Wednesday, March 21, 2012

 
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Monday, March 19, 2012

 
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PASSOVER

PASSOVER, QUICK AND EASY MEALS
QUICK PASSOVER MAIN COURSES…………………………………………

HERE ARE SOME EASY AND QUICK TO PREPARE DISHES FOR LIGHT MEALS ......

BEETROOT , APPLES, KOLRABI AND CARROTS.

GRATE THREE BEETS, TWO APPLES, [PEEL THEM] ONE LARGE KOLRABI AND THREE CARROTS.
Mix all the vegetables and place in a bowl. Pour over a dressing of three tablespoons olive oil, one tablespoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon honey, pepper and salt. Mix all and serve with boiled eggs, cottage cheese, and cut up tomatoes and cucumbers.
Have an egg per person and some butter balls for the Matzo. Finish the meal with a fruit salad.
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FRUIT SALAD.
Make a large salad of all fruits, paw paw and melon, some pine nuts and lots of pomegranate pips. Prepare some whipped cream, yogurt or ice cream. Simply spoon the fruit into tall glasses and add the cream of choice. Top with mint leaves and serve cold.
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GOATS CHEESE AND PINEAPPLE, DATES AND LETTUCE LEAVES.
Wash and spin the lettuce. Arrange on individual plates
. Cut up slices of apple, chunks of pineapple and tiny cut up bits of dates . You can add thin slices of grape fruit or oranges as well.
. Slice two to three slices of goat's cheese per person. Spread a little olive oil and pesto on each and grill on both sides for four minutes in the oven.
Serve with matzo that was warmed up in the oven and have a bowl of olives, cucumbers and sliced peppers to add to the meal.
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GRILLED VEGETABLES, WITH LETTUCE AND LEAVES.

Slice ten mushrooms, two onions, three thinly sliced zucchinis, tiny cubes of eggplants, two red and yellow peppers. Place all on an oven pan that has olive oil spread on it. Sprinkle herbs, and some more drops of olive oil. Bake for ten to twelve minutes. Serve them hot with cubed cheddar and feta cheese, on a large platter of lettuce leaves and green leaves. Use threads of sprouts to decorate. Place the sprouts and thinly sliced carrots in icy water to curl up and serve as décor Use a mustard dressing. Olive oil, lemon juice, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and two teaspoons of olive oil. Mix in dried or freshly chopped parsley and mint leaves. Mix all and serve, with the hot vegetables on top. Serve with matzo that has been warmed with a little butter spread and basil herbs on it. Delicious..
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BAKED POTATOES.

Calculate the amount you use per person,. Two medium potatoes, one onion, two cloves of garlic and half a red and a yellow pepper for each. Bake all in the oven. Put potatoes and onions in first. After twenty minutes on a 200 oven, turn the heat to 180 and add the rest. Serve the potatoes, cut up in half, with a slice of cheese on it. Mix the onion, garlic cloves and peppers in a blender with two tablespoons of olive oil and two teaspoons of honey. Add vegetable salt and pepper. Pour over the cheeses and potatoes and serve w

Passover Cakes

TART PASTRY.

200 grams butter.
1 packet matzo meal
1 cup brown and white sugar mixed.
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon wine.

Mix all and press into a pastry dish. Place in the freezer for an hour.

Filling.
1 regular container 5% white cheese
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
1/4 cup sugar.
Mix the above ingredients and fill the pie dish. Bake in a medium oven for 20 minutes, until brown. You can serve with a chocolate grated over this or with ice cream, on the side.

QUICK AND EASY VANILLA PUDDING.

Take a packet of vanilla pudding and mix as directed. Fill the pie base.
Cut up strawberries, berries and some orange rind. Cover with whipped cream and serve…….

COCONUT BASE.

I use one cup of desiccated coconut and mix it with 150 grams of butter and a teaspoon of grated lemon or orange peel.
Place in the freezer for an hour.

