Yes, Pesach is a hard yom tov to prepare for. I don't care how little or how much you do by way of cleaning, but this is a yom tov that tends to bring company with it, and company means cooking, and cooking means shopping and preparing and cleaning up. For most people their kitchens are not as convenient to work in as those kitchens are the rest of the year, with items being stored wherever a place can be found, and that's not always in the kitchen itself. And then, as was the case this year, when yom tov and Shabbos are interwoven, there isn't the "leisure" to cook on yom tov itself--everything needs to be completely prepared before yom tov starts.
However.......
I miss Pesach. I'm sitting at my desk with plenty of cook aheads in the fridge so there's no preparing a meal for tonight. And it is quiet in the house...a bit too quiet. There are going to be no leisurely communal meals and sitting at the table to catch up on what has been going on in everyone's lives. There are going to be no helping hands running up and down the stairs so I don't have to. There are going to be no gabfests while lounging around on the couch. There won't be the multiple voices in the chorus of "gutten yom tov's" that accompany the comings and goings to shul. The dining room table looks strangely bare, decked only in a tablecloth without dishes set for a meal. Where books should be stacked on the coffee table there is only plain wood.
Yes, I worked hard and long to bring in Pesach, but I have no complaints. The yom tov was truly joyously celebrated, and memories were added that will last a lifetime. And yes, being gathered together and being able to talk to each other face to face was worth all the effort. I heard someone say today "Thank God that Pesach is finally over." I'm going to amend that statement to one that pleases me more--"Thank God for Pesach."
Showing posts with label Pesach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pesach. Show all posts
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Chag Kasher V'Sameach
For obvious reasons I won't be posting tomorrow, so I'd like now to wish you and your families a chag kasher v'sameach. May the days of Pesach find you making wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Yes, this yom tov is a lot of work, but put that into perspective, and enjoy the fruit of your labors. And may we be zocheh once again next year to be wishing each other a gutten Pesach
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Weather Did It
I was in and out of supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores all of last week and this week as well. One thing I noticed right away was that none of the markets had any fresh horseradish roots on display. This is kind of strange as they are always out by two weeks before Pesach. I asked the produce managers when they would be getting the roots, and the answer was "IF we get them it won't be until a few days before the holiday." IF? Apparently the unprecedented warm winter temperatures we had this year have affected the horseradish crop. Producers are first selling any product to the manufacturers of jarred horseradish. After that, the consumer will--hopefully--get some.
And then there is is--without long spells of cold, the bite of the horseradish root is reduced. I've got male members of my family who look forward to the tear-producing aroma of freshly grated horseradish root. It just might not be there this year.
My suggestion? If you find that horseradish root now, grab it--you might not get a chance again.
And then there is is--without long spells of cold, the bite of the horseradish root is reduced. I've got male members of my family who look forward to the tear-producing aroma of freshly grated horseradish root. It just might not be there this year.
My suggestion? If you find that horseradish root now, grab it--you might not get a chance again.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
A Pre-Pesach Weirdness
Every erev Pesach there go around some truly strange reports of what various rabbanim and others have decided can and can't be used for Pesach or that require kashering.
I spoke with a friend this morning so we could say a gutten yom tov leisurely instead of in a rush next week. She is having a mixed bag of company for the sedorim, including one of her aunts and uncles. And thereby came the weird tale.
This aunt and uncle are not youngsters and for many years both have had partial and/or full dentures. They never had any concerns about their dentures pre-Pesach before, but the Rav of the shul they are now davening in told them they are going to have to "kasher" their dentures for Pesach. He added that having a separate set would really be better, but if they couldn't do that, they would need to super clean the dentures, pour boiling water over them (obviously hagolah wouldn't work) and then leave them unused for 24-hours before Pesach.
Frankly, I thought she was giving me Purim Torah just a little bit late or perhaps this was an April Fools Day joke. Unfortunately, she was quite serious. I asked her if this aunt and uncle were really going to do this, as it would mean basically not eating for 24-hours. She said no, they went to a "higher" authority who said that brushing the teeth well was all that was needed.
