I absolutely love, love, love hosting Shabbat meals and often have friends and family over.

I wanted to share some fun menu plans and ideas. The truth is that I find it easier to share ideas for Shabbat lunch, just because there are more “rules” – so there’s an end in sight! With Shabbat dinner menus, the possibilities are truly endless.

For that reason, I’m going to start by sharing a basic formula I use when planning meals. I’m going to be honest: very often, I overdo it. I make a zillion extra little salads for the first course, just toss in that extra vegetable kugel or quick pickled beets that wasn’t part of the original plan.

So I’ll give you the advice that I need to hear: To avoid excessive leftovers and go easier on yourself, stick to your Shabbat dinner menus strictly! That means no last minute add-ons.

Now I need to turn that into a huge flashing sign to mount over my kitchen counters…

Before I start, I will inform you that I did create a “menu helper” – that is, a doc version of just the basic list of foods you can choose from. It’s editable in Google Docs or any document editor, so you can add your own favorites or remove what’s not relevant. It’s available for download at the end of this post.

The basic formula for making Shabbat dinner menus

Just us – 2 adults and 3 picky children + an eating baby.

• Appetizer – the “challah and dips” course. Usually we have 3-4 dips such as marinated eggplant dip, matbucha, hummus, and often a homemade option such as garlic confit or fire roasted eggplant (from the Peas Love & Carrots cookbook).
• Soup – My kids like to eat chicken soup, and I often make my favorite chicken noodle soup recipe for Shabbat dinner. You can also try making chicken soup in the Instant Pot. We usually use about half the pot and freeze the second half to use the next week. Noodles are made by the bag, separated into 3-4 bags, and frozen as well.
• Main Course – My two younger kids are usually asleep for this (during the summer) or don’t really participate. My basic structure is:
  • 1 vegetable side – Usually a roasted vegetable such as broccoli or cauliflower
  • 1 starchy side – Usually a potato or rice dish
  • 1 main dish (protein) – Most often a chicken-based dish.

Sometimes when it’s just us, I make an all-in-one main dish. One of my favorites is similar to this recipe for crispy sheet pan gnocchi with Italian sausage and vegetables. The recipe I use has in it broccoli too, and I like to use mini gnocchi. I’ll include more ideas below.

Shabbat Dinner Menus for 2-3 additional adults

If we’re having additional adults, I usually try to make a little extra for each course. This will vary depending on how well I know said guests and what they’ll eat.

• Appetizer – I’ll make an extra side salad or two (such as Moroccan carrot salad or roasted beet salad), and depending on who it is, a fresh tossed salad too
• Main Course – If we have any guests, I stick to separate the main, vegetable, and starchy sides. Then, I’ll try for one or two extra sides. Sometimes it’ll be something like saucy pepper steak and rice, or a mixed dish like the gnocchi above.
• Dessert – When it’s only us, I don’t usually serve dessert formally – we just give the kids a small treat. With guests, especially those that tend to sit around and chat, I try to have a baked good (such as brownies), ice cream, some munchies like watermelon seeds and popcorn…

Shabbat Dinner Menus for 4+ additional adults/kids

I tend to go overboard when we’re more than doubling our family’s appetite.

I do the same formula as above but usually there is a nice sized salad for the first course, and at least two extra sides. Sometimes I even put in an extra main. The idea with guests is to offer more options since you don’t necessarily know what they like to eat.

So more guests doesn’t necessarily mean you need more options, but you’ll want to have more quantity. But if you are doubling your options, you don’t also need to double the quantity of each – and that’s where I personally go overboard with my Shabbat dinner menus. Just make a little more (1.5 is probably a good number) than you would for your family, especially with sides.

My Shabbat dinner menu with four or more adult guests will often include extras that are easy to put together or even ready made. Rice mixes or freezer kugels are a great option as an extra.

Mix & Match Shabbat Dinner Menu Ideas

Want to fill in your menu from a running list of ideas? Here you go! I linked recipes where I could, but you can also google an option that works for you.

These are ideas without quantities that you can plug into the template I shared above. They are also meant to just be ideas, so that you can skim and find inspiration.

Tip: you can download my free printable Shabbat menu planner and shopping list for a fun place to write down what you’re doing!

Challah, Dips, Salads first course

Of course, you don’t need to do a big first course, but if you do, here are ideas. On Shabbat dinner menus, we typically skip the fish that is often served.

We purchase 2-3 dips that are easily found in the deli aisle of the supermarket. That’s very individual. We like things that don’t have mayo, such as Spanish eggplant, matbucha, hummus, Turkish salad, eggplant liver, etc. More options include babaganoush, tehina, onion/jalapeno/pickle mayo dips…

Homemade Dips & Spreads

• Tomato dip – Make this in minutes in your food processor
• Garlic confit – try this herby tomato garlic confit for a kick or make an easy garlic confit in the oven.
• Fire roasted eggplant – This is a new favorite – the smoky flavor is incredible! I use stovetop drip trays to make cleanup easier. It’s always a hit with guests, and since it’s much better served warm, it’s perfect for Friday night.
• Roasted red pepper dip – I first made this for Passover and it’s begging to become a new go-to in our home.
• Olive Tapenade – My kids love olives and LOVE this dip. I can not keep up with their consumption!

Salads

I like having a few marinated or cooked vegetable salads, and salads that can sit in the fridge for a few days and be pulled out for multiple meals. Eating a tiny sampler of each with the challah and dips course lets us sample different flavors, giving a luxurious restaurant feel in honor of Shabbat, and is so wholesome.

Again, I make these usually when I have guests.

