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H is for Helicopter Preschool Craft

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 Letter H is for Helicopter craft made with craft sticks, cotton balls, colored paper and lots of glue! This craft works very well for H is for Help, too!

H is for helicopter preschool craft #kids #helicopter

The Letter H lesson in my preschool class last week was based on the word HELP. We learned about all sorts of ways people can get and give help. We studied first responders as well: firemen, police officers, life guards, crossing guards, doctors, nurses … we really worked H is for Help up one side and down the other.

I got a great book about helicopters – High Flying Helicopters (Amazing Machines) –  to read to my little students. We learned that helicopters are often used to rescue people and animals.  And, over the years I have read a great little story book to my kiddos called Elecopter!  It tells of an ELEPHANT HELICOPTER who rescues (helps) others.  Totally fun!

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥

 

Elecopter childrens book

I always read this book to my little ones on HELICOPTER day!  

 

 

Green toys helicopter toy #kids #ad

Quite by accident, I discovered that one of our classroom dads is an Army Chaplain. When she saw the photo of a big military helicopter carrying a heavy vehicle, little Miss E cried out “My daddy does that!”  That was a fun moment 🙂

To fill out the lesson we learned the simpler parts of the aircraft: cockpit, tail boom, tail fin, rotors and landing skids. And then we made this simple craft!

Lesson for children about helicopters with simple craft #preschool

H is for Helicopter Preschool Craft

Supplies

Light blue card stock

Colored paper: white, goldenrod or orange, red
Craft sticks
Cotton balls
Black marker
Glue sticks
White glue
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Lego helicopter set #toys #LEGO #ad
Directions
Label the blue card stock “H is for Helicopter” – optional
Print templates for the helicopter
Goldenrod or yellow paper for tail boom and body
White paper for the cockpit
Red paper for the tail fin
Cut out the parts
Glue the helicopter parts onto the blue card stock using glue stick.
Take two or three cotton balls and stretch them a little.
Glue stick them on for clouds.
Using white glue, paste one craft stick on for the first rotor blade.
Add a big blob of glue into the middle of that stick, making an “X”
Draw in the line connecting the rotor blade to the body of the helicopter.
Draw in the landing skids.
Done!
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Free Helicopter Craft Printables

Helicopter 1 – Tail Boom and Body

Helicopter 2 – Cockpit

Helicopter 3 – Tail Fin

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popsicle stick craft, kids crafts, Letter H lesson, H is for Help, preschool crafts
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Homemade Play Dough Is Now Easier Than Ever

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Microwave playdough
Making playdough is better than ever using the microwave. It is faster and easier, too.
I love making play dough. There is something fun about developing this colorful toy by yourself,  knowing that a child  you love will have hours of play ahead of him.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

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The classic playdough recipe, cooked on the stove, works great but it takes a lot of elbow-grease stirring and stirring. So, when I came across a recipe for MICROWAVE play dough, I had to give it a try.
Oh my goodness, is this so easy and the play dough turns out just as pliable and deeply colorful as ever. I won’t be making the old recipe again!
Little Quack Books

How To Make Play Dough In The Microwave

preschool, DIY play dough, play doh

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 generous T cooking oil
10-20 drops food coloring (neon is AMAZING!)
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/3 cup salt
*Bleached flour is whiter and gives you a truer color.
McCormicks Neon Food Coloring

Directions

Use a microwave-safe mixing bowl. This process takes about 5 minutes including prep.
Combine water, oil, food coloring and stir.
Add cream of tartar, and stir again.
Add salt, stir.
Gradually add flour and stir as you go along to prevent lumps.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds.
Stir.
Another 30 seconds.
Stir.
A third time, 30 seconds.
Stir.
A fourth time, 30 seconds.
Stir.
It will now be in a ball.
Let sit for 2 minutes.
Remove from bowl and put the play dough ball on a dinner plate to cool.*
Wrap cooled play dough in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
*I spray the plate with cooking spray to make it easily removable from the plate.
Do you have playdough tools for your kids to use?  Amazon has a variety of great PLAYDOUGH TOOL SETS to pick from! #ad
Tip: kids love using rolling pins, pretend knives and scissors and molds for making their playdough creations. Choose a set that has some of those tools in it. 


Playdough Ice Cream Kitchen

Enjoy!

All Purpose Bleached Flour
And then you can run the vacuum to clean the stray flour up!  LOL!!!
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Z is for Zoo Preschool Craft

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Z is for Zoo #preschool #craft

Our final day of preschool was filled with “last day” activities but, to my delight, we did manage to make room for this very fun activity for the Letter Z is for Zoo.

