I’m not a football fan, my favorite sport is eating.  When I found out that the Super Bowl is the 2nd biggest eating day after Thanksgiving, I realized I’m not the only one.  Besides the commercials, I show up for the Super Bowl for the food.  That is why I shared some great tips for a healthier party and tips for a great game from tailgater extraordinaire Elliot Chrem. Last year, our friend Ari Yokult shared his favorite game day recipes.

Did you know that there is a 25% increase in carrot eating on Super Bowl Sunday as compared to other Sundays?  The Wall Street Journal shared this statistic as well as the idea that healthy food makers “vie for a spot on game day”.  Yogurt makers want you to use their products in dips and what’s a party without guacamole?

How does it all break down?  You won’t believe the score!

100,000,000

  pounds of chicken wings

43,200,000

pounds of tortilla chips

45,800,000

  pounds potato chips

13,200,000

  pounds pretzels

71,400,000

pounds avocados

111,000,000

gallons beer

4,400,000

   pizza pies

Source: Wall Street Journal

??carrot bar graph – http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-9531082-carrot-bar-graph.php?st=7d45509

This has been a busy week – our new Joy of Kosher Magazine Purim Edition hit the news stands, Punxatawny Phil promised us six more weeks of winter, and we’re all preparing for the Superbowl. Here are some of our favorite features articles and some fun pieces we have seen around the web. Enjoy!

Jamie talked to us about fish swimming in the bathtub, and shared her favorite Gefilte Fish Recipes.

Our new Purim Magazine came out – click for a preview of great content and for chances to win great prizes!

Gloria Kobrin told us about her fascinating trip to Istanbul.

Tamar gave us some great tips for Cooking with Kids.

In anticipation of the Superbowl Tamar brings you some healthy recipes and Elliot Chrem gives tips for a Superbowl party to remember.

Our Favorites from Around the Web:

Continuing on the Superbowl theme, Miss Make shows us exactly how to make these adorable superbowl cupcakes.

The Kitchn.com shows us exactly how to make a cracker thin pizza crust - and it doesn’t seem to be that difficult at all. Try it – you’ll be surprised.

Simply Recipes brings us this delicious cheesy jalapeno pull bread. Delish!

Our friend Tori brings us a recipe for lemony saffron couscous along with a wonderful family history.

I just discovered the Love and Olive Oil blog and am in love with this cake. Red Wine Chocolate Cake – sounds perfect on so many levels! It can be made pareve if you make the right substitutions.

Mondays through Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST, we will showcase the best food / kitchen deals of the day. We hope you find them useful. We present to you today’s round up of deals from across the web – including a sandwich grill, a warming tray and a fabulous cooking demonstration with Levana!

Pfaltzgraff: Providence Sealed Canister Set of 3. Reduced from $59.99 to $39.99. Providence by Pfaltzgraff features beautifully modeled, faceted shapes with a creamy white finish to complement any kitchen decor. The lid’s tight-fitting plastic seals keep your food fresh making these stoneware canisters great for baking supplies, snacks, and even pet treats. 1, 1-1/2, and 2-1/2 quart sizes are included in the set. Dishwasher safe.

Jdeal: $45 for a cooking demo by Lévana Kirschenbaum, followed by a buffet dinner & a copy of The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen cookbook, a $70 value. Buy this jdeal for $45 and get a highly coveted spot at a Lévana Kirschenbaum Cooking Demo, followed by a delicious dinner featuring the savory dishes she created right before your eyes. And for good measure, you also get a copy of her latest masterpiece, The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen cookbook (paperback edition). (a $70 total value). Surely, the restauranteur/caterer/instructor of the famous restaurant knows a thing or two about whipping up a great meal. This two-hour class showcases Lévana’s culinary and interpersonal skills: She demonstrates step-by-step how easy it can be to prepare a nutritious gourmet meal while sharing stories, prep tips, essential kitchen tools and exotic ingredient sources. Food fanatics will leave class with a full recipe booklet, but the first-hand experience of Lévana’s expertise is better than any gift bag you’ve ever received. Unlike a recipe in a cookbook, you will have seen the finished product and tasted each dish before you even consider making it yourself. Want to know what side-dishes go best with a dish? Need to make substitutions for health reasons? Lévana will provide all this and more. You’ll find demos with Lévana so much more informative than any cookbook. Classes range from “Chocolate Fantasies” to the “Dining à Française”, and have included sessions like “Vegetarian Cuisine,” “Cooking with Tofu,” “Crepe Party” and “Cool Summer Cuisine.”

