Posts tagged ‘Passover’

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April 19, 2016

Brisket for the Holidays

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My culinary skills have been put to the test over the last few weeks. I’m back to work, though not full-time yet, I’m no longer able to shop day-to-day for dinners. I never took for granted my freedom to be creative in the kitchen, but there were definitely times my judgement was clearly clouded – because you know it’s completely normal to go to three different places to buy ingredients for one weeknight dinner, right? Don’t we all do that? I blame the endless resources where I live. All the beautiful farms and local markets have made it difficult to not take advantage of all that deliciousness.

I am now faced with the challenge (like most families), of cooking one night to feed us for three. I used to do this years ago when I was working, but let’s just say I’ve been off my game. So here I am now, Sunday nights, armed with cookbooks, looking through recipe sites and contemplating using the crock pot (this part is huge). I bought my slow cooker on a whim because everyone is always saying how much they love it. I made a couple of things and they all tasted the same (blah). Alas, it’s remained in the closet. We’ll revisit that another time, but please do share any favorite slow cooker recipes – I’d love to try them. Maybe it’s time to give that crock pot a second chance.

My next cooking challenge is Passover. I say send the kids out to find the matzoh and pour me a glass of wine. My grandfather used to always like to rush through things. While other families spent hours reading the Haggadah, enjoying the traditions of the holiday, our seder went something like this: Locust, blood, frogs, etc.. drink the wine. The Jews crossed the desert, drink the wine. It was hot, drink the wine. Where’s the matzoh? Drink the wine. Then he’d ask where the food was. Our whole seder might have lasted 30 minutes. Boy did I think I was lucky when I was a kid.

For years now, I’ve been making this brisket recipe for Passover. Not only does it taste amazing, it might be the easiest entrée you can make for entertaining, ever. Only four ingredients and a few minutes (literally) to put the whole thing together. You’ll be on the couch in no time, relaxing with the family. No fuss for sure! This brisket is great for any holiday or gathering where you need to feed a crowd and don’t want to be bothered with basting, braising, checking on or worrying about your main course.

I was given this recipe at least 10 years ago from a friends mother. I have no idea where it originated, but here it is. You will thank me when you make this for your next holiday. Delicious, easy and a crowd pleaser. Leftovers are even better!

INGREDIENTS

1 – 6lb flat cut brisket
1 – 32oz jar (or bag) of sauerkraut, partly drained
1 – 28oz can whole peeled tomatoes
1 – 16oz box dark brown sugar
Kosher salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the brisket in a roasting pan that is large enough for the meat to lay completely flat. Sprinkle some kosher salt and pepper all over the meat.

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Pour the sauerkraut over the brisket and spread it evenly.

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Pour the tomatoes with their liquid over the sauerkraut – break up the tomatoes a little bit.

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Sprinkle the box of brown sugar over the tomatoes.

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Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 3 1/2hrs. No need to check on it.

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Remove the foil when it’s finished and slice. Serve with the sauerkraut mixture on the side.

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It’s really good with mashed potatoes!

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Enjoy!

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April 5, 2012

Chocolate Dipped Macaroons

Chocolate Dipped Macaroons

Passover is quickly upon us, and I’m excited to be hosting this year. With a challenge to make a spread of delicious Passover dishes for my guests, I push thoughts of serving crostini with prosciutto out of my head. Do you remember my run-in with Alan as I wrapped chicken in bacon for Rosh Hashanah? I know I can make him proud this year.

Passover seders growing up were infrequent at best. It seemed we weren’t able to pull it together every year, but when we did my grandmother made a spread of all her finest fare. I can still picture my grandfather sitting at the table, in charge of the seder, yelling at my grandmother to sit down and promulgating assertively when it was time to drink the wine. I can recall at a very young age grandpa telling my mother it was fine for me to drink the wine, it would just make me sleepy. Was he trying to silence me? I certainly wasn’t missing any important Jewish lessons at our seder table, that’s for sure. He would usually lead the seder like this, “The Jews crossed the desert. Drink the wine. Forget it – let’s eat!” While other families spent hours going through the Haggadah, page by page, in painful detail, our seder was more like the abridged version of the cliff notes. In retrospect, I guess I shouldn’t be complaining but I know there’s a happy medium out there. I didn’t learn about the plagues until I bought my daughter a Rugrats Passover book when she was a toddler. Not normal! Come to think of it, this whole Passover experience might have been what led me to join our shul.

The last Passover seder with my grandparents I can remember, I was in my twenties. In a rush to get through the one page of the Haggadah my grandfather would commit to reading, we jumped right into the pot roast and ate ourselves sick. While we sat drinking coffee and eating dessert, proudly rubbing our full bellies, my grandmother leaped up from her chair and announced that she had forgotten that there was a turkey in the oven! Really?! I guess we know now where I get my inability to make small quantities of food. We didn’t even miss that turkey. I guess we ate it for lunch the next day. We are a family of crazy foodies going back for generations.

My father’s favorite food was anything with coconut. I discovered this recipe for coconut macaroons, originally adapted from the Barefoot Contessa and they are the perfect Passover treat. My dad would have loved them.

INGREDIENTS (makes about 25 cookies)

  • 14oz sweetened shredded coconut
  • 14oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 egg whites at room temperature
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg whites to beautiful peaks, not too stiff. In a second bowl, combine the coconut, condensed milk, vanilla and salt. Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture a little at a time, being careful not to overmix. Drop the batter onto parchment lined baking sheets using a cookie scoop. You want them to be fairly large, about a heaping tablespoon. The recipe should make about 25 cookies.

Bake the cookies for about 18-20 minutes, switching the cookie sheets around halfway through. Bake until the cookies are nicely browned on the tops. Remove and cool on a rack. Meanwhile, to melt the chocolate, place the chips in a glass bowl and microwave for about 60 seconds. They won’t look melted, but give them a stir and put them back in, turning on the microwave for 30 second intervals, until the chocolate is just about melted. Stir again and it should be properly smooth and glossy. Watch it closely in the microwave. You don’t want it to heat up too much. Only until it is just coming together.

Place a sheet of fresh parchment paper on a cookie sheet and dip one half of each cookie in the melted chocolate. Place the chocolate dipped cookies on the parchment and put the sheet pan in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set. I usually make half of my macaroons chocolate dipped and leave the other half plain. So yummy!

* Here’s the recipe for my grandmother’s pot roast if you are planning a holiday meal or just want to make something special for dinner tonight.

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