Looking Forward to Passover
Here in Beer Sheva, spring is in the air. One day it’s warm and sunny, the next day windy and dusty, and the following day cool and cloudy. A sure sign that it’s almost Pesach.
If the weather isn’t proof enough, the disarray at our local grocery store is: Shelves are being cleared and stocked with gefilte fish, matzah, wine, soup mix, cakes and candy. And more cakes. And more candy. And every variety of soup mix that you could imagine.
How tempting to fill our grocery carts with ready-made, convenient Kosher L’Pesach foods. But are they really worth it?
It’s a question of convenience, cost, taste and nutrition.
Home-made gefilte fish is probably just as expensive and nutritionally similar to the bottled variety. Your grandmother’s recipe is likely to be delicious and nostalgic. But count on several hours of preparation time.
Here in Beer Sheva, spring is in the air. One day it’s warm and sunny, the next day windy and dusty, and the following day cool and cloudy. A sure sign that it’s almost Pesach.
If the weather isn’t proof enough, the disarray at our local grocery store is: Shelves are being cleared and stocked with gefilte fish, matzah, wine, soup mix, cakes and candy. And more cakes. And more candy. And every variety of soup mix that you could imagine.
How tempting to fill our grocery carts with ready-made, convenient Kosher L’Pesach foods. But are they really worth it?
It’s a question of convenience, cost, taste and nutrition.
Home-made gefilte fish is probably just as expensive and nutritionally similar to the bottled variety. Your grandmother’s recipe is likely to be delicious and nostalgic. But count on several hours of preparation time.
Soup, on the other hand, is fairly inexpensive and easy to prepare “from scratch”. Using fresh vegetables and herbs, your own soup is likely to be tastier, higher in vitamins, minerals and fiber and much lower in salt than canned soups or those made from a mix. (Check out the Sweet Potato Soup and Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup recipes in my new book. Both are great for Pesach.)
As for desserts, I suggest checking labels. Avoid cookies, cakes and candy containing hydrogenated fat and cottonseed oil.
Purchase a plain sponge cake and serve it with fruit for an elegant dessert. A piece of plain dark chocolate is preferable to most of the sugar and fat-laden candy available during the holiday. There are many Pesach recipes for cookies made with ground nuts and eggs. Italian-style macaroon recipes usually can be adapted as well.
As for desserts, I suggest checking labels. Avoid cookies, cakes and candy containing hydrogenated fat and cottonseed oil.
Purchase a plain sponge cake and serve it with fruit for an elegant dessert. A piece of plain dark chocolate is preferable to most of the sugar and fat-laden candy available during the holiday. There are many Pesach recipes for cookies made with ground nuts and eggs. Italian-style macaroon recipes usually can be adapted as well.
Here is an easy and delicious brownie recipe:
Passover Brownies
Ingredients
¾ cup walnut or canola oil
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 eggs
1¾ cups sugar
1 cup matzah cake meal
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup prepared hot coffee
½ cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (180 degrees Centigrade)
Lightly oil a 9 x 13" baking pan.
Whisk together the oil and cocoa until smooth. Set aside.
Beat the eggs and sugar together until frothy. Mix in the oil and cocoa mixture,
cake meal, salt, coffee and walnuts, if using.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick
comes out clean.
Yields: approximately 24 brownies
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