Something New: Seder2015 - Great Recipes From Top Chefs

Seder2015.org began as a series of conversations among Jewish leaders, interactive firm Civilization and the University of Washington Communication Leadership Department, and quickly grew into a graduate level course while adding a long list of notable advisors and partners to our team.

This is just the beginning! Several months ago we started a multi-year journey to bring new inspiration and a modern perspective to the Passover holiday. Sadly, many of our important rituals and ceremonies are in a state of decline. We love Passover and the Seder table and we want this important family ceremony to live long and prosper!

Seder2015 culled together some great recipes from top chefs [some of whom happen to be their grandmothers] to bring an eclectic mix of old and new Passover treats.  Check it out.

Read the recipes and their memories:

For more Passover ideas, check out our Passover Holiday Spotlight Kit 

Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Blintzes

By Samantha Ferraro for The Nosher

I’d like to think this caprese blintz is the epitome of my background. A blend of cultures, colliding different upbringings and introducing new memories.

I grew up, like many Brooklyn Jewish girls next door, on blintzes and bagels, on latkes and matzah balls and so did everyone around me. It was the norm. Jewish delis filled with freshly made bialys were the signature of my past and new worldly flavors are the introduction to my future.

You can imagine how my worlds collided when I moved to Hawaii when I was fourteen. The only Jewish girl in my school, the only one that had some reminisce of a east coast accent, the only know what knew what a blintz was. But alas, everything happens for a reason. My eight years living in Hawaii taught me patience and love of the land and introduced me to my Italian husband of (soon to be) 10 years who fell in love with traveling just as much as I did.

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For more great Jewish cooking ideas, check out our    page.

Asian Mushroom Matzo Ball Soup

by Amy Kritzer on WhatJewWannaEat.com

Jews love Chinese food. Fact. And everyone loves matzo ball soup. Put ‘em together? What a fine looking Asian Mushroom Matzo Ball Soup!

Matzo ball soup is a traditional Passover dish made with a rich stock, tons of vegetables and hearty matzo dumplings. In culinary terms, it’s freaking awesome. And Passover is nothing without it! Well, and the Manischewitz. And horseradish.

This Asian twist uses shitake mushrooms in the dumplings and soup, with fresh cilantro and a spicy kick from jalapeños. It’s still kosher for Passover thanks to a secret ingredient that mimics the flavor of soy sauce.

A fun addition to your Passover Seder, or a light lunch on its own, this dish can easily be vegetarian. I recommend homemade stock, but store bought works in a pinch! Feel free to leave out the jalapeños for the kids, and season to taste to amp up the flavor!

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For more great Jewish cooking ideas, check out our    page.

HOW TO MAKE SCHMALTZ AND GRIBENES

From WhatJewWannaEat.com

So enough with the healthy New Year’s recipes already- let’s make some fat! I have had some questions on the ole WJWE Facebook page regarding schmaltz. What is it and what the heck do I do with it? In short, schmaltz is rendered chicken fat that you get from slowly cooking chicken fat and skin. It’s super flavorful, and just oh so very Jew-y! It makes the perfect latkes, chopped liver or matzo ball. Scroll down to the bottom for some uses for schmaltz and tune back in for the next few weeks for more tasty schmaltz creations!

Side note, if your New Year’s resolution involves winning the Lotto (and whose doesn’t?) make sure to check out this awesome contest hosted by Manischewitz. The finalists get a trip to New Jersey (the sunshine state!) and the winner gets $25,000! I’m definitely entering! Anyhoo, onto the schmaltz. Here is what you need:

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For more great Jewish cooking ideas, check out our    page.

Purim Foods

Purim begins this week the evening of March 4th.  To get you in the mood, Jvillage has put together its annual Purim Holiday Kit filled with lots of recipes for all the traditional Purim foods, and then some.

For starters, you can find a Hamentaschen tutorial.  Then let your imagination soar with many non-traditional Hamentaschen.  You'll find recipes for:

• Ice cream sandwich Hamentaschen
• S'mores Broccoli Hamentaschen
• Kimchi Hamentaschen
• Brownie Stuffed Hamentaschen
• Sushi Hamentaschen
• Taco Hamentaschen
• Mammy's Hamentaschen

Among the not as well known Purim foods you'll find:

• Sweet & Spicy Sambusak
• Kraplach
• Boyoja Ungola di Purim
• Debla
• Folares
• Poppyseed Cake

Come visit our Purim Holiday Kit and find recipes galore, crafts for you, for children, games, how to make mishloach manot baskets and much, much more.

Chag Purim Sameach/Happy Purim!