Pam R

Cakes offer as much, if not MORE variety than pies. Cakes can involve layers and layers of different flavours and textures. What does a pie have? Maybe a crust and a filling. Occasionally a topping. Cake can be divine in their simplicity - lemon pound cake with a little drizzled icing. They can be baked 'marbled' with more than one flavor in a layer - or they can contain different layers of baked goodness. Pour a simple ganache over a single cake. Spread a creamy mousse or a rich icing between the layers. Lovingly sandwich some fruit slices in between; top with cream, chocolate, coconut, nuts, etc. And just like pie, a cake can be enjoyed warm out of the oven - topped with ice cream (gingerbread cake, caramel sauce and ice-cream anybody?). I guess my vote's for cake...

Some vinaigrettes I add sugar to, some others (more I'd say) I add honey to, and some don't get either. It depends on the other dressing ingredients and salad components. But - adding a little sugar or honey won't necessarily make the dressing sweet. It's possible that it takes a little of the edge off, rather than making it sweet. Having said all that - I really like acidic things, so I tend to use more of a 2:1 oil to vinegar ratio (when making dressing for myself). The little bit of sweetness added to this mixture is probably more necessary than if you're using more oil. As for tossing it out after a couple of days - I often store extra vinaigrette in the fridge. I don't find it's detrimental to the dressing - and at times may enhance it. If you left it out on the counter, maybe it would go rancid - but kept cold, most dressings will last for at least a week.

I'd think a concept like this should have made enough money. Running a 'Passover store' in a very small community for the first time this year I could see the potential. We were discussing this at work throughout the day today. Did they have frozen and refrigerated items as well as dry goods? That would make it much harder to set up a place than if the store only needed shelving. You're right though - there are so many reasons why it may not have happened. Any ideas who ran the store?

I picked up 5 books last week. Four of them not really worth mentioning (they were $1.99 each - I didn't really need them). The fifth was a great kosher cookbook - for $3.99. (I think kosher cookbooks go on clearance frequently in North Dakota )

That's a shame. I think it's a brilliant idea. Wonder why it didn't happen...

Yep... or 'unsexed'. Theory has it that once the young male has been castrated, he has no sex-drive so he just lies around and eats. The lack of exercise and focus on eating means you get a larger, tender bird. eta: Are capons easily available in Vancouver?

I was just wondering if the Passover Store was open this year. Did anybody get there? Realizing that the tribe's population in the NY area is what it is - I wonder if this could be successful in other locations..

Nothing to be sorry about - it looks delicious! Thank goodness you found eGullet.. now you have a reason to photograph all your food

Do you have easy access to grape tomatoes? Are they pricey over there? I find that they are generally the most tomato-y flavoured tomatoes tomatoes are scarce. And the prices over here don't vary too much Tossed together with some basil, thinly sliced red onion, vinegar (balsamic/red wine/whatever you like ) olive oil, salt and pepper or whatever you like. Makes a nice, simple salad that can be put together and kept in the fridge until you need it (keeping the fresh herbs out until you serve). I of course, am always in favour of soup. Hot or cold. Your menu sounds great!

Happy Birthday Klary! I think it's lovely that you turn your birthday into a week-long celebration - thanks so much for sharing with us. Are all of your birthday meals/plans things you will be preparing yourself or do you get to sit back and let somebody else cook for you at some point? This looks heavenly... what is the filling? Caramel? Syrup?

Well... wouldn't that make a trip to Costco more enjoyable! Never mind the States, we don't have these in Manitoba. I was just at a Sam's Club in North Dakota over the weekend - lunch for 3 of us came to $5.00. I followed Steven's instructions and refilled the beverage on the way out. That was a hot dog and 64 oz. of soda for about $1.50. Good Kosher dog (where else in ND could you get a kosher dog?)... but they need to work on the buns.

When I asked one of my Israeli customers what he used it for, he said "whatever a person uses ketchup for, I use Schug"... he also said that about lemon baliadi Ayana - I have the same question... is the stuff made with green peppers also called schug/zchug or is it something else? Any ideas?

Nope I'm going away for a few days and letting other people cook for me ... while I sleep. Chag Sameach!

You're welcome again . Isn't it funny that the best Passover compliment is when somebody tells you it doesn't taste like Passover? Whoops. I should have said replace some of the cake meal with cocoa powder (not chocolate). Though ... replacing some of the cake meal with cocoa AND adding chocolate should be good too

That's ok.. I was just trying to explain why there were so many cream soda and cherry bottles/cans on display...

If I'm not mistaken... and I may be mistaken... the only flavours kosher for Passover are the Cream and BC. I haven't had any Coke this year - but the Passover Pepsi tastes the same to me

I'd like to thank everybody for the wonderful comments all week. I had a great time sharing with you and hope you enjoyed it as well. Happy Passover and Happy Easter. Pam

My Last Supper ... for the blog that is. I took pictures, but you don't want to see them. Nothing fancy - just 'good food'. Smoked turkey, what were supposed to be new dill potatoes turned into parsley/garlic potato mash and sauteed zucchini. There's a lemon granita in the freezer now - I'll have some when it's ready. (tomorrow I'll make watermelon granita.. mmm.)

Finally - two blogs almost over and I don't think I've shown you my home kitchen. Isn't that mandatory? The working end of the kitchen. This picture makes that center counter look much smaller than it is. A great working surface - there are usually stools on this side. The kitchen is open to the living room - and I have lots of browns, so the white helps keep everything bright. The eating end. It's usually much brighter (sorry!). I have no dining room - so rather than take part of the living room, the dining table is in the kitchen. Works well. The window on the left is actually a door to the deck - where the BBQ is kept. This means I can grill even when it's -20 outside.

It's a beautiful spring day today. 24 C and sunny. I was hot and tired when I came home from work - but a little snack revived me. Matzo with melted brie and pears - accompanied by an iced cappuccino. I was going to do something with lamb for dinner, but I'm just not up to it. It'll just be some leftovers later tonight. By the way, I'm desperate for some popcorn. Only 4 1/2 days to go.

I realized today that I need to start placing orders next week... the stock is low.. This is all that's left of the 1000 lbs. of matzo..

some random facts... approx. 975 lbs. of matzo sold 1800 eggs used by me, at least 3600 eggs used total 34 varieties of cheese sold, 43 varieties of chocolates You can NEVER have enough cream cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese to satisfy the masses. People, apparently, cannot go without mayonnaise for 8 days. Order much more for next year. No matter how many times I think I have enough varieties of Matzo, order more. There is never enough matzo farfel. People don't like it when you tell them to "just break up some matzo". If you bake it, they will come.

bagels should be savoury. plain cream cheese would probably be good

I was going to stop at Superstore (grocery store) on my way home from work to get a watermelon or two (to juice, to make granita and to eat) but I forgot it's Easter and they're closed . Tomorrow I will do it - with lots of ice! I had lots of calls today for deli/hot dogs - the weather is so beautiful I think a lot of people want to bbq hot dogs - but we've been out of the stuff for about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks. But chicken I got. We even got a shipment in on Monday - what would you like? My pleasure - and I hope so!

I'm glad you/they enjoyed them! They do such a good job absorbing any brisket juices oooooh... restaurant food...