I was pretty certain that I had learned that plastic couldn't be kashered for Pesach, so those teeth wouldn't be kasherable if you held that they had to be. But please, false teeth need to be kashered?! Let's get real here. If we are now going to mix kashruth into teeth, there are way more problems than just Pesach. Would this same rabbi also pasken that people need to have two sets of dentures, one for fleishigs and one for milchigs? Because if he is worried about the kashruth of dentures for Pesach, shouldn't he first be worried about their being treif? (For that matter, our mouths in total are treif.)
And yes, in other years there have been stories about other dental appliances, such as braces and spacers, which some rabbanim have outright assered for Pesach and which some rabbanim require to be "kashered" for Pesach.
Going to put this one into my mental file, along with others like the rabbi who paskened that raw potatoes in their peels had to be either purchased from a shomer shabbos vendor or had to have a hechsher for Pesach.
I spoke with a friend this morning so we could say a gutten yom tov leisurely instead of in a rush next week. She is having a mixed bag of company for the sedorim, including one of her aunts and uncles. And thereby came the weird tale.
This aunt and uncle are not youngsters and for many years both have had partial and/or full dentures. They never had any concerns about their dentures pre-Pesach before, but the Rav of the shul they are now davening in told them they are going to have to "kasher" their dentures for Pesach. He added that having a separate set would really be better, but if they couldn't do that, they would need to super clean the dentures, pour boiling water over them (obviously hagolah wouldn't work) and then leave them unused for 24-hours before Pesach.
Frankly, I thought she was giving me Purim Torah just a little bit late or perhaps this was an April Fools Day joke. Unfortunately, she was quite serious. I asked her if this aunt and uncle were really going to do this, as it would mean basically not eating for 24-hours. She said no, they went to a "higher" authority who said that brushing the teeth well was all that was needed.
I was pretty certain that I had learned that plastic couldn't be kashered for Pesach, so those teeth wouldn't be kasherable if you held that they had to be. But please, false teeth need to be kashered?! Let's get real here. If we are now going to mix kashruth into teeth, there are way more problems than just Pesach. Would this same rabbi also pasken that people need to have two sets of dentures, one for fleishigs and one for milchigs? Because if he is worried about the kashruth of dentures for Pesach, shouldn't he first be worried about their being treif? (For that matter, our mouths in total are treif.)
And yes, in other years there have been stories about other dental appliances, such as braces and spacers, which some rabbanim have outright assered for Pesach and which some rabbanim require to be "kashered" for Pesach.
Going to put this one into my mental file, along with others like the rabbi who paskened that raw potatoes in their peels had to be either purchased from a shomer shabbos vendor or had to have a hechsher for Pesach.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
A Polite Inanimate Object
Every year I know that at least one inanimate object in my house is going to up and die, usually right before a yom tov. Many years there has been more than one "death" in a year.
This year the inanimate object slated to leave my home--the hot water heater-- turned out to be a very polite one. Instead of dying in the week before Pesach, it died this past Sunday morning. In doing so during the early a.m. hours, it made its exit when my husband was home and when a plumber was reachable and available to come to the house. Of course, it destroyed my chores for Sunday, which included a whole lot of uses of hot water. On the other hand, it gave me an unexpected "free" day, and for that I can't complain.
I'm hoping that this will be the end of the "deaths" slated for this yom tov. Perhaps with all the mild weather we've had this winter, only one object will have gotten mortally ill. Yes, I can only hope.
Note: Only a few decades ago this story would have ended differently. A plumber on Sunday? Maybe if you lived in a frum area that had a frum plumber, and he was willing to come to you. But even then, that was more for small repairs than for major replacements. The plumbing supply stores that would have provided the water heater weren't open on Sunday. Hey, back then the large malls weren't open on Sunday either. Almost no stores were open on Sunday, with the exception of a few kosher groceries and/or bakeries. We would have been hotwaterless for at least a couple of days. Fast forward to now and the whole replacement took one examination visit and then the installation visit, all done within 5 hours of our discovering the broken heater. Yes, sometimes I really do love progress.
This year the inanimate object slated to leave my home--the hot water heater-- turned out to be a very polite one. Instead of dying in the week before Pesach, it died this past Sunday morning. In doing so during the early a.m. hours, it made its exit when my husband was home and when a plumber was reachable and available to come to the house. Of course, it destroyed my chores for Sunday, which included a whole lot of uses of hot water. On the other hand, it gave me an unexpected "free" day, and for that I can't complain.
