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Showing posts from March, 2007

Grandma (Bubby) Sarah's Matzah Balls

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Grandma (Bubby) Sarah Video Series Of Passover Recipes In continuing our " Grandma (Bubby) Sarah Video Series Of Passover Recipes ", originally sent to us by Michael Schreiber, (Production Director of tv360.tv , which seems to be a new Internet startup. The videos are served from realmeals.tv , part of tv360.tv, which also owns realhealth.tv which is about healthy lifestyles and living.)we now have the all important Matzah Ball . As I mentioned in my post, The Seder Menu, there is a bit of an argument over whether I should take the time to make Matzah Balls or use a pre-mix. This shows you why you can always make them - with a bit of time and thought. Grandma (Bubby) Sarah's Matzah Balls Click here if the video above will not play in your browser (You do require Flash Player Installed) Ingredients: One Cup Matzah Meal 4 Eggs 3/4 Cup Seltzer 1 Teaspoon Chicken Fat 1 Teaspoon of Salt Directions: For clear directions see the video. Mix the Matzah Meal and eggs together. M

Grandma (Bubby) Sarah's Gefilte Fish

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Grandma (Bubby) Sarah Video Series Of Passover Recipes Sometimes among the emails I receive I get a few gems. Today, one such gem from Michael Schreiber, Production Director of tv360.tv , which seems to be a new Internet startup (check it out), sent this one in. The videos are served from realmeals.tv (part of tv360.tv, which also owns realhealth.tv which is about healthy lifestyles and living.) I will quote from his email: Dear Fire in my kitchen, Last weekend I took my video camera and filmed a real bubby making her prized matzah ball soup... medium sinkers. Delicious... easy to replicate as you'll see in the video recipe. She also demonstrates gefilte fish... the mystery is finally revealed! Her potato kugel is great too. I made a short video recipe for each film, which you are welcome to post on your site if you like. So many of these old country recipes will disappear as these great people pass away. It's important that these recipes survive! Best, Mike I have gone th

Fruit Salad

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Paula Writes: With the change of seasons, I prepare things that move outdoors well. My insanity continues to the outside world where it is me and my two grills and lots of hungry sisters and children. This makes a large fruit salad, but by the end of the day, it is gone. I leave a stack of plastic cups on the table so the kiddies can help themselves while the adults relax until I squirt them with my water pistol… which the kids love. Of course at the end of the day, I have found grapes floating in the pool and an odd piece of discarded fruit but it is a big hit. You can fancy this up when serving for a more formal get together by setting individual dishes and garnish with a mint sprig. Fruit Salad You will need: 1 Large bowl 1 Medium Bowl 1 cutting board 1 great knife Variations: You can add or subtract any fruit according to your taste Fruit Salad with Topping Ingredients: Pineapple, peeled and sliced into rings 3 Oranges, with or without the rind, sliced thin 3 Apples, with or

Passover Shopping

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This year I decided, through some incredible attack of true craziness to do most food shopping in the famous "Machaneh Yehudah" shuk - (marketplace) in Jerusalem. There are many people that love shopping here, and others who, like me, do not like having to shlep tons of food in bags all over the place. But there is certainly a magic in places like this, and one cannot beat the prices or the selection. So while buying (in two trips) fruit, veggies, carp (to make homemade Gifilte Fish) a 7 Kilo Turkey, spices, drinking glasses, wine glasses, tea and coffee glasses and on and on and on... I snapped a couple of pictures. Machaneh Yehudah is already very crowded as you can see, but will get nutso by tomorrow and certainly on Sunday and then on Monday morning. (Towards Monday afternoon the prices start dropping drastically - but only the brave or the very poor wait till then to buy food for Passover.) There is nothing on this planet that could convince me to go back there over the

The Seder Menu

As you may know the first night of Passover is spent at the "Seder". The "Seder" (literally means "order") is a long festive meal geared to the children and adults like me who pretend they are children - to get them to ask questions about Passover and the celebration of the Jewish people going from slavery into freedom and leaving the shackles of Egypt. This year I have around 15 people coming to my Seder. Essentially the meal begins only after the first part of reading the HaGaddah is done. Some people rush through this and it takes them around an hour with singing songs etc. Some people like moi! - well we spend a great deal of time talking and discussing the Seder, Passover and all those things. We get to the meal around 11:30 PM. The Seder ends for us around 2-3 AM. Some traditional foods such as "Charoset" will be home made. This is a mixture of nuts, apples, cinnamon etc. It is eaten to remind us of the "mortar" used by the Jews w

Pistachio Cheesecake (or Pie)