Bed Bath and Beyond: Bella Cucina Triple Buffet Server/Warming Tray. $29.99. Perfect for parties and gatherings, this stylish buffet server and warming tray offers convenience for your home entertaining. It includes three removable covered chafing dishes, each with a 2 1/2-quart capacity, that hold up to 20 servings of your favorite meats, pastas, side dishes, sauces, desserts and more. The base can be used as a stand alone warming tray to keep foods deliciously heated for hours. Also features variable heat controls and cool-touch handles.

1saleaday: Ninja Storm Food & Drink Blender With 400W Motor, 1-Touch Pulse, Quad-Blade and 40oz. Pitcher! Reduced from $119.99 to $19.99. Deal ends midnight tonight EST. With a 400 watt powerful motor, the Ninja Storm is ready for your food and drink blending needs. One-touch pulse control produces uniform cutting and ice-crushing on the Ninja Storm QB700. Quad-blade technology makes smoothies and minces, dices, chops, pulverizes and purees. An anti-spill lid assures no mess use and pouring of food and drink. A 40 ounce pitcher is the perfect size for making drinks or blending food and a non-slip base stays put while blending. Dishwasher safe, the blade, pitcher and lid can be cleaned on the top-rack of the dishwasher for easy cleanup after use.

Groupon: NFL Sandwich and Waffle Grill. $29 for an NFL Sandwich and Waffle Grill. Choose from 28 Teams. ($49.99 Value). The NFL Sandwich and Waffle Grill emblazons team logos across the face of fans’ favorite starchy sustenance. Pigskin-themed snacks sizzle in the grill, which browns paninis evenly thanks to a lock-down lid. The grill’s removable nonstick plates clean easily, and an indicator light alerts users when the appliance reaches optimal cooking temperature or gets flagged for pass interference.

This past Tuesday, January 31, Newt Gingrich’s campaign released a Robocall in Florida in an attempt to smear Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. The focus of the attack: a restriction on food. The New York Post reported last Friday about an old bill from 2003 that Romney had vetoed while he was serving as governor of Massachusetts. The bill was proposed at a time when the recession was hitting hardest and nursing homes were contemplating closing down their kosher kitchens to save money. The bill was not actually to eliminate the option of kosher food for the observant Jews in nursing homes; rather to bus in kosher food from an outside location, and save the cost of running a separate kosher kitchen. The vetoed bill did not force Holocaust survivors to eat non-kosher food for the first times in their lives, as Gingrich claimed. The facilities actually kept their kosher kitchens, and no one lost their food options. Gingrich publicized this while campaigning in Florida in an attempt to gain the vote of the elderly Jewish community.

What amazed me the most about this news report was how many different sources published articles about it—The Huffington Post, the New York Post, www.downloadpolitics.com, and Fox News, for a small sampling. Was it the fact that one candidate was trying to hurt another’s campaign, and this is exciting gossip to cling to? Did this veto go against something Romney had previously said to the public? Or was the fact that he was potentially restricting Jews from eating the only food they can eat according to their religious convictions so appalling to the masses that it received this strong of a backlash? In my opinion, the answer is the latter. Food is so central in people’s lives that the notion of restricting one’s access to food could seem criminal, and to an opponent like Gingrich, is the perfect target point for an attack. This just goes to show the force that food holds over our lives.

Sources:

Huffington Post 

VNN Forum 

Punxatawney Phil saw his shadow this morning and that means, according to popular legend, that we have six more weeks of winter. To help you through the chilly weeks to come I bring you some great soup and stew recipes to warm you up.