I'm hoping that this will be the end of the "deaths" slated for this yom tov. Perhaps with all the mild weather we've had this winter, only one object will have gotten mortally ill. Yes, I can only hope.
Note: Only a few decades ago this story would have ended differently. A plumber on Sunday? Maybe if you lived in a frum area that had a frum plumber, and he was willing to come to you. But even then, that was more for small repairs than for major replacements. The plumbing supply stores that would have provided the water heater weren't open on Sunday. Hey, back then the large malls weren't open on Sunday either. Almost no stores were open on Sunday, with the exception of a few kosher groceries and/or bakeries. We would have been hotwaterless for at least a couple of days. Fast forward to now and the whole replacement took one examination visit and then the installation visit, all done within 5 hours of our discovering the broken heater. Yes, sometimes I really do love progress.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Holiday Greetings
In case you missed it, today has been declared national "No, I Won't!" Day. Any and all references to the upcoming "P" holiday are completely and totally forbidden. Today you do something nice for yourself, even if that means doing nothing at all. Enjoy your "P" missing day!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
What's the Context
We've all heard the old advice about how to view a glass. Some view that glass as half empty, and some view it as half full. Thanks to the connotations of "empty" and "full," we are supposed to believe that viewing a glass as half empty is a negative view, and that viewing that glass as half full is positive, and how we should be viewing it.
I don't always agree with the traditional view. My feeling is that you have to look at the context that glass falls within before you decide how to view that glass.
Let's take to-do lists. This time of year, with the "P" holiday coming right up, I'm thrilled if my glass is half empty. It means I got ahead of schedule and have less left to do. Looking at that glass as half full would clearly indicate that I still have lots more to do. In this case "empty" is what I want to see, not full.
I may want my coffee cup full or even half full, but I most definitely want any work needing to be done to be in the "half empty" category.
I don't always agree with the traditional view. My feeling is that you have to look at the context that glass falls within before you decide how to view that glass.
Let's take to-do lists. This time of year, with the "P" holiday coming right up, I'm thrilled if my glass is half empty. It means I got ahead of schedule and have less left to do. Looking at that glass as half full would clearly indicate that I still have lots more to do. In this case "empty" is what I want to see, not full.
I may want my coffee cup full or even half full, but I most definitely want any work needing to be done to be in the "half empty" category.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
A New Holiday--as if there weren't already enough of 'em
I've had postings up before about some of the strange days that have been declared as holidays in the secular calendar. This year I've decided to start one of those special days of my own. I have a feeling it really might catch on, particularly among balabostas in the run-up to Pesach. I'm designating that day for Tuesday, March 13th.
I'm calling that day "No, I Won't! Day" The premise is a fairly simple one. Anything and everything that might possibly be connected in any way whatsoever to preparing for Pesach is totally and completely forbidden. Making lists of any kind? Strictly forbidden. Shopping for anything that is Pesach related? Strictly forbidden? Cleaning? Doesn't exist then. The only thing that anyone has to do on that day is treat him or her self to a break from the oncoming madness. Strictly forbidden on this holiday is any worrying about what has to be done the next day.
As the old advertising slogan used to say "You deserve a break today!"
I'm calling that day "No, I Won't! Day" The premise is a fairly simple one. Anything and everything that might possibly be connected in any way whatsoever to preparing for Pesach is totally and completely forbidden. Making lists of any kind? Strictly forbidden. Shopping for anything that is Pesach related? Strictly forbidden? Cleaning? Doesn't exist then. The only thing that anyone has to do on that day is treat him or her self to a break from the oncoming madness. Strictly forbidden on this holiday is any worrying about what has to be done the next day.
As the old advertising slogan used to say "You deserve a break today!"
Thursday, February 23, 2012
"P" is also for Preparedness
Those of you with a StopNShop market in your area might want to swallow your feelings about those "P" words that are upcoming, because it just might be "profitable" for you. The market already has its Passover products aisle up, and it's a double aisle in our market. Not only that, but about 2/3 of the products were on sale. If you have a place where to store those non-perishable products, then why not save some money now. Also will leave less to do before the Chag. Another plus is that the shelves are full and there's lots of variety. (Just an example: the Gefen large size salt-free tomato sauce {not the jumbo} was 3 for 89 cents today.)