Fillings. !. Cream and fresh fruits, with some granadilla pips.
2. A layer of apricot jam and cut up pears, apricot jelly and decorate with a little coconut.
3. Fruit jelly with sliced peaches in it.
4. Ice cream mixed with 2 tablespoons Halva and 1 tablespoon of chocolate spread
5. Bake with a filling of pureed apples and slices of apple, a dash of cinnamon and a few chopped almonds.

FRESH FRUIT SALAD.

Fresh fruit salad is always welcome at the end of a festive meal. Simply cut up all the fruits in season. Add half a cup of orange juice and some granadilla pips. I marinate some pine kernels in a little wine overnight. I add these and they look good and taste fabulous.

Present the fruit in a different way. I use tall long glasses. Put a strawberry in the bottom, a small meringue, then the fruit and end off with a blob of ice cream or cream. If it is Parave, you can simply fill with fruit and strawberries and a meringue on the top.


CHILDRENS CHOCOLATE MATZO SLICES.

Let the kids do this.
10 slices matzo. Soak in a shallow dish of milk, with a little vanilla added to it. Lay the matzo slices in a pie dish. Now beat two cups of cream and nutella chocolate spread.
Cover the matzo with it. Then another matzo layer, chocolate and chopped nuts or strawberries. Matzo…… and create layers until it is done.
Refrigerate and cut into slices. Decorate with chocolate nibbles. The kids love doing this.

ENJOY THE PASSOVER.

LOVE AND LIGHT

Saturday, March 17, 2012

 
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WINTER , WATER AND JOY OF GROWTH

We all love the winter rains and the fact that it replenishes the dry earth and stores water for growth and crops. I am always aware that after the rains the fruit and vegetables taste so fresh and full of 'water' I use many of the vegetables raw and make heaps of salads and spreads.
TRY THESE IDEAS....


PESTO FROM GREENS AND SPICES.
Mix a cup of oregano, two cups of parsley and a cup of basil. Blend these for a minute. Add two tablespoons of pine kernels, two cloves of garlic and three tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. I grate in a teaspoon of zest of a lemon. Keep in a jar , with olive oil on the top of pesto, to keep it fresh in the fridge.

Sandwiches. Layer bread, spread the pesto, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. Spread a little techina Great snack sandwich.

Pasta. Simply add two spoons when you have drained the cooked pasta and mix through with a little olive oil or butter.

Grill eggplants and when soft, spread the pesto on them and grated mozzarello cheese. Place under grill for two minutes.


French Loaf. Spread the pesto, grated goat's cheese , thin tomato slices , grated red peppers and chopped parsley. Bake in the oven for ten minutes and serve with fresh lettuce.

WARM VEGETABLES IN A POT

Saute two cloves of garlic, two chopped onions, half a cup of chopped green onions in olive oil, salt and pepper for a few minutes. Add half a cup of tomato puree and two teaspoons of sweet paprika, a teaspoon of curry powder and a grated apple. Cook , while stirring for a few minutes and add half a cup of boiling water. Lower temperature. Add sliced carrots, sliced pumpkin, cubed potatoes , pieces of cauliflower and sliced zucchini. Cut a cabbage into six pieces and place on top of all the vegetables. Cover and cook for twenty minutes on a medium flame until the hard vegetables soften.
Serve on a bed of wholewheat rice and decorate with a few raisins.


FRESH SALAD, BEETROOT, KOHLRABI, APPLES AND DATES.

Grate two peeled kohlrabi, two peeled raw beets, two peeled apples, three dates,chopped small. Remove the pips first. Mix all and add half a cup of chopped parsley and salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Squeeze orange juice over it all Mix and serve .

WINTER TIP..DO NOT FORGET TO DRINK WATER.

Drink water before meals. Drink water when you brush your teeth morning and at night.
Skip drinking with meals

HAVE A GOOD WEEK. LOVE AND LIGHT RONA

Thursday, March 15, 2012

 
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Sunday, March 4, 2012

PURIM AND HAMENTASCHEN

PURIM POPPYSEEDS, MON PEREG
PURIM....FESTIVAL OF CELEBRATIONS AND FUN.............................

