Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Gloria's meatloaf recipe on the Kosher.com blog!

Looking for another great place to find recipes? Look no further than Kosher.com's blog!
Listed among some other wonderful cooks and food writers, such as Jamie Geller, and Mimi Kresh @ IsraeliKitchen, you will find a link to my recently posted meatloaf recipe!
Enjoy!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Latest Buzz about the Kosher Cookbook App from 148Apps!

148Apps, a site which keeps abreast of and reviews the latest and greatest in iPhone applications has highlighted the Kosher Cookbook App!

Kosher Cookbook

Published by: Appsolute Media
Current Version: 1.2.0.38 released 2009-08-20
Price: 2.99
Category: Lifestyle

App Description

****Discounted 40% to $2.99 for Month of December****

****Make the Kosher Cookbook your main shopping list. NOW YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN ITEMS AND EVEN SEND THE SHOPPING LIST VIA EMAIL****

Overwhelmed by running your kosher kitchen? The Kosher Cookbook Application for iPhone will hold your hand every step of the way!

Our new SHOPPING LIST lets you manage your entire shopping list in one place.

Just choose a main ingredient,a course and/or a cuisine or simply decide if you want the dish to be DAIRY, MEAT, or PARVE. and the perfect recipe is RIGHT AT YOUR FINGETIPS in seconds.

If the recipe or picture strikes your fancy, with one click you can create an entire SHOPPING LIST of all necessary ingredients viewable by Store Aisle. Already have some of what you need? Unclick the box and instantly remove whatever you don't want on your list.

You can even create your own MEAL PLAN with 1-3 courses including appetizer, soup, entree and dessert or choose an entire plan with one of our 52 WEEKS OF SHABBAT AND HOLIDAY MEAL TIPS. Weve factored in season and candle lighting time,in order to provide you with seasonal meals that can be created hours before Shabbat begins, and kept fresh for dinner that night and lunch the next day.

No internet? Need to do your meal planning on the go? Once the Kosher Cookbook is uploaded to your iPhone or iPOD Touch, youll have full access to it without an internet connection.

EXCLUSIVE FEATURES INCLUDE:

OVER 300 RECIPES with 150+ images: Each recipe was exclusively created by well- respected chef Gloria Kobrin.

RECIPE FILTER: Organize recipes based on FOOD TYPE, COURSE, or CUISINE.

MY RECIPES: Save a list of your FAVORITE RECIPES for future use.

SHOPPING LIST: Create a complete shopping list at the touch of a button. Then view your list by RECIPE, STORE ISLE, or ALL AT ONCE.

MEAL PLANS: Combine your favorite recipes into a full meal for any day of the week.

SEARCH: Enter ALL or PART of the RECIPE or INGREDIENT and well show you everything we have to offer

52 WEEKS OF SHABBAT AND HOLIDAY MEALS: Gloria Kobrin has designed a meal plan for every Shabbat of the year--taking into account Shabbat Candle Lighting times and seasonal foods for that month.
App Screen Shots (click to enlarge)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Nice Simple Meat Loaf. Perfect for an easy winter dinner!


I opened my freezer yesterday to get some ice, and I was dismayed to find that everything inside was rapidly defrosting. Why?! Who knows...the repairman is coming this morning to solve (and hopefully fix!) that conundrum.
First order of business? What to do with the fully defrosted pounds of chopped meat that now needed to be used immediately or go to waste.
This plain and simple Meat Loaf is a perfect winter dinner...and makes a great sandwich the next day for lunch. Serve with some plain lightly steamed peas for the perfect nostalgic 50's feel (and to add some color to your plate!)

For a more gourmet meat loaf, check out the Kosher Cookbook App for the recipe for Individual Mini Meat Loaves.

Meat Loaf M Serves: 6-8

Served warm with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable or cold with sliced tomatoes and lettuce on rye, meat loaf is the perfect comfort food.

Prep time: 15 min. Cooking time: 45-60 min.