Note also that Sanka coffee and Nescafe already have the OKP on them. Three different markets in our area had sales on those coffee brands over the past two weeks. If they go on sale in your area, it might pay to buy and put them away already.
Yes, "put away" for later is also a "P" phrase, and it also "puts" money into your pocket. Not all "P" words are "Perturbing."
Note also that Sanka coffee and Nescafe already have the OKP on them. Three different markets in our area had sales on those coffee brands over the past two weeks. If they go on sale in your area, it might pay to buy and put them away already.
Yes, "put away" for later is also a "P" phrase, and it also "puts" money into your pocket. Not all "P" words are "Perturbing."
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Strangers Among Us
Coming up soon are Purim and Pesach. These are two holidays that are associated with company. Certainly the Purim Megillah is full of examples of people holding feasts. And we are told for Pesach to proclaim "let all who are hungry come and eat." In far too many cases, however, this 'custom' of inviting is seen more in the breach than in the observance.
Most of the large communities of Klal are filled with people who are pretty much going to be alone for these holidays. Some are singles, living here now but from other places, places where their family still resides. Many will not be able to go home for Purim or Pesach. Some will be college students, some will be older singles working here. Some will be elderly people, perhaps without a spouse or any family living close by.
Some of those people might be couples, yet still alone except for each other. Some may be young couples who have recently moved to the community and have not yet developed any kind of social circle. Some may be older couples without family living nearby, or perhaps where friends have retired and moved elsewhere, leaving these couples fairly isolated socially.
And keep in mind that some of those alone may be ba'alei teshuvah or ge'rim whose families are not religious or Jewish, giving them no place to go for a holiday.
Regardless of how these people came to be alone, yom tov is an awful time to be alone. We Jews have always made much of gathering around a table to celebrate, gathering with others.
This year, plan ahead. Really open your eyes and look around your community. Is it really going to be such a hardship to set an extra plate or two at the table? Don't make assumptions that all these people surely will have someplace to be for yom tov. Ask! You're not sure who might be alone? Ask the Rav of your shul if there is someone who might want/need to be invited.
If we in Klal truly consider each other as "brothers," then let's get in the family spirit and invite those "brothers" for a seudah to share in the joy and simcha of yom tov. Now is the time to make your plans and issue the invitations.
Most of the large communities of Klal are filled with people who are pretty much going to be alone for these holidays. Some are singles, living here now but from other places, places where their family still resides. Many will not be able to go home for Purim or Pesach. Some will be college students, some will be older singles working here. Some will be elderly people, perhaps without a spouse or any family living close by.
Some of those people might be couples, yet still alone except for each other. Some may be young couples who have recently moved to the community and have not yet developed any kind of social circle. Some may be older couples without family living nearby, or perhaps where friends have retired and moved elsewhere, leaving these couples fairly isolated socially.
And keep in mind that some of those alone may be ba'alei teshuvah or ge'rim whose families are not religious or Jewish, giving them no place to go for a holiday.
Regardless of how these people came to be alone, yom tov is an awful time to be alone. We Jews have always made much of gathering around a table to celebrate, gathering with others.
This year, plan ahead. Really open your eyes and look around your community. Is it really going to be such a hardship to set an extra plate or two at the table? Don't make assumptions that all these people surely will have someplace to be for yom tov. Ask! You're not sure who might be alone? Ask the Rav of your shul if there is someone who might want/need to be invited.
If we in Klal truly consider each other as "brothers," then let's get in the family spirit and invite those "brothers" for a seudah to share in the joy and simcha of yom tov. Now is the time to make your plans and issue the invitations.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
I'm Back, I Think
The last few months have been hectic to say the least. Thankfully, our ill family members are on the road to recovery, although it's a long road and a sometimes bumpy one. Somehow we all made it through. Here I am facing the beginning of a new term again. Hopefully this new beginning will apply across the board, and I hope to find time for the things I like to do, not just the things I have to do, the blog being one of those things I hope to be more regular with.
