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Tag Archives: Pesach

Kids’ Mitzvah Checklist for Passover

21 Mar

nissan_simaneihaseder_magidI am taking a break from my regular Passover (Pesach) preparations to think of my kids. One of my favorite new traditions is involving the kids by helping them get excited about doing the mitzvos for that holiday. I already had a reader/friend ask where my next holiday checklist for the kids was! So here is this holiday’s mitzvah checklist for your children.

Kids’ Mitzvah Checklist for Passover

I like to print these out in color for my kids and post them on the door of their room. They love adding stickers for each mitzvah they complete and then we go for a family reward after the holiday. Thanks again to Chinuch.org for the great clip art!

If you are still in the middle of your holiday preparations and need some tips, here are my past related posts on Passover (Pesach):

For other related posts, check out:

Have a wonderful and meaningful Passover!

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2013 in Family ideas, Forms for everything, Holidays

 

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Back to school: Jewish learning resources

09 Aug

Normally at this time of year, I am starting to get things ready for the school year and setting up my classroom. However, this will be my second year working for the Child Abuse Prevention Program at Jewish Family & Children’s Service. I don’t need to get my own classroom ready, but it is always great to find good resources for my own children. It is so helpful to have websites to go to for accessing holiday ideas, projects, information sheets, etc. for different things my children are studying.

For this post, I wanted to provide Jewish resources that you could use whether you are a parent, homeschooler, or teacher. You might even find them helpful for your own reference if you have no children at all! While this post will not save you money, it will sure save you time and energy when you want to find an activity or idea!

Chinuch.org

This is one of my favorite Jewish resources. I used it a lot when I taught preschool as well as third grade. I also found some great additions and activities for our family seder last year. You can search for materials based on age (early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, special education, administration, or kiruv) or by topic (which includes Torah, Hebrew language, Interactive classroom, Yamim Tovim, Halacha/Dinim, Arts and Crafts, and more). This site, which is sponsored by Torah Mesorah and the Avi Chai Foundation, allows educators to upload and share a variety of resources with other educators and parents. The resources often include not just instructions, but typed resources (or pdfs) ready to copy or change as needed. Many include photos as well. Additional resources include clip art, forums, audio/video, Olomeinu archives, and more. Their database grows daily!

Organized Jewish Home

I have mentioned this blog before, as it has some great resources and articles. The author is a homeschooling Orthodox mom who writes about many topics of interest to frum families: menu planning, holiday preparations, activities for kids, organization, recipes, and more. She posts resources for each parsha that are particularly helpful if you homeschool or if your children attend a public school and you want to supplement their Jewish learning. She also has a “Shalom Bayit Book” that is somewhat similar to my Family Control Journal. See my post on “Starting a Family Control Journal.” Check it out and let her know I sent you!

Central Agency for Jewish Education, St. Louis (CAJE)

This is the website for our local Jewish education agency. They have a section for Teacher Resources that is helpful for families as well. It includes Beginning of the Year materials, board games, Shabbat materials, holiday materials, Hebrew letter review materials, Hebrew prayer materials, links to other teacher resources, and early childhood resources. I can’t wait to use some of the Hebrew ideas and board games with my own children!

Related posts:

Do you know of any other great Jewish education resources? Please share them in the Comments section!

 
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Posted by on August 9, 2012 in Email and online tips, Family ideas

 

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Lessons learned from Pesach 2012

16 Apr

note

Every year I reflect on what went well and what didn’t go well with before, during, and after Pesach. I, of course, make notes for next year on my prep file, as I mentioned in my post “Putting away Pesach” and “Pesach is coming!” Here are my notes for this year that I thought I would share with you. Maybe they will make you think about something you would do differently next year!

∞ We need to save (or get) some empty boxes for moving non-Pesach stuff down to basement.

We always use some plastic milk crates to take down the pantry stuff, but the utensils, mitts, paper towel holder, and all the other stuff on the counters, needs somewhere to go, too! We ended up using lots of reusable Whole Foods bags, but they didn’t stack so well and the laundry room looked a mess!

∞ Be sure to read all of the alerts and shopping guides before you go shopping for your groceries!

