More at the 

LAVENDER, ORANGE BLOSSOMS AND FRAGRANCES.
Take fresh lavender, fresh orange blossoms and rose petals to keep in a basket in the guest toilet, bedroom  and entrance hall.  We all  love fragrance and it is amazing how relaxing it is in the home. A glassful of tea with sliced lemons and zest of an orange with a sprig or two of cloves, a dash of cinnamon is a  great tea.
Place a   few slices of oranges in a glassful of boiling water and a few pine nuts. Let it stand and drink with a tea bag of a favorite  herb tea.   Green tea with a few sprigs of mint is delicious. Have hot apple cider with a sprig of cinnamon and a few slices of fresh apples.  Any fruit works well for a hot drink.

For the home, keep lavender bunches of dried leaves in drawers of linen, undies and knitted clothes. It is a good idea to put fresh bay leaves in the kitchen cupboard, where pots and pans are stored and in the base of trash cans. Keeps bugs at bay.

I like Natural Lavender oil  to use in a bath. Only use two to three drops . If you have sore muscles, have a hot shower, cold, hot and then rub two drops into the area to relax muscles. You will sleep and have lovely dreams with a little  bag of dried lavender, under the cushion.

I use rosemary  oil to create a fresh aroma in the kitchen and in corners of the laundry. A drop or two of Rosemary treats kiddies hair, if we suspect there might be lice.
   

Use natural products when ever possible. Check cosmetics and toiletries and make sure they were not tested on animals.

Love and light   ,Rona

RAW AND HEALTHY, salads and dressings.

 Now Passover and Easter are behind us and we need to re design our eating habits, to feel good and look good. So let us go for salads, raw and quick to make, simple and so colorful and appetizing to look at. Here are a few easy ideas. First, buy what is in season. Learn to choose what grows in the area.Buy at a reliable dealer, so they are organic or as close to healthy as possible. Wash and store carefully. Throw the parts you do not use into the compost heap.


 KOLRABI GRANNY SMITH APPLES, CELERY AND ROASTED ALMONDS IN A HONEY DRESSING. Use two kohlrabi, two granny smith apples, a cup of celery and grate them all or dice into small cubes. Roast three tablespoons of almonds in olive oil with a teaspoon of honey and ginger in it, on a low flame. Mix this all together and serve on lettuce. If it is a dairy meal, cut up tiny squares of feta and arrange over the top of the salad. Otherwise chopped parsley and a few sesame seeds.

 CABBAGE , KALE AND APRICOTS IN A CURRY SAUCE Shred two cups of cabbage, one cup of kale, eight dried apricots, and two cups of grated carrots. Put the kale in a strainer and let boiling water run through it, to break up the hardness for digesting.. Cut the apricots in to tiny slices and mix everything together. Make a curry sauce. Sauté two cloves of garlic, chopped, one large onion ,diced tiny, ten raisins, two diced dates, salt , pepper and a teaspoon of curry powder. Sauté in olive oil on a low flame. Remove form the flame and add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Pour over the salad and serve.


 MUSHROOMS, PEPPERS, CHEESE AND WALNUTS. Sauté two cups of cut up mushrooms, a cut up onion, three cloves of chopped garlic two yellow peppers, cut into strips , salt and pepper and a dash of Soya sauce, in a little olive oil. Place this into a dish over cut up lettuce and serve with a cup of grated mozzarella cheese and chopped parsley. Full of minerals, easy to digest and lovely meal with good , crusty bread and a glass of wine.

. Make a plan to have a vegetable juice once a day instead of a meal, Place it in a dish and eat with a spoon,. Like tomato soup, cucumber soup, gazpacho , beetroot, borscht with some yogurt mixed in. If you eat vegetables slowly instead of swallowing the drinks in a glass, you will feel a difference. It has minerals, , potassium and all the vitamins you need

. Smoothies with celery, ginger, kohlrabi, radishes, carrots and all kinds of vegetables are a must for summer. You do not need gallons, just a glassful a day. Feel free to browse into the older blogs and see SUMMER SOUPS,COLD SOUPS,SALADS and enjoy my ideas that are tested, easy to do and delicious to serve. I do not pretend to have invented the recipes, but after eating as a vegetarian for fifty odd years, I know that my recipes work and increase energy and wellness of body and soul

   Love  and light for a healthy, happy week, Rona

PASSOVER RECIPES AND IDEAS.