So, let me begin. What would January be without my mentioning those dreaded "P" words--Purim and Pesach. Yup, with January ending we're well on the road to preparing for yom tov once again. And once again I'm suggesting that now would be a good time to use your computers to your benefit and get yourself organized ahead of time. No reason to wait to the very last second to make up and save a list of those to whom you are going to be giving shalach monos. If you will be making the Purim seudah, now is a great time to create your menu and shopping lists.
As for Pesach, what could be better than a January Sunday to get the whole family into the closet cleaning mode? Yup, kind of scary to see what has hidden in those deep, dark recesses in the back of the closets. Now is a great time to cull the old clothing and donate it. Now is also a great time to finally decide to throw out or donate some of those strange items we somehow keep and have no idea of when or if we will ever use them.
Yes, I'm practicing what I'm preaching. Today I tackle the linen closets. I think I've finally talked myself out of being sentimental about sheets that are older than my kids are. My treat for my anniversary is to finally replace the bed linens--there are still comforter covers and sheets that joined my family when I got married almost 40 years ago. I have a feeling that I'm not the only one with "antiques" lurking in the linen closet.
Whatever you choose to tackle today, comfort yourself with the idea that it will be one less thing to "have" to do much closer to yom tov.
So, let me begin. What would January be without my mentioning those dreaded "P" words--Purim and Pesach. Yup, with January ending we're well on the road to preparing for yom tov once again. And once again I'm suggesting that now would be a good time to use your computers to your benefit and get yourself organized ahead of time. No reason to wait to the very last second to make up and save a list of those to whom you are going to be giving shalach monos. If you will be making the Purim seudah, now is a great time to create your menu and shopping lists.
As for Pesach, what could be better than a January Sunday to get the whole family into the closet cleaning mode? Yup, kind of scary to see what has hidden in those deep, dark recesses in the back of the closets. Now is a great time to cull the old clothing and donate it. Now is also a great time to finally decide to throw out or donate some of those strange items we somehow keep and have no idea of when or if we will ever use them.
Yes, I'm practicing what I'm preaching. Today I tackle the linen closets. I think I've finally talked myself out of being sentimental about sheets that are older than my kids are. My treat for my anniversary is to finally replace the bed linens--there are still comforter covers and sheets that joined my family when I got married almost 40 years ago. I have a feeling that I'm not the only one with "antiques" lurking in the linen closet.
Whatever you choose to tackle today, comfort yourself with the idea that it will be one less thing to "have" to do much closer to yom tov.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Back to Business as Usual
There's an old saying: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." It can surely be applied to getting through the yom tov of Pesach. A whole lot of people who were sure they would never make it to be ready for Pesach, and yet somehow they did. A whole lot of people who wondered if they could possibly make it through 8 days of non-stop cooking, eating, cleaning up, company and all that goes with being basically cloistered in close quarters with a whole lot of other people. Yup, they did. Those people should take some chizuk from the fact that they managed to produce Pesach and yes, even enjoy some of it.
And yes, I dusted off the "P" words and put them away in my files until it's time to get them out next year. I did, however, leave out one "P" word and a related "R" word to occupy my thoughts for a while today--Ponder and Reflect.
While yom tov is still fresh in my mind I'm making myself some notes for next year based on what happened this year. I'm looking at what things worked especially well this year and what things did not. I'm amending the purchasing lists to be used next year to include more of a few items and to eliminate a few items as well--in no way am I ever touching those non-gebrokts cake mixes again; no use in trying to save some time and energy if the results aren't going to be eaten or are not as advertised. I tried a couple of new recipes this year and one at least was a big hit with the family and company; the recipe is going into the treasured recipe file. A long time ago I learned not to count on memory alone when it comes to this particular yom tov.
So yes, I know it may be the last thing you want to be doing now that Pesach is finally over, but I'm recommending taking a little time to think about what you did and didn't do, and when you did or did not do them, and make yourself some notes to be used next year.
And yes, I dusted off the "P" words and put them away in my files until it's time to get them out next year. I did, however, leave out one "P" word and a related "R" word to occupy my thoughts for a while today--Ponder and Reflect.