I had four kids in tow and was looking for the kosher for Passover Dannon Yogurt. After searching for the marked labels to no avail and making several calls, I had to pay $1.19 a container for several small KLP yogurts! I could have gotten them for much cheaper at our local deli if it wasn’t Friday Erev Pesach! Next time I won’t just print the alerts and read them as needed. I will read them all before shopping! You definitely can’t assume that the rules will be the same from year to year. Products change and unfortunately you have to read the alerts and guides carefully to find those changes!

∞ Read recipes carefully before putting them on the menu.

We have put a cauliflower popcorn recipe on our menu two years in a row. However, when it comes to making it, it never happens because it takes too much work! It looked great, but was not in our “time budget.” Maybe someday when our kids are grown we can undertake a recipe that takes more time!

∞ When you buy things during the year, add them to your “Pesach Prep” box so you will be sure to tovul it before the next Pesach.

We had a cheese board and knife we received as a gift several years back. We had never used it and decided to make it Pesadik. However, it was forgotten in the bottom of the parve tub and we never got to tovul or use it this year! My husband decided yesterday to put it in our Pesach Prep tub, so it will be one of the first things we see next year when we are starting to get ready for Pesach.

Did you make notes for yourself for next year? Please share in the Comments section.

 
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Posted by on April 16, 2012 in Forms for everything, Grocery savings, Holidays, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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Check the Passover clearance sales today!

15 Apr

Machine matzo produced from shmura wheat in IsraelI know we all want to put Passover/Pesach behind us and eat some real treats, but you can save a bundle today if you shop right! Check out the sales at your local grocery stores and delis on their Pesach leftovers. Some ideas for products that keep well from year to year (unopened unless otherwise stated):

Dry goods:

∞ matzah
∞ potato starch, matzah meal, matzah cake meal, matzah farfel – Use up your leftovers during the year and store the unopened for next year.
∞ matzah ball mixes – Use up your leftovers during the year and store the unopened for next year.
∞ cake, cookie, and muffin mixes – At a low price these can be a good quick dish to make in a pinch.
∞ cereal - We bought a few this year that were clearanced out from last year and they tasted fine.
∞ cooking wines
∞ cooking spray – Use up your leftovers during the year and store the unopened for next year.
∞ vinegar – We have stored opened leftovers successfully from year to year. My husband does not like cooking with Pesach vinegar, but he likes it for cleaning or for making homemade vegetable wash. See my post “Homemade vegetable wash: Worth it?”
∞ spices – We have used our leftovers for several years.
∞ soup mixes
∞ salad dressing mixes
∞ vegetable oil
∞ canned goods and condiments
∞ salad dressing
∞ wine

Perishables:

∞ margarine – Freeze to use next year.
∞ yogurt - You should not store this until next year, but if it is less than $.37 each, which is Aldi’s price per yogurt, then buy it to use now.

* Happy shopping! Post the great deals you find today in the Comments section!

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2012 in Grocery savings, Holidays, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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Putting away Pesach

15 Apr

Modern kitchen

I don’t know about you, but we were too tired to turn the kitchen back over last night. Our boys could not get to sleep after all the excitement of Yom Tov and that left little time to get anything done when everyone was asleep.

So if you still have to turn your kitchen over today, here is my checklist for saying goodbye to Pesach. Below is also the link for my complete Pesach Prep Checklist, which includes the items from this post as well as the forms mentioned. Pesach Prep list

Converting the kitchen:

∞ Wash all the Pesach dishes and pots and pans, etc.

∞ Take all the Passover supplies back downstairs. (Put them back in their boxes and bins.) This includes the kids’ seder supplies’ box and kids’ Pesach toys’ box.

∞ Uncover the counters. If you use a reusable covering, be sure to clean it and take this down with your Pesach supplies.

∞ Pack up any unopened leftover non-perishable Pesach food. Be sure to note what is left on your inventory form. Also make notes of any groceries that you didn’t use as much as you purchased.

∞ Move the opened leftover non-perishable Passover food out of the pantry or whatever cabinet you were storing it in (to make room for your regular items). Be sure to wipe the cabinet or pantry out.

The rest of the house:

∞ Catch up on your laundry.

∞ Bring up the non-Pesach stuff to put your kitchen and dining room back together.

Make notes for next year:

∞ Make notes on your menu from this year of what you liked, didn’t like, etc.

∞ I also like to add the names and locations of recipes we liked to our Menu Ideas list so we will remember them for next year.

∞ Make notes on your Pesach Prep Checklist of any things you would like to change for next year.

