Delicious Recipes from The Kosher Palette II!!

On this week's Eyshet Chayil Show, I interviewed Sandra Blank, the author of The Kosher Palette II. So here are a couple of recipes for you to sample - let me know what you think!!!


Vegetable Bundt Frittata

2 cups (1-inch) pieces fresh asparagus or broccoli
salt to taste
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
2 small onions, chopped
1 carrot, grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 scallions, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. STeam asparagus in boiling salted water in a saucepan for 5 minutes or until tender-crisp and bright green; drain. Whisk eggs in a bowl until foamy. Add milk and continue whisking until blended. Stir in flour and baking powder. Add 1 1/2 cups cheese, asparagus, onions, carrot, salt and pepper and mix well.
Pour egg mixture into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Frittata can be made in advance up to this point. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees or preheat broiler. Invert cooled frittata onto an oven-safe plate and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and scallions. Bake or broil until cheese melts. Serve immediately. Makes 12 to 16 servings.


Cold Green Beans with Dill and Pecan Sauce

1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans
3/4 cup chopped scallions
3 tablespoons minced parsley
3 tablespoons minced dill
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
3 tablespoons cider vinegar or wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Steam green beans for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender and crisp. Rinse with cold running water to stop cooking. Drain well. Mix beans with scallions. Combine parsley, dill, pecans, olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper to taste in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine. Pour over beans and toss to coat. Makes 4 to 6 servings.


Butter Pecan Cookies

1 1/2 cups pecans
1 cup margarine, softened
2/3 cup sugar plus extra for rolling
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 6 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Chop pecans. Beat margarine with 2/3 cup sugar with electric mixer for 1 minute or until light. Add flour, vanilla and salt and mix to form a dough. Fold in pecans. Shape into balls and roll in remaining sugar. Place 3 inches apart on cookie sheets and press with the bottom of a glass to flatten. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Enjoy! If you like these, you can purchase the cookbook at http://www.thekosherpalette.org/. I'll post the recipe I promised - cheese latkes - tomorrow.

Are You a Smart Shopper?

On this week's Eyshet Chayil Show, we explored that desperate, maniacal, haunting need to fill ourselves (both literally and figuratively) with more, more, MORE!!

Why, oh why is that brownie so tempting? What is it that screams out "check out that sale on boots!" when you already have 3 good pairs in your closet?

Check out this quiz at Ladies' Home Journal to find out if you are an emotional shopper.

Sarah's Tent of Timeless Beauty

Welcome, welcome, daughters of Sarah, to Sarah's tent of timeless beauty. At 89 years old, she was such a dazzling beauty that kings were kidnapping her to be their beautiful young wife!!

Before you settle in for a good sob, wondering where all those great genes went, take heart! We may not be able to pull off Sarah's 90 year old glow at her age, but we can all take steps to age gracefully.

The lovely folks at Ladies' Home Journal have some tips for you on eating right to look GOOD!:

7 Anti-Aging Miracle Foods
By Emily Dorn

These healthy, delicious foods are super-charged with important nutrients to help you live longer, and healthier.

Add the following seven super foods to your shopping cart and you just might unlock the key to longevity. Sue Moores, MS, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, explains how these foods delay the onset of aging and the risk of age-related disease.

Yogurt
Dairy is often difficult to digest, but gentler yogurt is an easy way to get the calcium you need -- and more. One serving a day delivers a dose of healthy probiotics -- "good" bacteria that helps promote a balanced intestinal environment. "As we age," Moores says, "we can lose bacteria in our intestine, making it more difficult to prevent digestive diseases." The probiotics found in yogurt, namely acidophilus, serve as a natural defense against potentially harmful organisms. But all yogurt is not created equal: Read the container's nutrition label to ensure that the brand you choose contains active cultures. Serving size: 1 cup Calorie count: 138 Quick tip: Opt for plain, lower-fat yogurt, because the flavored varieties frequently contain added sugar.

Salmon
As the anti-aging ambassador of marine cuisine, salmon has omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that reduce inflammation in the body, warding off a laundry list of age-related ailments: arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Plus, "fish is brain food," proclaims Moores. Its oils have been shown to strengthen memory performance and decrease the slowing of mental faculties as we get older. Serving size: 3-4 ounces Calorie count: about 150 Quick tip: Toss canned salmon over salad as you would with tuna.

Blueberries
For a fruit that is often marginalized to muffins, we are sorely overlooking this power berry. Blueberries are another essential "brain food," because they consist of loads of phytonutrients, or plant chemicals, recently touted for their role in preventing age-related neurological disorders. Moores advises, however, to head straight to the source -- consuming dietary supplements in place of the pure berry is not guaranteed to provide you with as many of its benefits, not to mention the fruit's tasty pleasures! Serving size: 1/2 cup Calorie count: 40 Quick tip: You can profit from blueberries year-round: There is no significant difference in the nutritional content of fresh, dried, or frozen berries.