This week you have to take time to create menus and shop for it all. Let the meals be easy organized, and with double cooking and baking, you will have a relaxed and pleasant week.. Do what ever you can do today. The stores and parking are difficult and at the last minute unexpected issues crop up……use today efficiently.

Take time to cool food properly anr store carefully, Keep the fridge organized and not over crowded with items you do not need. Cool drinks can be kept elsewhere and water can be chiiled with ice cubes on Passover day. Ice cube trays can be used for relishes, pesto and chopped parsley that is mixed with olive oil. This can be used for cooking all week.


The Seder requires a lot of cooking and last minute work. Once the cleaning is done and the Passover plates, cutlery and dishes are in place, you can start to cook. I always do the main course first and while they need attending to in the oven, I make the soup and prepare one dessert. The Passover plate needs a little planning and that can be done with the help of the kids during the day of Passover Seder.

Have the wines and drinks ready ahead of time. Buy the cans you need, the condiments, chrain, sauces and relishes now. Buy the gifts and candies today.
Now for ideas for meals……count how many adults and kids. Who is vegetarian? Any people who have special diets.? How many babies who need pureed food?????????????? Now make a large sheet and on it write people, days, breakfast, lunch, supper. Tea time treats.

SEDER.
You need Matzos and the pieces for AFIKOMEN
The bowl to wash hands. Little towels to dry hands.
Saltwater to dip Karpas in.
Charoset. Make a large bowl of this with lots of nuts that are ground. Be aware that some kids cannot digest nuts or are allergic. For those I make charoset with dates, raisins and orange juice. .
Hard boiled eggs for everyone.
Soup and matzo balls.
I make a very large platter with olives, cucumbers, asparagus, carrot sticks, sliced peppers, tomatoes and boiled eggs. Have chrain and charoset on the tray as a relish. This is eaten by everyone and the kids love the choices. I even have chopped parsley, lettuce and baby leaves as a salad..
Beetroot salad is good to have . Look at my beetroot recipes (Sept 17th)
This can be made and kept for a few days.
Carrot Salad (October 11th) this can be eaten the next day too.
Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes and Baked Potatoes can be done and used the nest day. You just sprinkle olive oil on and bake them,after they are steamed.
Consider having tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in abundance for quick, fresh salads. Avocadoes make a good dressing with olive oil and herbs. Add orange or lemon juice to make it drizzle.
Tzimmes, that is carrots, onions, garlic and prunes, make a great baked vegetable dish.
Mushrooms are sensational on matzo. Just bake a medley of cut up mushrooms with onions, garlic, herbs and sprinkle olive oil liberally over the mushrooms. You can add white wine, or just add a cup of boiling water and bake covered. I keep them parave and if left over, blend them into a spread for matzo or on omelets.
Potatoes. Roast are the best. Just cut up and pre boil them for 10 minutes. Then season with salt and pepper, rosemary and olive oil. Bake and serve with a little chopped parsley. Sweet Potatoes. I steam sliced potatoes and bake them with a sprinkling of honey and cinnamon and olive oil. Good hot or cold.
Eggplant. I slice a few, arrange in a dish. I cover them with herbs like oregano, vegetable salt, black pepper, a full cup of tomato puree and a cup of boiling water and two tablespoons of olive oil. Cover and bake for thirty minutes. Excellent cold as well.

DESSERTS.

FRUIT KEBABS.

Simply wash good fruit and cube . Arrange pineapples, Orange slices, Pears, grapes, in fact all the things in season. I cube apples or cut in rounds and steam them and pears. Them I put them on the kebabs with a date, apricot and mixed fruits. This way they do not discolor.