    • This might mean cleaning or preparations that need to be done sooner or differently.
    • Also make note of any new household items you purchased this year (add this to your inventory) or any items you want to get next year (add this to your wish list).

∞ Reprint your new Pesach Prep Checklist and file in your Pesach prep binder.

∞ Make a plan for the coming week to eat up any Pesach leftovers.

Related articles:

- 52 Week Challenge Week 16: After Passover review and SBB update (www.organizedjewishhome.com)
- Cookie-ing up some matzo (rantingchef.com) – great recipe to use up your leftover matzah

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2012 in Forms for everything, Holidays, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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More kosher recipe sites

11 Apr

Charoset made with kosher wine, apples, pears,...

I have a few more websites to add to my list of recommendations for finding kosher recipes:

∞ Aish.com - I love to go to this site for all things Jewish. They have great articles on parenting, holidays, the Parsha, relationships, politics, and so much more. Plus, they have great recipes! I have mentioned this website before in my post “Review: Aish.com.”

∞ The Kosher Blogger – This blogger lives in Israel and offers a lot of great recipes that she has made successfully many times and are well-received.

∞ Jewish-Life-Organized – This writer, organizer, and home manager has a section for dinner solutions and has many great articles, tips, and advice. This is another one of my favorite websites. Check out my review of her site at “Review: Jewish-Life-Organized.com.”

Happy reading and cooking!

 
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Posted by on April 11, 2012 in Email and online tips, Family ideas, Holidays, Reviews, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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Where do you find kosher recipes online?

10 Apr

Recipes

Have you made your menu for the entire week of Pesach/Passover yet? I seem to be getting a lot of views on my blog from people who are still looking for recipes. Culling through all the websites that come up when you type in “kosher recipes” or “Passover recipes” in a search engine can be overwhelming. So, I thought it might be helpful to provide a roundup of great websites that have specifically kosher recipes. Please let me know of any other good ones you have used, so I can add them here as well!

∞ Kosher on a Budget - This blog is my favorite blog! The author’s main focus is on ways to save money, budgeting, great deals, coupons, and more. However, she also provides great posts on holiday planning and recipes.

∞ Joy of Kosher - This is one of my new favorite magazines. We have tried a few recipes already this holiday and really liked them. The website includes videos and numerous recipes, many of which cannot be found in the printed magazine.

∞ CookKosher - This is a relatively new kosher website that has many great search features.

∞ Pomegranates and Honey - This is written by a local St. Louis chef. I have heard great things about her and her cooking.

∞ Organized Jewish Home - This blogger writes about staying on top of your home and family, homeschooling, holidays, and recipes. She has great tips and ideas!

∞ The OU - This is the largest Kashrus organization in the United States. Their website include hundreds of kosher recipes of all types.

∞ Gourmet Kosher Cooking - This site is written by another blogger. Great recipes with a gourmet touch!

∞ Leah Cooks Kosher - This chef shares her expertise and kosher recipes.

∞ Chabad.org Kosher Recipes & Cooking - More great recipes from this worldwide education organization.

Related articles:
 
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Posted by on April 10, 2012 in Email and online tips, Family ideas, Holidays, Reviews, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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Spring fun with your family

09 Apr

Spring Flowers

For most kids who go to Jewish schools, Pesach also means Spring Break. With the Yom Tov days falling mostly during the weekend, it also means many weekdays to keep your kids busy. Here are some ideas of what to do:

* For those people who live in St. Louis, like me, I have included the links for the applicable St. Louis resources.

Places to look for ideas:

∞ Your local newspaper website (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

∞ Local attractions coupon website. (I am not sure if other towns have this, but Family Attractions Card provides great coupons for attractions in St. Louis.)

∞ Kids’ websites for your town. Do a Google search for your town name and “kids”. (We have a great one called Kids in St. Louis, which has a wealth of information on museums, outdoor, indoor play centers, other kid friendly attractions, and party venues.)

∞ Your local tourism website. They will often list upcoming events, favorite attractions and sporting events. (For St. Louis visit Explore St. Louis.)

∞ Sign up for a local deal site like Amazon Local. They often offer deals for local museums and attractions as well as other local services and stores. Others that sometimes have local deals include:

* See my post Are “deal-a-day” sites a good deal?