Soup:

Italian Vegetable Soup with Cheese Bread

Moroccan Vegetable Soup

Hearty and Heart-Healthy Idaho® Potato Soup/Stew

Baked Potato Soup

Chicken Gumbo Soup

Sweet and Sour Beef Cabbage Soup

Click for more Soup Recipes.

Stew:

Veal Stew with Apricots and Prunes

Southern Brunswick Stew 

Quick Mushroom and White Bean Stew

Hungarian Beef Goulash 

Indian Spiced Eggplant Cauliflower Stew 

Ratatouille La Casablancaise 

Click for more Stew Recipes.

Mondays through Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST, we will showcase the best food / kitchen deals of the day. We hope you find them useful. We present to you today’s round up of deals from across the web – including a toaster oven, a pressure cooker and a pasta cooking set.

Walmart: Better Homes and Gardens 5-Piece Cast Iron Cookware Set. Reduced from $139.97 to $79.00. Enameled cast iron construction makes the Better Homes and Gardens 5-piece red cast iron cookware set ideal for cooking a wide range of recipes and a durable choice for years of use. The Dutch oven is perfect for preparing your family’s favorite soups, stews and pastas, while the braiser is designed for cooking meats, rice dishes and more. The beautifully finished pieces can go from the stovetop or oven right to the table, and the cast iron retains heat beautifully to keep foods warm for serving. Developed in the famous Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen.

Macy’s: Black & Decker Toaster Oven, 4 Slice. Reduced from $44.99 to $29.99. A marvelous countertop multi-tasker, this toaster oven from Black & Decker takes care of those smaller servings — perfectly browned toast, crisp personal pizzas and much more — with space-saving efficiency.

Housewares Deals: Pedrini® 4 Piece Prep and Cook Pasta Set. Reduced from $80 to $45. Deal ends at Midnight tonight EST. This Pedrini 4 Piece Prep and Cook Pasta Set includes all the necessities for making your own fresh pasta meals. The hard dough roller takes on all the preliminary work with your homemade pasta. The large ravioli cutter cuts and seals ravioli squares with one swift motion, while the small pasta cutter lets you create a variety of different pastas. The stainless steel Dutch oven is perfect for slow cooking, and features a molded spout for quick and simple draining of cooking liquids when your meal is done, plus a glass lid so you can monitor your pasta as you cook it. 4 piece set includes hard dough roller, large square ravioli cutter, small pasta cutter, and 5 quart Dutch oven. Dishwasher safe.

Amazon: J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Synergy 13-Piece Knife Block Set. Reduced from $116 to $59.63. Henckels’s International line offers affordable cutlery from one of the world’s most renowned knife manufacturers. A great value for a novice cook, this 13-piece set contains the following: 2-3/4-inch paring knife, 6-inch utility knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 5-1/2-inch boning knife, six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, 9-inch sharpening steel, and a graphite-painted storage block. Formed of contoured, almost cushy santoprene, the handles are handsomely-backed with brushed stainless steel for added leverage and a sleek, contemporary look. Fine Edge Synergy knives are constructed of stamped German stainless steel with hand-honed blades that can be resharpened (unlike the company’s Everedge knives that have identical handles but micro-serrated edges). The molded handles are quite comfortable and resist breakage, and the full-tang blades slice and chop with ease. All the pieces store in the included graphite-painted wood block. Made in China, the cutlery is dishwasher-safe yet best washed and dried by hand. A lifetime warranty applies.

Midnight Box: Cooks Essentials 5qt Oval Pressure Cooker (Black). Reduced from $199.99 to $34.95 plus $3.95 shipping. Deal ends midnight tonight EST. Homemade meals now made easy! With this amazingly affordable Cook’s Essentials oval pressure cooker, you can prepare quick, tasty, no-hassle dinners without taking a big bite out of your budget. It’s how fast food should be. If you frequently pick up burgers or pizza for dinner because you’re short on time, this pressure cooker is your quick-and-easy meal solution. Depending on what you’re making and the pressure required to cook it, this smart vessel prepares foods up to three times faster than regular cooking without heating up the entire house. And, its oval shape and 5-quart capacity make it perfect for preparing larger roasts and chickens. Now you can treat the family to a home-cooked meal and have time to sit and enjoy it with them, too. Seal in the goodness. Because the pressure cooker prepares foods in a sealed environment, flavor and moisture get locked in. Even less-expensive cuts of meat will come out tender, juicy, and delicious. Trying to eat a little healthier? This pressure cooker also helps lock in the nutrients. Plus, the sealed vessel cooks foods in their own natural juices, virtually eliminating the need for added fats and oils. Easy cleanup. The removable interior pan has a DuPont nonstick coating for easy food release. It’s dishwasher safe just throw it in to wash and you’re done for the day!