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥

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This book is a favorite of teachers – big fascinating ANIMAL book! 

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The day started out with a guessing game where everyone volunteered kinds of animals that THEY had seen in a zoo. I printed many photos of the likely candidates and, as the children shared, we displayed the corresponding picture.
Later that day, during craft time, we made our own little “zoo” with animals that can be seen through the bars of the cage. I wanted them to have something memorable for the letter Z to take home.

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Preschool Zoo Craft

 

zoo; zoo animals; jungle animals, preschool craft; kids crafts

 

Supplies

Zoo cage template* 
-free printable below-
Crayons
Scissors
Glue stick
Tape

Single Hole Punch
Pointy knife*
Laminator (optional)

Letter Z is for Zoo

*PARENTS: for safety please do the cutting of the window for the zoo yourselves…or at least start it… for your little one. I started in the corner of the window.  You can do all of the cutting or make that first cut and turn it over to your child, who should use the round-tipped child safe scissors, to complete it

 

Zoo animals?  Safari animals?  They come with a play mat.

Directions

  1. Print the template onto a piece of cardstock.
  2. Fold the cardstock in half with the “zoo” side showing.
  3. Cut out the square in the middle.
  4. Punch holes where the circles are.
  5. Glue pictures or stickers of animals on the part that you can see through the window.
  6. Color the outside of the zoo.
  7. String pipe cleaners from hole to holeacross the opening to make bars for the zoo cage.
  8. Scotch tape the zoo “closed” using small pieces of tape on each side.
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preschool, kids crafts, zoo, jungle animals, zoo animals
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Tip:  I had some animal stickers on hand. What I lacked were enough jungle animals to make this craft special. So, I made a page using clipart of tigers and elephants, plenty so that each student would have them for their zoo cage as well. I printed the animals on cardstock for durability and laminated them but laminating is not necessary for the success of the craft.

Tip: If you do not have animal stickers, you can use animal crackers!

 

animal crackers

 

 

Z is for Zoo preschool craft

Free Printables:
Zoo Cage
Zoo Animals

Safari Buddies Hand Puppets from Melissa and Doug

Safari Buddies Hand Puppets from Melissa & Doug      

Enjoy!

 

 

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Homemade Carrot Cake With White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

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Delicious Carrot Cake recipe with white chocolate cream cheese frosting #DucksnaRow #carrotcake #cake #recipes

Yes, it is a three-layer carrot cake. Yes, it does have cream cheese frosting. But look at what else it has: CHOCOLATE! The frosting is white CHOCOLATE cream cheese frosting. This dessert is an absolute eating adventure and does it look yummy!

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non stick round baking pan for cakes w parchment paper lift
Oh my goodness, take a look at the little trick in this picture!  And they include parchment paper with the pans, too!  Brilliant.

Carrot Cake With White Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients 

How to Make the Cake

2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup minus 2 teaspoons firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/4 cups canola or safflower oil, at room temperature
4 large eggs (3/4 cup or 6 fl oz), at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups (1 lb) firmly packed shredded carrots
1 cup raisins, tossed with 2 teaspoons flour
1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds (optional)

How to Make the Frosting

12 oz cream cheese, softened
6 tbsp (3/4 stick) butter, softened
1-1/2 Tablespoons crème fraiche or sour cream

A pinch of xanthan gum (optional)

xanthan gum package

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350° F

Line the bottoms of 3 round cake pans with parchment paper circles

and grease with butter. Set aside.

Cakes:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and cinnamon.
  • Sift the flour mixture onto a large piece of parchment.
  • In mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla on medium speed for 1 minute, or until well blended.
  • Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed for about 20 seconds, just until incorporated.
  • Add the carrots, half the raisins, and all of the nuts, if using, and beat for another 12 seconds.
  • Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a small offset spatula. Each will be just under half full.
  • Scatter the remaining raisins evenly on top of the batter in each pan. Use the back of a fork to push them gently into the batter.
  • Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean and the cakes spring back when pressed lightly in the centers. The cakes should just start to shrink from the sides of the pans.
Let the cakes cool in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a small metal spatula between the sides of the pans and the cakes, pressing firmly against the pans, and invert the cakes onto wire racks.
To prevent splitting, re-invert the cakes so that the tops are up. Cool completely.