∞ Your local kids’ magazine – These are often given out free at libraries and doctor’s office. Google your town name and “kids magazine” to see if your town has one. (St. Louis Kids Magazine)

∞ Parks and Recreation for your county. The parks often host many special events such as art fairs, music events, and more. (St. Louis County Parks and Recreation)

Specific ideas of what to do:

∞ Zoos (St. Louis Zoo)

∞ Museums – See the following links for national directories:

∞ Factory tours – Check out this website for information on tours near you: USA Factory Tours

∞ Library – See if they have any special events going on and when they will start their summer book club.

∞ Art classes at a local art store or art center (COCA or Artmart)

∞ Symphony – events in the park

∞ Family Theater (COCA)

∞ Bowling – Sign up for email coupons from your local bowling alleys. See my post on Get rewarded for shopping – updated!

∞ Indoor Playgrounds (See Kids in St. Louis for a directory.)

∞ Parks – Take a hike or bike ride, play on the playground, have a picnic, or visit the historical sites at any of your local parks. (See above for link to St. Louis County.)

∞ Sporting Events – See my post on Sports freebies for kids.

∞ Movies – Do a search for your city and $1 movie days. These are often offered in the summer. You can also sign up for AMC Stubs, a reward program of AMC Theaters.

Other related articles:

If I left out any ideas you love to do with your family, please email me or add them to the comments section!

 
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Posted by on April 9, 2012 in Family ideas, Other savings tips

 

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Shop those Easter sales today!

09 Apr

Easter Eggs Plastic Colors

Even though it is Passover (Pesach), there are advantages to shopping at the post-Easter sales today! Here are some ideas for things to buy:

∞ Baskets and filler – If you find some that don’t look too Eastery, you might buy several to use next Purim for shaloch manos containers.

∞ Plastic eggs – If you are a teacher or a homeschooler, you can use these plastic eggs for teaching dinosaurs (they are fun for hiding around the room or for burying in the sand table with little plastic dinosaurs inside) or as containers for fun prizes at school or camps.

∞ Stickers – Great for reward charts or art projects for parents and teachers.

∞ Bunny ears – My kids love these for pretend play. They might also come in handy for a costume sometime.

∞ Girls’ dresses – There are tons of great spring dresses out now. Even the non-tznius (non-modest) ones can be paired with a long-sleeved or 3/4-length shell. Take advantage of the sales!

∞ Spring cookie cutters – Look for fun spring shapes in pastel colors. Great for your next homemade cookie-making session!

For those of you who are not Jewish or who do not keep Passover:

∞ Baking items – They might have colored sprinkles or bunnies on them, but who cares! Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, etc. still taste the same and why not enjoy the discount.

∞ Candy – Stock up on your favorite Easter candy at big discounts.

Happy shopping!

For more ideas on what to buy at this time of year, check out my post “April is the time to buy…”

 
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Posted by on April 9, 2012 in Family ideas, Grocery savings, Holidays, Other savings tips, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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What’s for breakfast?

02 Apr

blintzes_SusanicaTamPhoto-9618

Pesach cereal can cost a fortune and doesn’t often contain much cereal in the box. With four boys in our house, we can go through a box or two a day! So I am determined this year to provide my family with cheaper and better choices for breakfast.

Here is what I came up with:

∞ Yogurt, fruit, and a bit of farfel or cereal

∞ Passover muffins (There are a multitude of recipes for these in most Passover cookbooks, so I have not linked one here.)

∞ Blintzes (frozen or homemade if I get the energy and time)

The Unbelievable Blintz (Manischewitz)

∞ Passover breakfast pancakes

This is something we have never made before. I found a few recipes online that we can all try! I could not find a potato starch recipe online that didn’t have other non-Pesach ingredients. Let me know if you have one you like.

Recipe #1 with matzo meal

Recipe #2 with matzo cake meal

∞ Apple Crisp

This recipe came from an old Vegetarian Journal cookbook. I used to make it every year when I cooked for Passover at Hillel at UNC-Chapel Hill. It has become a favorite in our house. It is normally served for dessert, but last year my boys asked for it for breakfast. I think it will now become a breakfast favorite instead!

Apple Crisp

If you have other ideas for breakfast foods (besides eggs!), please add them in the Comments section!

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2012 in Family ideas, Grocery savings, Holidays, Saving while keeping kosher

 

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