureeing.  I have found that flat-leafed greens like baby spinach and flat-leaf  kale are much easier to check for insects than their curly-leaf counterparts.  Kashrut authorities differ on the proper checking of leafy vegetables and some disallow the use of spinach and kale altogether.  This blog was not designed to be your  kosher authority, so please consult your local rabbinic authority regarding using and preparing greens such as spinach and kale.

kale cabbage kugel x2

kale cabbage kugel with onions

Recipe, Baking and Photo Credits: Leah Respler