BAKED APPLES.

Great to make a few days ahead. Easy to warm up and serve for parave pudding with jelly, or with a dairy meal with ice cream..

COOKED APPLES.
Cook apples and puree them, without the skins, for the babies and the older folk.

BAKED APPLES.

Core twelve apples, prick the skins and place in an oven dish. Fill the centers with cut up apricots, raisins and a little cinnamon. I fill the dish half way with orange juice or water with a tea bag in it. These can be served hot after the main meal, or eaten with a blob of ice cream or yogurt. If you need a quick pie, just blend the apples with a little water and fill a pie dish. For Passover use coconut and butter, in place of flour. Watch for cake recipes next time.

STRAWBERRIES.

Look at my article on Strawberries for quick and easy ideas. (March 11th)




Have fun preparing and I will be in touch when we are in the swing of cooking.

LOVE AND LIGHT……RONA

 Mushrooms at Passover. 

 Many of us eat vegetarian and chalavi meals at Passover.  I find mushrooms a great food for easy and delightful meals. Use good mushrooms, I only buy form Tekoa.   Reliable, well grown and ecologically packed.  The variety is endless and special ones are on the shelves now. Enoki, Crimini, King Oyster and more. Wash by wiping with wet paper and use for frying, baking, in soups, casseroles, to pickle, fresh in salads and use the dried variety in many ways too. There are great recipes on the packets when you buy them  Look at these ideas and enjoy the delight of mushrooms in your life.

MUSHROOM SPREAD.  

 1   1/2  mushrooms. cleaned and sliced

2 tablespoons pulverized walnuts

i small chopped onion one teaspoon chopped red pepper.

  Fry onion until brown in olive oil on a low flame Add mushrooms, walnuts, red pepper,3/4 teaspoon salt and 1tsp sherry.  Fry gently and remove to a wooden board   Chop until creamed and add chili powder, just a little . Serve on a piece of matzo  or in a baked potato.

MARINATED MUSHROOMS.

2  cups mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil. 2 cloves garlic

half a cup olive oil.

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoon chopped parsley and a few mixed herbs.

Place the washed and drained mushrooms in a deep bowl. Heat the oil gradually and all the ingredients, mix well  Pour over to cover the mushrooms and cover. Refrigerate. I find this excellent with any meal. 

GRILLED MUSHROOMS

 I take two to three varieties and wash and chop well Remember to wash mushrooms is to wipe them , not soaking in water. Place them in an oven dish that has a lid. Take two chopped onions,three crushed cloves of garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon  pepper and two teaspoons of lemon juice and pour over the mushrooms

Wash the mushrooms and slice.   Add a cup of boiling water. Place the lid on the bowl and bake for twenty minutes , then remove the lid and grill for five minutes. The liquid will keep the mushrooms moist. To serve, chop chives and sprinkle over the mushrooms with two teaspoons of pine or crushed walnuts.

I love this over rice, quinoa or over mashed potatoes

MUSHROOMS BAKED IN CREAM.

3 cups mushrooms,3/4 cup Matzo crumbs i tablespoon grated onion and 1/2 cup cream or i thick yogurt  Salt  and pepper.  1/4 cup butter or olive oil.

Saute the mushrooms in butter or olive oil until soft. Add the matzo crumbs and seasoning, Simmer until browned . Place in a shallow buttered  dish and pour the yogurt or cream on top. Sprinkle twigs of thyme Pour a little milk on top and bake 350 fro 20 minutes. Serve over a pasta or cooked mashed pumpkin.  Enjoy 

I love fresh mushrooms cut up into an omelette  served with fried tomatoes and peppers, or even grilled with some feta cheese over it all.

  The idea of mixing mushrooms is fun and you can make them with herbs  and a little butter or oil. Mushrooms are good in a quiche, ideal with root vegetables for a stew and ideal minced with onions and carrot for a vegetarian  patty  . 

Enjoy the Passover and look at my columns for more ideas   Love and light Rona   

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