Frosting:

  • Heat the white chocolate until almost completely melted.
  • Use the top of a double boiler set over hot, not simmering, water, stirring often – do not let the bottom of the container touch the water. OR, Use a small microwavable bowl, stirring with a silicone spatula every 15 seconds.
  • Remove the white chocolate from the heat and using a silicone spatula, stir until fully melted.
  • Allow to cool until it is no longer warm to the touch but is still fluid.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, process the cream cheese, butter, and crème fraiche for a few seconds until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides.
  • Add the cooled melted white chocolate and pulse it in a few times until it is smoothly incorporated.
  • If the frosting seems too soft to spread on the cake, you can put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up.

Assembly:

  • Spread a little of the frosting on a 9-inch cardboard round or serving plate.
  • Set one cake layer on the frosting smear. This will help keep the cake from sliding around.
  • Spread frosting over the top of the cake layer, stopping just before the edges.
  • Repeat with layers.
  • Frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.
  • Remove the paper slips from beneath the cake and discard.
Original Carrot Cake With White Chocolate Frosting Recipe Recipe found at Grandmothers Kitchen Recipes.     Reprinted with permission.

chocolate cake with blueberries

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Perfect Pecan Pie

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By far, pecan pie is my most favorite dessert. I love it slightly warmed with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum. When I saw this recipe on Grandmother’s Kitchen, I just had to share it with you. I have made this recipe myself and it is just “heavenly.” You will love it.

slice of pecan pie

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.♥

Divine Pecan Pie

Ingredients

1 (9″) deep dish pie shell
1/3 cup melted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup whole pecans

deep dish pie pan

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Directions

Preheat oven 350-degrees.
Blend melted butter, sugar, dark corn syrup, eggs, vanilla and kosher salt.
Once combined, add chopped pecans and whole pecans.
Pour this mixture into frozen pie shell. Put on cooking sheet.
Cook for about 25 minutes, rotate and bake another 20-25 minutes.

Let the pie cool down before serving.

Original Divine Pecan Pie Recipe Recipe found at Grandmothers Kitchen Recipes.

 

Enjoy!

K is for Kangaroo – Preschool Fun!

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K is for Kangaroo preschool fun!
Letter K preschool lessons have so many possibilities: key, kite, king. The obvious first-choice, in my opinion, is the ever-popular KANGAROO. These high-jumping creatures with their sweet faces are so fascinating, tickling the imaginations of youngsters of all ages.
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GUNDA Plush Kangaroo Toy with her little Joey in its pouch!

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Our K is for Kangaroo day in preschool this year was so much fun. We made a kangaroo craft, had a kangaroo treasure-hunt and heard some bouncy kangaroo stories, too.

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Kangaroo Craft for Kids

The craft pictured below is simple but targeted in its purpose: developing cutting skills.So many preschoolers enter kindergarten unable to use a pair of scissors. This problem is something I learned from an experienced Kindergarten teacher. Paula says it puts her class back at least 2 weeks until she can get everyone up to speed, if some of them come in unable to cut. So, one of my goals for my class was that by year-end they would be able to cut things with scissors well. We only have 28 classes per year (I teach home-schooling preschoolers just one day a week.) So, perhaps 10-15 of my lessons require some cutting.
  • First, the students colored their kangaroo, joey and pouch.
  • Next, cutting cutting cutting.
  • Finally, glue-stick three edges of the pouch, leaving the top open.
  • After a minute or two, slip the little joey inside!
Tip: Print an extra copy or two of the template just in case of a cutting disaster! The student can start over again (with your help.)
K is for Kangaroo craft for preschoolers #kidsactivities #preschool Ducks 'n a Row

 

Cami Kangaroo has too much stuff … even with a pouch!    

Adorable storybook about a kangaroo who needs some organizational skills.  4.4 on Goodreads.

Cami the Kangaroo has too much stuff book

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KANGAROO KIDS’ CRAFT

Alphabetical List of Marsupials

Gliders
Kangaroos
Koalas
Possums
Wallabies
Video: Baby Kangaroo Jumps out of Pouch

 

Calico Critters Stuffed Toys

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Easy Delicious Peach Pie Recipe

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When I entertain family and friends I love to make desserts from scratch. This year I have been in the mood to make a yummy peach pie.
First,  made a sour cream peach pie. It tasted great but I wasn’t able to show you a picture of the final product because the filling ran. It wasn’t pretty enough. Our family definitely loved it – this I know, because there wasn’t even a morsel left. Someone must have licked the bottom of the pan when I wasn’t looking–that’s how good it was.
I also made a delicious peach cobbler that was so easy we are sure to have it again real soon!