• Moroccan carrot salad – you can make a raw version using grated carrots, or a cooked version. The trick to getting the cooked version to be perfect: bring the water to a boil, add carrots, when boiling again set an 8 minute timer. It should be perfectly tender but not mushy at that point. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Beet salad – I use vacuum sealed beets to save time and season lightly with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Or, try this roasted beet salad recipe.
• Green beans drizzled with teriyaki and sprinkled with your favorite spice.
• Israeli salad – while I usually do this by day, there’s no reason it can’t be served for Shabbat dinner. We make it with cucumber, tomato, and pepper diced small. I sometimes split it in half. Add pickles to one half for a version that my kids like. Add bulgur, chickpeas, shallots, and a good lemony olive oil dressing to the other half.

There are of course leafy green salads – any one goes! Some favorites (these aren’t exact recipes, as any that I ‘ve used I tweaked a lot to suit my needs. I recommend googling one that works for you – this is just a starting point.)

• Beet arugula salad
• Spring Mix and roasted squash salad with seeds or nuts
• A simple light tossed salad with a Romaine base, avocados, and whichever vegetables I have handy
• Romaine with avocado, grape tomatoes, something crunchy and something sweet (such as candied nuts, crushed veggie chips and candied nuts…)

Soup appetizer course

I usually make a traditional Jewish chicken soup for this. Even when I do, I try to keep it to brothy soups, rather than blended soups with one exception on this list.

When it’s just us, we sometimes make a meat version to serve over couscous. I’m having a hard time finding a good recipe to link, so if you’re ready to wing it: Saute/soften onion, celery, squash, carrot, parsnip, or any other veggies you like. Brown beef stew meat, add. Add water, season well, simmer for a while.

We serve over real couscous – not what Americans call couscous but is really petitim. The tiny stuff. And we ditch the rest of the meal.

Another great soup option for Friday night is a sauteed veggie soup – using any vegetables you’d like! I use celery, onion, carrot, sometimes leek, parsnip or turnip, broccoli, zucchini – all cut as small as I can. I finish it off with water and seasoning and it’s so flavorful!

Blended chicken soup (or a parve cream of chicken soup) is delicious, and more filling. The recipe I based my process off of (which I can’t find, of course) says to cook a chicken breast in the soup, remove it before blending, and cube it and add it back before serving.

And if you’re feeling fancy, a beef onion soup is a real treat!

Main course

The main course can be the sole part of the meal, or skipped if you’re filling up on earlier courses. When mixing and matching elements, even if not cooking it as a single dish, think about what goes well together.

Chicken breast goes well shredded into rice. Meatballs, even if not saucy, work perfectly with any hot grain, such as rice or quinoa.

Main course one-dish or mixed dishes

• Chicken cooked over potatoes with broccoli
• Chicken cooked over rice with zucchini
• Orzo with roasted vegetables and sausage
• Stir fry: chicken or beef with broccoli, pepper, other veggies served over rice.
• Vegetable quiches (made parve usually with oat or nut milks)
• Stuffed Zucchini – or other vegetables
• Moussaka (make it dairy-free)

Main course main dishes (proteins)

• Chicken on the bone with spices
• Marinated chicken breast (grilled or baked high and fast to retain juices.)
• Shnitzel – cook as close to Shabbat as possible, and leave the lid of the pan a bit open while keeping it hot so that it retains crispiness until you eat it.
• Capons or boneless skinless chicken legs
• Corned beef
• Meatballs – I love cranberry chili sauce meatballs (I make the balls from scratch and do it in the oven).
• Pepper steak
• Any roast/brisket

Main course veggie sides

• There is a kugel for every veggie (almost)! I love this mixed vegetable kugel.
• Roasted broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, or eggplant.
• Cauliflower pastrami kugel
• More vegetable kugels: broccoli, spaghetti squash kugel, savory cabbage kugel
• Sweet chili string beans (from Dinner Done)

Main course starchy sides

• Rice – plain/lightly seasoned, Persian, rice with Mushrooms, fried rice, Spanish rice…
• Orzo – there are LOADS of recipes out there to dress up orzo, but one of my favorites is a simple burst cherry tomato sauce, minus the cheese.
• Potato kugel
• Potatoes: refer to your Passover menu for LOADS of ideas! Roasted is a favorite – just season generously with your favorite spices and herbs. I love it drizzled with a bit of hot honey, and roasted with leftover oil from the garlic confit.
• Sesame noodles or similar Asian-inspired pastas

Sample Shabbat Menus that we’ve actually done

I always try to include a few sample menus for you to refer to. These are tried and true menus HOWEVER I did remove a few items that were excessive so that you can have a better gauge for what to make!

Just us: 2 Adults, 3 Kids (+ eating baby)

• Challah and hummus, olive dip, eggplant dip
• Chicken soup and noodles
• Corn flakes crumb coated chicken with roasted potatoes and broccoli

Just us: 2 Adults, 3 Kids (+ eating baby) – Summer

• Challah and dips
• Chicken drumsticks with bbq sauce
• Gnocchi with vegetables

The kids have the chicken early and older kids join for Challah and dips as well. I usually chop up veggies for them to have with the chicken too.

Just us: 2 Adults, 3 Kids (+ eating baby)

• Challah and dips (sense a pattern here?)
• Mushroom rice
• Cranberry, Sweet chili meatballs
• Roasted Zucchini with shallots

Guests: 6 adults, 5 kids total (+ eating baby)

• Challah and WAY too many dips, Moroccan carrot salad
• Chicken soup with noodles
• Boneless rib roast
• Grilled capons
• Roasted potatoes with hot honey drizzled on
• Roasted broccoli with shallots
• Cauliflower pastrami kugel

Note: I also made a mixed orzo/veggie dish but it was almost untouched so I removed it from the menu.