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Beth Writes: I was fiddling around in the kitchen again, Teddy. Below is what I came up with. It’s a thick cheesecake, but not too rich. Perfect for summer, as well as being a lovely light green color for spring celebrations. (And the reason this isn't for the contest is... My cheesecakes tend to be more like a pie than strictly a cake. They're smooth and creamy and a bit too wet to be called a cake. Plus, my life is so much easier if I just use a pie pan, than try to locate and use a cheesecake pan.) Pistachio Cheesecake Cooking Utensils Required: Electric Mixer Large Bowl Rubber Spatula Measuring Spoons Measuring Cup (preferably glass notated for liquid measurements) Ingredients: 1 pre-made 9” graham cracker crust 2 8oz packages cream cheese (softened to room temperature) 5 Tablespoons sugar ¾ cup of whipping cream (NOT pre-made whipped cream) 2 eggs 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 package pistachio pudding mix 1 tub of pre-made whipped cream (optional) Directions: Preheat

Fresh Mozzarella - Q&A

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Sylvia sent the following question in: Hi Ted, I recently bought some fresh mozzarella cheese, and don't really know what to do with it. is it substitutable for regular mozzarella in recipes? Thank you, Sylvia Well to answer really quickly, Mozzarella is always great for making Pizza. Take a look at this recent recipe sent in by Paula - the Insane Cook, as an example: Tomato & Basil Pizza Other recipes up at Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen which you could use Mozzarella for are: Real Men Don't Eat Quiche Mr. Potato Head - The Good Ole' Potato Recipe Mac & Cheese Wars - Watch Out For Flying Kids Quick Thinking, No Great Recipes And Magical Moments Of course we open this up to readers of Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen . Hopefully we will have comments on what to do with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese. Who has any ideas? Tags: Cooking , Baking , Recipe , Cooking Related Appliances , Humorous Stories , Ingredients , Kitchen Appliance , Parve (Meat or Milk) Recipe , Kitche

Substitute For Celery? - Q&A

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Quick Post: This is part of the Q&A library at Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen . Readers can submit questions and they will be posted so that answers will be left in the comments section. I just noticed this comment come in, and while published, maybe it would be good to have it as a post and anyone who can comment do so. Barbara writes: ok I can't figure out where else I should post this question for a quick answer so I'm going to do it here. So many receipes call for celery. Most Americans know the price for celery due to the bad weather here as gone sky hi! Like $2.49 for a bunch! It normally run $.79 at the most. Anyway- what would be a good substitute for celery until the price comes back down to earth??? Thanks so much Barbara So now - what is a good cheap substitute for celery? Here in Israel fruit and vegetables are much cheaper than in the USA. So leave a comment if you have any ideas for Barbara. Teddy Tags: Cooking , Baking , Recipe , Cooking Related Appliances

No-Bake Lemonade Pie

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This could get to be fun! Kali is going for the ONE STAR! ok, pie fight is on... my turn for a 1-star rating! This pie is pretty rich, and both sweet and tart at the same time. Lemonade Pie Utensils: 1. bowl 2. spoon Ingredients: One can *Eagle Brand™ sweetened condensed milk One 6 oz can frozen pink lemonade or limeade concentrate - thawed One 8 oz container whipped topping Few drops red or green food coloring (optional) 1 prepared graham cracker crust (Eagle Condensed Milk is certified kosher - dairy by the Kashrut Council of Canada Eagle also mentions it on their web site . Though I assume any type of sweetened condensed milk would be as good.) Directions: Beat with spoon: condensed milk, lemonade and topping Stir in food coloring if desired Pour into pie crust Refrigerate until ready to serve Well Kali gets the one star! Easy as, well, easy as pie! These pies with whipped cream are going to make us all FAT! But it is amazing. How easy it is to make pies. First Paula sends in a one

No-Bake Pistachio Pudding Pie

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PIE FIGHT! Paula writes: Ted, just to show you that I do possess some very basic, simple recipes, and because you made me laugh again, this one’s for you. Now Ted, I know even you, with two left hands can make this. (Pffffftttttttttt! Simple recipe? Paula? The Messiah has arrived!) No Bake Pistachio Pudding Pie Utensils Required: 1 Bowl ( Ha) 1 Spoon Ingredients: 1 Envelope of Any Brand Pistachio Pudding Mix (not cooked) 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust (either ready made or homemade) 1 Can Crushed Pineapple (drained) 1 Tub Non Dairy Whipped Topping Variations: Any flavor pudding Any canned fruit Directions: Put Non-Dairy whipped topping in bowl Pour Pudding into bowl Pour Drained Pineapple into bowl Mix together and place in graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve Wow! Wow Again! Paula got a ONE! (I bet this is really her sister's recipe and Paula is cheating!) Oh Kali...Kali...wake up! Time for a Pie Recipe... Tags: Cooking , Baking , Recipe , Cooking Related Appliance

