Category: Kosher

St. Louis Kosher BBQ Competition Re-cap By Rachel

5 “Dudes” and a Vegetarian (not quite but close enough) wearing our trademark “Meat is murder…tasty, tasty murder” t-shirts!

Well, it’s been 2 weeks since competing in our first kosher bbq competition of the season, and life is finally back to normal (and I’m pretty sure we got all of the bbq stink out of everything).  Our team “5 Dudes and a Vegetarian” (Daniel Peikes, Elliott Fliegelman, Debbie Burg, Robert Feiger and me), competed in the second annual St. Louis Kosher BBQ competition on June 26th! Maybe you caught our Facebook live, as Daniel Peikes, our fearless pitmaster, slathered the base rub (made by yours truly) all over the giant hunk of brisket! Well, if you missed it, be sure to check out our “Meat Your Vegetables” Facebook page!  And in case it wasn’t that obvious, yes I’M the vegetarian on the team.  It definitely gets a lot of laughs and no, I don’t make “vegetarian” food for the judges.  Because that’s not allowed. 🙂  More on that later…

But first, let’s talk Indian food! That’s right…kosher Indian in St. Louis! Stopped there for lunch with (most) of our team to enjoy a relaxing, supper yummy meal at Gokul restaurant on Friday, after the prep.  A cute place with funky colors yet a calming atmosphere, the menu seemed a little overwhelming to me, so I opted for the buffet instead.  Everything was delicious – from the herbed rice, to the vegetable korma (mixed veggies with cashews and raisins in a creamy tomato sauce) to the super spicy spinach and mushroom sauce and beans and lentils cooked with mild Indian spices.  No naan or paneer for me…but it was tasty and full of flavor and spice.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

For those of you who haven’t experienced the joy of kosher BBQ competitions, here’s a little rundown.

The competition has an entrance fee – anywhere between $350 – $400.  That amount includes all of the protein (typically brisket, ribs, chicken and turkey), the spices and ingredients provided by the competition (like salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, apple juice, olive oil, ketchup, etc…), equipment like knives, cutting boards, tongs, heat-proof gloves, thermometers, AND of course, the smoker and the grill.  So, yes, you are able to bring in other ingredients, as long as they are brand new, sealed and of course they have to be labeled kosher.  Typically, the prep happens either Thursday night or Friday (as the cooking gets underway Saturday night, for a Sunday event).  The prep for our team?  Well, for St. Louis specifically, I made all of the rubs – the base rub, which then was used to make the rub for the brisket, ribs, and turkey (our teammate Debbie, had her own special recipe for the chicken).  I also made the injections (I know, sounds so dirty, right?  Or maybe it sounds medicinal, but whatever the case, yes, I make sauces to then have injected into the meat.  Oh baby).  Meanwhile, Daniel is trimming the fat off the brisket and prepping the ribs.  Debbie is making her sauces, while my husband was the gopher (he’s not allowed in the kitchen, especially with knives). 🙂  Okay, just kidding Ellie!  My aunt who lives in St. Louis also came by to check out our prep and she volunteered to be our dishwasher – such a big help, thank you aunt Sue!

Okay, so by Friday late morning, all of the prep is done.  Saturday night, right after Shabbat, we head over to the shul where the event was happening, get our tent (thanks to our teammate Rob for getting us set up), grab our tables and start rolling.  Rubbing the brisket and getting that baby on the smoker at some point during the night. 🙂  That’s the key here – we stay up ALL NIGHT and essentially babysit the brisket on the smoker.  You really need to keep an eye on that temperature – that can really make or break it!

Fast forward to Noon on Sunday – the competition BEGINS!  Chicken turn-in to the judges is first, followed by ribs, turkey and brisket.  And because this competition is a KCBS sanctioned competition (Kansas City Barbecue Society – yes it’s a real thing, and it’s 2 legit 2 quit, HA), there are MANY rules that are specified through KCBS, rules like no garnish, and sauces with no chunks bigger than a fine dice – are the real deal.  That’s right.  No sprigs of parsley in our turn-in boxes!  Just the meat, in all its smoky glory.

Judging underway, and winners announced at 2:30.  We’re tired, exhausted, sweaty (and reeking of smoke) and most definitely dehydrated – let’s get this thing started.  So, we came in 4th place in ribs, 5th place in brisket, and 5th place overall.  And out of only 10 teams, I was hoping we’d inch out by a wee bit more, but hey, it’s good practice, good experience and it just keeps us fired up for the next one.  What I really love about competing in these events is the camaraderie and the great sportsmanship from everyone!  We compete against novices and professionals, but at the end of the day, no one is here to sabotage one another – everyone helps each other out when needed, like borrowing ingredients, equipment, keeping an eye on other teams smokers and alerting them if they get too hot – we’re all here to win of course, but we’re all here to have fun and enjoy ourselves.

Next on our BBQ competition road trip?  Kansas City in September…here we come!

 

Check out some highlights from the big event!

Vegetable Korma + delish Indian yumminess = HEAVEN

 

Ellie, did you enjoy lunch? 🙂

 

Picture of a picture

 

Sunday morning breakfast – meat ends, bfast sausage, and my homemade Shakshuka along with Debbie’s homemade mini pitot!