Guests: 4 adults, 8 kids, 1 eating baby

• Challah and dips
• Chicken soup & noodles
• Broccoli Kugel 
• Honey roasted potatoes
• Duck sauce Chicken
• 1 pot kielbasa orzo (from Whisk by Ami magazine)
• Mushroom pastrami quiche (from Whisk by Ami magazine)
• Tossed salad

This menu was very generous, with lots of leftovers and 1-2 dishes can easily be nixed, but there was nothing that was really untouched.

Guests: 6 adults (1 gluten free), 3 kids + 2 toddlers

• Challah and dips
• Beef French onion soup
• Potato kugel with pastrami
• Stuffed zucchini
• Rice
• Salad – lettuce, pepper, avocado, veggie sticks salad topper
• Gnocchi w veggies, sausage
• Chicken drumsticks

Got any Shabbat dinner menus or ideas to add to the list? Comment below! Make sure to include what worked, what didn’t, and who it was designed to serve.

Need to whittle down your Shabbat cooking to much less time? Check out my tips for making an easy Shabbat in an hour! Yes, I’ve done it both ways!

Download the free printable Shabbat dinner menu helper!

This editable document can be uploaded to Google docs or used in any document editor to help you plan your menu.

Download your free template! It’ll arrive right in your inbox. By downloading, you’re subscribing to our FREE newsletter with updates on cool printables like this, ideas to simplify Jewish life, and more. Unsubscribe at any time at the bottom my emails. I respect your privacy and the law, and won’t share or sell your email address.

The post Shabbat Dinner Menus – Free Printable Master List of Ideas appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

It’s a problem that many women face: they work until close to Shabbat in the winter months. So how can they possibly get all the foods prepped on time?

Today I’m sharing some ways to make that possible.

Everyone’s schedules and needs – and food preferences – look different. For some, takeout might be an option. For some a 3-course meal is a requirement. Some are just trying to feed a small family and others might be looking to host. Because of these factors, when sharing how to make Shabbat in an hour, it doesn’t make sense to give you a schedule. It makes more sense to stick to a list of suggestions to make things go quicker on Friday afternoon.

My suggestion is that you roughly time these quick Shabbat menu ideas and figure out just what you can do.

Find the formula of the suggestions below, divided into different time-management categories, that makes sense for your Friday schedule. And make sure to download this Shabbat menu planner and shopping list!

Some of Shabbat in an hour ideas figure that you have an hour before Shabbat, but have other snippets of time. If you don’t, you will need to stick to the ideas that are exclusive to Friday afternoon.

Prepping Thursday Night

Grabbing another hour Thursday night to do a little prep can take the weight off Friday afternoon. While I’ve spent Thursday nights in the kitchen, this is not what I’m referring to. It’s not easy to dedicate an evening to extra cooking when you’re already working hard.

These ideas are really just quick prep ideas so that you can get things going faster on Friday afternoon.

You can also prep Friday morning if you just have 15-30 minutes worth of things to do, or if you’re able to wake up extra early to get things going.

• Prep your cholent ingredients in the crock pot Thursday night and put it up Friday morning.
• Chicken soup is tastiest if it simmers for hours. You can do the same: prep it in the crock pot insert Thursday night and switch it on Friday morning. Right when you arrive home, transfer to a pot and put up your cholent. Take it a step further and have your cholent ingredients mostly prepared (minus some liquid) in a 2-gallon ziploc bag.
• Prep your roasted dishes in the pans that you’ll be cooking them in the night before and refrigerate. Add any seasoning, liquids, etc.

Quick Dishes to Cook

Choosing your recipes wisely makes all the difference!

Tips for cooking things faster

Some dishes take quicker to cook than others. Anything that needs time in the oven should obviously not be done Friday afternoon.

Roast potatoes take time to cook through. You can “parboil” them in advance by adding a drop of liquid to your pan of potatoes and baking them covered in the oven. Then roast them fresh.

Vegetables tend to roast quickly, making them a fabulous option.

Simple roasted or broiled foods in general are my personal choice for winter Fridays.

Spice mixes make everything easier. My basic formula for foods for Winter shabbat is food+drizzle olive oil + sprinkle generously with salt and spice mix. Roast.

Chicken cutlets tend to cook much faster than chicken on the bone. If you don’t like white meat, drumsticks are a better option than whole legs.

One dish dinners

One dish meals are a fabulous way to majorly scale down your food prep. For example, baking your chicken on rice with broccoli or carrots added to the pan can be delicious. However, they sometimes take longer to cook. Note cooking time. This is a great option for those of us who have only an hour to food prep and more time at home, but need it to clean and shower, bathe the kids, etc. Some ideas:

• Chicken + Rice + Broccoli
• Chicken + Potatoes + Carrots
• Chicken + potatoes + cauliflower
• Couscous. I still remember having a fabulous plate of authentic Tunisian couscous, topped with soup, at my friend’s grandfather’s house near Paris. It was the most incredible thing I ever had.
  
  And the cool thing is that couscous doesn’t even need to be cooked properly! Just add hot water per package instructions and let it sit. When it’s fully absorbed just fluff. The soup topping is a “double dip”. It’s how I turn a simple chicken soup into an all-in-one dinner that’s really special. I use stew meat to make it extra delicious.
  
  And while sautéing does take time, if it’s all you’re doing for Friday night, it’s totally doable. You can also double-batch and freeze it.

Use mixes

There are so many semi-prepped foods on the grocery shelves! For example, rice or couscous mixes are a popular option. Pre-seasoned poultry just needs to be baked. Mixed frozen vegetables make faster roasted veggies.

No-cook Ideas

Not everything needs to be cooked in advance. When I have guests but don’t have time, I focus my day meal on salads. And in the summer we pretty much do salmon and a salad when we don’t have guests.

