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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.…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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Crockpot Lentil Soup with Optional Parsnip and Kale
My daughter, Michelle, moved to California after getting married last June. She is a newly-inspired cook and it is so exciting for me to learn new recipes and plating ideas from her. A few weeks ago, when the weather was very cold on both coasts, she asked me to share some crockpot soup recipes with…
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Low Carb Waffles: Simple and Delicious
Since I started my high-protein, low-carb diet, I have been enjoying vegetable omelets for breakfast. Today, I decided to try something different. I made some low-carb waffles. It was simple. It was dietetic. Unbelievably, it was quite delicious (at least to carb-craving me.) This diet requires fat like butter and buttermilk You can easily replace…
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Crunchy Arugula and Jicama Salad
This recipe will wow your taste buds and your eyes with the peppery flavor of arugula, the crunch of jicama, the rainbow colors of baby heirloom tomatoes, the spiciness of the red onions and scallions, and the salty nuttiness of macadamia nuts.
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Birds of Paradise: A Simple and Stunning Arrangement
I have always had an affinity for Birds of Paradise flowers. Their long angular stems paired with the orange and blue-tinted tropical blossom have made them a favorite of mine. Last week, in my local supermarket floral section, I found birds of paradise packaged with tropical leaves. Since I wanted to stick to the color family…
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Low-Carb Cajun Salmon Fillets in Foil Packets
For me, the easiest part of my new low-carb, high protein diet is preparing the main dishes. I have just adjusted some of my basic recipes to fit the parameters of the diet, using spices and lo-carb vegetables to wow my palate. Since most sauces contain sugar and are therefore not allowed on my diet, I…
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Simple Crockpot Mushroom Soup: Low Carb
Don and I just started a high-protein, low carb diet. I have to admit that I’ve never been on an official diet before and I’m excited for the challenge. I visited my local market today and spent hours perusing the aisles for ingredients that will work for this new diet. I bought items that I…
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Simply the best salad…ever!
I try to serve a salad at every meal. Our go-to salad is prepared with hearts of romaine and a variety of whatever fresh vegetables we have on hand. I love tomatoes and often add tomatoes in a variety of different shapes, sizes and colors. In my geographic area, Trader Joe’s and Costco sell a medley of heirloom…
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Meat and Potatoes Cupcakes for Every Child at Heart
Tzippy Respler I’m always looking for interesting, nutritious, kid-friendly and delicious recipes for my grandchildren, Avigail (age 2+) and Judah (9 months old). They are hearty eaters and they will have quite a surprise when I serve these protein cupcakes. I have taken my favorite meatloaf and mashed potatoes recipes and have combined them into these easy…
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Curly Scallion Garnish: Simple and Wow
Vegetable garnishes can take a plated appetizer or serving platter from simple to wow. I like to create garnishes with ordinary ingredients and tools. There are so many garnishes that can be created using simple tools that you already own. This garnish elevates a simple scallion (green onion) to a wow garnish with the use of…
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Branches, Cabbages and Blue Spruce: Winter Planters
For the fall, I plant decorative cabbages in my outdoor planters. The variety of colors and textures makes me smile every time I approach the front door of my house. This year, we had warm weather deep into December, but alas, winter is finally here and my cabbages have wilted and faded due to the frost.
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A “Wow” knit pocketbook for Avigail…by Savta
My mother is Savta (Hebrew for Grandma) to my children and grandchildren. Savta is the most wonderful grandmother ever, always on the lookout for something special for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Savta loves to knit and she recently knit my two-year old granddaughter the most adorable pocketbook ever. Avigail feels so grown-up carrying her own…
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Kaitlyn’s Berry “Fresh” Muffins
Last week, Kaitlyn sent two-year old Avigail to playgroup with a muffin in her lunch bag. The muffin looked and smelled so delicious that Avigail’s teacher asked Kaitlyn for the recipe. After school that afternoon, Kaitlyn and Avigail made another batch of muffins, wrapped a couple of them for the teacher along with the recipe. Avigail…
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Crockpot Split Pea Soup..Simple and Hearty
Crockpot soups are hearty, delicious and really warm you up on those cold, winter days. I love to start my soup in the morning and have it ready at the end of the day. These soups are simple and flexible. Best of all, they freeze beautifully.
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Simply the Best Challah Recipe…ever!
I bake Challah for Shabbos. It is a real treat for our Shabbos table and it makes the house smell heavenly as it bakes. The mitzvah (commandment) of Challah is especially designed for women and is a privilege and opportunity for special prayer. I use my Kitchen Aid mixer for kneading the dough. Since…
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Bat Mitzvah Centerpieces, sparkling and upcycled
On Sunday, my niece Emma had a beautiful Bat Mitzvah party for her friends. A couple of weeks ago, my sister-in-law, Suzy, dropped off some materials that she had bought in New York City and I agreed to arrange them for this exciting party.
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Ombre String Art, Simplified and Personalized
Tzippy Respler February 8, 2016 My wonderful niece, Emma, is turning 12. I wanted to create something for her in honor of her Bat Mitzvah. I decided to wow her by creating a personalized string art design for her bedroom.
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Simple Rainbow Roasted Vegetables
For as long as I can remember, I have been making roasted vegetables for Friday night dinner. Years ago when our local pediatrician asked my kids what their favorite food was, they answered without hesitation, “roasted vegetables!”.
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Colorful Red Cabbage Quinoa Salad, no oil necessary
This salad combines wonderful colors, textures and flavors and is unusually versatile and robust.
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Simply the best pareve cholent…ever (with optional pulled beef brisket)
Over the past twenty plus years of marriage, I have tweaked my cholent recipe. It started out as my father’s recipe and it still has the basic flavor of his cholent. I have simplified and enhanced the recipe…
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It’s all about the arrangement (psst….even with last week’s roses)
I floated the blossoms in a grid-like pattern…
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Simple to Wow inspirations and beginnings…
I try to mix things up and share inspiring ideas, new table settings, simple and nutritious recipes, and home decor that will wow you