No-Bake Chocolate "Mousse" Pie

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Kali submitted another one. This time a PIE! (Paula WATCH OUT!) I'm glad you liked the beef and cabbage soup recipe. A lot of my recipes definitely are not kosher, I like ham and I like cream of something soups with some of my meat dishes. But I noticed you don't have very many pie recipes, so I thought you might like this one. It's definitely dairy. About 30 odd years ago my grandmother attended a luncheon where the hostess served a very light and delicious chocolate pie for dessert. Helen was happy to share the recipe... no baking and only three (3) ingredients!! now how simple can you get?!? I was living with my grandparents at the time, so a few days later Grandmom and I decided to make the pie. Oh dear!! We ended up with chocolate soup pie! Fortunately, a few hours in the freezer got the "soup" to "set", but although it tasted just fine, it was missing the light texture it was meant to have. I realized that one rather key step had been omi

Hey Kid! I Dare You To Say This Is Not Good!

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Well it looks like this is the month for chopped meat & beef. In a previous entry Real Hamburgers - Back To Basics I discussed how to make a real simple hamburger meal. Then along came the entry, Hamburger With Cabbage & Tomato Sauce . And then Kali submitted her Beef and Cabbage Soup . And of course Paula had to submit the Boiled Corned Beef & Cabbage . So now comes along my own entry again, " Hey Kid! I Dare You To Say This Is Not Good! " And of course it comes with a story. (Sheesh .. deal with my stories!) So it is getting close to Passover. Since Purim many clean their houses (spring cleaning sort of) to get rid of all "Chametz" - bread and bread products. We do so because on Passover, we are not allowed to have any bread or bread by-products in our possession. This comes from the injunction of "you shall not see nor shall you find". The laws are complicated and yet boil down to this. No bread or bread by-products or anything not certifie

Beef and Cabbage Soup

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Something New From Someone New. Kali writes: I really like "one pot" meals, and am always on the look-out for that kind of recipes. Unfortunately, many of them aren't really "one pot", and they're complicated. So when my step-mom saw this recipe on a TV program about 20 yrs ago and scribbled it down then made it, it was so yummy, I really wanted the recipe. I usually make it as a supper on a cold winter evening, but have served it to "company", and even my grandfather (who was initially shocked that i was serving "soup" as a main course to "company", decided that it really was a good meal and enjoyed it very much.) Beef and Cabbage Soup Utensils Required: 1. grater or food processor 2. large stew pot Ingredients: 5 lbs ground beef 5 onions, chopped (or less to taste) 3 quarts canned whole tomatoes 1 lb carrots, shredded 4 cans beef consommé 2 small heads green cabbage, chopped coarsely salt, pepper, ground oregano, ground nu

Hamburger With Cabbage & Tomato Sauce

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When I saw this recipe in my inbox I started laughing, as I was in the middle of making a different type of Hamburger Recipe (and I will explain it all in the next post.) For the time being it seems our Insane Cook, Paula, was in the kitchen this weekend. Hamburger With Cabbage & Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 3-4 Pounds Ground Beef 1/2 Head of Cabbage, chopped up 2 Cans Tomato Soup or 2 Cups Tomato Sauce (leftover Marinara works well) 2 Cloves Garlic 1 Bunch Scallions 1 Cup Mushrooms (diced, and optional) 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil You will need: 1 Skillet 1 Baking dish Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Heat oil in skillet on medium heat Add Garlic and Scallions and sauté until tender Add Ground Beef, cook until browned Pour Tomato sauce over beef and simmer for 10 minutes In baking dish, layer the bottom with 1/2 of the ground beef mixture Add the cabbage and mushrooms Pour the rest of the beef mixture over the cabbage Bake for 2 hours This is no more than a two if that much on d

Boiled Corned Beef & Cabbage

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Paula sent this one in last week, just got around to it. In the United States, corned beef is also associated with Saint Patrick’s Day when many Irish Americans eat a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. Corned beef was originally a substitute for Irish Bacon in the late 1800s. Irish immigrants living in New York City’s Lower East Side sought an equivalent in taste and texture to their traditional Irish bacon (similar to Canadian bacon), and learned about this cheaper alternative to bacon from their Jewish neighbors. A similar dish is the boiled dinner, consisting of corned beef, cabbage, and root vegetables such as carrots, turnips, and potatoes, which is popular in New England. Corned beef is also used to make the cold cut of Pastrami. http://www.katzdeli.com/ made the Pastrami Sandwich famous. Here in Boston, it is said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. The following meal is done in one pot. I have friends of non Irish descent tell me when they have tried a boi

