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Off to Market Recap: Seder Plate

partysugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:13:11 -0700

Passover began this weekend and one of the important customs is a Seder dinner. Whether it's a traditional or modern soirée, most people will want to include a Seder plate. The Seder plate holds seven symbolic items that retell the story of the Exodus. To help everyone find the perfect plate, you headed off to market. You looked for a spectacular Seder plate and bookmarked your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Seder Plate. The colorful star plate seen here is recommended by sonnabobble. I love how it's conventional, but not too serious. For more Seder plates, browse the collection below.

Passover Side: Passover Pasta Primavera

YumSugar — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:33:33 -0700

If you're looking for a great side dish for your Seder dinner, then give this Passover Pasta Primavera a try. In this April's issue of Gourmet magazine, Melissa Roberts uses matzo cake meal to create thin strips of pasta. Accompanied by a medley of great veg, it's a dish that everyone can enjoy. To get the recipe,

Yummy Links: From Alton Brown to Pinkberry

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:23:33 -0700

Alton Brown talks about his next big career move. — Chow
Remember the award winning peanut butter cookies? Here they are recreated from scratch. — Baking Bites
Or, if you're wondering what it tastes like when you make them exactly like suggested, see what other folks have to say. — Cookie Madness
Check out this healthy tip for packing salads for a week. — FitSugar
Learn how to effectively warm bread in the microwave. — The Kitchn
Discover these fabulous tea finds. — Simply Stated
One dish, two meals. Make double dinners with half the effort. — iVillage
Looking for more Passover dessert ideas? — The Food Section
Get the 411 on building and planting your own planter box. — CasaSugar
It only took three years, but Pinkberry is officially "frozen yogurt." — Eater LA

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Come Party With Me: Passover — The Look

partysugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:28:19 -0700

Use tones of blue, white, and silver for the look of your Passover Seder dinner. To bring focus to the table, cover it with a gorgeous silver cloth. For each place setting, use navy blue placemats and white, blue, and silver fine china. Pour the ceremonial wine in to elegant crystal wine goblets. Don't forget to set four glasses for each setting. A sleek silver bowl is perfect for the traditional washing of the hands. The most important part of the ritual is the Seder plate so place yours where all the guests can admire it. Finish off the look with blue and white candles and fresh flowers. Since songs are sung throughout the meal, harmonicas are festive and fun party favors.

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Come Party With Me: Passover — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:27:19 -0700

Wine plays an important part of the Passover dinner known as the Seder. According to the tradition of the Haggadah — the book you read throughout the meal — one is supposed to drink four glasses of wine, which should be kosher. Besides kosher wine, offer guests sparkling or still water. If you prefer to serve a signature cocktail — steer clear of alcohol made from grains — and use a plum brandy or potato vodka.

To check out my Kosher wine recommendations,

Come Party With Me: Passover — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:13:33 -0700

Although it's traditionally standard to serve macaroons and matzo brei at a Seder, why not shake up the customs and make a decadently modern dessert?

This chocolate torte is one hundred percent Passover friendly because it is made with nuts and matzo cake meal instead of flour or baking soda. The scrumptious fudge glaze is made using a popular vegan technique that combines nuts with water to create a milk like substitute.

To get the recipe for an extravagant finish to an elegant dinner, please

Name That Dish!

partysugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:03:33 -0700

Although its usually served on the Jewish Sabbath, I can't serve the traditional version of the dish pictured below at my Seder dinner because it features a product made from flour. Do you know what this dish is called?

Come Party With Me: Passover — Menu

partysugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:23:51 -0700

At a traditional Seder dinner, no flour products are consumed, so my menu consists of flavorful and delicious dishes that are Passover friendly. To start things off create a cheese display with matzo crackers and cured olives. Once guests have had time to mingle, ask everyone to join you at the table. Serve a parsley, radicchio, and napa cabbage salad with lemon vinaigrette as the first course. For the main dish offer guests heaping plates of melt in your mouth brisket and scrumptious vegetables.

Fried artichokes — with crisp outsides and tender centers — are a nice compliment to the juicy brisket. If you are interested in looking at the recipes, please

Off to Market: Seder Plate

partysugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:18:59 -0700

Passover is just around the corner, and I know many of you are busily planning a Seder dinner. Whether it's a traditional or modern soirée, you will most likely want to include a Seder plate. The Seder plate holds seven symbolic items that retell the story of the Exodus. Let's head off to market in search of a spectacular Seder plate. Bookmark the plates in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Seder Plate. I'm looking forward to seeing what you find!

