Jewish Fress

As in most homes, candy has a very important place in our family life. Whether it is a snack for the kids to take with them to school, or just something to nosh on when there is nothing else to do, for those of us not "health conscious"-candy is what we look for. Over the past few months some really great nosh has made its way into our office ? here are the four we most enjoyed.

Rosh Hashanah is all about new beginnings and self-improvement and kosher wineries all over the world are making a commitment to producing great wines at affordable prices. Here are 10 suggestions for a fresh start on kosher wines.

The economy is directing people towards cost-consciousness and dining in, rather than dining out. For many of these former restaurant-goers, especially singles who live on their own, the kitchen is alien territory. Perhaps they can prep a basic sandwich, or boil a box of pasta. But needing to feed a family or guests on an ongoing basis requires a bit more creativity and skill.

Crispy snacks, chewy nougat, and an assortment of cookies that will delight your taste buds. If we were giving awards for the best snacks, these three companies would each take home first prize.

All of the onstage participants have worked in the trenches with Masbia to feed the needy and it’s not a buffet event, but a high-end, gourmet experience.

The recession has hit supermarket shelves in Israel, where November sales were down 12 percent compared to the same month last year.

Looking for a great gift for the wine maven in your life? Look no further. Daniel Rogov has what you are looking for with his latest two hardbound, pocket-sized guides: Rogov's Guide to Kosher Wines 2010: The World's 500 Best kosher Wines (The Toby Press; November 1, 2009; 145 pages; $19.95), and Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wines 2010 (The Toby Press; October 1, 2009; 485 pages; $19.95).

Kosher wines have improved greatly in the last 20 years. Much of the credit can be given to the Golan Heights winery in Israel, which ignited the quality wine revolution when they released their first wines in 1983. Stateside, however, it has been the Herzog family and their Royal Wine Corporation that has introduced U.S.-based kosher consumers to premium wines.

As the search for the perfect snack continues, this week we review treats from two different companies with ingredient in common: cheese.

Cheese itself happens to be a great snack. It comes in a wide variety of colors, flavors and sizes and can be eaten alone or with bread and fruit. However, when you add some basic ingredients like bread and sauce, it becomes part of a wonderful treat.

¡? Fruit Leather (Stretch Island Fruit, OK parve)
is a 100% natural snack. 100% natural means no
added sugar, no artificial colors or flavors, no fat and
cholesterol ¡? and great taste. The Wild Apple tastes
like a green apple, the Mucho Mango tastes like a slice
of mango, etc. But you get more than great taste and a
healthy snack. On each package of fruit leather is an
interesting humorous jingle about the flavor you are
about to eat, so you get something to read as well. For
Purim, include Stretch Island Fruit Leather in a box
with a bottle of water, a package of nuts and seeds
and call your Mishloach Manos "A Traveling Snack."

Here is a selection of great kosher products that we came across this summer. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Please accept our wishes for a sweet and delicious New Year.

When the weather is beautiful and the days are long, most people like to end their weekend with a barbeque. But if you are trying to watch your weight, big barbeques can spell big trouble! However, grilling does not have to mean a cholesterol and fat overload. Try to enjoy a healthier version of your favorite dishes this season, with tasty burgers and side dishes that are good for both your palate and waistline.

Israel's National Archives has released a photograph of Golda Meir's chicken soup recipe.

The blast of the shofar carries loudly and clearly over long distances. Because of that, it was often blown in biblical times as a means of communication - to announce times of danger or the onset of peace. Today the shofar is sounded in connection with the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In fact, the only specific biblical commandment for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday (in these times) is the sounding of the shofar.

JERUSALEM-A handful of upstart Israeli olive oil companies stunned their Mediterranean and South American counterparts by winning a number of Prestige Gold Awards during last week's inaugural Terra Olivo International Olive Oil Competition, held at the Inbal Jerusalem Hotel.

This past week, our kosher food panel had the pleasure of spending two days in Secaucus, New Jersey at Kosherfest 2002. As always, we were amazed not only at the number of new kosher food products but also at the array of countries from which they are imported.

Does this question sound familiar ? "Mom, what's for dinner?" Are you always looking for new and exciting meals to please yourself and your family? If the answer to these questions is yes, then we have the answer.

What comes to mind when you think of Shabbos? The glow of candles, the beauty of the Shabbos table and the mouth-watering taste of special foods; freshly baked challah, simmering chicken soup and of course, gefilte fish.

Pesach is a holiday where multiples abound. From the four questions, the 10 plagues and double dipping to the hodgepodge that is charoset or Hillel's famous bitter herb and matzah sandwich, nothing seems to be singular on this holiday. If only our unleavened bread were privy to such excess.

SAN FRANCISCO - They're baaack. Duly chastened by the Great Tam Tam Crisis of spring '08, the Manischewitz Company went into overdrive and will have plenty of the crunchy six-sided unleavened crackers available this Passover season.

Kosherpalooza is not a successor to Kosherfest. This is a totally different event. Kosherpalooza is a one-of-a-kind kosher food festival for consumers, Klein explained.

Does this question sound familiar ? "Mom, what's for dinner?" Are you always looking for new and exciting meals to please yourself and your family? If the answer to these questions is yes, then we have the answer.

Ever since I got my copy of Quick & Kosher, Jamie Geller's first cookbook, I've been hoping for a sequel. And after meeting this adorable, down-to-earth powerhouse (and interviewing her for the Jewish Press) back in 2007-she was working on new recipes even as she was out promoting that debut volume-I was even more eager to see what else she would have in store. Three years in the making, Quick & Kosher: Meals in Minutes hits stores this month.

Spirits are rising alongside the cookie dough at the Manhattan JCC as doctors, social workers, artists, lawyers, and teachers team up with master chef Levana Kirschenbaum to bake one million chocolate chip cookies to raise funds to help the families of Israel's terror victims.

In my house, the search for the perfect snack is of utmost importance. In fact, I probably spend more time in the snack aisle then I do searching for the perfect cut of meat.

As Pesach draws near and the wine frenzy is at its peak, anyone interested in more than just a glass of Kiddush wine may have a hard time making sense of the literally hundreds of labels available from dozens of countries. As the selection in the liquor store may be a bit overwhelming, most people pick out one or two favorites and drink them on a regular basis.

Kosher in the Kitch (www.kosherinthekitch.com) a recipe-sharing website created by Nina Safar and geared toward the kosher consumer, hosted its first ever tasting party this past Sunday evening in the beautiful Brooklyn home of Yossi and Idii Stern. Six contestants had the opportunity to prepare dessert recipes in the kitchen of The Center for Kosher Culinary Arts and present them at the party to be sampled. The event was open to the public and everyone was able to taste the contestants' creations.

In honor of the beginning of summer, we decided to take the search for the perfect snack on the road and see what we could find along the East Coast.

A Brooklyn food co-op that once boycotted products from South Africa because of its apartheid policy may consider doing the same to Israeli products in the coming months.

As many of us begin searching for the perfect dairy or fish meal for the Nine Days, it seems a great time to review some of the wonderful kosher sauces and dressings that can be found in the local grocery or supermarket.