 

5th place winning brisket and burnt ends!

 

Savory smoked turkey

 

Sweet ‘n smoky ribs (sorry the chicken didn’t make it into the photos)!

Check out Daniel’s take on the trip: Recap of the 2nd Annual St. Louis Kosher BBQ Competition

Fried Pickles and The Giveaway Winner

Fried PicklesBefore we get to the fried pickles  I want to say congratulations to Anita Jude of Ashland, KY.  She is the lucky winner of our reCAP Mason Jar Kit Giveaway.  Thanks to folks at  reCap Mason Jars for providing the prize. Anita let us know how you plan on using the fermentation kit.   I love a good pickle.

While we are on the topic of pickles, I had some pickle chips sitting in the fridge from my Very BBQ Purim, and some matzo meal left over form Passover and I figured why not give fried pickles a try and I was pleasantly surprised.  I paired it with a spicy mayo made with my Green Fermented Hot Sauce, for a great crispy snack.  It also makes a great addition to your new cook out, as an appetizer for you next casual dinner party, or a great  hors d’oeuvre at a cocktail hour.  It is also vegetarian friendly, and for gluten free version you can substitute the matzo meal for corn meal.

5 from 1 vote
Fried Pickles
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Fried Pickles With Green Spicy Mayo
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

A great crispy treat.

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Southern
Servings: 1
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
Fried Pickles
  • 12 Pickle Chips
  • 1/2 Cup Matzo Meal or Corn Meal
  • 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Large Egg Beaten
  • Vegetable Oil For Frying
Spicy Mayo
  • 1/2 Cup Mayo
  • 1 tbsp Green Hot Sauce Or more if you like it hot
Instructions

  1. Lightly dust the pickle chips with flour with flour, making sure to shake off any excess. 

  2. Dip the pickle chips in the beaten egg.

  3. Coat the pickle chips in the matzo meal.

  4. Add about an inch of oil to heavy frying pan and put over medium heat.  If you have a cast iron skillet this is a good time to use it. Fry on each side until golden brown.

  5. Mix the hot sauce with the mayo and drizzle over the fried pickles.  Serve immediately.

Light and Easy Shavuot Menu

Well, Shavuot is HERE! Starting in just a few hours, to be exact.  Ah, the holiday of cheesecakes.  People usually assume that Shavuot is MY holiday because I don’t eat meat, but I wouldn’t be a true Ashkenazic Jew without a little bit of lactose-intolerance, am I right, or am I right? 🙂  Therefore…I’m going with a more light menu.  Something a little healthier and easier on the tummy.  But if you’re all in for dairy-laden cheesecakes and lasagnas, then be my guest.

For the main event…Mini Socca Pizzas!  Um, excuse me?

Yes, soccas.  They hail from the Provence region of France.  I’m so fancy, I know.  I came across an old issue of InStyle, featuring recipes from lifestyle guru and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.  She featured these super easy-to-make soccas, so I’m doing my own spin on them!  All it requires is chick pea flour, water, a little olive oil and salt.  You can find the full recipe, along with some other entertaining tips here.  And since I typically try to avoid gluten, sugar and dairy, this seemed like a perfect way to have some fun in the kitchen and experiment with my mini socca trio toppings!

And since soccas are so easy to make, you can make a whole bunch of them, big or mini, pop them in a plastic bag and freeze them – it’s easy to keep on hand in case you need a quick dinner.  Just top with salad, veggies, or tomato sauce and cheese and dinner is ready in a flash.

Yes, I’m shamelessly plugging my “other” blog Riskyveggie.com for my other dishes for this Shavuot menu, so check it out and let me know what you think!  And have a chag sameach!

Shavuot Menu:

Sweet potato goat cheese popovers

Caramelized onion dip

Strawberry spinach salad with pecans, onions & feta

Mini Socca Trio:

  • Goat cheese, smoked salmon, fresh chives and dill
  • Spicy roasted garlic tomato sauce, zucchini ribbons, capers, fresh basil
  • Creamy mushroom ragout with black garlic, coconut milk, sliced radish and cilantro

And last but not least…

Dessert:

Chocolate Coconut Lime Pie – from one of my fav bloggers/cookbook authors, Elizabeth Nyland of GuiltyKitchen.com (this recipe is next on my list to re-create). YUM!

Fermented Hot Sauce with reCAP Mason Jar Kit and Giveaway

Fermented Hot SauceA few months back Rachel and I attended the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show.  This was the second year we went, and the second year that the fine folks at reCap Mason Jars have taken time to talk to us and show us their products.  They followed up with us after the show and sent us one of their super fun Fermentation Starter Kits to review and another one to give away.  Fermentation in a mason jar is a great way to preserve vegetables, while giving them great flavor.  If our recipe below we take it to the next level and make a bright hot sauce. Details on the giveaway are at the end of the post.

As far as the kit is concerned, it is pretty straight forward.