Get more info on bookmarking when you read geeksugar's informative article. To check out a list of my favorite online shops,

Come Party With Me: Passover — Invite

partysugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:19:19 -0700

Passover starts this Saturday at sunset and along with it comes the most important celebration of the holiday, the Seder dinner. The Seder is a traditional gathering in which friends and family come together to commemorate the Exodus and freedom of the Israelite Jews from ancient Egypt. At the dinner, a strict diet — no foods with yeast or baking powder — is followed and many dishes have significant, symbolic meanings. All this week, I'll provide you with tips to make the most magnificent Seder dinner. To get things started, I've made a simple but elegant invite; to see how I did it,

Yummy Links: From Eating Games to Mangoes

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:29:31 -0700

Be sure you check out the video trailer for Major League Eating: The Game. — Serious Eats
Learn how to make chocolate caramel matzo crunch in time for Passover. — The Kitchn
You probably don't want to know, but just in case, here are the most fattening foods of Spring. — FitSugar
What do you know, grapeseed oil is the new olive oil. — iVillage Supermarket Guru
Wonder how Yelp manages to maintain their warm fuzzy feeling? Maybe it's because they close rabble rousers' accounts. — Eater SF
Discover six reasons to love the mango. — Simply Stated

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Yummy Links: From Whoopie Pies to Thomas Keller

YumSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:26:51 -0700

Forget cupcakes, whoopie pies are going to be big. — Serious Eats

Will there be a shortage of matzo snacks this Passover? — Grub Street
Don't spend money on fancy colored sugars, make your own instead. — The Kitchn
Get some tips on how to entertain on a budget. — Simply Stated
What are the top 10 cookies of all time? — iVillage
Is your kitchen making you fat? — FitSugar
Thomas Keller discusses failure, future and film. — Eater SF

Passover Pics

partysugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:58:49 -0700

Although I wasn't lucky enough to attend this Seder dinner that one of GeekSugar's friend's hosted on Monday night to celebrate Passover, I was ecstatic when she sent me the beautiful pictures. Isn't the table setting absolutely gorgeous?? I love the alluring gold plates and the Moroccan inspired glasses. Do you have elegant table scape or cool centerpiece photos from your last party? Share them with me in my Super Special Occasions group on TeamSugar. I regularly post my party pics and would love to see what amazing looks you are putting together at your own events.

To check out the rest of the images from the Seder dinner join the Super Special Occasions group or

Flourless Chocolate Cake For Passover

partysugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:28:12 -0700

Every baker needs a good flourless chocolate cake recipe in the repertoire and I found this delicious sounding dessert just in time for Passover. Flour is one of the ingredients that are strictly forbidden during the 8 days of Passover so creating a divine dessert for a Seder feast can seem a little daunting. However, flourless cakes have become very popular in the last few years and are easy to make. You won't even notice the flour is missing (when do you really notice the flour in a cake anyway?) when this cake is topped with a creamy chocolate frosting and fresh blackberry sauce. Want to wow your family with this cake? Well then

Come Party With Me: Passover - The Look & Music

partysugar — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:19:41 -0700

After the meal, the most important aspect of your Passover dinner is the table you will gather around to eat on. The meal is so traditional that I think a modern, chic, table adorned with a simple candle and flower scheme is the key. A beautiful set table will make the dinner feel more like a celebration and get guests in the mood for some delicious food. To get inspired by my decor ideas that include soft glowing lighting, smooth soulful music,

Passover Side: Cauliflower-Leek Kugel With Almond-Herb Crust

partysugar — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:08:52 -0700

In honor of Passover starting on Monday, I thought a classic Jewish side would be appropriately timely. Kugel is generally served as a side dish on the Jewish Sabbath and is a baked pudding that can consist of potatoes, noodles, meat, or vegetables. The ingredients vary and a sweet version with raisins and spices is an equally delicious dessert. This kugel is a vegetarian, Kosher-friendly side that can be paired with brisket, lamb, or turkey for the traditional Seder dinner. Cauliflower serves as a pleasant, less starchy alternative to potatoes and the almond herb crust packs a special crispiness and flavorful bit to the topping. Already have your menu planned for Passover? Save this recipe for Hanukkah because it can be prepared in advance and feeds a crowd. To take a look at the components and instructions,