 

Delicious homemade peach pie with frozen peaches #pie #baking
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️

 

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In searching cookbooks for a different peach pie recipe, I found this easy delicious peach pie recipe with frozen peaches.  This is by far the best peach pie I have ever eaten and it is so easy to make. When you taste it, you will see what I mean. It tastes as if the peaches were just picked off the tree. A frozen peach recipe that tastes like fresh? A dessert lover’s dream come true!
So fastened on my apron and gave it another crack. This time I made a classic peach pie with tapioca, in hopes that I would get a great tasting, great LOOKING peach pie to photograph…and it worked! This pie tastes wonderful and it looks pretty, too! I started with the basic Pillsbury® recipe in my Pillsbury® cookbook with frozen peaches and made a couple of little tweaks.
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houndstooth pattern pie carrier
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Here it is:

Easy Peach Pie With Frozen Peaches Recipe 

Adapted from Pillsbury®
pie baking, peaches, easy desserts

Ingredients

7-8 cups frozen sliced peaches
1 ¼ cups sugar
¼ cup quick-cooking tapioca
¼ tsp. cornstarch
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1-2 T lemon juice* (optional)
1 box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
½ teaspoon flour
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peach pie, how to make a pie, pie crust tips
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Set of 2 Pretty White Ceramic Pie Plates for Baking 

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Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Thaw peaches (partially) according to package directions.
  • Combine peaches, sugar, tapioca, cornstarch, cinnamon and lemon juice* in a large mixing bowl. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, gently stirring once in a while.
  • Unroll the first pie crust on a clean flat surface.
  • Dust both sides lightly with flour; place in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate/pan, pressing it into place.
  • Spoon peach mixture into the crust-lined plate.
  • Press filling gently against sides and bottom.
  • Place the second crust on top and flute the edges.
  • Vent by cutting slits in several places.
  • Cover crust edge with strips of foil to prevent it from burning.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Remove foil.
  • Bake 20 to 30 minutes more or until golden brown.
  • Cool at least 2 hours.
  • Serve.
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easy desserts, peach pie, how to bake a peach pie

Tip about the lemon juice*: the peaches seemed tart enough to me so I left the lemon juice out. (Plus many of the comments online supported that decision.) The pie tasted absolutely great without but, next time, I will include the lemon juice. It will be even MORE delicious with that little extra zing.

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peach pie recipe with frozen peaches
You can use a complete pie crust for the top of this pie, or a lattice work crust.
I love the look!  
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How to make a lattice pie crust

 Easy peach pie made with frozen peaches - tastes like they were just picked off the tree! #yummy #recipes #desserts Share on X
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Wooden Rolling Pins for Pie Baking   

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More recipes you will surely love ♥ …

Peach Cobbler

Classic Apple Crisp Recipe

Enjoy!


Pyrex easy grab glass pie plate set of 2

Set of 2 clear glass Pyrex pie plates bakeware!

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Kosher Dairy Main Dishes – A Simple Guide To Jewish Foods

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Marrying into a Jewish family? Visiting some new Jewish friends? You’ve heard that there are some kinds of food that Orthodox Jews cannot eat and you don’t want to offend anybody but what is the proper etiquette?
Jewish holidays, Hannukah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year ,Purim
First, expect to love it…both the food and the people! Sure, it’s territory that is unknown to you but soon you will find yourself looking forward to the next opportunity to dine together! Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Purim, Passover, Hanukkah all come with delightful delicacies and lovely traditions to be enjoyed.
Jewish recipes are full of flavor and, for those who have not grown up with it, a bit of mystery. Some of the names are peculiar: knishe, knadel, challah, latkes, lokshenkugel, kuchen. And there are rules. Dietary laws, derived from Old Testament scripture, distinguish between what is “kosher” and what is not. Kosher means “OK” to eat. The rest is, well, not OK to eat.
One of the greatest rules to take note of is that a meal can have dairy in it but, if it does, no meat can be served. This may be news to you, if you are not Jewish. Don’t worry about the lack of meat or poultry at a dairy table. There are so many exciting meat-free dishes that you’ll hardly miss it.
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥
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What Foods Are Dairy

Foods that are considered to be “dairy” are any foods that have been derived from the milk of mammals:
  • Milk – includes all types of milk and cream
  • Cheese – including hard and soft cheeses, cottage cheese and cream cheese.
  • Butter – not margarine, which is a vegetable product
  • Sour Cream
  • Ice Cream, Ice Milk, Frozen Yogurt, Sherbet – sorbet is OK, it is made with water not dairy
  • Yogurt