While yom tov is still fresh in my mind I'm making myself some notes for next year based on what happened this year. I'm looking at what things worked especially well this year and what things did not. I'm amending the purchasing lists to be used next year to include more of a few items and to eliminate a few items as well--in no way am I ever touching those non-gebrokts cake mixes again; no use in trying to save some time and energy if the results aren't going to be eaten or are not as advertised. I tried a couple of new recipes this year and one at least was a big hit with the family and company; the recipe is going into the treasured recipe file. A long time ago I learned not to count on memory alone when it comes to this particular yom tov.
So yes, I know it may be the last thing you want to be doing now that Pesach is finally over, but I'm recommending taking a little time to think about what you did and didn't do, and when you did or did not do them, and make yourself some notes to be used next year.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Chag Kasher V'Sameach
Finally it's erev Pesach, and yes, you're going to make it! Tonight we'll all sit down to the Seder and once again discover why this night is different from all other nights of the year. Take a deep breath and repeat after me: Pesach is a wonderful yom tov, Pesach is a wonderful yom tov. All the hard work and frenetic activity is so going to be worth it. I hope that you and your families will find this yom tov a time to be making happy family memories that will last a lifetime. Chag Kasher V'sameach to you all.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An Observation on Shopping
Someone wondered about my buying produce ahead for basically the whole of Pesach. A brief explanation may lead to some thought on your part.
If you shop in a fruit and vegetable market that sells nothing but produce--that is, no chometz items are found in the store--then shopping there next Thursday does not represent a problem according to our local orthodox rabbis. However, none of these rabbis allow shopping in the branches of the major supermarket chains unless those chains have plainly and clearly stated that they sell their chometz before Pesach--and none of our local branches do so. Ditto for the fruit markets that also carry chometz products. So, no shopping in the supermarket chains during chol ha'moed nor in the fruit stores unless they've sold their chometz.
Even where a store does sell its chometz those planning on shopping next Sunday are in for a rude awakening--it's Easter Sunday, and at least in our area NO fruit and vegetable stores will be open and no supermarkets either. That leaves shopping only in a kosher grocery store and many of those, or perhaps most, do not carry fruits and vegetables.
Obviously where you geographically live is going to make a difference in the shopping available, but the manager of the local Stop and Shop and the other chain stores said they will all be closed in the metropolitan NY area. Something to keep in mind as you shop today.
If you shop in a fruit and vegetable market that sells nothing but produce--that is, no chometz items are found in the store--then shopping there next Thursday does not represent a problem according to our local orthodox rabbis. However, none of these rabbis allow shopping in the branches of the major supermarket chains unless those chains have plainly and clearly stated that they sell their chometz before Pesach--and none of our local branches do so. Ditto for the fruit markets that also carry chometz products. So, no shopping in the supermarket chains during chol ha'moed nor in the fruit stores unless they've sold their chometz.
Even where a store does sell its chometz those planning on shopping next Sunday are in for a rude awakening--it's Easter Sunday, and at least in our area NO fruit and vegetable stores will be open and no supermarkets either. That leaves shopping only in a kosher grocery store and many of those, or perhaps most, do not carry fruits and vegetables.
Obviously where you geographically live is going to make a difference in the shopping available, but the manager of the local Stop and Shop and the other chain stores said they will all be closed in the metropolitan NY area. Something to keep in mind as you shop today.
Pesach Countdown--1 Day to Go
Suggestion for the Day #1: Yup, may get a bit frenetic today and tomorrow as you're heading down the final stretch. I suggest that you keep in mind the old saying: No matter how we get there, we all sit down to the Seder. Yes, you are going to make it. Repeat that as many times as is necessary to get you through the day and night.
Suggestion for the Day #2: I know it seems a bit strange, but if you've been cleaning chometz out like crazy, please remember to leave a bit of that chometz to make bedikah with.
Suggestion for the Day #2: I know it seems a bit strange, but if you've been cleaning chometz out like crazy, please remember to leave a bit of that chometz to make bedikah with.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Pesach Countdown--2 Days to Go
Suggestion for the Day #1: If potatoes play a big part in your Pesach eating, make tonight the night to get your helpers to do the peeling. For this to work you will need a few plastic buckets or extra large containers. The buckets/containers should be large enough to hold the amount of potatoes you will need for now until the end of the first days of yom tov with sufficient water in the containers to cover the potatoes. No, the potatoes will not start fermenting or "melting" if held in water for a few days. The advantage is that you can grab those potatoes and cook however you wish, whenever you wish, without spending the extra time in peeling and cleaning up the mess. And yes, husbands and kids make terrific potato peelers--lots of dad/kid conversations possible while they are all seated and working.
