Kosher News

Don’t miss the most anticipated Jewish music event of the year.  Jewish Star singing competition Live finals.  8 Singers, but only one winner.  Also featuring Jewish star junior competition.  Hosted by Country Yossi with judges Avraham Fried, Yossi Green, Eli Gerstner, and Mendy Pellin.  Takes place Monday, March 19th at 7:30 pm at Brooklyn College.  Get your tickets now.

Meet the judges

Meet the contestants

Sunday morning the realization hit me. PASSOVER IS COMING! But hey, no need to panic – we have you covered. Everything from recipes and menus to crafts and tips and tricks – Click to view our Ultimate Passover Guide.

Jamie shared her Greatest Hits for Passover  - her favorite recipes. My mouth is already watering!

I have you covered with day by day Passover Prep.

We have your tips for Food Storage safety  from Rochelle Rothman.

Tamar brought us 4 great recipes for Passover Salads and Starters.

Ronnie Fein brought us a great salad of bitter greens with 4 dressings!

We have Passover wine recommendations from Dalton Winery.

Reyna Simnegar tells us all about a Persian Pesach.

AROUND THE WEB:

Sweet Potato Fries with Basil Salt and Lemon Garlic Dipping Sauce. I love any kind of fries, but ones that are healthier than the traditional? A winner in my book!

Don’t these rainbow cupcakes look almost too pretty to eat?

I have fallen in love with this blog’s pictorial style – but what a great idea – Ratatouille on bread. With cream cheese. Must be tried.

Guinness Irish Onion Soup. I can almost smell it simmering in my kitchen. Melinda made some this week – follow the recipe for some deliciousness of your own.

Fresh Avocado Crema With Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Pesto and Homemade Blue Corn Tortilla Chips - Anything avocado gets my attention plus there is a poem too!

Have a great weekend!

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 cookware, storage jars and blenders.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Pfaltzgraff: Seaside Dinnerware Set, 34 Piece, Service for 8 with Serving Bowl and Platter. Price: $179.99 Sale $99.99. This 34 Piece Seaside Dinnerware Set sweeps you away to the sunny shores of the beach. The shell and starfish pattern borrows the color palette of the sun, sand, and sea to create a warm look for your tabletop. 34 piece set, service for 8, includes 8 each of: 10-3/4 inch dinner plate, 7-1/2 inch salad plate, 16 ounce soup/cereal bowl, and 14 ounce mug, plus a 1 quart vegetable bowl and 13-1/2 inch long x 10 inch wide oval platter. Microwave and dishwasher safe.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Housewares Deals: Pedrini® Passione Nonstick Red Fry Pan Set. Reduced from $39 to $19. Deal ends midnight tonight. This Pedrini Passione Nonstick Red Fry Pan Set is ideal for all daily frying prep needs. Crafted from durable aluminum for quick and even heat distribution, the frying pans feature ‘Stay-Cool’ comfort grip handles and a nonstick coating that provides superior food release and easy clean-up. The soft nylon head on the slotted turner is ideal to use on the nonstick cookware. 3 piece set includes one 8 inch fry pan, one 12 inch fry pan, and one slotted turner. Dishwasher safe.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Abes of Maine: Cuisinart 77-10 – Chef’s Class Stainless 10 Piece Cookware Set. $112.99. Sautéing wild salmon and stirring a perfect risotto take on spiritual dimensions with this classic Cuisinart cookware. Made of professional quality 18/10 stainless steel that won’t react with acidic foods, the pots and pans in this set feature solid cast handles, tight-fitting lids with drip-free rims, and a mirror finish that retains its brightness through dishwasher, freezer, broiler, and oven use up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. For superior, even heating, an aluminum disk is encapsulated between two layers of stainless steel in each base. The set includes: 8- and 10-inch skillets, 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans, 3-1/2-quart covered sauté pan, and a 8-quart covered stockpot. Cuisinart covers the set with a limited lifetime warranty.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Deal Genius: 2 Flip Lid Jars – Drain Store & Serve Juice Fruit. Retail price $20.00 Your price: $7.99. Deal Ends Midnight Tonight. Serving pickles at parties used to leave you with two options: 1. Serve them in a separate bowl you have to clean later and 2. Serve them in their own juice. But, with this set of 2 Flip Lid Jars, it’s easy to store and serve without the mess!
Each Flip Lid Jar features two chambers separated by a unique drain tube. Simply open the lid, place food and juice in the larger chamber, and seal the lid closed. Then, store in the fridge with the lid side down. When you’re ready to serve, just flip the jar over and open the lid! During storage juice and food are together in the same chamber, maintaining moisture and flavor saturation. When flipped and served, the juice drains to the lower chamber leaving fresh delicious morsels on top.
Flip Lid Jars are perfect for pickles, olives, fruits, and more! They’re great for serving healthy snacks, or for storing goodies for later. Flip it… flip it good, with the is set of 2 Flip Lid Jars!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Macy’s: KitchenAid KSB560 Blender, 5 Speed. $129.99. With smooth color selections, unique contours and unsurpassed power, this polycarbonate jar blender is the clear choice for all your needs. Built for continual blending, the patented razor-sharp stainless steel blades whirl until the job is done. Hassle-free one-year replacement warranty.
Pitcher is dishwasher safe
One-piece construction means no need to remove blade for cleaning
Clean-touch control pad features intelli-speed controls that let you easily customize your blending job
Spacious 56-ounce, shatter-resistant pitcher
Durable die-cast metal base with steel reinforced coupler
120 volts, 0.9 horsepower motor