It comes with the following:

1-24 ounce Ball Mason jar

1-Pour lid

1-reCAP Fermenter (A waterless airlock)

1-4 ounce Ball Mason jar

1-2.5 ounce packet Himalayan Pink Salt

An instructional guide including 3 recipes

The products included all look to be of solid quality.  The two mason jars included are made by Ball, which makes a quality product. the pour lid seems to be made of quality plastic and forms a good seal.  The pour lid can be used for other things like salad dressings and cocktails. The airlock fermenter seem to be of good quality, but check back in two weeks when we find out how the fermented hot sauce comes out (recipe below).  The pink salt is a nice touch, but really any salt would have worked.  I usually use Morton Canning and pickling salt.  The instructions and guide could have been a bit more detailed.  I did not like the fact that they put all the measurements in volumetric measurements instead of weights.  This can throw you off it you use a different size grind on your salt such as kosher salt which is much larger, or pickling salt which is much finer.

A while ago we did an un-boxing video on Facebook Live, check it out here:

What is Fermentation?

A quick primer of fermentation.  Fermentation is a process where something, usually a vegetable, is preserved by exposing it to specific beneficial bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms.  They keep other, nasty, bugs away and create a pleasant tangy flavor. This is accomplished by submerging the vegetable in a salt water brine, which keeps the harmful bugs away while beneficial ones thrive.  Other herbs and spices can be added to the brine for additional flavor. The process creates carbon dioxide, this is where the airlock comes in.  The airlock allows the carbon dioxide out without letting other contaminants in, so the glass jar does not explode.

I took one of the recipes that came with the Fermentation Starter Kit and put a twist on it.  Below is my version of the recipe.  The sauce takes two weeks to ferment, so stay tuned to see how it comes out.

Hot Sauce Fermentation Ingredients

 

5 from 1 vote
Hot Sauce Ingredients
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Fermented Green Hot Sauce
Prep Time
10 mins
 

This is a recipe based on the hot sauce recipe included in the Fermentation Starter Kit by reCAP.  The kit includes all of the equipment you need. The original recipe is for a red hot sauce, but I had a bunch of green peppers to use up so I went off script.  I also added lime juice and scallions that are not in the original recipe to put my own spin on it.  

This recipe only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, but then takes 2 weeks to ferment so plan ahead.  It goes great on tacos, pizza, chicken, or anywhere you want to add a little heat.

Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Servings: 1 Jar
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper Sliced thin
  • 2 Jalapenos Peppers Sliced into rounds
  • 2 Serrano Pepper Sliced into rounds
  • 2 Cloves Garlic Sliced thin
  • 2 Scallions Sliced thin
  • 1.5 Cups Filtered Water
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Juice of One Lime
Instructions

  1. Combine the salt, water, and lime juice to create a brine.  Stir until the salt is dissolved.

  2. Add all the peppers, garlic, and scallions to a mason jar, then pour the brine on top, leaving a few inches of space at the top.

  3. Add a weight to keep the peppers below the water line.  A smaller mason jar works well for this.

  4. Cover the mason jar with a pour lid fitted with an airlock

  5. Let the vegetables ferment for 14 days, then remove from the brine but don't throw out it out.

  6. Blend the vegetables slowly, adding the brine back in until the desired constancy is achieved.  Store in the refrigerator and it should last for a very, very long time. (or maybe not, if you use it quickly!)

Now on to the giveaway.   The fine people at reCap MAson Jars, will give on lucky reader of our blog a free fermentation starter kit.  You can earn entries into the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter links below and completing the following tasks:

  1. Subscribe to the blog via the box on the top right of screen
  2. Visit and follow us at httpss://www.facebook.com/meatyourvegetables/
  3. Share this post on Twitter
  4. Follow @meaturveggies on Twitter. You can find us here:  httpss://twitter.com/meaturveggies
  5. Leave a comment on this post letting us know how you you like this post and what you would like to see on the blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will run for 2 weeks, which is coincidentally the same amount of time it take for the hot sauce in the recipe to ferment.  Tune back in then and we will do a taste test to see how the hot sauce came out, and announce the winner of the giveaway. Good luck everyone and thanks for your support.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using those links.  The products being reviewed and given away were provided free of charge by reCap Mason Jars.

Loaded Jicama Fries Two Ways

After Pesach (AKA Passover) everyone is a little sick of potatoes.  Jicama, a large tuber from Mexico with the texture of a turnip and the flavor of an apple is a great substitute for a potato. You don’t get the same crunch as you do with a fried potato, but it is not bad for an occasional change.   Originally I was going to name this  post Jicama Fry Poutine Two Ways, but the recipes moved too far away from a traditional poutine, which is made with cheese curds and gravy.

Mushroom and Cheese Jicama Fries Jicama Fries with Mushroom Gravy and Cheese Sauce

Kosher cheese curds can be very hard to obtain so in my dairy version I substituted a cheese sauce, and the gravy for a mushroom sauce, to keep it all kosher.

 

 

5 from 1 vote
Print
Jicama Fries
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

This is a great potato alternative if you want to change it up.  You can try baking them instead of frying, but believe me, it won't be nearly as good.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican, vegan
Servings: 4
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 Large Jicima Cut in to 1/2"X1/2" Fries
  • 3 tbsp Seasoned Salt To taste
  • Vegetable Oil For frying
Instructions

  1. Put a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil.  Add the fries and boil for 10 minutes to soften them.

  2. Remove the fries from the water and dry them completely.  A salad spinner works well for this.

  3. Add vegetable oil to your largest, heaviest frying pan so it come 3/4" inch up the side.  If you have a cast iron skillet this would be a great time to break it out.  Put over medium heat.