Ingredients

2 pounds chopped meat

1 large onion – peeled and chopped finely

2 eggs-beaten lightly

½ cup unflavored parve bread crumbs

¼ cup dried parsley

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/3 cup water

Equipment

Small roasting pan

Medium mixing bowl

Tin foil

Two spatulas

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to: 375 F.
  2. Mix chopped meat with all the remaining ingredients. Scrape mixture into roasting pan and shape lightly into a rectangle. Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes. Uncover pan and finishing roasting another 15 minutes.
  3. Remove pan from oven. Scrape away the congealed juices that have gathered around the meatloaf. Carefully, using two spatulas, lift meatloaf out of the pan and on to a serving dish. Serve whole or sliced. This meat loaf is very moist. No additional gravy is necessary.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Not Your Plain ol Latke


If you're bored of your standby latke/potato recipe,simply shred one large zucchini, 2 large carrots, and or a large sweet potato and replace all or a portion of your regular white potato mixture for a dash of color. The sweet potato makes a sweeter latke; while the other vegetables add color and vitamins without really changing the flavor at all.
For my standby recipe, search for 'Latkes' on my Kosher Cookbook App!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Churros for Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, Chanukah or Hanukah...however you choose to spell it, this Holiday means lots of yummy food. Though latkes are an old family favorite, these Churros are sure to become a new one!



Churros P Yield: about 36

Churros are Spanish donuts and the perfect solution to serving a fried dessert for Chanukah.

Prep time: 10 min. Frying time: 20 min. including time to squeeze batter out of pastry tube

Ingredients

1 cup water

½ cup parve margarine

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups vegetable oil ( for skillet) Follow directions for electric fryer if using one

Optional: ½ cup sugar mixed with ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Equipment

3 quart saucepan

Electric fryer/ skillet

Pastry tube with large star tip

Slotted spoon + deep fry thermometer necessary for skillet

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat water, margarine and salt in saucepan. Bring mixture to a rollicking boil and then stir in flour vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat.
  2. Beat eggs in a separate bowl and then add to dough stirring until the dough is smooth.
  3. Heat oil in electric fryer or skillet to 360 F.
  4. Spoon mixture into pastry bag and squeeze 4 or 5 four inch strips directly into hot oil. They take about 2-3 minutes to brown before you turn them and brown on the other side. Drain churros on paper towels. They cool very quickly.
  5. Roll churros in cinnamon sugar if desired.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

December Dinner Party Menu

I am lucky enough to be able to give my brother-in-law the gift of a fabulous dinner party in my home in honor of his first wedding anniversary. It's always tough to come up with a menu which will please a large group of people at any gathering--particularly when it is a formal occasion and not a family-style buffet. Hopefully, this seasonal menu will give you some ideas!
Gloria's December Dinner Party Menu

**All Recipes available on The Kosher Cookbook App!**

Hors d’Oeuvres:

Armenian Meatballs with Sour Plum Sauce

Endive Leaves Stuffed with Halibut Salad

Bowls of Mixed nuts and Spiced Pecans

Fried Olives

Red/White Wine

Pre-plated Main Course:

Chicken Breast Wrapped in Phyllo Dough with Tarragon-Wine Sauce

served separately (substitute tofu for chicken for 1 guest)

Roasted Asparagus

Wild and White Rice with Dried Apricots and Cranberries

(leave out pearl onions from recipe because there are sautéed leeks in chicken packages)

Dessert:

Individual servings of Chocolate Mousse with Orange Rind

Platters of Lace cookies and long stemmed strawberries

Coffee and Tea


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Gloria Kobrin's Pecan Dreams--Virtual Cookie Crawl

I have been making all kinds of Jewish, Kosher, and other culinary connections on twitter. I was recently invited to take part in Gourmet Girl Magazine's Virtual Holiday Cookie Crawl

So, exactly what is a Virtual Crawl? According to Gourmet Girl herself Elaine Giammetta: Think pub crawl, where you and bunch of friends go from one pub to another, experiencing the atmosphere and trying out difference beers and ales. Now instead of beer or ale, we are talking about cookies. Since we have so many global food loving friends, that in good conscience, we couldn't limit ourselves to one town, state or even country. Our crawl enables you to experience (virtually) what cookies are being made around the world. You can pick and choose which ones you'd like to make in your own home.

Sounds like fun, no?


