bloviatrix

Please don't make any recipe changes on my behalf. In the event that I make it, I won't be eating - although I'm sure I'll be salivating at all the wonderful offerings. Furthermore, I'll be probably get there late (I'm trying to bribe my husband with a hike along the Appalacian Mountain trail which runs through a park near-by).

I believe that Nabisco sought out kosher supervision because they believed it was a way to increase market share. I have to admit, I don't frequent the packaged cookie aisle in the supermarket, but I believe I've seen Sunshine products at the Shop-Rite I go to in Englewood. I think the reason you don't see Hydrox is because they don't sell a lot of product and supermarkets aren't going to give them prime shelf space. I know that among my packaged-cookie eating friends, once Oreos received the hechsher, they no longer even contemplated Hydrox. Why eat an imitation when you can eat the real thing?

Marie-louise, The document we used at the RH seder last year was from a bound book. Our host had made photo copies for all of us. I assume the text was from something in his personal library. It is my understanding that there are elaborate books on the topic. My cousin was stuck in Milan in 2001 and celebrated RH there. She had an opportunity to attend a RH seder where each guest was given their own book with the service. I think the seder varies depending on one's family origin and the foods are different. My husband found a sheet with an ashkenaz version of the RH seder. The foods used and symbolism are: Challah in Honey - to hope for a sweet year Dates - so our adversaries will be eradicated Pomegranates - we should have a multiple of good deeds like the seeds of the pomegranate Apple in Honey - to usher in a good and sweet year Fish - so we can be fruitful and multiply like fish Fish heads - so we may be likened to the head not the tail Carrots (in tzimmes) - that are merits may be multiplied Personally, I'm not thrilled with the document I have - the symbolism of the dates makes no sense to me - so I'm continuing my research. I plan to check one of the local Judaica stores this week to see what they have in the way of texts. Before I became aware of this tradition, I tried to use traditional foods of jewish communities around the world. For example, black-eyed peas are eaten by Syrians. And the Indian jewish community would eat a banana curry. To me, adapting the customs to my own just adds to the sense of making the holiday special. Once I figure out what I'm doing I'll be glad to share - this is the first year I'm doing this at my own home.

Last year, we were invited to a Rosh Hashanah seder, which is a sephardic tradition. It was really quite interesting. Before the meal, we had a variety of different foods including fish, head of lamb, fresh dates and pomegranates. Each food has a signifigance related to welcoming in the New Year, and there is a recitation before each food. Once we went through the ceremony we sat down a complete meal (of course, we were quite full by then). This was the first time I had attended something like this, and I loved the way they integrated the ritual foods and celebrated each one. I've done some research and have found that there is an ashkenaz tradition for the Rosh Hashana seder as well, although it is not as common. Some of the foods used are different, so head of lamb is replaced with fish heads, and carrots are used. I'm hoping to introduce the seder as part of my meal this year. I think rituals such as this make the holiday that much more meaningful.

As I read so many praises of Oreos, I would like to point out that before 1998 I never ate one. Nabisco products didn't become kosher until the late 90s (they were made with lard until sometime in the early 90s). And then I was introduced to the world of Oreos, Lorna Dunnes, etc. Needless to say, when Oreos became kosher you would have thought the Messiah had revealed himself. Everyone I knew was running out to the store to get their hands on the coveted Oreo. At Shavous that year, the cheesecake of choice was Oreo. I'll admit, even I went on an Oreo kick. But after 6 months common sense kicked in and I realized that homemade was better. Before Nabisco, we had to settle for Sunshine Hydrox cookies for our chocolate sandwich with white cream filling. I think my mom bought them once a year.

Friday night's (shabbat) dinner will be: A loaf of Pugliese (instead of challah) Edamame (yeah!! they finally showed up at the greenmarket) Cornmeal dredged whitefish, pan fried A melange of tomatoes roasted in EVOO with slivers of garlic and oregano Apricot souffle Chocolate Poundcake To drink will be spearmint infused ice tea and I haven't decided on the wine. Saturday (shabbat) lunch will be: A salad of red leaf lettuce, scallions, peppers, with slices of turkey breast and pastrami Dilled Potato Salad (inspired by the potato salad thread) Melon

I've been wondering who this woman is as well. I happen to have the article sitting right next me and it does state that she's married to a guy named Charles Olson that she met at Oxford where she was teaching French and he was working on his PhD. How was the tomato tart? The zucchini flan looked good as well.