Suggestion for the Day #2: While your helpers are peeling potatoes, if you make your own lokshen for yom tov, make this tonight's job. Again, make all the lokshen you are going to need and freeze what isn't needed for the first days. Wrap the lokshen, uncut, extra well in plastic wrap. Defrost in the fridge on the day that you will need to use them.
Suggestion for the Day #2: While your helpers are peeling potatoes, if you make your own lokshen for yom tov, make this tonight's job. Again, make all the lokshen you are going to need and freeze what isn't needed for the first days. Wrap the lokshen, uncut, extra well in plastic wrap. Defrost in the fridge on the day that you will need to use them.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Let the Buyer Beware
Having gotten into my kitchen fairly early I needed to have something to nosh for the week and for Shabbos and until we actually got into yom tov. My sister had raved to me about the non-gebrokts cake mixes that were sold last year so I decided to save some time and effort and get a few of the boxes. Didn't hurt that the market had them on sale either.
I'm naming the brand here because I think it's cogent to what follows. I purchased Liebers mixes. The first mix clearly said coffee cake with crumb topping on the box with a huge picture of a cake clearly covered with a CRUMB topping. The second cake was a chocolate chip cake. The huge picture on the front clearly showed a yellow cake dotted with some chocolate chips. The third box was clearly identified as yellow cake mix with a packet of chocolate frosting. The picture on the box showed a yellow cake frosted in chocolate.
So, what did I get from these cake mixes? Well, the coffee cake with crumb topping mix included did not include any crumb topping but did have a sugar packet to sprinkle on top of the cake before baking--final result looks nothing like the picture on the box. The yellow cake with chocolate chips turned out to be a chocolate cake with chocolate chips--nothing like the picture on the box. The yellow cake with chocolate frosting turned out to be a chocolate cake. Again, not what was advertised on the box.
I understand that manufacturers get kind of busy when they put out their Pesach products, but this is ridiculous. One mistake I could perhaps understand, but three (actually four, since I bought two boxes of the chocolate chip cake mix and they were both chocolate cake instead of yellow cake)? So much for shortcutting the baking--my mixer and I are going to be getting friendly again with a made-from-scratch recipe because when I want yellow cake I want YELLOW cake. If any of you bought those mixes, I hope you have better luck than I did, but don't be surprised if the final results are not quite what you expected.
You bet that Liebers will be hearing from me about this.
I'm naming the brand here because I think it's cogent to what follows. I purchased Liebers mixes. The first mix clearly said coffee cake with crumb topping on the box with a huge picture of a cake clearly covered with a CRUMB topping. The second cake was a chocolate chip cake. The huge picture on the front clearly showed a yellow cake dotted with some chocolate chips. The third box was clearly identified as yellow cake mix with a packet of chocolate frosting. The picture on the box showed a yellow cake frosted in chocolate.
So, what did I get from these cake mixes? Well, the coffee cake with crumb topping mix included did not include any crumb topping but did have a sugar packet to sprinkle on top of the cake before baking--final result looks nothing like the picture on the box. The yellow cake with chocolate chips turned out to be a chocolate cake with chocolate chips--nothing like the picture on the box. The yellow cake with chocolate frosting turned out to be a chocolate cake. Again, not what was advertised on the box.
I understand that manufacturers get kind of busy when they put out their Pesach products, but this is ridiculous. One mistake I could perhaps understand, but three (actually four, since I bought two boxes of the chocolate chip cake mix and they were both chocolate cake instead of yellow cake)? So much for shortcutting the baking--my mixer and I are going to be getting friendly again with a made-from-scratch recipe because when I want yellow cake I want YELLOW cake. If any of you bought those mixes, I hope you have better luck than I did, but don't be surprised if the final results are not quite what you expected.
You bet that Liebers will be hearing from me about this.