  4. Once the oil gets to 350°F start adding the fries a few at a time being careful not to crowd the pan.  Fry on each side until golden brown.

  5. Move the fries to a cooling rack, season with the seasoned salt, top with your favorite additions, and serve immediately.

5 from 1 vote
Print
Mushroom Gravy
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: vegan, vegetarian
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Mushrooms (I like cremini AKA baby bellas, but white buttons will work) Stems removed, rinsed, and sliced
  • 2 large Onions Halved
  • 3 tbsp Butter or Olive Oil
  • 3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
  • 3 Cloves Garlic Finely Chopped
  • Additional Olive Oil for Sauteing
  • 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 Cup Vegetable Stock Preferably home made, but store bought will be fine
Instructions

  1. Add a couple of tablespoons olive oil to a large saucepan or a dutch over over medium heat.  Add the mushrooms, being careful not crowd the pan. Work in batches if necessary.  Saute the mushrooms until the are nicely browned on both sides and remove them from the pan.

  2. Add the onion and some olive olive oil if needed.  Saute the onions until they take on a golden color.  Add the soy sauce and the garlic and continue to cook until the garlic just starts to brown.  Then remove the onions and garlic from the pan.

  3. Turn the heat down to low and add the flour and butter or olive oil.  Stir constantly to completely coat the flour particles with the fat.  This is called a roux, it is a great thickener for sauces. 

  4. Stir in the mushrooms, garlic, and onions.  Then slowly add vegetable stock, stirring regularly until the desired thickness is achieved.

  5. Serve immediately on top of fries, knishes, pasta, or chicken, the sky is the limit.

5 from 1 vote
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Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp Butter or Olive Oil
  • 3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Whole Milk Or Cream
  • 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella
Instructions

  1. Put sauce pan over low heat and add the flour and butter or olive oil. Stir constantly to completely coat the flour particles with the fat. This is called a roux, it is a great thickener for sauces. 

  2. Continue to stir the roux constantly. Once the roux starts to brown add the milk or cream slowly and continue to stir.

  3. Once the milk or cream is completely incorporated, add the cheese and stir the cheese until it is completely melted.  Serve immediately.

Jicama Fries with Shredded Beef and Spicy Salsa Verde

For my meat version, I wanted to something that would stick the ribs, topped off with some heat.  I happened to have had made some Mexican food recently and thought that this was a great opportunity to use up some leftovers.  Pulled beef is a great opportunity to break out the slow cooker (AKA Crock-Pot), and as Ron Popeil always said, set it and forget it. The ingredients for the salsa are grilled, which is a great way to use up the heat from dying coals after a backyard soiree.

5 from 1 vote
Pulled Beef Jicama Fries
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Pulled Beef
Ingredients
  • 1 Hunk of Beef Nothing fancy. Neck or shoulder is fine
  • 1 Bottle Beer
  • 29 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
  • 4 Cloves Garlic Roughly chopped
  • 1 Large Onion Sliced
  • 1 tbsp Dried Oregano
  • Salt and Pepper To taste
Instructions

  1. Throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker (AKA Crock-Pot).  Let it cook for about 6 hours on low.  Shred with two forks.  Serve as a taco, with rice, on fries. or over pasta.  Freezes well.

0 from 0 votes
Pulled Beef Jicama Fries
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Spicy Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

This is a great condiment when you want to kick it up a notch.  You can add more or less chili peppers to control the level of heat.  You can also remove the ribs and seeds from the peppers to decrease the heat.

Course: Dip
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 2 Jalapeno Peppers
  • 2 Poblano Peppers
  • 2 Green Bell Peppers
  • 6 Large Tomatillos Husks removed
  • 1 Large Onion Peeled and roughly chopped
  • 3 Cloves Garlic Skin removed
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 Handful Cilantro Chopped
  • 1 Lime
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions

  1. Toss all the peppers, tomatillos, onion, and garlic with the olive oil. Put them on the grill or under the broiler until the skin begins to char and then remove from the heat

  2. Remove the tops from the peppers and add them to a large mixing bowl along with the onion, tomatillos, and garlic.  With an immersion (stick) blender, process until desired texture is achieved. This can also be done in a food processor or a regular blender.

  3. Add the cilantro, salt and pepper and the juice from the lime to bowl.  Stir to combine. Serve alongside chips, or on top of tacos or fries.

Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s Jicama recipe here: Spicy Slaw with Quick Pickled Jicama and Creamy Salsa Verde Dressing

Spicy Slaw with Pickled Jicama and Creamy Salsa Verde Dressing

Welcome back from the Passover craziness! It feels like the Seder meals were forever ago, am I right?  Well, back to the swing of things, and this latest challenge ingredient is “Jicama”, also commonly known as a Mexican turnip.  I think it tastes somewhere in between an apple and a potato.  I love the versatility of the humble jicama – you can eat it raw or cooked and it’s such a neutral base, it’s good in so many dishes.