Passover is coming and we need all the help we can get.  I don’t know why I seem to forget everything from year to year and even what I do remember seems to change. There are some products that don’t require a special Passover designation, like Extra Virgin Olive Oil and certain cocoa powders.  It is hard to keep it all straight.

OU Kosher is here to help.  They know that Passover is the most complex holiday on the Jewish calendar, with rules and customs — not to mention preparation — that require expertise challenging even the most knowledgeable families.   But they are doing everything they can to help.  OU Kosher’s special website, www.oupassover.org, is up and running for the seventh year.  The website highlights articles on kashering for Passover; purging of utensils; and hints for Passover cleaning.  Most important, it has a searchable guide of all their Kosher for Passover products.  I have already found this guide extremely helpful as I search for coconut milk that I can’t believe does not seem to be available.  (I am going to show you all how to make your own soon).

In addition, OU Kosher has moved into social media.  You can head over to facebook or twitter and ask your Passover and Kosher questions there where I am sure many can benefit from the information as well.

The other major kashering organizations have guides as well.  Check out the OK’s site and their list of Kosher for Passover products with their Passover guide.  And the Star K has their 2012 Passover list that can be downloaded.  COR (of Canada) came out with their guide for you to download.

JoyofKosher.com has all your recipes and menu ideas as well as crafts, decoratoins, cleaning tips and so on, but when it comes to the nitty gritty of kosher laws we turn to the experts.  Here’s to making our lives a little bit easier this Pesach!