Gloria Kobrin's Pecan Dreams

The confectioner’s sugar dough make these very light and flaky.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup non-dairy margarine-softened

1 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

2 cups chopped pecans/walnuts

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon cold water



DIRECTIONS
1. Line cookie sheets with parchment. Set aside.

2. Cream margarine with ¾ cup sugar until light and fluffy.

Add remaining ingredients. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients

are well blended.

3. Preheat oven to: 325 F.

4. Pinch off a small amount of dough. Roll it lightly between your

palms to form a small log. Place it on parchment. Repeat process

until all the dough is used. Leave ¾ inch between each log.

Place cookies sheets on the top and middle level of oven.

Bake for 15 minutes and then reverse sheets in oven.

Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cookies have browned on the

bottom and are slightly brown on the sides. Cool on racks.

5. Pour remaining confectioner’s sugar on to a plate.
Roll each cookie around in sugar until it is completely covered.
Arrange cookies attractively in a serving dish.


Note: These cookies tend to absorb any moisture in the air.

If the sugar coating starts to yellow slightly, just roll cookies again in sugar.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Download the Upgrade to your Kosher Cookbook App!




Improvements include:

1. More recipes!

2. Now you can make the Kosher Cookbook App your mail shopping list application! Amazing shopping list feature which allows you to add all of your household needs in addition to the ingredients that you need for your recipe. Fill your pantry, wine cellar AND medicine cabinet!!

3. Your shopping list is now shareable by email.
Send your shopping list to your significant other or household help with just a click!
4. Always have the latest version! Simple registration to receive regular updates on Kosher Cookbook.




And, as always...

EXCLUSIVE FEATURES INCLUDE:

OVER 300 RECIPES with 150+ images: Each recipe was exclusively created by well- respected cook Gloria Kobrin.

RECIPE FILTER: Organize recipes based on FOOD TYPE, COURSE, or CUISINE.

MY RECIPES: Save a list of your FAVORITE RECIPES for future use.

SHOPPING LIST: Create a complete shopping list at the touch of a button. Then view your list by RECIPE, STORE ISLE, or ALL AT ONCE.

MEAL PLANS: Combine your favorite recipes into a full meal for any day of the week.

SEARCH: Enter ALL or PART of the RECIPE or INGREDIENT and we’ll show you everything we have to offer

52 WEEKS OF Shabbat AND HOLIDAY MEALS: Gloria Kobrin has designed a meal plan for every Shabbat of the year--taking into account Shabbat Candle Lighting times and seasonal foods for that month.

Another use for your Thanksgiving leftovers...Turkey Soup!














Turkey Soup M Serves: 16
This is a great way to use the turkey carcass once the crowd has gobbled up everything else.
Prep time:  30 min. Cooking time: 4 hours + chilling time
INGREDIENTS
1 carcass from 16-18 pound turkey
3 large carrots-scraped + halved
2 large parsnips-scraped and halved
1 large onion-peeled and halved
1 dried chili pepper
2 large ribs celery-washed and cut into thirds
1 small bunch parsley, thyme-tied with a string
1 box Pomi chopped tomatoes-drained
1 can cannelini beans-rinsed and drained
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: pareve pesto
EQUIPMENT
1 large stockpot with cover
1 large strainer
Cheesecloth
DIRECTIONS
  1. Place carcass in pot and cover completely with water. Bring to a boil and skim the foam off the top.  Add carrots, parsnips, celery, onion , thyme and parsley.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer with the top sitting askew over the pot. Simmer 3 hours. Allow stock to cool before removing carcass, vegetables , parsley, thyme and dried pepper. Chill stock for several hours or overnight so that you can remove the fat.  Discard onions. Rinse carrots and parsnips and slice them into one half inch pieces. Scrape any remaining turkey from bones. Be sure to remove any fat or skin.  Cut meat into small pieces and add to vegetables. Chill separately.
  2. After removing fat, return sliced vegetables to stock. Add drained tomatoes, and cannellini beans. Stir well. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.  Simmer 30 minutes before tasting.  Add salt 1 teaspoon at a time tasting as you go. A few turns of the pepper mill will add a little more bite to the soup. Again- season to taste. Serve pareve Pesto on the side.  It adds a wonderful layer of flavor to the soup.