I had a few dishes running around in my head and tested a few things out, but what I started with was a quick pickled jicama – let that sit in the fridge for a day or so until I figured out my next move.  Just apple cider vinegar, water, salt and coconut sugar (since, if you know me, I don’t even have white sugar in my pantry.  I know, I know…I’m one of “those” people).  Diced it up, poured the brine in a mason jar and let it do its job.  Then, it was on to some inspiration.

Over Pesach, my mother-in-law showed me a new cookbook she got, “Perfect for Pesach” by Naomi Nachman.  Truth is, this is basically what I eat all year-long!  Gluten free, but definitely still delicious, I mean, who are we kidding.  I was really digging it, so I got a copy for myself (can one have too many cookbooks?  I think not)!  I came across a coleslaw with chimichurri and that got me thinking about my jicama dish.  But immediately, my mind went to salsa verde (green salsa). So, I got some tomatillos (they look like green tomatoes with a papery skin on the outside), some jalapeno AND Serrano peppers  (because you know, I live on the edge – maybe that’s another reason why I’m “risky” veggie, aye?), some green onions, garlic, olive oil, sat and pepper.  Broil for about 10 minutes until everything is slightly charred and piping hot and now you have a sudden craving for chips and dip.  Blend it all in a food processor and BAM.  Salsa verde.  I’ll warn you, it does have quite a kick, but you can always remove the ribs and seeds of the peppers before blending away.  But I like it spicy baby!

So that’s that!  I mixed some bagged coleslaw (because I’m not afraid of using shortcuts), sliced radish, pickled jicama, and fresh cilantro (and if I COULD, I would sprinkle cilantro on freaking everything – yea, I’m one of those weirdos that somehow doesn’t think it tastes like soap).  And to mellow out the heat of the salsa verde, I mixed in some homemade mayo, but you can always use store-bought, don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. 🙂

Fresh, light, spicy, crunchy – now THAT sounds like a perfect spring dish if you ask me.  I served this slaw as a side dish to my Moroccan salmon and carrots – look for that recipe coming soon on my other blog, riskyveggie!Jicama Slaw Menu

And coming up…my light take on Shavuous food!  (say WHAAA?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to check out Daniel’s Jicama recipe: Loaded Jicama Fries Two Ways

 

 

Traditional Chicken Soup With (Kosher) Bacon Schmaltz Matzo Balls

When it comes to Passover (AKA Pesach), most families have more traditions than Fiddler on the Roof.  I was all set to make you a super traditional matzo ball with homemade chicken schmaltz and gribenes.  I figured this was going to be an easy challenge to beat Rachel at.  How could a vegetarian gluten free dish beat (to quote Walter from The Big Lebowski) “…three thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Koufax”.  So I spent hours slowly rendering chicken skin to extract some liquid gold and produce crispy little chicken skin cracklings, and then…and then one of my kids spilled my schmaltz. All over the kitchen floor. Needless to say, I was not happy.

That is when I went in to problem solving mode.  What do I have in the house that is similar to schmaltz? That is where I completely broke with tradition and went to one of my favorite crutches, (kosher) bacon. Ask your Bubby, there ain’t nothing traditional about bacon. That being said, it does provide fat and crunch just like schmaltz and gribenes.

Let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments.  Also, let me know if you like my matzo ball soup or Rachel’s better.  You can find hers here: Minestrone Soup with Gluten-Free Matzah Balls

5 from 1 vote
Pho
Print
Chicken Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
 

A classic kosher comfort dish.  It's good for what ails you, they don't call it Jewish penicillin for nothing. I don't like anything too fancy in my chicken soup so I stay away from things like zucchini and tomatoes, but if you like them feel free to add them, it won't hurt anything.  

One final note, your soup will never taste as good as your mother's for 2 reasons:

1. Memories are a strong force

2. She probably added some soup mix with MSG to give it that little something extra.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish
Servings: 1 Large Pot
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 4 Medium Carrots Peeled and cut into 1 inch rounds
  • 4 Ribs Celery Rinsed, tops and bottoms cut off and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 Large Sweet Potato Peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 Turnip Peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 Parsnip Peeled and cut into 1 inch rounds
  • 1 Onion Peeled and roughly chopped
  • Salt To taste
  • Pepper To taste
  • 1 Handful Dill
  • 1 Handful Parsley
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 4 Chicken Leg Quarters Remove and save the fat and skin to make schmaltz
Instructions

  1. Put all the ingredients in your largest pot and fill with enough water to cover everything, making sure not to fill too high in order to prevent it from boiling over.

  2. Cover the pot and put over high heat and bring to a boil.  Once the soup is at a boil remove the lid and turn the heat down to a simmer.

  3. Let the soup simmer for about four hours or until the soup reduces by about 15%.

  4. Remove chicken from the bones, adding the chicken back in to the soup and discarding the bones.  Serve within a week or freeze for up to six months. 