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 storage containers and cookbooks.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! West Elm: EGG CUPS. $4.00 – $5.00 SPECIAL $2.00 – $3.00. Put your eggs on a pedestal. In fun shapes and styles, these porcelain Egg Cups put breakfast on display. They also double as small serving pieces for jellybeans and candies.
• Porcelain.
• Available in two shapes and sizes.
• Dishwasher safe.
• Imported.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Target: Rubbermaid 34 Pc Easy Find Lids Set. $15.00 online price (reg:$19.99). Never lose a lid again with this 34-piece set of food storage containers with easy-find lids by Rubbermaid. These storage containers are made from plastic and snap together to make finding a lid easy in any cupboard.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Jewpon: Only $23.99 for the Popular Spice & Spirit Passover Cookbook from Kehot Publication Society ($28.99 Value)!!! Plus FREE Shipping!! Cooking for Pesach can be tricky. Is there really any hope beyond the standard chicken and potatoes? We’re here to tell you there’s lots of hope – more than 300 recipes’ worth! The Spice & Spirit Passover Cookbook is filled with recipes that conform to the highest standards of Pesach observance. You’ll get everything from Pesach basics to recipes fit for a gourmet, and it’s all in an easy-to-read, easy-to-use format.
But Spice & Spirit has more for you than the recipes. You’ll also find a practical guide to the halachot and minhagim of Pesach; new, easy-to-follow charts; explanations of chametz, matzah, candle-lighting, and more; and a step-by-step guide to preparing and understanding the seder.
Make this one-of-a-kind cookbook part of your Pesach culinary collection today!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Groupon: $15 for Red, White, Stemless, or All-Purpose Glassware Sets ($32 Value).For 129 years, Ravenscroft’s glass artisans have been handcrafting crystal glassware in time-tested designs. Each set’s lead-free glasses are fashioned into an elegant shape that accentuates the flavor and aroma of fine wines and beer. Delicate, spacious bordeaux and chardonnay glasses are set atop elegant pulled stems to prevent hands from tampering with wine temperatures and to establish a higher center of gravity for tablecloth-pulling tricks. Stemless and all-purpose glassware, ideal for wine, beer, or non-grown-up beverages, withstand frequent use and the rough and tumble reality of standard dishwashers.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Woot: Lock & Lock 18pc Nestable Set. $12.99. Designed nesting and horizontal stacking, these containers save space, protect your food, and streamline your cabinets, countertops, and more. These airtight containers keep food fresher longer.
No more messes in your lunch box, refrigerator, or freezer—these containers are all leak proof as well
Go from refrigerator to tabletop with clean and attractive designs
The locking system provides equal pressure on all four sides of the hollow silicone seal ensuring air and water tightness
These containers have passed the KEMTI bending test:
- The container and the wing were fixed to the bending test machine and bent 3,000,000 times 80 degrees left to right
- If the container were to be used 10 times a day, it could be used for 821 years
Patented Blocking Hole System:
- Lids feature four side flaps or “wings” that are hinged and slightly flared at the end for an easy grip when opening
- Lids come with holes (rectangular-shaped openings) that line up with matching knobs on the base of the containers, making it easy to latch the lid to the base, locking it into place
- Weld line does not form around the hinge piece
- Hinge is designed to be short in length to prevent stiffness when opening and closing
- This patented blocking hole system maintains the integrity of the lid and helps promote an easy, tightly locked container
Special Silicone:
- In addition to its blocking hole system, these containers feature a blue hollow-center silicon ring in the lid that helps create an airtight, leak-proof seal
- Generic silicon with a solid center doesn’t compress as well and doesn’t have the same restorative power as hollow-center silicon, which means an inferior seal
- Lock & Lock’s hollow-center silicon seal delivers superior compression and restoration power that helps ensure an airtight seal
Permeability:
- Food freshness test is determined by how much moisture permeates containers
- Test results show Lock & Lock containers allow in 3,000 – 6,000 times less moisture than other containers, making them far more airtight
Excellent Airtight Seal:
- Lock & Lock airtight containers passed the leakage test
- Their four-sided locking system makes an airtight seal possible due to equal pressure on all four sides and the hollow-center silicone sealing ring
Earth and family friendly these are all BPA free
Microwave (reheating only), freezer, and top rack dishwasher safe
Durable and semi-transparent body makes it easy to use and clean
Material: Polypropylene
Set includes 9 containers with matching lids

There has been a lot in the media lately about pink slime. I had never heard about it until recently – and what I read has turned my stomach. Basically pink slime is an ammonia treated filler – the ammonia is used to kill E-coli bacteria – used in conjunction with ground beef.

According to the Huffington Post  pink slime is “also known as mechanically-separated meat (or, when made by Beef Products Inc., “Boneless Beef Lean Trimmings”). This ammonia-treated scrap meat — the same one some fast food giants recently phased out — has been widely used since the early 1990s, is reportedly present in 70 percent of all ground beef products, and is a staple in school cafeterias (seven million pounds (!) are expected to be served in school lunches across the country over the next few months).”

Fox news  says :

The company that sells ground beef treated with ammonia proclaims their meat mixture is good for America’s schoolchildren, even though parents across the country are seriously questioning the safety of what has been dubbed “pink slime.”

Beef Products Inc. (BPI) made the declaration about its “lean finely textured beef” or LFTB over the weekend to The Daily, which broke the news that the federal government plans to buy ground beef that contains 7 million pounds of the product in the coming year. After the report, “pink slime” became the most searched topic on the internet.

“Including LFTB in the national school lunch program’s beef products accomplishes three important goals on behalf of 32 million kids,” BPI spokesman Rich Jochum said. “It 1) improves the nutritional profile, 2) increases the safety of the products and 3) meets the budget parameters that allow the school lunch program to feed kids nationwide every day.”

It appears to me that kosher meat would not contain pink slime, however I am waiting to hear back from the Orthodox Union for a definitive answer. I will update as soon as I have heard.

For further reading:

Wikipedia
Huffington Post: Why Americans Are Angry About Pink Slime
ABC News: Is Pink Slime in the Beef at Your Grocery Store?
TLC: Pink Slime and Ammonia: Two Main Ingredients in Some Ground Beef

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 dishes, a deep fryer and chocolate coated matzah.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Housewares Deals: KitchenAid® 7 Piece Kitchen Tool Set. Reduced from $81 to $28! Deal ends Midnight tonight. This KitchenAid 7 Piece Kitchen Tool Set includes all the necessities for preparing, cooking, and serving delicious meals. The silicone tipped stainless steel tongs are heat resistant up to 500 degrees F and have a convenient locking mechanism for storage. The whisk has durable stainless steel wires. The nylon slotted turner, nylon slotted spoon, nylon ladle, and nylon short turner are all heat resistant up to 415 degrees F and safe for use with nonstick cookware. And the heavy-duty kitchen shears feature stainless steel blades and soft comfort grip handles. 7 piece set includes tongs, whisk, slotted turner, slotted spoon, ladle, short turner, and shears. All items are dishwasher safe.