Fresh salads

• You can do a grain salad for a filling option. Many grains, such as rice, farro, or sushi, take 5 minutes of prep and can be cooked in the oven. ,
• A leafy salad goes over well. Add in deli or leftover chicken cutlets from the night before for a meaty salad.
• I love making a few little side salads, such as shredded carrot salad (I purchase the carrots pre-shredded), pepper salad, corn salad, or cucumber salad (best done in the food processor but it can be done Thursday night, and it’s doable with a peeler on Shabbat.) Other ideas: chickpea salad (open/drain chickpea cans in advance), beet salad (purchase cooked, vacuum sealed beets), grape tomato salad, Avocado + tomato + hearts of palm salad…

There’s always takeout!

While not an option for everyone every time, here are some single dish ideas that are easier to take out:

• Sushi – a single sushi platter can be a real treat for the sushi-loving family, either as the whole meal or as the first course, whatever floats your boat.
• Kugels – If you’re angling for an extra side but just don’t have the time, kugel is a fabulous, relatively affordable option. You don’t need a lot since it’s a side. And it’s so time-consuming, it’s worth doing as takeout.
• Soup – A quart of soup is surprisingly inexpensive. It doesn’t usually come with a lot inside, but it’s a great starting point. Toss in a zucchini (takes a minute) and a handful of baby carrots so you have actual veggies inside. Serve it with soup nuts.
• Schnitzel – Another time-consuming but Shabbat lunch-friendly option, schnitzel is a great takeout choice.

Freezables

If you find yourself prepping Shabbat in an hour often, having a freezer for food prep is so valuable! But even if you don’t have a ton of freezer space, you can still prep in advance with some of my space-saving tips.

Always label your freezer items with prep instructions (add xxx water, etc)

• Kugel – freeze these in 9×9 square pans. They don’t take a ton of space.
• Soup – freeze minus some of the liquid – a “condensed” version.
• Fried onions – Cut using the slicing blade on your food processor. Batch “fry” onions in the oven or crock pot. Freeze in small amounts (1/4-half a cup) in ziploc bags. They take up almost no space and save so much time on things like soups, rice, potatoes, and anything else that calls for sautéing onions.
• Appetizers – On a typical Shabbat I don’t go crazy with appetizers, but if you like a “wow” app or side, you can freeze grape leaves, bourekas, etc. They are a huge patchke but great to have available if you like to have guests as an extra side or want something truly special to pull out on an otherwise ordinary Shabbat.
• Toppings – I love having pre-made “mixes” for some of my favorite fish dishes. I prep the topping for Moroccan salmon – minus a can of sauce and a can of chickpeas and freeze it in 16 oz containers. Then, I just need to place the salmon in a pan, add drained chickpeas and a can of sauce, and my freezer topping. Bake according to the recipe. It turns half an hour of cooing into 5-10 minutes of “dump and serve.” I do the same with caramelized onions + lemon juice for a marinated salmon. Pasta toppings, rice toppings, and other freezer-friendly mixes can be prepped this way.

Prepackaged food options

A compromise between grocery shopping and no-prep takeout, there are things on your grocery shelves that make for instant Shabbat food.

• Stuffed grape leaves – you can get these in a can! Just make sure to heat before serving – it’s so much better.
• Delis and charcuterie – a wow centerpiece for a Shabbat with guests. Get 2-3 types of deli or cured meats, olives, pickles, pretty crackers and flatbreads, some cool mustards…
• Kugels – there are companies that make these as regular stock shelf items.
• Jarred gefilte – This is controversial, but okay! Frozen gefilte almost counts as well. This is what I use. Just place in a loaf pan, add an inch of water, cover, and bake for 1.5 hours (assuming you have the cook time and not the active time.

More tips for faster Shabbat prep

Remember: it’s not a mitzvah to eat excessively. Focus on the quality of your food not quantity. Use a better cut of meat, splurge on capons instead of chicken on the bone, purchase a fancy sauce that’ll upgrade your “dump and roast” dishes.

It’s okay to skip the guests. In some communities there’s a heavy pressure to not have Shabbat meals alone. However, while it’s fabulous to invite others, your family comes first. It it’s too much to handle, or if it’ll compromise your oneg Shabbat just do without. It does not make you a lesser person.

Ask for help. It’s a great experience for your kids to help with the prep. You can let them (?)

Food allergies make things like takeout more complicated – it’s something I deal with personally. And before we were dealing with allergies, we were dealing with a very tight budget. If something doesn’t work for you, move on to the next idea. It can be hard to listen to people say things like “we just do takeout on weeks like this” and wish you could say the same. It’s not worth dwelling on – just move to the next one on the list. It’s doable.

Sample Shabbat in an hour menu plans

Here are some actual Shabbat plans that require an hour or less of Friday prep. Time gauges are active time when I can’t do anything else.

Menu plan #1

Friday night:

• Challah with dips (purchased)
• Couscous with hearty soup topping (half an hour)

Shabbat lunch:

• Salmon with magic salmon seasoning (5 min.)
• Gefilte fish (done by my 9 year old, 5 min)
• Corn salad – corn, hearts of palm, pickles, pepper. Prepped on Shabbat after shul. (5 min max to open cans).

Misc:

• Cook eggs so that I can prepare egg salad for the kids’ dinner (5 min)
• Cook pasta for the kids just in case (7 min.)

Active time: 27 min.

Menu plan #2

Here’s a menu plan for when you have guests.