5 from 2 votes
Print
Matzo Balls
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish
Servings: 12 Small Matzo Balls
Ingredients
  • 1/2 Cup Matzo Meal
  • 2 tbsp Cold Chicken Stock
  • 2 tbsp Fat (Kosher) Bacon grease, chicken schmaltz, or vegetable oil
  • 1 Large Egg Beaten
  • 2 tbsp (Kosher) Bacon or Gribenes Chopped very fine
  • 2 quarts Chicken Stock For cooking the Matzo Balls
Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients except the 2 quarts of chicken stock in a large mixing bowl, stir with a large wooden spoon, ideally one passed down from your Bubby, until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Put the mixture in the fridge for about an hour to hydrate.

  2. Roll out the matzo balls just slightly smaller than a golf ball and cook in chicken stock for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately or remove from liquid and freeze.

Minestrone Soup with Gluten-Free Matzah Balls

Ah, the dreaded “P” word.  The word that we Jews cringe when anyone utters it before Purim. Yes, I’m referring to “Pesach”!  HA!  It’s not that overwhelming, is it?  (Insert shoulder shrug emoji here).  And so it begins. Searching, sweeping, and cleaning out old, weird stuff from the fridge (you know, the stuff you forgot to label, some unidentifiable mushy substance that now has a fresh layer of fuzzy mold?)  Alright, enough of the gross stuff. You are reading about food here anyway.

Quick disclaimer:  Some of you may notice that I have included peas in this recipe.  Peas are “kitnoyit” and only eaten by Sephardic Jews on Passover, so if you’re Ashkenazic, then peas are off limits.  So feel free to omit, if it applies to you.

So this week’s challenge is none other than the traditional “matzah ball” (or matzo ball as it’s most commonly spelled).  Being, well, me…I wanted to take on the challenge to make mine gluten free, and before you get all annoyed with me that I may not making true matzo balls, here me out for a second. Call them whatever you want, but basically these are big gnocchi, and trust me…they turned out pretty delicious if I say so myself.  So no haters here…just wanted to try something different while still appealing to everyone.  I must admit, I had to do some research here.  Survey says – use potatoes as the base.  I went with yukon gold potatoes, mostly because I like the flavor, and when they cook, they get this super creamy consistency that I don’t think you can really get from a big baking potato, and no peeler necessary (though honestly, I hardly ever peel potatoes). The other thing I realized while doing some searching on the interwebs, is that you MUST wait for the potatoes to cool before making the dough (so, insert extra prep time for that).  I didn’t ask questions, I just followed along.

Then came the hard part – what type of soup would I make?  I briefly thought about “tortilla soup”, sans tortillas, but using the matzah balls as a replacement, but my gut told me to go with a simple minestrone.  It’s a week before Passover and aren’t we all trying to get rid of random items in our fridge?  Many of us probably have canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, frozen peas, right?  This is basically a “dump soup” as I like to call them – just dump everything into a pot and call it a day.  That’s the beauty about making soup, you can throw in whatever you want and adjust seasonings as you go, it’s almost fool-proof.  Plus…since these matzah balls are basically gnocchi, why not make an Italian-influenced soup, right?  I’m not trying to change the world here with my out-of-the-box and totally inaccessible recipes that no one will make it.

Before I go, I have 2 tips for you (and one bonus tip in the recipe below), because you KNOW I’m all about handy tips, ya!  So I used a can of whole peeled tomatoes for this and I happen to love these vintage-looking cans, so don’t throw them out (or recycle for that matter), instead use it as a low vase for flowers!

Tip number 2?  I made veggie stock a few months ago and froze it in ice cube trays (I have a few weirdly shaped ones, some heart-shaped, some stick-shaped, but who cares), then instead of buying veggie stock for this soup, I just popped in a few veggie stock cubes and you’re done.  I kinda eyeballed the measurements, but feel free to play with it as you make it!  I added a lot of water and stock because I didn’t want it to end up being tomato sauce.  So start with some water and you can always add more.  Don’t have stock around?  That’s fine too, just add enough after and make sure you season with plenty of salt, pepper, and whatever else you have on hand.  The sky’s the limit!  Don’t have peas?  Throw in some sliced button mushrooms!  Make it your own!

One other thing to add.  If you’re like me and want to multi-task, let your slow cooker be your friend in this scenario!  I didn’t want to babysit my soup, so instead I dumped everything into my crock-pot, and cooked it on low overnight.  I made this for Friday night dinner, so all I had to do was put it back on the crock pot and re-heat it.  Don’t you love when your kitchen appliances can do the work for you?  But obviously you can make it the old fashioned way too.

So that’s it, here we go!  1 week and counting.  Wishing you all a chag kasher v’sameach and a wonderful Pesach with family, friends and hopefully LOTS of good food.  🙂

Let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments.  Also, let me know if you like my matzo ball soup or Daniel’s better.  You can find hers here: Traditional Chicken Soup With (Kosher) Bacon Schmaltz Matzo Balls

5 from 1 vote
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Minestrone Soup with Gluten Free Matzah Balls
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs
 


Course: Soup
Cuisine: Homemade, Italian, Jewish, Kosher
Servings: 8 people
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
Gluten Free Matzah Balls
  • 7 small-medium yukon gold potatoes baked and cooled
  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 2 cups potato starch
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp fresh dill
  • 2 tsp garlic powder I roasted some garlic with the potatoes and I added the garlic to the soup, but you can use garlic powder, that's totally ok 🙂
Minestrone Soup
  • 1 28 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 small white onions, chopped into large pieces
  • 1 10 oz bag of frozen green peas
  • 1 10 oz bag of frozen carrots yea, I was feeling pretty lazy here, just being honest.
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped optional (I didn't use any because I just used up whatever I had in the house)
  • 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced also optional,
  • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups veggie stock
  • 3 cups water
Instructions

  1. Make the soup - in a large soup pot, sweat the onions, garlic, celery (if using) carrots and mushrooms (if using) for about 10 minutes, season with salt and pepper.