Kohls: Bella Deep Fryer. sale $14.99 regular $39.99. Fast and easy fried foods. You’ll be cooking in no time with this Bella deep fryer.
Powerful 1000-watt heating element heats quickly for restaurant-quality results.
Front-control dial allows you to select the perfect frying temperature.
Viewing window lets you supervise cooking without opening the cover.
Heavy-duty mesh basket holds up to 1.2-liters of fish, fries and more.
Brushed stainless steel exterior complements any decor and remains cool to the touch.
Nonstick interior easily cleans.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Chefs Catalog: Vitamix CIA Professional Series Blender. Reduced from $600 to $495. Follow the leader in superior blending technology. Ordinary blenders can’t begin to approach the speed nor output of this extraordinary commercial quality blender. This multi-tasking, heavy-duty electric blender uses1380-watt power to chop vegetables, juice fruit, blend shakes, mix ice cream and create delectable sauces, dressings, vinaigrettes and much more easily with the touch of a button. Ordinary blenders jam or overheat, but with a 2-plus peak horsepower motor, 1-10 speeds, and a laser-cut stainless steel blade, this blender chops, grinds, minces, juices and crushes ice with smooth efficiency; even cooks soup! The oversized 64-oz. jar is made of durable copolyester – the same material used in airplane windows. Blender cleans easily without removing blade. Jar fitted with a soft-touch handle. Instructional DVD and Recipes and Techniques from the CIA Master Chefs cookbook. UL* approved. Made in USA. Full 7-year warranty. 7 1/4″W x 8 3/4″D x 20″H.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! JDeal: Three boxes for $25 (a $37 value) or six boxes for $49 (a $69 value) or twelve boxes for $88 (a $127 value) of Kosher for Passover Parve Dark Chocolate Matzel Toff! (shipping included).  We’ve all had our share of matzah covered in butter, cream cheese or jam…which never quite hits the spot. Matzel Toff! is the matzah make-over you’ve been waiting for – using only the finest ingredients to enrobe Streit’s matzah in mouth-watering toffee and rich chocolate. This delectable gourmet treat has won the hearts – and taste buds! – of everyone who has indulged in its scrumptious flavor, including Joan Hamburg, Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray, who’ve highlighted Matzel Toff! as a Passover favorite.
Certified Kof-K Kosher and kosher for Passover, Parve Dark Chocolate Matzel Toff! makes the perfect Seder host/hostess gift, ideal family treat, present for a friend, or anytime indulgence for yourself – keep a stash to munch on to make the eight day chametz-free holiday a bit more bearable.
With this jdeal, buy three boxes of kosher for Passover Parve Dark Chocolate Matzel Toff! for $25 (a $37 value) or six boxes of kosher for Passover Parve Dark Chocolate Matzel Toff! for $49 (a $69 value) or twelve boxes of kosher for Passover Parve Dark Chocolate Matzel Toff! for $88 (a $127 value) and shipping is included. Each box is 7 oz and contains 2 bars of Matzel Toff. Each bar is a half sheet of Streit’s Matzah enrobed in mouth-watering toffee and rich dark chocolate.
Plus – if you buy the 12 box option, you’ll receive a bonus of Matzel Bits with your order!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Mikasa: Connections Black/Platinum 40 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 8. Regular Price: $519.99 Sale $199.99. This Mikasa Connections Black/Platinum 40 Piece Set is a masterful marriage between quality and design. Each piece is gracefully detailed with a black and gunmetal rim that stylishly contrasts the high-gloss white bone china. 40 piece set, service for 8, includes 8 each of: 11 inch dinner plate, 8-1/2 inch salad plate, 8-1/2 inch soup bowl, 6 ounce teacup, and 6-1/2 inch saucer. Hand wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.

We used to eat a lot of red meat in our house – meatballs, and steak, hamburgers and brisket. With four hungry boys to feed, it seemed meat was the perfect way to feed their empty bellies. Now we limit our red meat intake to holidays and special occasions. It wasn’t just a financial decision, it was a health-based decision too. It seems that eating red meat often just is not good for our overall health. I always knew that it was linked to heart issues, but excessive consumption can also lead to cancer!

A new study, published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine, has concluded that eating red meat increases death from cancer and heart disease. The more red meat one eats, the bigger the risk. The  study followed over 120,000 women and men over a 26 year period. In that time, over 23,000 people involved in the study died, almost 6,000 of them from heart disease, and over 9,400 from cancer.