Pesach Countdown--3 Days to Go
Suggestion for the Day #1: Take a minute to think of just how many "large" meals you are going to be sitting down to over the next 10 days. You might want to make the meals for this Shabbos fairly simple ones.
Suggestion for the Day #2: Consider doubling one of the main dishes you are preparing for Shabbos and having it ready to warm up and eat on Sunday for dinner. Sunday is going to be a busy day for everyone and having a ready meal to eat takes some of the pressure off.
Suggestion for the Day #3: It takes the same amount of time to cook three large pots of soup as it does to cook one pot of soup. Consider making all your soups for Pesach today and freezing what you don't need until yom tov starts. Once the ingredients are in the pots, the soups cook themselves with little need for you to be hovering, leaving you some time to do other things you might need to do or might want to do.
Suggestion for the Day #2: Consider doubling one of the main dishes you are preparing for Shabbos and having it ready to warm up and eat on Sunday for dinner. Sunday is going to be a busy day for everyone and having a ready meal to eat takes some of the pressure off.
Suggestion for the Day #3: It takes the same amount of time to cook three large pots of soup as it does to cook one pot of soup. Consider making all your soups for Pesach today and freezing what you don't need until yom tov starts. Once the ingredients are in the pots, the soups cook themselves with little need for you to be hovering, leaving you some time to do other things you might need to do or might want to do.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Pesach Countdown--4 Days to Go
Suggestion for the Day #1: Don't leave your perishable shopping until a day or two before Pesach--today is a perfect day. Dairy goods have a long expiration date and will last quite well for all of Pesach if you shop today. And yes, fruits and vegetables will do so as well if you take care to not buy produce that is at full full ripeness and won't last more than a day or two. Any produce that you do buy fully ripe should be used for Shabbos meals.
Suggestion for the Day #2: If you bake at home for Pesach this is a good day for it. Baking can be a messy job and time consuming as well, so get it out of the way now. And while you are at it, bake everything you will need for Pesach and freeze what is not going to be eaten now.
Suggestion for the Day #3: If you use fresh greens for your soups on Pesach, clean and check them today if you have not already done so. Decide how many packages you need of the greens based on how many pots of soup you will be cooking over yom tov and prepare that many packages ready packaged. Now, freeze the wet packages in individual plastic bags, except for any you will be using tomorrow. They stay beautifully in the freezer and there is no loss of flavor when cooking. Since checking and cleaning the greens can be very time/labor intensive--not to mention that it can create a mess in the kitchen--do them all now.
Suggestion for the Day #2: If you bake at home for Pesach this is a good day for it. Baking can be a messy job and time consuming as well, so get it out of the way now. And while you are at it, bake everything you will need for Pesach and freeze what is not going to be eaten now.
Suggestion for the Day #3: If you use fresh greens for your soups on Pesach, clean and check them today if you have not already done so. Decide how many packages you need of the greens based on how many pots of soup you will be cooking over yom tov and prepare that many packages ready packaged. Now, freeze the wet packages in individual plastic bags, except for any you will be using tomorrow. They stay beautifully in the freezer and there is no loss of flavor when cooking. Since checking and cleaning the greens can be very time/labor intensive--not to mention that it can create a mess in the kitchen--do them all now.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Pesach Countdown--5 Days to Go
Suggestion for the Day #1: If you're turning your kitchen Pesachdik before Shabbos HaGadol, today/tonight is a good time to do it. To take the pressure off of you, use disposable plates for any food that family has to eat. In fact, treat yourself to something you don't have to cook tonight, either brought in or eaten out. Suggestion for the Day #2: Designate one area as a "chometz may be eaten here" area and patiently inform everyone in the house of this fact. This will be the last area to be cleaned of chometz before Pesach so make it someplace that will be relatively easy to vacuum/mop up. I know someone with a fairly large entrance way to her apartment that sets up a folding table in that entrance and that is her chometz zone. All meals and snacks until she turns the entire house Pesachdik are eaten in that area, including meals for Shabbos. A porch or den would also work. Suggestion for the Day #3: For those of you who have already turned your kitchens this is a good time to prepare items that can be frozen over yom tov and taken out as needed. Takes the pressure off of you come Sunday and Monday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)