Purim is a festival that is full of color and fun. We read the Scroll of Esther and find inspiration in the story of great courage and sacrifice. We celebrate the holiday with games, masquerades, jokes and loads of fun.
Today we give our friends a gift of food , cookies and hamantaschen ,to show friendship and unity Many people send gifts to needy families and the very thought of giving ,has a feeling of joy

Making goodies for Purim, always involves the poppy seeds, called "mon" or "pereg". Buy the seeds fresh and you can prepare them in many different ways.

EASY HAMANTASCHEN .

2 Cups of Self Raising Flour.
1/2 cup sugar.
200 grams butter.
1 teaspoon vanilla.
I egg.
Beat the egg and sugar . Add the butter and vanilla essence. Mix and then add the self raising flour. Work into a dough and place in the fridge for an hour. Roll and cut into rounds that you fold with the filling in it.

Make the filling.
Use 2 cups of finely ground poppy seeds. {Mon or Pereg are other names}
1 egg.
1/3 cup of honey or sugar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
Half a cup of raisins and chopped nuts.
Mix all the ingredients and use as a filling for the hamantaschen.

Bake in an medium oven and sprinkle with icing sugar to serve.
I make the hamantaschen for the kids with Nutella and ground walnuts, cinnamon and raisins. The kids also love chocolate chips mixed with halva as a filling.

POPPYSEED CAKE.

THIS IS A GREAT DOUGH THAT CAN BE FILLED WITH THE POPPYSEED MIXTURE.

2 cups flour.
2 dessertspoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 0zs butter. {60 grams}.
1 egg
1 cup thick cream..
A pinch of salt. .
Sift the dry ingredients . Cut the butter into slices into the flour. Beat the eggs and cream . Fold the egg and cream mixture into the flour with a knife. Allow the dough to cool. { 20 minutes} Roll out on a floured board and fill with the pereg mixture. You can add one grated apple. Roll carefully into a "log" and bake at 375f or 190c for 30 minutes.
I make a glaze that I pour over when it is a little cool. Use1/2 cup of icing sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix in a little water to make a paste and fill a tube, so you can squeeze it over in a design. You will love this.

POPPYSEED DRESSING FOR SALADS, SPINACH LEAVES AND COOKED POTATOES.

1/2 cup oil.
1/4 cup brown sugar. .
5 tablespoons of vinegar.
2 tablespoons chopped green onions.
1/2 teaspoon salt. 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard. 2 teaspoons poppy seeds. A little tarragon. Place all of this, except the poppy seeds and mix well. Stir them in at the end and serve over salad, over cut up cooked potatoes or even over cooked beets and cut up red onions. This is a fabulous dressing

Have a joyful Purim and remember the less lucky kids, who will love the goodies you share. Remember to take good photographs and year by year the memories of the costumes you created will be shared.

Love and light Rona

Saturday, March 3, 2012

 
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WINTER DESSERTS

We all like hot, warming winter meals. Stews, soups,casseroles, roasts, quiches and meals in a bowl. Pasta and rice dishes, couscous and lentils, grains and baked vegetables are all easy to prepare. Then comes the end and everyone is looking for a yummy dessert.

You can create easy, fast fruit desserts, served with custards, cream, ice cream and hot chocolate sauces. The kids love a chocolate slice and chocolate sauce, a ball of ice cream and a favorite candy bar. I use a lot of baked apples, poached pears and lightly fried bananas rolled in coconut. Make a bowl of mixed seasonal fruits and serve with a meringue.

Take time to light a few candles, use a cheerful colored cloth and make the table look warm and inviting. I am crazy about the range of SAFFRON MARIGOLD cloths and serviettes. They are hand designed and wash so well.

Take time in winter to cook ahead and have soups, casseroles and some baked products ready.
Remember that a good winter lunch still needs a supper a few hours later. Keep extra breads, rolls, cheeses , eggs and salad ingredients at home .

Hot apple cider, tasty chocolate and cocoa drinks and a hot cup of tomato soup are a welcome change to start a meal.
Have a cosy winter
Love and light
Rona
 
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