The study also found that people who ate red meat regularly were less inclined to work out, more likely to smoke, and were heavier than those who did not partake of red meat on a regular basis. Researchers found that a daily increase of 3 ounces of red meat was associated with a 12% greater risk of dying – 16% of those deaths due to heart issues and 10% due to cancer.

The researchers estimated that the deaths would have been less – 9.3 % less in men and 7.6% less for the women – if those studied had only eaten half the red meat that was reported.

The study’s author, Dr Frank B. Hu who is a professor of medicine at Harvard said “When you have these numbers in front of you, it’s pretty staggering.”

How often do you eat red meat? Is this study going to change the way you think about red meat, will it encourage you to cut down on your consumption?

Source:

NYTimes 

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 iced beverage cups, whisks and a coffeemaker.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Pfaltzgraff: Naturewood 45 Piece Flatware Set, Service for 8. Our Price: $89.99 On Sale for $49.99!!  Our Naturewood flatware is 18/0, 3.0-4.0 gauge stainless steel. This 45 piece set, service for eight includes 8 each of: dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon and teaspoon, plus a 5 piece serving set, which includes 1 each of: tablespoon, pierced tablespoon, cold meat fork, butter knife and sugar spoon. The Naturewood flatware is dishwasher safe and goes great with our Pfaltzgraff Naturewood dinnerware collection. The botanical theme of Naturewood is carried through on the handles of this flatware. Each piece has unique satin finished wood grain detailing.

STOCK UP FOR SUMMER!! Housewares: Design for Living® Set of 6 Double Walled Iced Beverage Cups with Straws. Reduced from $40 to $17. Deals ends midnight tonight. This Design for Living Set of 6 Double Walled Iced Beverage Cups with Straws features double-walled construction that reduces condensation while keeping drinks cooler longer. Each cup has a secure screw-on top and drinking straw to help prevent messes when you¿re on the go. Cups are reusable, food safe, and BPA-free. Made of Tritan plastic. Each cup holds 16 ounces. Set of 6 cups with lids and straws includes 2 each in orange, blue, and green. Dishwasher safe.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!!  Jdeal: $69.98 for bundle of four holiday cookbooks for Passover from Gefen Publishing, including free shipping (worth $110). Four is a magic number on Passover: 4 sons, 4 questions, 4 cups–and now 4 holiday cookbooks for Passover! Buy this deal for $69.98 and you’ll get four holiday cookbooks worth $110.
You’ll receive these great titles:
1- Entertaining on the Jewish Holidays: A comprehensive, entertaining sourcebook with original, distinctive ideas on how to emphasize the symbolism of holidays.
2-Passover Cakes: 40 imaginative and delicious recipes suitable for Passover.
3-Seder Traditions & Cooking Around World: A food guide that presents the cultural and traditional heritage of Passover in many various communities.
4-Jewish Holiday Cakes: a Kosher cookbook with more than 70 cake recipes.
Buy this jdeal, and add these four books to your kitchen library. Every holiday meal will be a feast to remember.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! BuySpys: ChiCuisine Silicone Whisks- 2 Pack. RETAIL PRICE: $21.99 YOU SAVE: $15.00 YOUR PRICE: $6.99. FREE SHIPPING! Deal ends midnight tonight. 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-Degree so you can transfer the counter top to the stove-top.

Roast of the Day: Hamilton Beach® Programmable 12 Cup Coffeemaker. Price:$69.99 Sale Price $49.99!! Deal ends midnight tonight. Get this great little Hamilton Beach Coffee maker at a fabulous price. Great for any decor don’t miss out on the chance for a great brewer!
Stainless steel accents for classic kitchen style
Drip-free carafe
Programmable clock/timer
2 hour auto shutoff
Auto pause n serve
Nonstick keep-hot plate
Easy-view water window

Coca Cola and PepsiCo have long been looking to reduce the amount of calories in their sodas without sacrificing the taste. Both have started using sweeteners extracted from the Stevia plant that grows in South America. But they have started using these no calorie sweeteners on the smaller brands – not the big name sodas.

Coca Cola is now starting to produce Sprite and Nestea with Truvia (the name of the sweetener) and sugar. This reduces the calorie and sugar content by thirty percent.

Spokeswoman for Coca Cola, Crystal Warwell Walker, said that these new lower calorie beverages will be available in France as early as next week, and on sale in cafes, vending machines and grocery stores. There was no information given on whether we can expect to see similar products here in the USA.