Food, Lotteries and Nika's Culinaria

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In a nice disucssion with one of the many food bloggers around the world, the owner of the blog Nika's Culinaria when I wished her success for next year in becoming a finalist in Weblog Awards, she commented: Teddy: you are too generous :-) Actually, I think I do not want to be in the running.. I have a hard enough time getting over not winning the lottery! Anyway, her answer kind of jogged my memory and I went hunting among the tons of magnets hanging on my refrigerator so thus it can legitimately go into Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen . The following picture is for Nika, from Nika's Culinaria . Now Nika..no more excuses. Next year you will be a finalist! And folks visit her blog - Nika's Culinaria ! (Tomorrow we begin with Passover stuff!) Tags: Cooking , Baking , Recipe , Cooking Related Appliances , Humorous Stories , Ingredients , Kitchen Appliance , Parve (Meat or Milk) Recipe , Kitchen Utensils , Kosher , Meat Recipe , Milk Recipe , Kosher Home , Spices , Single

Tomato & Basil Pizza

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Paula sent this one in. Pizza top to bottom! I am not a fan of take-out or fast food. My daughter asked me recently “Why can’t we just order a pizza over the phone like normal people? So now in addition to being labeled “insane” , I am now considered “abnormal”. Tomato & Basil Pizza You will need (Utensils): 2 Medium bowls 1 - 15" pizza pan or 2 - 10" pans Ingredients For Crust: 1 Envelope active dry yeast 1 Cup warm water (to dissolve yeast) 1 1/2 Cups wheat flour 2 Teaspoons sugar 1/2 Teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 Cups White flour Ingredients For Toppings: 1 Block Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded) 4 Large Tomatoes (Sliced) 2 Cloves Garlic (minced) 4 Tablespoons Fresh Basil (chopped) 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil 2 Teaspoons Oregano Variations: You can add any toppings such as vegetables, onions etc. Instead of or i

Orange Dijon Chicken

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Paula Writes: I just love easy chicken dishes and it is so versatile you can do anything with it and have a great dish. *less time in the kitchen = more time for baseball* Orange Dijon Chicken You will need (Utensils): 1 Large Bowl 1 Skillet 1 Roasting Pan Ingredients: 6 Boneless Chicken Breast halves 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper 1/4 Cup Olive Oil 3 Tablespoons Orange Marmalade 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard 2 Teaspoons Honey 1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper *I usually set the chicken in a brine for an hour before preparing it. To do this, place the chicken in a pot of cold water with 1/2 Cup of Kosher salt. Rinse thoroughly before preparing. Directions: Heat oven to 350 Degrees Combine Marmalade, Dijon and Honey Heat oil in skillet Sprinkle the peppers on the chicken to coat Add half of the chicken and cook for 2 minutes on each side (until golden) Remove from skillet Add remaining chicken and cook for 2 minutes on each side (until golden) Coat chicken with Marmalade mixture and place in roast

Linguine With Fresh Tomatoes

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Paula is getting ready for the weekend and St. Patrick's Day so we get ever more recipes. She writes for this one: This side dish goes great with chicken or fish. Of course according to a certain teen, it’s great right out of the fridge, cold the next day. Linguine With Fresh Tomatoes You will need (Utensils): 1 Large pot to cook pasta 1 Medium bowl 1 Spoon 1 Serving dish Ingredients: 1 Pound Fresh Linguine Pasta ( cooked ) 4 Large Tomatoes (diced) 3 Tablespoons Fresh Basil (chopped) 2 Cloves Garlic (minced, chopped fine) 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper (fresh is best) 1/4 Cup Olive Oil Pictures of Linguine Pasta Directions: Combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, pepper and olive oil Toss Pour over hot linguine Serve Shop @ Amazon with Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen & Help People In Need Shop @ Cafe Press with Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen & Help People In Need Shop @ AllPosters.com with Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen & Help People In Need Fifty Percent (50%) of all

Oatmeal Muffins

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Paula sent in this recipe today. (I should mention that she sent in pictures for two previous recipes. " Cranberry Muffins " & " Coconut Cake ". Her oven works faster than her digital camera! Go figure!) The demon of the kitchen writes: I love grains and use (sneak) them whenever possible in baked goods. These are a great treat for breakfast. Oatmeal Muffins You will need: 1 Muffin tin (greased or use papers) 1 Large Bowl 1 Wooden Spoon 1 Pan (to cook oatmeal) or Microwave 1 Toothpick for "Done" test Ingredients: 1 Cup Cooked Oatmeal ( as directed on container) 1 1/2 Cups Flour 1/4 Cup Molasses 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder 1/2 Cup Applesauce 1 Egg 1/4 Cup Soy Milk Variations: Substitute Oat or Bran flour for white flour to keep this really healthy Substitute 3 Tablespoons of Sugar for Molasses Add 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon Substitute 1/2 Cup Mashed Bananas for applesauce Add 3/4 Cup Diced Apples Substitute Milk for Soy Milk Directions: Heat Oven to 350 Deg