What to give, when to give, how to give—or whether to give at all. A gift guide My mother is the perfect Bubby. Although my children are growing up 6,000 miles away from her, she never fails to express her love to them, whether through every gift she sends, the attention she doles out over…
tips
The 7 “Don’ts” of Frying Donuts
Frying donuts happens only once a year, so they better be perfect. Avoid these 7 no-gos and they will be. With Chanukah here a fryfest is impending! Whether it’s the hot oil or the cleanup, there’s certainly some work involved with frying at home, but if the irresistible freshest doughnuts is what you’re after, then…
My One Little Trick That Helped Me Master the Art of Making Shabbos
All I had to do was listen to that timer… I’m usually an organized person: I can plan a month’s worth of lessons, create custom itineraries for travelers, head school productions and create day camp programs. But it took me 9 years to figure out how to make Shabbos. Making Shabbos was something I couldn’t…
How Much Dough Belongs in Each Kind of Challah Pan?
Yes, you can make perfect, evenly-sized challah that fill your pan! Here’s a guide. Do you want your challahs to be evenly sized, or better yet, do you ever wonder how much is the ideal amount of dough to fit in each size challah pan? Here’s a guide. The weights listed below refers to the…
How to Freeze Anything
Want to get ahead with the cooking, but don’t know what you can freeze and what should be prepared fresh? Here’s a guide to help. Perhaps the most common question we receive on any recipe is in regards to freezing it. Can I freeze it? How do you reheat it? So let’s get straight to…
The 10 Best Tips to Get More Organized for the Back-to-School Season
Hard to make the transition from lazy summer days to those rushed school mornings? Here’s how to make it easier. What is it about this back to school time of the year that I love? Is it the brand new shoes? The fresh start each kid gets to reinvent himself? Or the long-awaited structure the…
One Essential Secret for Baking Great Pizza Without a Pizza Stone
Still don’t own a pizza stone? Though I might doubt your true love for pizza, I’ll still help you out and help you bake a great pie. My mother once complained to the doctor that I don’t eat anything but pizza. The doctor said, “Feed it to her, eventually she will get tired of eating…
Basics: How to Prep Skirt Steak
The two essential first steps when preparing your perfect skirt steak. I love serving skirt steak because it’s so effortless and everyone loves it. My latest favorite is grilled simply and paired with this salad. You can also try this version (Newsflash: it goes well with mango), and we have a new skirt steak recipe…
How to Adjust Your Challah Dough on a Humid Day
Yes, weather will affect your challah dough. On warmer days, it might seem like your regular recipe just isn’t working. Here’s how to troubleshoot. When it comes to challah dough, intuitive baking is the key to achieving the perfect result. I often say that when making challah, by machine or by hand, the quantity of…
Why Make a Master Shabbat Shopping List?
Do you make a list every week? Do you ever forget a Shabbat staple and run out on Friday? Here’s one simple solution. I thought I was so organized, with all my menus set weekly on a spreadsheet. Fill in the menu item, list what ingredients were needed, make a shopping list, divided by store…