France recently instituted a tax on sugared drinks – an idea that has been discussed in the US lately – but the Coca Cola spokesperson has said that this was not the impetus behind the decision to use sweeteners to lower sugar and calorie content. This move was to meet consumer’s wishes – “This is completely about variety and choice”.

The EU (European Union) had banned stevia but recently overturned that ban, and has allowed its use since last year.

Truvia was developed by Coca Cola and Cargill Inc, getting FDA approval in 2008. Coke has added Truvia since then to many of of its products, in seven countries.  PepsiCo uses PureVia, a stevia based sweetener manufactured by Merisant Co.

In the US, the top selling artificial sweetener is Splenda, followed by Truvia.

Do you use sweeteners instead of sugar in your cooking, or tea or coffee? Would you be more inclined to buy soda if you know it uses Stevia rather than sugar?

Source:

Wall Street Journal

This week we brought you a plethora of Purim posts. So many new ideas and fresh takes on the classics. I rounded up all our Purim posts and put them in one place for you to reference for next year. Of course we will have more Purim ideas and recipes then – but some of these will be perennial favorites.

Here are some other topics we covered this week:

Marna Becker brought us her Hummus recipe (top-secret no longer) and taught us all about this tasty dip.

Tamar taught us about Chia Seeds - Not just for growing pets!!

Our cooking school continues with tips and tricks for How to Poach the Perfect Egg.

Jessica taught us How to Make the Perfect Cocktail.

Stay tuned – we start our Passover coverage next week!!

Our favorites this week from around the web:

This looks so easy to make – a healthy chocolate dip made with greek yogurt and nutella. What could be bad??

Gingered Broccoli Puree – now this will definitely get me to eat my greens – hoping it would work for the kids too!!

I recently discovered kosher canned green chillies – I cannot wait to try out this recipe for White Bean Chicken with Green Chilies. Sounds divine!

I love risottos. It took me a while to make them the right consistency – but this Meyer Lemon Risotto is a definite addition to my list to make next week. It’s so elegant and I am sure it will taste so good.

I love the idea of Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Tori used lentils and sriracha sauce in this recipe instead of the meat. Healthy and yummy!

I don’t remember the last time that I saw somebody buy a soda without me judging them. Over the years, I’ve heard so many different reasons why not to drink soda: the sugar will rot your teeth, the chemicals in the food coloring are poisonous, and most particularly in relation to diet sodas, that the artificial sweetener will give you cancer.

However, even the recent findings of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) were quickly denounced. The CSPI argued that the amount of the chemical 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, present in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and their diet versions caused cancer in lab rats ad mice. 4-MI is a byproduct of the reaction that produces the caramel color of the drinks. Since these findings, the state of California has listed 4-MI as a carcinogen; any food or beverage containing enough of it that could cause cancer in as few as 1 in 100,000 people is illegal to sell.

The FDA was quick to denounce the notion that the amount of 4-MI present in cola would not be a threat to consumers’ health. Additionally, a biochemist from Vanderbilt University said that for a person’s cancer risk to increase from drinking cola, one would have to drink 1000 cans per day.

Nevertheless, drinking soda is still linked to higher instances of obesity and diabetes. So go easy with it.

CHAG SAMEACH!!!