  2. Open the can of whole peeled tomatoes and carefully (wearing an apron is a must here), use your hands to crush the tomatoes while in the can, so they're not quite as "whole" but a little more rustic.  

  3. Add in the can of tomatoes, frozen peas, stock, water and any other spices or seasonings (thyme, bay leaf, dried basil)

  4. Turn the stove to high and cook until the soup is boiling, then turn down the simmer, cover and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  5. While the soup is cooking, add the matzah balls ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.  You may have to add in a little more flour if the dough is still too sticky but depends on how starchy your potatoes are, or if you're using extra large eggs.  Knead the dough in a big stainless steel bowl until you get the perfect consistency (you want to be able to roll them in your hands, so not too sticky but sticky enough that they hold together).

  6. Fill a second soup pot with water and bring to a boil.

  7. (Tip #3):  Use a mini ice cream scoop to portion out the matzah ball dough and drop in to the boiling water.  

  8. Cook for a few minutes, until the balls float to the top.

  9. Remove the matzah balls with a slotted spoon and drop them into the minestrone soup to finish cooking. 

  10. Serve the soup piping hot with fresh basil or dill and enjoy!

 

Happy Pi Day: Smoked Duck Personal Pot Pie

Pot Pie

Happy Pi day (at least for another few hours) to my math nerd friends, not to be confused with National Pie Day, which next year will be on Tuesday, January 23rd according to Google. For those of you who don’t remember, Pi (π) is the Greek letter used to represent the magical number needed to calculate the area and circumference of a circle.  Its approximate value is 3.14, hence Pi day is March 14th.  See this link for a much more accurate value for Pi: Pi to a million places. Now that the math lesson is over, on to the food!

Many people make pie for Pi Day because they sound the same and they are generally circular (and who doesn’t want an excuse to eat pie!), and therefore Rachel has challenged me to Pi Day throw down. I had some leftover smoked duck from my Very BBQ Purim Se’udah, and figured pot pie was a great way to use it up.  And yes, this recipe will work fine with roast duck, roast turkey, or even chicken.

Pot Pie Mise

5 from 1 vote
Cut Pot Pie
Print
Smoked Duck Personal Pot Pie
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
3 hrs 20 mins
 
Course: Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine: BBQ, Homemade
Servings: 12
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
Duck Stock (Or Just Use Chicken Stock)
  • 1 Duck Carcass Leftover
  • 2 Duck Wings
  • 1 Tablespoon Celery Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Whole Mustard Seed
  • 1 Teaspoon Dried Dill
  • 1 Tablespoon Black Peppercorns
  • 2 Bay Leaves
Filling
  • 2 Cups Duck (or Chicken) Stock
  • 2 Smoked Duck Legs and Thighs Bones Removed
  • 2 Carrots Diced
  • 11 Oz Canned Corn
  • 1 Medium Onion Chopped
  • 6 Medium Mushrooms Chopped
  • 2 Stalks Celery Chopped
  • 4 Cloves Garlic Chopped
  • 3/4 Cup AP Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
  • 24 Puff Pastry Squares or Rounds
  • Cooking Spray
  • 1 Egg Beaten
Instructions
  1. Take all the ingredients for the stock, put it in a large pot, and boil for couple of hours. Strain out the solids and preserve the liquid.
  2. Put the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. After 2 minutes, add the flour and whisk until the all the flour is coated in oil and there are no dry pockets. This is called a roux.
  3. Turn the heat down to low and cook the roux until it starts to brown, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
  4. Add all the vegetables, the stock, and the duck meat to the pot and stir, making sure to incorporate the roux into the mixture. Cook until the vegetables have softened.
  5. Spray 2 muffin pans (they usually hold 6 muffins) with cooking spray. Press one puff pastry square into each muffin compartment to form the bottom crust. Add the filling, about 2/3 of the way to the top and cover with another puff pastry square, tucking the ends in. Brush egg on top.
  6. Preheat the over to 350°F and bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

Cut Pot Pie

Let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments.  Also, let me know if you liked my recipe or Rachel’s better.  You can find hers here: Happy Pi Day! Chocolate Sweet Potato Pudding Pie with Maple Coconut Cream

Happy Pi Day! Chocolate Sweet Potato Pudding Pie with Maple Coconut Cream

Happy Pi Day everyone!  Ah, March 14th, 3/14, where everyone stuffs their faces with pie (much more tasty than pi).  Math nerds, unite!  This latest challenge is none other than (duh)…PIE!  #yum.