It used to that veggie burgers, or any type of fake meat, really tasted like they were soy, or tofu, or bean burgers. They didn’t taste anything like the meat burgers or hot dogs that they were trying to mimic.

With vegetarianism on the rise, the companies that produce these meat substitutes are looking to produce burgers and hot dogs that closely taste like the real thing. They are mainly targeting a group of people called “flexitarians” – those who are mostly vegetarian but sometimes eat meat.

The companies are aware that if their products are going to be successful then they have to really rival or come close to the taste of the regular meat products. Many people who do cut back on meat have cravings for something meaty, something as filling as a beef burger. Some fake burgers just do not cut it!

Online there is a Meatless Monday theme floating around, encouraging people to give up meat products for at least one night a week.

According to a study of data from the US Agriculture Department by Len Steiner, a Manchester NH economic consultant, the average American will eat 10.4% less meat this year than in 2007.

Most veggie burgers and meat substitutes on the market are easier and quicker to prepare, and are convenient. If the fake meat producers can manage to produce foods that taste like real meat, their sales will go through the roof. Some consumers are concerned at the amount of additives in these products, so totally natural meat substitutes would also be a wonderful marketing opportunity.

Nutritional information per one soy veggie burger.

Calories:   120
Fat:  3 g
Carbohydrates: 15 g
Cholesterol:  0 mg
Sodium:  390 mg
Protein:  10 g
Sugars: 2 g

Nutritional Information per one beef burger.

Calories:   240
Fat:  17 g
Carbohydrates:   0 g
Cholesterol:  80 mg
Sodium:  66 mg
Protein:  12 g
Sugars:  0 g

Click for Veggie Burger Recipes

What do you look for in your meat substitutes? Does your family eat them? Let us know in the comments.

Sources:

WSJ 

We are very excited to announce the winners today of the first annual Best of Kosher awards, an online contest recognizing the best of kosher in ten exciting categories, as voted by visitors to JoyofKosher.com.  Click on each category to see all the nominees.

And the Best of Kosher 2011 winners are:

Best Kosher Restaurant – Pardes in Brooklyn, NY
Best Kosher Chef – Chef David Kolotkin
Best New Kosher Cookbook (2011) – Feed Me Bubbe
Best New Kosher Product – Jack’s Gourmet Jamaican Style Jerk Sausages
Best Kosher Food Blog – Kosher Camembert
Best Kosher Supermarket – Pomegranate
Best Kosher Winery – Terra di Seta
Best Passover Resort – Hyatt Regency Valencia
Best Kosher Catering Company – Beth Torah Glatt Kosher Caterers
Best Kosher B&B/Hotel – Pardes Rimonim B&B of Venice Italy

Winners will also be announced in the February issue of Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller.

Note: Due to voting irregularities, we did a recount to authenticate votes and determined the winners.

Mondays through Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST, we will showcase the best food / kitchen deals of the day. We hope you find them useful. We present to you today’s round up of deals from across the web – including a KitchenAid, coffee maker and storage set.