Friday Night:

• Chicken soup prepped Thursday night, put up Friday morning in slow cooker (20 min prep Thursday night, 2 min. active time Friday morning to put up, 2 min active time afternoon to transfer to pot.)
• Noodles (5 min including drain and rinse time). This can be done as early as Thursday night and does not need to wait till Friday afternoon!
• Roasted chicken breast with Trader Joe’s coffee rub (10 min. to cut, marinate in morning, 5 min)
• Rice (5 min, made in oven)
• Roasted broccoli (5 min)
• Canned stuffed grape leaves (2 min to add to pan to heat)
• Purchased vegetable kugel (2 min. to transfer to oven dish and heat)

Shabbat lunch:

• Gefilte fish in the oven (I make this every week for M) – 5 min.
• Sushi Salad (5 min to put up sushi rice, the rest is done fresh)
• Mushroom barley soup with beef – 15 min active. To save time, I use sliced mushrooms and cut stew beef. It would take even less time if I used fried onions from the freezer.
• Pepper salad (done on Shabbat)
• Deli platter/charcuterie (done on Shabbat)
• Leafy salad (done on Shabbat)

Misc:

• Challah and dips are all purchased.
• If there’s extra time, I’d put together Duncan Hines brownies in about 10 min.
• Eggs for the week won’t be cooked Friday.
• Seudat shlishit is leftover fish, freshly prepped salads, cut fruit, and challah and dips.

Active time:

• Thurs: 20 min
• Friday morning: 12 min
• Friday afternoon: 51 min

Tip: if there are a lot of 2-minute tasks, it makes sense to not save those all for Friday afternoon. I can also prep all the things that just need heating in the morning to take one minute to transfer to the oven. I also try not to max out the time schedule if I have too many little things, since some might take longer.

No extras – desserts, dips, etc should be done on Friday. You can also purchase things like toffuti cuties, parve ice cream + toppings, babka, candy platters, etc for desserts.

Leftover chicken from Friday night can be used to top salad or sliced into strips and placed on the charcuterie board.

Menu plan #3

Here’s a medium sized menu plan to balance things out.

Friday night:

• Veggie soup from the freezer (5 min to retrieve and put up)
• One dish chicken, potatoes, and broccoli (15 min. prep)

Shabbat lunch:

• Gefilte (5 min)
• Salmon – simple roasted with spices (5 min)
• Cholent – prepped Thurs night in the fridge, put up Fri morning (20 min. Thursday, 2 min. Friday AM)
• Potato kugel from the freezer or takeout (2-5 min to reheat.)
• Salad – prepped fresh.

Active time:

• Thurs: 20 min
• Friday morning: 2 min
• Friday afternoon: 30 min

Got any tips to add for making a short on time and easy Shabbat in an hour or less? Comment below!

The post Easy Shabbat in an hour – Quick Menu Plans and Ideas appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

As the meme states, the Jewish homemaker makes a “Thanksgiving every weekend”. For some families that’s an understatement and for some it may be a bit of an exaggeration.

Wherever you fall in that range, I’m sure you’ve had moments when you absolutely couldn’t think of that perfect dish for that Shabbat lunch, that post-fast feast, or that Shavuot appetizer.

And while your recipes may be organized – or not – you may not have them organized by your specifically Jewish needs.

A friend of mine recently suggested that I create a Jewish recipe binder, and little did I know what a lifesaver that idea would be for me. My clipped recipes have been dumped in a half-size binder, with no rhyme or reason. Digging out that sesame-free humus recipe each time I need it has been a nightmare. And while I’m normally a creative cook (no recipe required), creativity just won’t work for Mommy’s Perfect Pesach brownies!

Get the Jewish Recipe Binder

How to use the Jewish Recipe Binder

The idea of this binder is to help you sort your recipes in a way that:

1. Helps you find the correct recipe at the correct time and
2. Helps you menu plan more easily by sorting things into categories that make sense for you.

It’s designed for recipes you print from blogs, copy from your sister-in-law, or clips from your favorite magazine. And while you should definitely file it in the section you’re most likely to look for it, you can also file it in more than one – depending on your organizational style.

So for example, let’s say I clip this delicious crock pot mushroom barley soup recipe. I’ll print it three times. Once for the soups section, once for the Shabbat Lunch section and possibly also for the slow cooker section.

And gluten free cholent can go in Shabbat lunch, Special Diets (where I’ll look for ideas when my family members with Celiac come), as well as Pesach.

Not everything needs to be everywhere! The sesame free hummus and sunflower pesto don’t need to go in the special diet (allergy free) or Shabbat lunch sections. They’re good with the dips. I don’t use those to menu plan. I just need to be able to find the recipes easily when I’m ready to make them.

Start with a thick binder with heavy duty sheet protectors. This is a starting point to help you navigate this organizational task. You may want to add your own using the blank pages I included (more on that soon!).

Since there are 26 sections in this Jewish recipe binder, it’ll be thick. You don’t need to use all the sections! Just print the ones you need – and yes, I included a directory so you can choose the page numbers to print.

You can also do what I plan to do: split this into two separate binders.

• One will be a menu planner – organized by Jewish holiday/occasion.

• One will be a recipe book – organized by course.

If you do use a single binder with all the dividers, get a thick one.

What’s inside: the sections and more

The Jewish recipe binder includes 26 sections, based on Jewish dietary needs.