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Jewish Words

As you are exploring the world of Jewish cooking, it is helpful to become familiar with the language.
  • Kosher: food that is acceptable to eat according to Jewish Dietary Law.
  • Pareve: the dish is neither meat nor dairy and, therefore, can be served at any meal.
  • Meat vs. Dairy: rule of thumb is that no meat or poultry can be served with dairy. Fish, eggs, grains, vegetables and fruit all can be part of a dairy or meat table.
  • Trayf (or traif): Yiddish* for “not Kosher”. Pork, seafood, certain birds (like crows), fish that do not have both fins and scales, and rodents are all “trayf”. They are never part of a Kosher recipe or to be eaten in the diet of a Jewish person. Never!
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What is Yiddish?

*”Yiddish” means “Jewish.”  It is a language that was spoken prior to World War II and the holocaust and with roots in High German .
Yiddish is still used richly today in day-to-day conversation by many of us, as it is so expressive! Just watch American TV and soon you will hear a Yiddish word: chutspah, maven, shlamiel and shlmaziel (ala Laverne & Shirley) and oy vey.
Sometimes Yiddish words are loving terms of endearment and, other times, as a backdoor insult, with a hint of humor on the side.
Resource: The Yiddish Handbook
Dinner / Lunch Entrees
Kugel is a delicious noodle casserole that can be presented as the main dish or a side. Noodles are not allowed at Passover because they contain yeast. (Yes, another rule!) For Passover, potato or matzo kugel can be served. Kugel Recipe: The Best Kugel Recipe
Lasagna is an Italian dish but there is nothing saying it can’t be part of a dairy table. Enjoy a variety of cheeses–ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella– and red sauce…just leave out the meat! Lasagna Recipe: Lasagna for Dairy Meals
Latkes are potato pancakes which are traditionally served at Hanukkah. This Jewish recipe tastes oh, so good with sour cream and applesauce for dipping. That’s why you’ll want to make your meal a dairy one.
Recipe for Potato Latkes: Latkes
Jewish food includes delicious breads, except on Passover where they eat unleavened bread

Hanukkah

What goes on a Hanukkah dairy table? Some families include bagels with cream cheese and lox, challah bread and butter, tuna salad and egg salad for the festivities but know that the latkes are definitely the main-fare. How much to make? Ten pounds of potatoes will make latkes enough for a very hungry party of 10-15 people.

Salmon, grilled or poached, makes a wonderful entrée for dinner. Add steamed asparagus, wild rice and a tossed salad to the menu and you have an elegant meal that anyone would be proud to serve!
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Yes, this southern comfort food is perfect for a Kosher dairy meal (except on Passover). This dish is great for main fare or as a side. Make a lot. It will go fast!
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Breakfast / Brunch Entrees

Vegetarian Breakfast Strata. Strata is a breakfast casserole primarily made with eggs, bread and cheese. It is layered, letting the eggs soak into the bread overnight and baked prior to serving. Though non-Jewish people add some form of sausage or ham to their stratas, to make it Kosher and dairy then make it vegetarian! Mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, olives or onion can be included to make your breakfast party a great success!
Strata Recipe: Overnight Asparagus Mushroom Strata
Breakfast Pizza. Serve a yummy breakfast pizza featuring eggs, cheeses and veggies! Everyone will love it. Breakfast Pizza
Recipe: Veggie Breakfast Pizza
Blintzes. Similar to crepes unleavened pancakes are cooked then rolled with various fillings, sweet or veggie. Sweet filling may be a cream cheese combination with a fruit topping. The word “blintz”, by the way, is Yiddish! Recipe: Cheese Blintzes

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Guide to Jewish Holidays

While enjoying these marvelous Jewish recipes, it’s helpful to have a little understanding of the special celebrations you will take part in.
Rosh Hashanah is the first of two High Holy Days on the Hebrew calendar. This holiday is the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and second day of Tishri. Rosh Hashanah is thought to be the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve.This important holiday is followed by 10 days of reflection called “the Days of Awe”.
Yom Kippur, or “The Day of Atonement” concludes the ten Days of Awe with a day of fasting and prayer. This is the most holy of Jewish holidays, centered on repentance and atonement for sins. A 24-hour day in Jewish culture goes from sundown to sundown so, following sundown, families may enjoy a nice meal together.
Sukkot, or the “Feast of Tabernacles”, is celebrated the fifth day after Yom Kippur. This holiday is a time of remembrance of the Lord’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt. Just as the refugees lived in huts made of branches, Jewish families make “sukkahs” to reinact the event. Meals are eaten in the sukkah.
Hanukkah is the “Festival of Lights”, a minor holiday where God’s deliverance of Israel at the time of the Maccabees is celebrated. This 8-day event is marked with the lighting of the Menorah. One candle per day is lit until all of them are glowing on the final day of the holiday. Note: Hanukkah is NOT the Jewish Christmas. It stands all by itself as a holiday which just happens to be sometime in December.
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Purim