Chefs Catalog: Emile Henry Classic Lasagna Pan, 2.5-quart. Reduced from $52 to $12 – assorted colors. Designed in France with superior shock-resistant, the Emile Henry lasagna dish is hard-glazed to resist cracks, scratches and discoloration. Mouth-watering classics like lasagna and brownies bake up effortlessly in this 12″ x 8.5″ Emile Henry Classics Lasagna Dish, giving you confidence to create everything from dill roasted salmon and moussaka to cinnamon buns and tiramisu. Emile Henry’s exclusive Ceradon technology produces the ultra-durable ceramic bakeware that is hard-glazed to withstand crazing and color fading. The ideal casserole dish for bubbling macaroni and cheese, the baking dish is also a favorite for creamy fudge and wholesome fruit bars. Designed of high-fired natural Burgandy clay, the lasagna pan is unsurpassed in conducting and retaining heat and does not absorb odors or flavors. With its efficient thermal properties, the ovenware can go directly from freezer to a hot oven without countertop warm-up. Easy-grip, wide handles ensure safe handling. A cream interior and rich exterior color make the Emile Henry bakeware a stylish serving dish for any occasion. Safe for oven, broiler and microwave up to 500 F. Dishwasher-safe.

Amazon: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers. Reduced from $349.99 to $243.95. KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer is a substantial piece of equipment: 325 watts of mixing power make child’s play of creaming butter, kneading dough, and whipping cream. The kid in you will appreciate how quick and easy it is to mix up a batch of cookie dough. This model comes with three attachments: a flat beater for making batter, meat loaf, and all textures in-between; a wire whip for egg whites, mayonnaise, and more air-infused creations; and a hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs. All three are solidly constructed and easily secured to the beater shaft with a simple twist. This model also includes a pouring shield for guiding ingredients to their proper destination, and the bowl itself locks tight to the base. Standing about 15 inches high, jutting out a foot, and weighing more than a bowling ball, this stand mixer isn’t the sort of appliance you’ll wipe down and put away. Better to find a square foot of free counter space for easy access; besides, this machine is as pretty as it is rugged.

Woot: Kuhn Rikon 4-Piece Nonstick Knife Set. $14.99 plus $5 shipping. Any way you slice it, this patterned four-piece knife set is the best way to brighten up your kitchen! Four of the most popular blades, including a large chef’s knife, a utility knife, a paring knife, and a serrated paring knife, are on colorful display in your kitchen–adding a fun, decorative accent to your counter! Sure, these knives look cute, but can they get the job done? You betcha! Chop, mince, slice, and dice with high carbon Japanese stainless steel blades, which are treated with a nonstick coating to prevent food from sticking to the blade. For unbeatable control when cutting, count on the polypropylene handles to give you a solid, comfortable grip. And, when prep is over, just drop into the dishwasher for hassle-free care. The right knife for the job. The smaller size of the paring knife allows for greater control and easy handling, while the serrated paring knife is great for soft-skinned fruits, tomatoes, veggies, and smaller pieces of bread. The utility knife is your go-to tool for the kitchen, perfect for a variety of tasks. And, the chef’s knife is ideal for larger jobs with its sturdy yet lightweight design. Not to mention, the entire set comes with a display stand for the colorful display of all four knives.

Brylane Home: 90-Pc. Storage Set with Lids. Reduced from $39.99 to $19.99. Durable see-thru plastic containers with air-tight lids keep food fresh. In a range of sizes – from 3-oz. to 62 oz. – to accommodate every storage need. Includes 4-pc. measuring spoons and 6-pc. measuring cups. Microwave, freezer and top-rack dishwasher safe.

Overstock: DeLonghi kMix 5-cup Blue Drip Coffee Maker. Reduced from $129.95 to $96.29. The simple, iconic and stunning design of the De’Longhi kMix Coffee Maker will make a bold statement in any kitchen decor. Made of the highest quality materials, manufactured with expert craftsmanship and durable die-cast aluminum construction, this beautiful coffee maker will be in your kitchen for years to come. The 5-cup capacity coffee maker allows you to preheat your cups for best results with the integrated cup warmer. With a simple on/off switch, it has never been easier to make your favorite cup of coffee in the morning. And you never have to worry about turning off your coffee maker, with 2-hour automatic shut off, it does it for you.

You have gone out for a quiet romantic dinner with your partner to the expensive restaurant you have been dying to go to for months. When you get there, the maître d’ seats you at a lovely candlelit table for two and hands you your menus. As you stare into each other’s eyes and appreciate the break from screaming kids you hear the unmistakable tones of a cellphone ringing. It isn’t yours. You look around and you see plenty of other diners either speaking on their cellphones or texting away.

