Purim is less than one month away. Get into the spirit by taking a look at my latest tablescape in Joy of Kosher Magazine. I’d love to hear your feedback!  Read More

Update: Congratulations to Mimi, winner of the giveaway!! Finally, a Jewish I SPY book! Hidden Treasures, published by Attara Publishing and distributed by HaChai Publishing, is a large full color book that contains a beautiful I SPY page for all of the holidays in the Jewish calendar. Each laminated page features a brief description of a holiday and... Read more

We’re unsure of the origin of the tradition of including coconuts and pineapples in mishloach manos baskets. While this “custom” may be mocked by some (under the age of 10) you should consider yourself lucky that your friend or relative made the wise decision to offer you something more nutritious than candy. Plus the flavors of these... Read more

Cookbook author Joan Nathan has an article in today’s New York Times describing the various fillings bakeries use for their hamantashen. There are of course the traditional poppy seeds, prune and jellies. But today you will find many creative bakers filling their hamantashen with marzipan, sour apple, dates with sweet red wine and cinnamon, halvah,... Read more

With the kids off for Taanis Esther and before and after Purim you can keep them busy and in the spirit of Purim with these coloring pages: From Chabad.org (PDF) From Aish.com (PDF) From the OU From Torah Tots  Read More

We all know the five M’s of Purim… Megillah, Mishteh (meal), Mishloach Manos, Matanos L’Evyonim (charity for the poor), and Mustaches. Chances are you’ve picked up on the party mustache trend. If there ever was an appropriate  time to tie in this craze to a Jewish holiday, it has to be Purim. Making chocolate mustache pops... Read more

Many families have small but memorable traditions to usher in the joyful month(s) of Adar: Unearth the storage bin of Purim costumes and props for a festive masquerade. When folding the laundry, tuck treats into your kid’s freshly laundered socks. Bake a batch of hamentaschen to be enjoyed before Purim. Sheva of My Shtub shared an ultra... Read more

Inspired by our Rosh Hashana roundups (click here and here), Savvima reader, Ellen Berman set out to make a bee-themed Purim mishloach manos. She spotted this Honeycomb cake pan at her local Williams-Sonoma store (unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be available online). Building on the theme, one can add a jars of honey, honey candies, or even... Read more

In the spirit of Purim, a holiday trademarked by the female heroine Queen Esther, FridayLight is inviting women everywhere to nominate themselves or someone they know to be the “FridayLight Jewish Heroine!” The winner of the Jewish heroine Purim contest will win $1,000. Nominations must be submitted by March 13, 2011. For further contest... Read more

Thanks to Shifra Klein of Bitayavon Magazine for sharing this recipe. Deli roll is a popular side dish for Shabbat, which contrasts well with cholent. This is a creative and delicious way to serve deli roll. Baking the deli roll individually allows the dough to get crispy.   Ingredients: 16 puff pastry squares 8 slices assorted cold cuts... Read more

Incorporate some flavored cotton candy (CRC Kosher Parve) into your Purim Mishloach Manos. Mexican theme? Try Hot Tamale flavored cotton candy. Dressing up like circus clowns? Add the Ringling Brothers pink vanilla and blueberry flavored popcorn to your Purim packages. There’s also Mike & Ike, Sour flavored, and colorful swirlz cotton candies.... Read more

In the “spirit” of Adar, a Kosher Whiskey Dinner is being held this Sunday March 6, 2011 at 6 PM in the newly renovated West Side Institutional Synagogue at 120 West 76th Street, NYC. The event, hosted by Ari White of  Gemstone Catering and Skyview Wine & Spirits will feature an open bar of fine and rare single barrel malt scotches... Read more

ACHI, American Communities Helping Israel, is back to help you Make Mishloach Manot More Meaningful.  PURIM is an important holiday for focusing on “Think Israel – Buy Israeli”. This Purim, consider filling your baskets with Israeli products. Here are some examples of themes that can incorporate Israeli products: From the BASKET to your SEUDA... Read more

  There is simply no comparison to the taste of my Bobby’s hamentasch recipe. This dough will be quite sticky and should be refrigerated overnight before rolling. The first batch may require a fair amount of extra flour but as you add the scraps to the remaining dough it will require  less additional flour. My filling of choice is prune... Read more

Thanks to Jamie Geller, author of Quick & Kosher Meals in Minutes for sharing this recipe perfect for a Yom Tov! Corn Salad Ingredients: 1 (11-ounce) can sweet corn niblets, drained 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup green pepper, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped 1/2 cup red pepper, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons... Read more

Thanks to Zipporah Leiser of Monsey, NY for sharing this recipe! Ingredients: 1 1/2 packages graham crackers, crushed 1 1/2 sticks margarine, melted 12 oz. chocolate chips 1 tablespoon red wine 5 tablespoons water 6 eggs, separated 2 tablespoons sugar 1 (16 oz.) dessert topping Directions: For the crust- Mix together cracker crumbs and margarine.... Read more

Those who have children who are Agent Emes fans will be happy to know that episode 11, called “Agent Emes In Shushan Shpittsburgh”, will be released in time for Chanukah. Billed as “The story of Purim as you’ve never seen it before!” the latest release is a variation of the Purim story that takes place in modern times. Now... Read more

Slow cooked ribs that fall off the bone and melt in your mouth… What more can you ask for? This dish is perfect for a festive yom tov meal. We recommend serving it with a simple side dish of wide egg noodles to catch the flavorful cabernet sauce. Ingredients: 2 pounds beef short ribs, trimmed 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1... Read more

What makes these candy necklace kits way cooler than the standard Fruit Loop Cereal necklaces? You can customize the colors to match your party’s theme. Use an assortment of cereal sorted by color, gummy rings, sour bites and taffies. Each kit should also contain embroidery floss to string the candies and a skewer to poke holes. Impressively... Read more

It may be only July but we’re sure some Savvy moms already have Purim mishloach manos themes churning in the backs of their heads. If your guilty of this you may want to bookmark this post. How creative are these tea bag cookies? How-to: Cut a tea bag shape from parchment paper and use as a guide to cut out cookie dough (use a recipe which produces... Read more