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 hand blender, Le Creuset dinnerware and a Pesach Planner.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Jdeal: $26 for 48 Piece EZLock Lid Set, a $48 value, including Free Shipping – Choice of 3 lid colors! Buy this deal for $26 and you’ll get 48 EZ lock containers and lids from Lock & Lock, a $48 value.  Extremely durable, they are strong enough to withstand 110lb and can easily survive intact when your kids drop them on the floor one too many times. Due to its matching groove design on the bottom and lid, they also perfectly stack. Best of all, there are pink, green or blue lids, so you can choose whichever one coordinates best with your kitchenware. Better yet buy all 3 sets – one each for dairy, meat & parve!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Groupon: $34 for a Miallegro MiTutto 450-Watt Handheld Blender with Whisk and Chopper Attachments ($69.99 Value). The slip-free handle of Miallegro’s handheld MiTutto allows chefs precise control as they blend, whisk, and chop all with one device. A powerful 450-watt motor with 6 speeds powers an enclosed food processor chopper for safe dicing, a whisk attachment that froths in seconds, and blender blades that mix ingredients at the touch of a button. The MiTutto plugs into the wall via a 5-foot cord and hangs when not in use on an included wall mount or over the antlers of a moose sous chef.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! QVC: Technique 10-pc Hard Anodized Dishwasher Safe Set w/ColorSmart. Was: $154.00 Today’s Special Value Price: $127.20. Deal Ends Midnight Tonight EST. Cooking is an art–and what’s art without a little bit of color? This 10-piece set takes everything you love about our hard anodized cookware series–the high performance, versatility, and nonstick interior–and adds your choice of color to the interior and handles. Perfect for preparing mouthwatering meals for the whole family, this set has everything you need to get you cooking like a pro. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Not only do these pots and pans add flair to your kitchen, they’re also lined with a PFOA-free nonstick interior coating for easy food release. The metal utensil-safe interior means you’re free to flip, stir, and turn with any fork or spoon. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe, so cooking and cleaning is a breeze! Unsurpassed quality. The extremely durable, hard anodized aluminum construction–twice as hard as stainless steel–distributes heat evenly and stands up to anything you can dish out. Certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, this item meets the NSF minimum standards required for public health protection for cookware. So, put the fun into functional and get this cute, colorful set for your kitchen today!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Chefs Catalog: Le Creuset Dinnerware Set, 16 piece. Was $199.95 now $140!! Unmatched in strength and durability and renowned French design, this Le Creuset dinnerware set enriches the home dining experience. The palette of bold signature colors is a perfect match to Le Creuset porcelain-enameled bakeware and cast-iron cookware, coordinating beautifully on the table. High-fired at 2,192 F, this stoneware is resistant to chipping, cracking and staining, nonporous and impermeable for daily use. The 16-piece Le Creuset dinnerware set includes 4 of each: 12″ dinner plate, 10″ salad plate, 10 1/2″ soup bowl and 4″ mug. Elegant presentation for soup, salad, entree and beverage, this Le Creuset stoneware retains hot or cold temperature longer at the table. Distinctive French-inspired dinnerware is heirloom quality, timeless in style, to be handed down for generations. Scratch-resistant interior is metal-utensil safe. Legendary raised ring design provides an easy-hold grip. Oven-safe to 500 F and broiler-safe. Microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Jewpon: Get Organized & Relax! Only $15.50 for a Personal Pesach Planner from Kehot Publication Society ($18.50 Value)!!! Plus FREE Shipping!! Some of us start Pesach cleaning the day after Purim, and some of us start the week before Pesach. Then there are always the ones who start right after Chanukah…you know, the really neurotic types. But really, we’re all the same: If there’s one thing that makes a Jewish woman nervous, stressed, and frazzled…it’s making Pesach. This year, enter Pesach in a relaxed state of mind! It really is possible…if you get yourself organized and focused with a personal Pesach planner! This planner is the companion to the Spice & Spirit Kosher for Passover Cookbook. It includes detailed instructions and helpful tips on cleaning, cooking, and shopping for Pesach, along with sections on the special minhagim and halachot related to the holiday and the days preceding it. This innovative, easy-to-use guide features practical timetables and charts that will help you stick to a budget and get through your Yom Tov preparations in one piece. Also included are comprehensive shopping lists and checklists to help maintain focus and order. We know making Pesach isn’t cheap. But a book that can help you do it – and stay sane! – may just be the best Pesach investment you’ll ever make. Order through this Jewpon and save 16% off the regular price!

Remember last October how we all tuned in to see Paula Shoyer – the Kosher Baker – on Sweet Genius? I remember live tweeting her episode and being majorly disappointed that she didn’t win – because she totally deserved to (not that I am biased in any way, shape or form!)

Well, the new season starts Thursday, March 15th 2012 at 10pm ET/PT. Ron Ben-Israel is back as the judge, and each episode will have four pastry chef contestants fighting it out through three rounds of challenges judged by Ben-Israel. He throws surprise ingredients and curve balls along the way!  The winners from each round will advance for a final test, with Ben-Israel crowning the remaining chef Sweet Genius and receiving a $10,000 cash prize.

Over the thirteen-episode season, the chefs experience a myriad of new inspirations and ingredients, testing their pastry prowess. Whether it is making flamingo-inspired chocolate desserts with pink lemonade; creating candy desserts from rolled fruit snacks and shortbread cookies; or incorporating the inspiration of a music box to bake a cake using avocado and stinky cheese, each pastry chef will prove their imagination and skills worthy, but in the end, there can only be one Sweet Genius!

Will you be tuning in? What’s your favorite thing about the show? I love the creativity and ingenuity that some of the chefs demonstrate – even though they have to think so quickly on their feet. I doubt I would be able to do anything in such a high pressure environment. Would you?

Read our interview with Paula Shoyer who competed last season on Sweet Genius.

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 gluten free Pesach cookbook, dishes and Le Creuset cookware.