It is becoming increasingly common to see people using their cellphones at restaurants – to have conversations, to check email, to text, and (I am guilty if this) using the cellphone camera to tweet / facebook pictures of the food placed in front of the customer.

There are some restaurants that do have a no cellphone sign, while others actually keep all kinds of models of cellphone chargers ready for the customer’s use. Some customers will use their cellphones to Google the restaurant where they are to see reviews for ideas on what they should order.

Where does one draw the line? Is it socially acceptable to text while dining with friends or work colleagues? Should it be frowned upon when a business contact conducts a lengthy discussion over the phone while they are supposed to be having a lunch meeting with you? If one is eating alone is it ok to surf using your smartphone? Is it ever ok to have a phone conversation at the table in a restaurant?

Additionally, when the wait-staff want to take an order or serve a meal – should they work around the client, or interrupt the phone call? Are they able to fully serve a customer when that customer is on the phone throughout the duration of the meal?

I polled my Facebook audience for their thoughts:

Leah says: When I get an important call, I answer, say please hold on, excuse myself from the table, and handle it elsewhere. Out of earshot of other diners.

David: This is why cell phones have a silence function. Decorum suggests that answering a phone call while among a group is fine (be it in a restaurant, meeting, etc.) but one should quickly excuse oneself and seek out a reasonably isolated venue to continue the discussion.

Please let us know in the comments what you think about cellphone use in restaurants.

Source:

LA Times.

Mondays through Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST, we will showcase the best food / kitchen deals of the day. We hope you find them useful. We present to you today’s round up of deals from across the web – including steak knives, a kosher superbowl party and a wine accessories gift set.

BuySpys: ChiCuisine Silicone Whisks- 2 Pack. $5.99 reduced from $21.99. Available till midnight tonight EST. Chi Cuisine silicone whisks are must-have tools for any modern kitchen. Get both, the Bullet Whisk and the Miracle Whisk! The Bullet silicone whisk has a bulb-shaped head that’s perfect for beating eggs or blending batters and sauces. The innovative design of the Miracle silicone whisk is ideal for getting around the edges. No need to rest this whisk on the edge of a pan or bowl. It stands up straight for easy accessibility. Carefully crafted with today’s cook in mind, they speed up the mixing process while adding just the right amount of air for fluffier batters and custards. Made of silicone-coated wires, these whisks are dishwasher safe and heat resistant up to 400 degrees so you can transfer from the counter top to the stove-top.

Housewares Deals: 12 Piece Advantage Steak Knife Set. Was $58 Now $24! Deal ends midnight tonight EST. This Cuisinart 12 piece Advantage Steak Knife Set features superior, high-carbon stainless steel blades for precision and durability. These hollow-ground blades hold an extremely sharp edge. The triple riveted handle is ergonomically balanced for ease of use and stability. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.

jDeal: $199 for Mendy’s Superbowl Special – party for 10 ($283 value). All the ingredients for a winning Super Bowl Sunday can be in your possession with just one phone call. Mendy’s tackles the question of what to nosh on during game time by providing a winning Super Bowl meal for 10 fans for only $199 (30% savings off the regular price). Just in time for kick-off, you’ll get: A three-foot hero overstuffed with Mendy’s famous Pastrami, Turkey Breast and Salami, Three Dozen Hot & Spicy Fingers, Three Dozen Chicken Wings, Lettuce, Tomato, Cole Slaw, Pickles, Potato Salad and even an assorted cookie platter! Mendy’s scores extra points by throwing in the paper goods and condiments. With all this good food, you’ll surely have the home field advantage. Mendy’s scores a touchdown every time…and you can too when you buy this jdeal. Under the supervision of Orthodox Union (OU).

HSN: Mastrad Shears with Julienne Peeler and Swivel Peeler. Was $17.90 Now $5!! Make simple work out of ingredient preparation. The herb shears mince herbs in record time and also work well for cutting meat and mushrooms for salads and garnishing. Plus, the peelers give you 2 excellent options for peeling fruits and vegetables.