Purim is a fun celebration where the story of Esther from the Bible is told. Her courageous stand against tyranny and God’s rescue of the Jewish people is reenacted in children’s plays or told in story form. The villain, the evil Haman, wore a three-cornered hat. A fruit-filled triangular pastry, called a Hamantaschen, was created with his hat in mind and is eaten during Purim. If you’ve never had one, look for Purim on the calendar next March and go to a Jewish bakery and buy one. They are delicious!

 

An excellent movie about the life of Esther is “One Night With the King“. Filled with spectacle, drama and romance!
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Passover

Passoveror Pesach is a high holiday observed in the spring. For eight days, Passover is celebrated. It commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt. God delivered them but they had to make haste. There was no time for yeast to rise in the bread. Thus, at Passover, all breads and grains must be yeast-free. Passover Matzo is a priority on the shopping list for Pesach!

Learn more about Passover: The amazing account of over 400 years of Egyptian bondage and God’s miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from Pharaoh’s hands–including 10 horrific plagues and the spectacular parting of the Red Sea–can be found in the Bible in the book of Exodus.

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On film? Two of the greatest family movies about Passover are: 

The Ten Commandments and Prince of Egypt Movies

Prince of Egypt family movie

Ten Commandments movie

Enjoy!

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 Guest post by July Minor


The vacuum cleaner – the precious tool so desperately needed in every household. This is an indispensable  machine that does wonders whenever the garbage appears around us.  Nowadays, we are so used to having it in our homes that we rarely stop and think about for a second what we actually will do without this miracle of the century. If it sounds too pretentious for you just wait until something happens with the vacuum cleaner and you will soon realize that you are about to have more work that you are able to do.

Apart from your home this machine also requires some cleaning so that it could work properly and without problems. It is not necessary to do this constantly, however from time to time you have to make  sure that the vacuum cleaner is in good condition.  There are some rules which should be followed  and after that you can enjoy your cleaning hours without any disturbance.
Pay attention that before taking the first steps you are obliged to check that the vacuum cleaner is unplugged !
1. Every vacuum cleaner contains a dirt bag or container which should be regularly cleaned, as all the debris are found there.  You can have either a bagged or a bagless vacuum cleaner ,however in any case it is better to take the container outside your home and carefully change it. If you are not familiar with this procedure then use the manual and read the instructions. According to the type of container  it is possible that you can wash it with some water but that is individual.  After replacing the dirt bag make sure that you had put the new one in the right way, because if it is not well fixed you can experience real problems with your vacuum machine
2. The next step concerns the filters of the vacuum cleaner which also need to be cleaned . They can be single or multiple and must be in good condition because they serve to segregate the dust and dirt. Again, you should read in the manual if it’s better just to clean the filters or if they need to be replaced . You can wash the filter with a soap, using an appropriate object to clean it thoroughly. After finishing with this pay attention not to leave the filters wet because that will damage your vacuum cleaner.
3. Another part that needs cleaning is connected with the attachments of the vacuum cleaner. You can wash any part that can be removed but just in case- read the instructions again. The attachments must be replaced when they are absolutely dry. Please do not try to wet the parts of the machine that are permanently attached.
4. The last thing to do is check out the vacuum brush. It also requires a special type of cleaning, as any parts or dirt should be removed. The vacuum brush is found on the lower part  of the machine so put it in the place that will be comfortable for you to clean it better. If it is necessary take the appropriate instruments to remove the parts entangled to the brush.
Never try to vacuum larger objects, or those with a sharper form as they can really block the mechanism of your vacuum cleaner. It is essential to do this regularly because no matter what we think, we are so lost without this unique machine.
These are the basic steps which will help you to give your vacuum cleaner the needed care.
 Do you clean your vacuum cleaner?
       

Author Bio: July Minor is passionate blogger, cleaner and cooker. She works for an end of tenancy cleaning agency which operates in London and she is very proud do be the manager of the company.

Photos from Flickr Creative Commons:

  • Kids vacuuming by embark
  • Vacuum by Lone_f