Cuisine-focused

These are also focused on Jewish dietary needs:

• Appetizers
• Bread & Grains
• Dairy
• Desserts & Snacks
• Dips
• Drinks
• Fish
• Mains
• Salads & Dressings
• Slow Cooker
• Soups
• Special Diets (gluten-free, nut-free, vegan – to help you plan for guests with specific needs)
• Starchy Sides
• Vegetable Sides

Jewish home focused

• Friday Night
• Shabbat Lunch – this is my favorite section, as Shabbat lunch requirements are specific and we like to switch it up!
• Parsha Treats
• Seudah Shlishit
• Rosh Hashanah
• Erev Yom Kippur
• After the Fast – if you like to cook specific things for then, store the recipes here!
• Sukkot
• Chanukah – for your favorite donuts!
• Purim
• Pesach – while you may want a separate binder for that, this is a great place to drop clippings throughout the year.
• Shavuot – for cheesecake and other fancy dairy dishes

Additional Pages

• 2 blanks! Because everyone has different needs. I made one for menu plans – where I can save the plans I made that were successful. I usually mark down who came and/or how many kids and adults. I also made one for easy dinners. Put anything here that you feel is missing from my binder (because I couldn’t possibly include it all!
• Divider tabs – Cut these out, fold in half, and glue it on to easily find your spot. If you have a Cricut, use the PNG image to “print then cut” (learn how here) If not, just print, cut out, glue. Instructions to follow.
• A cover – I kept this simple to keep things neutral and clean. You can also decorate your own cover.
• Instructions and directory – I also made a single page of instructions and a page-by-page directory. You can stick this in the pocket of your binder so that if you need to print off extra pages you can find the page number easily.

Still didn’t get it?

How to assemble your Kosher recipe binder

You need

• A binder
• Heavy duty sheet protectors
• Print on copy paper for the dividers and cover
• Print on cardstock, photo paper, glossy sticker paper, or regular paper + laminate for the tabs
• Double sided tape, glue lines, or a sticker maker
• The printable files

Assembly instructions

1. Print your pages.
2. Insert the cover into the clear pocket on your binder.
3. Place the sheet protectors in your binder. Start with the first page. Place your first divider page inside.
4. Skip a few and add subsequent divider pages.
5. Cut out the tabs by hand or using the PNG to print then cut on your Cricut.
6. Fold them in half on the center line.
7. Attach the correct tab on the correct sheet protector, placing each one a drop lower than the one before. You’ll be doing a few rounds, but since there are pages/spaces in between, you’ll be able to see the markings.
8. Fill with your recipe clippings!

Tips for assembling your Jewish recipe binder

1. To make the tabs very durable, you can laminate them. You’ll want to place another sheet back to back with it when running it through the laminator. That way, when you cut it out, it’ll only be laminated on the front.
2. Or, print it on glossy sticker paper – this will make assembly easier and color bleed less likely.
3. If you aren’t printing on sticker paper, you may find assembly easier if you run it through a sticker maker. That’s what I did!
4. If you’re a perfectionist, you can measure the placement of the tabs, placing each 1-1.25 inches lower than the one before.

The post Printable Jewish Recipe Binder appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Shabbat lunch for the Sabbath observant has its own special needs. The custom is to eat hot food, and since food can’t simply be cooked in advance and then kept warm, it features some challenges.

Jewish chefs have been getting creative with Shabbat lunch ideas for generations, and today I’m thrilled to share with you some fresh thought starters in a few categories.

Shabbat Lunch Ideas in the Crock Pot

Long used for making cholent, the slow cooker is a fabulous tool for making Shabbat lunch. Simply set it before Shabbat and forget it, and then eat your food piping hot. Here are a few ideas for you to try!

Soups

You may have been making cholent for years, but have you tried soups? Since overnight cooking has a tendency to intensify the flavor, you’ll want to stick to recipes that work with that. I’ve tried the two following recipes:

• Mushroom barley with beef – Adding cubes of beef to this classic European Jewish dish makes it more special for Shabbat lunch.
• Mushroom cauliflower soup – Want a lower carb version? This soup is even tastier than the barley version if you ask me!

Stews

The intense flavor of stews can really warm your soul on a cold Shabbat afternoon. These hearty stews range from the traditional to the less so.

• Cholent – Of course, you can stick with the basics! The cholent recipe that I shared was made in the dutch oven but you can make it in the slow cooker too. It has a sweeter flavor profile. And if you’re avoiding meat (or even if not) this vegan cholent recipe in the slow cooker is heavenly too! This one is best for those who prefer a little spice.

• Gluten free Cholent – Basically the overnight meat and potatoes I’d make as a Passover cholent, but I also make it year round! This is fabulous for when you want something with edible leftovers or slightly less intense than cholent.

• Goulash – This delicious dish is also gluten free and incorporates veggies as well.

• Meat and carrot stew – Similar to the goulash, just stick to meat and carrots for a low carb option.

Other

• Pastrami – Toss a packaged pastrami (that’s designed for this) into the crock pot with water. This is great for small meals, or as an extra main to add to any of the above.
• Yapchik – This is basically a potato kugel with meat, cooked overnight. You either love it or you hate it (and I absolutely love it!)
• Overnight Potato Kugel – Or, just toss a wrapped potato kugel into the crock pot with whatever else you’re cooking in there. If you just have water, wrap it very tightly so it doesn’t get waterlogged. If you have cholent, you may want to allow some juices to seep in. I do this using this potato kugel recipe.

• Pulled beef tacos – Because it needs to be cooked for many hours to fall apart, this crock pot dish is fabulous for overnight cooking for Shabbat lunch! The few extra hours on low shouldn’t matter, but if you’re concerned, just increase the liquid a bit.

Cold Shabbat Lunch Ideas

While the custom is definitely to have something warm to eat, you may want a bit of a break from heavy hot meals. Personally, especially in the summer, we prefer a fish dish with a salad when it’s only us. Here are some cold Shabbat lunch ideas, either to supplement the hot, or even instead.