Groupon: Houdini Wine Accessories Gift Set. $25 for a Metrokane Houdini Wine-Accessories Gift Set with Opener, Sealer, and Aerator ($66 Value). Four Colors Available. Elegantly packaged Houdini wine-accessories gift sets add convenience and style to all stages of wine enjoyment from opening the bottle to storing leftovers. A Houdini foil cutter slices through bottle wrappings, eliminating the danger in using knives, scissors, or bucktoothed sharks to remove the foil. The Houdini corkscrew effortlessly pulls out bottle stoppers with no need for twisting. Pouring wine through the Houdini wine shower creates slender streams that cascade down the glass to pool, fully oxygenated, in seconds. Leftover wine or champagne can extend its shelf life with the Houdini sealer, which forms an airtight seal tight enough to preserve champagne bubbles and fits the mouth size of any bottle.

What is a Superfood? A superfood is considered to be a food that is rather nutritious and / or beneficial to health and overall wellness. They are full of nutrients that help to ward off illnesses and promote good health. They are generally high in antioxidants and other important nutrients.

Here are our top five picks:

Beans: All kinds of legumes – lentils, kidney beans, black beans and chickpeas – are excellent sources of protein, fiber and other essential nutrients, and can help reduce risk of heart disease. Click for Bean Recipes.

Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C. Not only can they lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, they also have anti-inflammatory qualities. They also are full of fiber which is essential in any diet. Click for Blueberry Recipes.

Dark Leafy Greens: These are low in calories and packed with fiber, vitamin B and beta-carotene. Examples: Spinach, Kale, Chard. Click for Spinach Recipes.

Fish: Consuming fish rich in Omega 3s help to lower the risk of heart disease, help with memory loss, and can ease arthritis. Look for salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel. Other sources of Omega 3 are: flax seeds and walnuts. Click for Fish Recipes.

Tomatoes: Lycopene is what makes tomatoes red. Lycopene has the highest antioxidant power, helping reduce the risk of several types of cancer. Click for Tomato Recipes.

Other superfoods to incorporate into your diet: Garlic, Nuts, Whole Grains, Soy, Cruciferous Vegetables such as Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Potatoes, Tea, Dark Chocolate, Yogurt, Eggs, Quinoa and Broccoli.

Sources:

Babble
WebMD

So happy it’s Friday – a nice weekend ahead of rest and relaxation. We’ve been working hard all week to bring you new content, recipes and menu ideas. Here’s a mini round up of some of the articles featured this week. To be kept more up to date sign up to receive our daily recipe and our weekly newsletter.

Jamie was stressed out this week and eating sweets to soothe herself – but she did get her children to eat salmon!

She’s also been playing around with challah dough this week, working out some new recipes for her new book.

Tamar posted her final Italy article – Italian Jewish Cooking. She has made Italy sound like a place I would love to visit on vacation. At least now I know where to eat.

Melissa Kay Apter gave us some delicious rugelach recipes – I always thought they were really difficult to make, but she makes it sound so easy.

If you didn’t use Tamar’s menu suggestions this week – they’re still good for next week. Tamar will be bringing you even more menu ideas weekly.

Click to read our recent Food Holiday Posts and the news items we have covered.

Jamie’s video this week shows us how to make individual berry cobblers - delicious!

Here are some interesting recipes we have seen around the web this week.

Cauliflower Gratin – Gluten Free! This picture stopped me in my tracks – so many different colors of cauliflower!

These 2 ingredient Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins are  a cinch to make, but look like you slaved over them!

Blanching is a great way to prepare cabbage - blanch, toss with butter and caraway seeds – simple, yet extremely flavorful.

When I saw these Toasted Marshmallow Oreo Krispies I knew I had to head in to the kitchen to whip up a batch. You should totally make these. Your kids will thank you.

Are you planning your Superbowl party? You must make this - Creamy Chipotle Butternut Dip. It’s perfect for your party and Gluten Free too!!

Mondays through Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST, we will showcase the best food / kitchen deals of the day. We hope you find them useful. We present to you today’s round up of deals from across the web – including knives, chopping boards and a lemon lime squeezer.