Funny, I almost forgot about “pi” day this year, until my chiropractor’s office provided a gentle reminder of their annual “pie contest” on pi day of course (shout out to my peeps at Chiro One)!  I mean, doesn’t this just make for a perfect blog post?  Although it was a wee bit quick after Purim to make something new for this blog, yet again, I did remind Daniel that he didn’t have to re-invent the wheel with this one (and of course, we want to give you all some fresh new content).  “How about using some of your leftover BBQ chicken from your hamantaschen, or the smoked duck from the seudah, and making a pot pie?” But who am I kidding…would there actually BE leftovers?  (In case you’re wondering, yes, there were, let’s be honest, he did make 4 different proteins for like 5 meat-eating adults).

In any case, I got right to work on my pie.  I figured Peikes would make a savory pie (and boy was I right), but for this I wanted to go back to the basics – homemade coffee date nut crust, cocoa powder, sweet potato (your kids will NEVER know they’re eating sweet potato in this), chia seeds for that extra nutrition boost and all around yumminess.  This concoction was mostly a thought of “ok, what do I have in my pantry that I can work on getting rid of, because Pesach is around the corner?”  I ended up with canned organic pureed sweet potatoes (um, super easy and takes way less time than baking your own), raw cocoa powder, and some other yummy ingredients that you’ll see if you take a look at my recipe below. Oh and feel free to use whatever crust you want.  I happened to be making a big batch of my famous coffee coconut date balls (for a friend who had a baby and for a soon-to-be-mom at work), soI ended up using some leftover “date ball” mix for my piecrust. Yea…multitask for the win here. It’s easy to whip together in a food processor, plus it’s gluten free, vegan, soy free, dairy free and sugar free (but NOT taste free). 🙂

Wondering how I made the whipped coconut cream?  Thinking it’s going to be super difficult? Well, fear not my friends because this is the easiest homemade whipped cream (and healthiest) topping ever.  Step 1 – place 2 cans (1 can isn’t quite enough for this pie) of full fat coconut milk in the fridge. Step 2 – remove the cans and carefully remove the coconut cream that has risen and hardened at the top (save the coconut milk for another use).  Step 3 – place in bowl, add maple syrup and mix until fluffy peaks of creamy whipped topping are born (just FYI, it won’t be “exactly” like real whipped cream, so just note that, but it’s close enough, and oh yea, it tastes good too).  Step 4 – shmear on top of pie.  Step 5 – (cool in fridge and then), DEVOUR.  The yummiest part of this pie, in my opinion?  The coffee in the crust!

So that’s it my friends!  My pie for pi day.

Disclaimer: I do not take any responsibility for any extra weight gain on this day, from eating lots and lots o’ pie.

Comment below and let me know how your pie turned out! Also, let me know if you liked my recipe or Daniel’s better.  You can find his here: Happy Pi Day: Smoked Duck Personal Pot Pie

5 from 1 vote
Print
Chocolate Sweet Potato Pudding Pie with Maple Coconut Cream
Prep Time
30 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
 
Servings: 1 pie
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup dates I like deglet noor, I just like the texture of them, and I don't have to remove the pits, WOOT
  • 1/2 cup nuts I like pecans, but for this one I used walnuts, because I was out, but use whatever you have on hand
  • 4 T almond milk I like the Califia Farms brand
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 1 T good quality ground coffee
  • 1 15 oz can organic pureed sweet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup organic coconut sugar
  • 2 T pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup raw cocoa powder
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1/4 t cinnamon
  • 1/4 t pumpkin pie spice cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice - or just use any of these spices you have on hand
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1/4 cup white chia seeds (this is my secret ingredient, instead of using other thickeners, I use chia seeds - they are a perfect thickener and you won't taste them at all, plus they're a great source of protein, omega-3's and antioxidants)
  • 2 cans Full-fat coconut milk
  • 2-4 T pure maple syrup Add in 1 tablespoon at a time and adjust sweetness as needed
Instructions
  1. Make the crust: add the first 5 ingredients into a food processor and mix until fully incorporated (here's the deal - I don't really measure when I make the crust, but I adjust if I need to - it the crust is too sticky, add in a handful of nuts, if it's too dry, add in a few more dates and some more almond milk. If you don't want coffee in it, omit it, or use leftover brewed coffee from earlier that morning).
  2. Grease a 9-inch pie plate with coconut oil.
  3. Press the crust and use your hands and fingers to press it in the bottom and up the sides.
  4. Place the crust in the freezer while you make the filling.
  5. Place the rest of the ingredients into a high-speed blender (to grind the chia seeds) until thickened. Pour into crust and place in fridge for 4 hours or until completely firm in the middle. Place a can of full fat coconut milk in the fridge while the pie is chilling.
  6. After a few hours, remove the can of coconut milk from the fridge, and very carefully, open the top and scoop out the solidified cream (save the milk for a later use).
  7. Place the cream in a stainless steel bowl and using either a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip the coconut cream for a minute or so, and slowly add in the maple syrup, one tablespoon at a time (you can always add more sweetness). Whip until the maple syrup is incorporated and the cream gets a bit fluffy (it won't become the exact texture of whipped cream, but close). Add to the top of the pie and place in fridge to firm up.
  8. Serve chilled - ENJOY!