Come Party With Me: Passover - Menu (Dessert)

partysugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:11:11 -0700

No meal is complete without dessert, right? And just because flour, baking soda, and the like is not allowed as an ingredient in the Passover meal, doesn't mean you can't make a divine dessert spread. Macaroons are one of the most popular Passover treats today and I like to offer guests a choice of either almond (it's FitSugar's recipe!) or fudgy coconut. Normally a breakfast treat, matzo brei a cinnamon and sugary like pancake, will round out the dessert menu. For the macaroon recipes and DearSugar's favorite part of the Passover, matzo brei,

Come Party With Me: Passover - Menu (2nd Course)

partysugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:59:13 -0700

Today I'm planning you a perfect Passover meal complete with matzo, haroset, and all of the traditional fixings. During the first 2 nights of the 8 day celebration, the religious Seder dinner is typically practiced by the Jews to commemorate the Israelites escape from Egypt. Usually the dinner begins with a telling of this story, a reading from the Haggadah that is long and allows the guests to build up an appetite for the main course. When the narration is finished reward guests for their patience with hearty braised lamb shanks and a mixed lettuce salad with hard boiled eggs (to represent the symbol of mourning for the destroyed Temple). For these succulent recipes,

Come Party With Me: Passover - Menu (1st Course)

partysugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:58:19 -0700

Passover, the Jewish religion's biggest food holiday starts this Monday night with the traditional Seder dinner. To aide you in your celebration I've come up with a wonderful menu based on the customary foods of the Seder. To start things off serve a few dishes that will please guests with their accordance to the traditions of Passover and their flavor packed deliciousness. Matzo, the cracker like flat-bread is incorporated into a classic soup, the haroset's sweetness mirrors the sweetness of freedom, and the maror - or bitter herbs that represent the sorrow of slavery - is seen in the green horseradish sauce that is paired with the fish cakes (gefilte fish). For the recipes,

Come Party With Me: Passover - Part 1

partysugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:13:15 -0700

Next Monday night marks the first night of the eight day Jewish celebration, Passover (or Pesach as it is referred to in Hebrew). The traditional dinner known as the Seder usually takes place the first two evenings. DearSugar's lovely mom gave me a crash course in the strictly followed rules of the feast which celebrates the Exodus and freedom of the Israelite Jews from ancient Egypt. The Seder is similar to Thanksgiving with its importance of family custom and generations of tradition and one is supposed to walk away feeling as if they've been brought out of bondage and into freedom. Eating leavened foods (those that contain yeast or baking soda) is severely forbidden while foods that represent the bounty of spring (lamb, herbs, wine, egg, fruit, nuts, honey) are considered sacred. The meal begins with a reading from the Haggadah which is the narration of the Exodus and continues with the Seder plate. To see my invitation suggestions and the significance of each portion of the Seder,

Just in Time for Passover: Real Sugar Coke

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:12:48 -0700

We don't drink much soda in our household, it's not that we're better than soda or anything, it's just that we don't really like it (although we have been known to keep a few bottles of root beer & ginger ale for when the mood strikes). My boyfriend especially hates on it, he really just doesn't enjoy it. Which is why it surprised me when we were at a little taqueria and he ordered a Coke. I asked him why and he said, "I like Mexican Coke sometimes. It tastes way better than American Coke." It was surprising to hear him say, but it's definitely true, you see, Mexican Coke is made with real sugar cane and American Coke is made with high-fructose corn syrup.

So how do you get real coke without importing it from Mexico? Well if you're lucky enough to find it, it seems that the Coca-Cola company makes Coke with real sugar for Passover (so it can be deemed kosher). You'll be able to identify these bottles by their brightly colored yellow tops, as well as the kosher symbol on the cap. And if you find them (they're only available in major metropolitan areas with large Jewish populations), you might want to stock up, they're only in stores for a few weeks.

Which leaves me wondering this, I know it costs more, but why can't we have real sugar coke all year round?

Note: Apparently there is also kosher Sprite and Pepsi as well, and all of this is most commonly found in 2-liter bottles, although there have been rumors of a highly-coveted canned variety.

Source: BuzzFeed and Off the Broiler