KosherBuzz

Freezer Food Labels

We have found an “Ah Ha” use for office file labels. That would be freezer labeling. Yes, we took a sheet of address labels – used an indelible marker, actually a Sharpie, and started labeling those look–alike container foods and bags in our freezer. This seems to be a great alternative to tearing and writing on freezer tape, as we previously did, or writing and re-writing on freezer containers and disposable freezer bags,   Peel–off removable address labels work best! Do not try to print them because the ink will run; at least it did in our test. If you want something “fancier”, consider Martha Stewart food labels from Avery. But for us, the latter is best for gifting and the former for frugal freezer storage. How do YOU label freezer foods? Do share! And, what information do you include on your labels?

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The Titanic and Kosher

The sinking of the Titanic, 100 years ago, effected families throughout the world..so many losses for so many people. In fact, many of the passengers on the Titanic were Jewish, and some were kosher. We found this interesting article sharing information about the kosher food service on the ship. There were separate utensils, a rabbinical inspector and a chef named Charles Kennell.

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Leftovers –Treasure or Trash

Sounds like a quiz show ...but it is actually a food dilemma that we face almost every week, and especially at holidays. What to do with leftovers? Should we eat them? Freeze them? Refrigerate them? or Toss them?  KosherEye has found a website to solve this problem – get the answers for thousands of items at Still Tasty,Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide.

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Matzo Ball Video

Here are some Tips & Tricks for making light, fluffy matzo balls at Passover and year round from Leah Schapira., Watch the video, get the recipe below. Leah is co-founder of Cookkosher.com and the author of  Fresh & Easy Kosher Cooking.  

Matzo Balls
Recipe by www.Cookkosher.com

Ingredients:
6 Eggs
1 cup Oil
1 cup Water
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 pinch Salt and Pepper
18 oz (or 500 gram) Matzo Meal Fine

Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients with a fork. Adding the matzo meal gradually until the mixture is thick but not too hard. Add more matzo meal if too soft.

2. Let harden in fridge for an hour.

3. With wet hands form into about 60 balls and drop into boiling water or boiling soup. Boil for 15 minutes.

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"Mission Immatzoble" Passover Song by Mama Doni

Cleaning, Cooking – Watch while you work! This video is fun for the entire family!

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Pink Slime and the Kosher Market

Our readers have asked us to research whether pink slime is an issue in the kosher meat industry- so we asked two experts. Their answers follow: From Jack Silberstein, Jack’s Gourmet Pink slime is not used in any of the products produced in our facility. We at Jack’s Gourmet use only whole muscle meat in our production.

As for Kosher in general, I can say with certainty that most if not all kosher processors are NOT using pink slime in their ground beef. In general, it would be up to each meat processor and butcher as to whether they use it in their products. After making several inquiries, it does not seem as though pink slime is even available in the kosher market. You can tell your readers to rest easy on this issue.

From June Hersh, The Kosher Carnivore:
I had done a little research on it and found an article that discussed the pink slime relative to kosher. McDonald's as an example in Israel does not have pink slime as the meat is 100% kosher certified and contains no additives.  Here's what they said:

“Referring to kosher meat, and this can apply to a great extent to “halal” certified meat for Muslims as well, a certain degree of cleanliness is practiced; which most likely would not involve using meat scraps from the floors of slaughterhouses. These meat scraps are what pink slime is based on, as previously reported.” http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/03/pink-slime-mcdonalds/

Statement from OU Kosher: Kosher ground beef is made out of the kosher pieces of meat, trimmed by hand. No mechanically separated beef or pink slime is used in any OU-certified production.

KosherEye will continue to pursue news on pink slime as it relates to the Kosher meat industry. We hope that it is a non–issue.

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Passover Coloring Page

From our friend Ann D. Koffsky — illustrator and children's book author — another delightful creation, a Passover Coloring page for the kids. Just print the page and let your "little" artists create a masterpiece; they will have such fun! While you are visiting Ann's website, please browse and view her wonderful Judaic art work. 

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KosherEye Passover Tips, Links & Information 2012

Have a Passover question? Want to know some tips for shopping for less? We have it!  Passover Tips, Links & Information.

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KosherEye Passover Links & Tips

Have a Passover question? Want to know some tips for shopping for less? We have it!

Passover for Less Tips: (Consult with your Rabbi)

•  Heinz wine vinegar, Heinz garlic wine vinegar certified OU-P (certification must appear)

•  Coffee any plain, unflavored beans; grinder must be clean. Instant requires certification

•  Any dishwashing soap

•  Pure frozen concentrate orange juice- any

•  Frozen fruit-acceptable if not sweetened or cooked, and contains no additives

•  Raw Pecan halves or wholes are acceptable without Passover certification. Also, other raw nuts that are not blanched or roasted and free of bha/bht are also acceptable

•  Kirkland and Trident salmon – OU (no special Passover certification necessary)

•  Quinoa – Some Rabbis allow its use on Passover and some Rabbis don't.  This year it has been found that a lot of the quinoa available has been processed in facilities that process grains. We have been advised  that it only be purchased from Bolivia (where they commonly do not process it with grains.) Ancient Harvest brand, lot code 3.01.14 k, sold in small retail 12 oz boxes. When ordering directly from them, mention that you want the Passover run. http://www.quinoa.net/; (310) 217-8125.  It should be checked thoroughly by hand for grains before Passover. Check with your Rabbi.

•  Soaps – any

•  Styrofoam - any

•  Real lemon in bottle – OU (no special Passover certification necessary)

•  Tea bags – any unflavored

•  Bigelow, many varieties

•  White sugar – any without additives, Brown sugar must have Passover certification

•  Make your own vanilla sugar Make your own noodles Make your own stawberry jam -- sugar, lemon, strawberries

•  Baking soda -all kosher without certification

•  Extra virgin olive oil – all kosher without certification

•  Cocoa –any 100% pure no additives such as Hershey's

Here is a convenient link to the three top kashruth sites for answers: CRC Passover 2011 Guide, Star-K Passover 2011 Guide and OU Passover 2011 Guide.

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Kosher Apps

Is it kosher? App: A new App for iPad and mobile devices, shares lists of kosher fish, animals and sushi. This app educates and informs consumers as to whether an animal is considered inherently kosher. Kosher preparation, certification and kosher slaughter (shechita) of course would be necessary for kashrut. This app is handy for “kosher on the go” consumers and shoppers as a first step toward understanding kosher. This app is priced at .99. iTunes.

OU Kosher App: The OU has introduced an App to search the kosher status of all OU products for Passover and year-round. The free app is available for download for iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, and Androids at the OU website or directly from ITunes

Kosher Cookbook App: Kudos to KosherEye friend Gloria Kobrin for her kosher recipe app, the Kosher Cookbbook. This app is priced at $1.99 and available for iPhone and iPad and available for download from iTunes.