Fish, Meat and Chicken Dishes

• Salmon – Many salmon dishes are delicious cold. I like a sweet teriyaki, caramelized onion salmon (you can freeze the prepared onions in bulk to make prep easier) or a simple spiced one using Magic Salmon Seasoning. For a more robust salmon dish, try Moroccan salmon.
• Sushi – We love, love, love making our own sushi. If you have guests, it’s a great appetizer or side dish that’s really popular. Just make sure to only use cooked fish if someone is pregnant.
• Gefilte – Of course, there’s always good old gefilte! I bake mine. I simply place it in a loaf pan with an inch of water on the bottom and bake at 350 for about 1.5 hours.
• Patties – My mother makes fish patties that my picky boys gobble up. To upgrade it for the adults, you can serve it with dipping sauces.
• Deli – Finally, don’t underestimate the impact of a great Charcuterie board! Pair delis with grilled chicken, dipping sauces, and some pickles and olives.

Salad Ideas

Of course salad possibilities are endless, but the more robust ones feature various ingredients that are more filling than just veggies.

• Sushi Salad – If you’re short on time, sushi salad is a great hit! It’s basically deconstructed sushi. You can try this recipe from Busy in Brooklyn.

• Nicoise Salad – My favorite dish that my friend makes when we visit is a really robust Nicoise salad. It’s a multi-step process that requires advance prep, however it can serve as your entire Shabbat lunch when it’s just your family.
• Farro Salad – I found a delicious Farro salad in the Whisk magazine a while ago that I’ve been making and is a big hit each time. This recipe is very similar.
• Asian-style noodles – I was debating if I should make a separate “cold pastas” subcategory but decided against it. Macaroni salads can work, but if you want something slightly classier go for an Asian style spaghetti salad with a sesame or peanut based sauce.
• Lettuce-based salad with grilled chicken – Want to make a green salad more robust? Just add grilled chicken or something along those lines. You can hunt down a recipe for a great steak salad too.
• Tabbouleh – This grain based salad is packed with herby parsley and optional mint. You can check out my gluten free quinoa tabbouleh salad recipe here.

• Other salads – Some of our favorite salads to pair with salmon include:
  • Pepper salad
  • Cucumber salad
  • Israeli salad
  • Corn salad
  • Seasoned fresh string beans

Dry Foods Shabbat Lunch Ideas

Another common tradition: many people don’t reheat liquid based foods. The ideas behind this are complicated and you’re best consulting with your rabbi on this. If you don’t have this tradition, technically anything can be reheated if you do it correctly (again, consult with your rabbi). If you do have a need for dry foods that can be reheated, here are some ideas:

• Shnitzel –While it’s best fresh, shnitzel is a big hit every time we make it for Shabbat lunch! Reheat it open so that it doesn’t get soggy (although it’ll take longer to reheat, it’s worth it).
• Potato kugel – Not a big fan of overnight kugel? Most kugels don’t have juices in them, so you can reheat them if done correctly for Shabbat lunch.
• Franks in Blanks – The Kosher version of pigs in blankets, these can either be made quickly using puff pastry and hot dogs, or purchase it pre-made.
• Bourekas – Another puff pastry dish, this is also available in the freezer aisle of many supermarkets. You might find other prepared options (such as cigars) in your Kosher grocery’s freezer. Or, make your own.
• Deli roll – Deli roll is a fabulous classic as well. If you want to make it more elegant, you can make them in mini and serve a few on a platter. Since my son is allergic to sesame, I top mine with minced onion or black garlic. I hope to share my recipe in this space one day!

Sample Shabbat Lunch Menu Ideas

Just to give you an example of how a Shabbat lunch can look for us, here are a couple of menu ideas:

Shabbat Lunch Menu 1: Just us

Eaters: Two adults, two children, one toddler

One course with:

• Challah
• Dips (hummus, eggplant, matbucha)
• Teriyaki salmon
• Gefilte for kids who don’t want salmon
• Pepper salad

Shabbat Lunch Menu 2: Guests

Eaters: 4 adults – one is gluten free, 2 kids, 2 toddlers – can totally feed more!

Course 1:

• Challah + dips
• Salmon with magic seasoning
• Gefilte (made as an extra for kids who need another option)
• Cucumber salad

Course 2:

• Gluten Free Cholent
• Potato zucchini kugel
• Lettuce salad
• Franks in blanks and potato bourekas with different mustards (not gluten free)
• Leftover schnitzel from Friday night (made using crushed Corn Chex as a gluten free coating)

Shabbat Lunch Menu 3: Guests

Eaters: 6 adults, 4 kids, 1 toddler

Course 1:

• Challah + dips
• Moroccan salmon
• Gefilte fish
• Corn Salad

Course 2:

• Charcuterie board (deli corned beef and turkey bacon from Costco, Drunken Hasselback salami, pickles, olives, hot peppers, an assortment of mustards for dipping)
• Deli roll
• String beans drizzled with teriyaki and Ajika Georgian spice
• Linguine with parve (oat milk) pesto sauce

Got any Shabbat lunch ideas to add to the list? Comment below!

The post Shabbat Lunch Ideas & Menu Plans appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Simanim are the special, symbolic foods that we eat on Rosh Hashanah as the start to a happy, sweet new year, full of good things. For example, and perhaps the most well-known, dipping an apple in honey. These two foods are used because of the sweetness of both the apple and the honey; the apple specifically, as opposed to another fruit, symbolizes Gan Eden, which our Sages believes has the scent of an apple orchard.

I love to incorporate the Simanim into the meal itself, instead of just a plate at the beginning of the seudah, for a few reasons. Firstly, preparing the Simanim in addition to a regular Yom Tov meal is a lot of extra work, something many of us busy mothers don’t have time or energy for. Second, we tend to get very full on the Simanim course alone and then don’t have much room left for the rest of the meal. By incorporating the Simanim into the meal, we get the best of both worlds! Delicious yom tov foods, with all the symbolism.