I know I complained about cooking at my mother's house, but cheeseandchocolate's post on baking with mom, reminds me of how much I enjoyed baking with my mom. Growing up, I never helped with cooking, but I always helped my mom bake. When I was six we embarked on a quest to make challah. My dad documented the whole thing with photographs. My favorite photo is of my mom and me, each somewhat coated in flour, with kerchiefs covering our hair holding the end result. My mom holding big challahs, me with little ones. Before Purim every year, we would have a baking day. Mom would make the hamentaschen dough in advance and we would work together on the kitchen table rolling out the dough, cutting out the circles, dropping the filling and folding into the triangular shape. As soon as as the timer buzzed and the first tray came out of the over, we would both grab "the ugly ones" to taste. Mom taught me the joys of homemade baked goods, and it's a love I carry to this day. When I first moved out on my own, the one big purchase I wanted was a Kitchen Aid mixer so I could bake on my own. My mom purchased my mixer as a gift for Chanukah right after I got married, and everytime I use it, I think of her.

I received the revelation of saving fat the first time I roasted a duck. Now I always have containers of duck fat easily available in my freezer. Duck fat is truly a food of the gods. A little bit of duck fat makes all vegetables taste better!!

The Who is William Grimes? article appeared in the summer/fall 2003 issue of New Jersey Tables. My husband received a complimentary copy and passed it on to me. There's also an interesting piece on NJ Greenmarkets. And trust me, there have been restaurants that have received no stars. I've even seen an rating of "unsatisfactory." Which reminds me, one summer when I was in college, I worked as a fact-checker on Bryan Miller's restaurant guide. Miller was as that time the restaurant reviewer for The Times and the book was a compilation of his reviews. I called all the restaurants to verify hours, what credit cards they accepted, and wheelchair accessibility. If the restuarant received a 2 star review or better I would tell them I was calling on behalf of Mr. Miller. For anything less, I would just say I have some questions.

I think I'm love..... Tuna packed in oil on a french dinner roll slathered with herb mayo and a homemade spicy dill pickle.

I don't know if this will clear up the one star/two star issue, but they address the this issue in an article recently handed to me called Who is William Grimes?

I'm jealous. I'm thinking of picking up it up. His stuff looks great.

Girl Scout Thin Mints followed by their Samoas.

where was the ice cream food group?

Most mornings I go the standard cereal and milk route. But, I've been known to eat cold pizza and sushi for breakfast as well (but not at the same meal). There's nothing like some wasabi to get you going early in the morning. I loved the breakfasts that they served in Israel. They had all types of vegetable salads, herring and other cured fishes, and yogurts and cheeses. Reading all the comments remind me of a conversation I overheard on a flight between Tel Aviv and Paris some years ago. Breakfast had been served - it was eggs and sausages - and one of the passengers was very disturbed. He was convinced that someone had substituted his kosher meal with a non-kosher one because "jews don't eat meat in the morning." The flight attendant reminded him that his food came properly wrapped (as required for kashrut purposes) and said that this was a typical European breakfast, but the guy wouldn't hear of it. He was convinced that someone was playing a trick on him.

I did the same thing with scotch bonnets. Tell her not to touch her face, otherwise she'll get the capcasin on the her face. Soak the afflicted area in milk. Slathering aloe gel will help relieve the burnining. And Tylenol.

with or without beets? both versions are equally tasty. the one without beets, I've had a version with black bread and sour cream as accompaniaments. Soba You can make borscht without beets? Who knew? Shock of shock, my husband made dinner tonight!!! He grilled rib-eyes on the stove top grill pan. He doesn't do sides.

I just remembered..... Several months ago, I woke up on a friday morning to the wonderful smell of onions. It seems my husband had chopped up all the onions I would need to make chili. (Isn't he a sweetie? But I digress) The smell had wafted through the apartment all the way to the bedroom. It smelled almost a good as fresh brewed coffee. Of course, as soon as I walked into the kitchen my eyes started to burn and water, but that's a whole other story.

Chocolate covered raisins (fake raisinettes). Actually not bad, they're coated with bittersweet chocolate.

Well, I don't have such a good attitude about the tear factor. But then again, I tear when chopping scallions. I like onions with my tuna. And onions carmelized are wonderful. Think kasha varnishkes. Onions are requirement for a burger. And a bowl of onion soup would be perfect on a rainy day such as this. You're right, they are a perfect food.

How does the frangipane with vegetable shortening taste? Did you use Crisco or some other brand. I'll be honest, I've never worked with shortening. But this could be a good time to try. Pear and almonds sounds like a perfect combination for early fall.

There's a truck that parks on W.96th just west of Broadway that I've heard is good and very downscale. A lot of Mexicans who live in the area grab food there. Can anyone comment on it? All I know is that it smells pretty good.

I made a pot of borscht.

MIL = Mother-In-Law She can be a MILF, assuming she looks like Stifler's mom.