Deal Genius: 6pc Elemental Kitchen Home Magnetic Spice Jar / Shaker Set. Retail price $20.00 Your price: $9.99. Deal Ends Midnight tonight EST. Sure you could store your herbs and spices in their original retail jars, but when that couple that you really want to one-up comes over, your kitchen becomes a battleground of cool. This 6pc Elemental Kitchen Magnetic Spice Jar Set lets you know what spices are where, and it looks great while doing it! Not content to just classing up the kitchen a bit, this 6 pc set of spice jars is functional and easy. Each jar magnetically links to another. This keeps each jar with the others, which cuts down on lost spices and saves time that would otherwise be spent searching. Three of the jars included have direct-open tops for storing herbs and spices that can’t be shaken out while the other three jars have shake tops, making them perfect for chili powder, curry powder, garlic powder, and even salt or pepper! These jars are clear, making it simple to tell what’s in where, they refill fast, and they clean easily. Upgrade that spice rack; get your set of 6 Elemental Kitchen Magnetic Spice Jar Set today!

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Chefs Catalog: Le Creuset 9-Piece Cookware Set. Reduced from $715 to $429.95!! The mainstay of French chefs for nearly a century, Le Creuset cookware features bold and bright colors in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit any culinary need. Ideal for marinating, baking, roasting, serving and storing anything from meats and vegetables to soups and desserts.
Product Features:
• Highest quality porcelain enamel coating is impermeable to odors and stains
• Superior conduction of heat promotes faster cooking times
• Even distribution and retention of heat ensures cookware stays hot longer
• Heavy, tight-fitting lids seal in moisture and flavors
Specifications:
• 3 1/2 Quart Round French Oven – Material: Enameled cast iron. 9 3/4″ Dia. x 6″H, 9 lbs.
• 1 1/4 Quart Precision Pour Sauce Pan – Material: Enameled cast iron. 6 1/4″ Dia. x 3 1/2″ H, 4 lbs.
• 9″ Skillet – Material: Enameled cast iron. 9″ Dia. x 1 1/2″H, 4 lbs., 1 3/8 Quart capacity
• 6 Quart Stockpot – Material: Enameled Steel. 9″ Dia., 4 lbs.
• 1 1/2-Quart Round Casserole – Material: Stoneware. 8 1/2″ Dia.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Pfatlzgraff: Farberware® 15 Piece Forged Natural Knife Block Set, Red. This Farberware 15 Piece Forged Natural Knife Block Set features high-carbon stainless steel blades that have been heat tempered for superior strength and durability. Each knife boasts a precision tapered ground blade that narrows gradually to an extremely sharp edge. Additionally, the durable, extra-wide safety bolster provides perfect balance and control. 15 piece set includes: 8 inch chef knife, 7 inch Santoku knife, 8 inch slicing knife, 5 inch Santoku knife, 5 inch utility knife, 3 inch paring knife, 6 steak knives, sharpening steel, universal shears, and storage block. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Jdeal: $15 for a ”Gluten Free Passover Cookbook” by Anne Luder, including free shipping (a $22.50 value). Chef Anne Luder has performed a Gluten Free Mitzvah, by creating The Gluten Free Passover Cookbook. Buy this jdeal for $15, and you’ll get this $22.50 Gluten Free Passover Cookbook by Anne Luder from www.GlutenFreeMatzo.com, and a myriad of tasty recipes for Passover. Gluten, shmuten- this book was written to make a delicious Passover meals, not just a “delicious-for-a-gluten-free-Passover-meal”. Chef Anne Luder shares over 90 recipes that follow the Ashkenazi tradition. Luder has even, where possible, offered nut-free variations and vegetarian/vegan alternatives, so every guest can be accommodated and satisfied. Many of the recipes are adaptations of her family’s traditional recipes, like Tangy vegetarian lasagne, Passover puff rolls, or Chicken with a Coconut Crust. Finish up with a delicious dessert like Pumpkin Kugel with Apple and Raisins or Chestnut Chocolate Custard Pots and every relative at your Seder will be delighted, and wanting more.

PERFECT FOR PASSOVER!! Oneida: Chef’s Palette Coupe 16 Piece Service for 4. Reduced from $140.00 to $59.99. his Chef’s Palette 16 Piece Service for 4 has gentle aesthetic details that accentuate your epicurean creations. The coupe silhouette gives this set a contemporary flair and provides added plating area. This set will enhance your table presentations.
Set Includes: 4 Dinner Plates, 4 Salad Plates, 4 Soup Bowls and 4 Mugs. Made of fine porcelain, warm white body color; Dishwasher and microwave safe; 3 Year No-Chip Warranty on place setting items.