Red Beans
All beans are gold mines of age-defying nutrients, but research shows that red beans hoard the greatest amount of antioxidants -- key components in the quest for prolonged youth. These substances, such as vitamins D, E, and A, are believed to repair damaged cells in the body, and in doing so might avert the development of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and cancer. Red beans are also packed with another longevity champion -- folic acid -- a dementia preventative. Serving size: 1/2 cup Calorie count: 310 Quick tip: Opt for dried beans to get the most out of this legume; canned beans often contain too much salt.

Flax Seed
It has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone, and flax is the gastronomic superstar of deterrence. The seed also promotes youthful, supple skin because of its high concentration of oils that, like salmon's omega-3s, lower the amount of inflammation in the body. Serving size: 2 tablespoons Calorie count: 118 Quick tip: Sprinkle your daily serving of ground flax over cereal or oatmeal for an easy breakfast supplement.

Quinoa
"We tend not to eat as much when we consume foods that are high in fiber," says Moores, because they fill us up with fewer calories. The result? Consistently ingesting less helps us maintain a healthy weight and decreases our chances of developing diabetes. Light and fluffy quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has the dynamite nutritional content of the healthiest grains, but it is actually a plant seed, and it's jam-packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, and minerals, too. Serving size: 1/4 cup Calorie count: about 159 Quick tip: Instead of cooking quinoa in water, use low-sodium vegetable broth -- it will impart a rich flavor without adding fat.

Kale
Although often passed over in favor of its cousin cabbage, kale's crisp, dark leaves are bursting with micronutrients, potassium, and carotenoids, all essential for lowering risks of heart disease and even cataracts. Low-calorie kale is also calcium-rich, and its high concentration of vitamin A has been linked with a reduced incidence of cancer. Serving size: 1 hearty cup Calorie count: about 34 Quick tip: Combine steamed kale with something sweet, such as lightly sauteed onions, to offset its slightly bitter taste.
Originally published on LHJ.com, February 2006.

Host Your Guests in the Lap of Luxury!

On the last episode of The Eyshet Chayil Show, we discovered what the Sages have to say about being an immaculate host, as well as how to be a delightful guest.

Nothing says "welcome to a Jewish home" like a pleasant guest room. In the grand tradition of our noble ancestor, Abraham, we like to invite friends (and even strangers) to share in a Shabbat weekend or a holiday's festivities.

So how can you make your hospitality something to remember?

Here are some tips from Martha Stewart:

OUTFITTING A GUEST ROOM

Decorate Sparingly
In a strange room, comfort and space are more soothing than a clutter of unfamiliar things. On a bedside table, place a single flower bloom in a simple glass, a nice clock, and a selection of books suited to your guest’s taste.

Closets and Drawers
Make sure that there is adequate closet and drawer space. Supply a variety of hangers, at least a dozen good wooden or metal ones—that will hold trousers and jackets, flimsy dresses, and heavy coats. And make certain there is a full-length mirror.

Bathroom Essentials
If the bathroom is shared, clear space in it for guests’ toiletries. Stock it with new toothbrushes and toothpaste, a plush robe, and a supply of clean cotton towels for each guest. Supply a few luxuries that one might not find at home: a beautiful soap or an unusual cream, a special shampoo, or a small bottle of perfume or cologne. If your guest has allergies, provide a hypoallergenic soap and moisturizer.

Extra Comforts
After you’ve provided the basic necessities, consider some of these extra touches to make guests feel at home.

Sitting Area
Space permitting, set up a comfortable chair or settee with a pillow and throw, an adjacent table, and a good adjustable-brightness lamp. Assemble a small personal library, including some magazines and a daily newspaper (useful for local listings like concerts). A radio for morning news and quiet evening listening is a thoughtful addition; you might also include a portable cassette or CD player with a selection of music (of course, Martha would tell you not to worry too much about providing the electronics for Shabbat or holidays, since we don't listen to them, anyway!)

Desk Supplies
Provide a small desk or a cleared tabletop, and stock it with pens and paper, note cards, envelopes, and stamps. Compile a list of some favorite local places—restaurants, cafés, museums, antiques shops, cinemas—and provide timetables, if appropriate, for buses, ferries, or trains. A telephone in the room is a convenience, but not a necessity.

Extra Warmth
If the room has wood floors (or stone floors, like here in Israel), place a small rug beside the bed. For visitors during the coldest months, think of providing a hot-water bottle in a soft slipcase, a soothing amenity your guests won’t have expected to find.

Food and Drink
Consider your guests’ food preferences: If one is a vegetarian, or allergic to fish or dairy products, be sure your menus include options and that your pantry and refrigerator are appropriately stocked. Show guests where to find snacks, drinking glasses, and utensils, and encourage them to help themselves. Leave a pitcher of spring water and a glass on the bedside table in the guest's room.

Of course, the most important element of good hospitality is creating a warm and welcoming environment which is sensitive to the needs of the guest. Show your guest that you and your home are at her service, and you are sure to have a terrific time!!