Housewares Deals: Sabatier® 6 Piece French Bolster Knife Set. Now $20, reduced from $51. Deal Ends at Midnight tonight EST.  This Sabatier 6 Piece French Bolster Knife Set is constructed of high-carbon stainless steel, with traditional triple riveted handles and blades ground to a precision taper for a durable and long-lasting cutting edge. The French bolster provides balance, stability, control and comfort. 6 piece set includes: 7 inch Santoku knife, 6 inch boning knife, 3-1/2 inch paring knife, 8 inch chef knife, 5-1/2 inch utility knife, and 3 inch paring knife.

1saleaday: 3 Pack: Core Bamboo Set of Natural Colored Small, Medium and Large Classic Cutting Boards! Reduced from $59.99 to $9.99. Deal Ends Midnight Tonight EST.From light prep work to slicing vegetables and meat for a big party the 3-Piece Bamboo Cutting Board Set from Core Home provides the right sized cutting board for the job. The bamboo cutting boards are handcrafted and will look great while protecting your counters. A carry handle on the board helps you carry it around the kitchen and the thin design stores easily in cupboards and drawers. Made from organically grown bamboo, the cutting boards provide a great surface for slicing and the knife friendly bamboo won’t leave you with a dull knife.

Macy’s: Tools of the Trade Basics Starter 12-Piece Cookware Set. Was $59.99 Now $39.99!! This 12-piece cookware set has everything you need to cook fantastic full meals. The polished stainless steel construction looks great and heats quickly and evenly for consistently impressive results. Glass lids allow you to monitor food as you cook, while phenolic handles stay cool for easy handling. Limited lifetime warranty. Set includes: 1- and 2-qt. covered saucepan, 6.5-qt. covered stock pot, 10″ covered fry pan, 8″ open fry pan and three nylon utensils: slotted spoon, spoon and pasta fork. Safe for electric, gas, induction and glass stoves. Oven safe up to 300 degrees. Dishwasher safe.

Jdeal: $40 for two boxes of PureFit Bars (30 bars total), with shipping included (an $80 value). Kosher-certified and vegan-approved PureFit nutrition bars from PureFit.com do not contain dairy, wheat, or gluten, and will not melt in their packaging. They each have 18 GRAMS of PROTEIN with no artificial ingredients, sugar alcohols or common allergens, including milk, wheat or gluten. Named “nutrition bar of the year” by BIKE Magazine, PureFit bars (in 5 very delicious flavors including Peanut Butter Crunch and Chocolate Brownie) will smooth your ride through every bump life throws you. The 40-30-30 ratio of carbohydrates, proteins & fats will have you doing a 180 when you reach for those unhealthy snacks. Get more out of you by putting more good in you. Feel satisfied, revived, and energized with today’s jdeal. Receive 30 delicious, nutritious PureFit bars for only $30, including shipping (normally $80!).

Moshells: Lemon Lime Squeezer. Retail Price: $11.99 Sale price: $4.29. Ideal for squeezing lemons and limes. Made of Aluminum. Easy to use and handle. Great for use in any kitchen or bar.

I feel like Amy and I are friends. Yes, we both do share a really good friend, Judy, who turned me onto Amy in the first place. But when you read her stuff and get the warm and fuzzies from her beautiful creations I think you’ll also feel like you’re friends with Amy. Amy’s first book is now available for pre order (it’s at the top of every list B&N, Amazon etc…) and I can’t wait to get my copy.

Sweet Designs, just like her Sweet Site will inspire you to no end. She’s actually a Sweets Stylist (to the stars) — is that the coolest thing ever? Now the question is how does she stay so skinny? While the book is not kosher per se, from following Amy I know there are so many recipes that are inherently kosher (Amy does keep a kosher home) and recipes that are easily adaptable so we can go ahead and recreate these in our kitchens. The book, her site, the picts will all make you smile.

Have you guys heard of her? Lawyer turned Baker! Will you be buying the book? Let me know in the comments.

Shout out and Mazel Tov to you, Amy. I am so excited for you!