The following is a menu template for the night meals. My family only eats the Simanim at night, and we typically ate the same meal each night. Just don’t forget to add a new fruit for the second to night upon which to recite the bracha of Shehechiyanu.

Don’t forget about menu planning! There is a handy Rosh Hashanah menu planner in our incredible Tishrei Bundle, plus checklists, Sukkah art and more!

Simanim Inspired Menu

Wherever possible, I’ve included the symbolic food in parentheses next to the menu item. Refer back to my Rosh Hashanah Simanim Free Printable for a more in-depth explanation.

Please note, when it is just my family, I only serve 2 proteins at night, fish and chicken OR meat (usually chicken.) I’ve included more options here so you can choose what works for you.

Appetizer

Round Challah

Honey for dipping

Salatim (small salads and dips): Carrot salad (or tzimmes), Techina (sesame), Hummus Simanim

Beet Carrot Apple Salad with Date Vinaigrette (carrots, apple, pomegranate, dates)

Fish

Gefilte fish with carrots

Honey Sesame Salmon (honey, sesame/make sure to include the fish head)

Soup

Potato Leek Soup (leeks)

OR

Pumpkin Soup (gourd)

Entree

Pomegranate Roast (pomegranates, juicy meat)

Rosh Hashanah Chicken with Apples (apples)

Side Dishes

Tongue Spring Rolls (tongue)

Farfel (symbolic)

Pomegranate Coleslaw (pomegranate, apples)

Apple Kugel Muffins (apples)

Dessert

Honey Cake (honey)

Pomegranate Granita (pomegranate)

Which foods will you be including on your Simanim Inspired Menu? Let me know in the comments!

The post Simanim Inspired Menu for Rosh Hashanah appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Some people obsess over shoes, or handbags, or makeup. My obsession? Yup, kosher cookbooks. I love a good cookbook. I love the art in the images and the little personal tidbits that I read in the recipe blurbs. I even love reading the dedication page. So much goes into writing a cookbook, it’s like reading a part of the author’s soul. Especially when it comes to food.

When I buy kosher cookbooks, it’s a form of self care. I save it to read during a quiet night, cozy on the couch. I’ll read it multiple times, with a pad of sticky page markers before I choose a recipe to kick-start cooking from it. When I was younger, single and before I had children, I would read novels. But when I started having children, I didn’t have time to dive deep into a book and not be able to put it down for hours. And slowly, as my kitchen skills improved, cookbooks became my new novels. I can read them over and over again and never get bored. My favorite part of menu planning for a Yom Tov is sitting down with my stack of cookbooks and going through every single recipe until I’ve composed the perfect menu.

The list is below is MY favorite kosher cookbooks. You may have your own list of favorites- I’d love to hear which kosher cookbooks are your most used. These are my favorites based mainly on usability- how often I use them and how many recipes across the board work for me and my family.

There are a plethora of incredible kosher cookbooks out there, and many I have not yet gotten my hands on, which means that they may be my favorite one day, but I won’t include anything on the list that I don’t own and love, with dog-eared and food-spattered pages.

My Favorite Kosher Cookbooks

1. Spice and Spirit (The Purple Cookbook)

This was the first cookbook (but not the last) that I borrowed (stole?) from my mother’s kitchen. It’s the classic kosher cookbook that taught me and so many others how to cook the basics. I still refer back to it when I’m looking for a simple, traditional recipe to feed my family. It’s no frills, no pictures, just solid, dependable recipes that work every time.  There are also excellent guidelines (with drawings!) to keeping kosher throughout the book.

I also love the Spice and Spirit Kosher for Passover cookbook. My family is very limited in our what we can eat on Pesach, as per our traditions. This cookbook has been a godsend in helping me cook delicious meals with very little to work with.

2. Something Sweet by Miriam Pascal

When I used to attempt to bake in my teens, I would flop even the simplest of Duncan Hines cakes. As in, where the instructions had you add in a total of THREE ingredients, I would inevitably forget one. In general, I like the art of cooking a lot more than the science of baking. But Something Sweet is the dessert cookbook that literally taught me how to bake. Miriam Pascal’s first cookbook has easy-to-follow recipes that come out finger-licking delicious every single time.

3. Real Life Kosher Cooking by Miriam Pascal

I may as well tell you right now, all three of Miriam Pascal’s cookbooks are on this list. Her cooking style is very similar to mine and about 95% of the recipes in her books and on her website overtimecook.com are recipes that I turn to time and time again with excellent results.

4. More Real Life Kosher Cooking by Miriam Pascal

The title says it all. There has yet to be a cookbook written by Miriam that I don’t like. They are worth every penny!

5. Perfect for Pesach by Naomi Nachman

While this is technically a Pesach cookbook, I actually use this more frequently year-round than during Pesach itself. There is a handy guide in the back of the book for switching recipes to year-round, but even in their Pesachdig version, the recipes are consistent and yummy! This past Pesach, I was flipping through the cookbook for inspiration, and I came across a recipe for ribs that looked promising, but used ingredients that my family doesn’t use on Pesach. Pesach ended on a Thursday night, and after turning my kitchen back to chametz, I defrosted the ribs I had in my freezer. Friday morning, I popped a fully Pesachdig recipe into my oven, and it made for a wonderful Friday night meal.

6. Perfect Flavors by Naomi Nachman

When it comes to kosher cookbooks, when I like an author, I stick with the author. Naomi Nachman’s second cookbook is full of mouthwatering recipes that were inspired by her world travels- but they don’t use exotic hard-to-find ingredients! These recipes are tasty and simple to make, and many of them have become staples every week in my home.

7. Kosher by Design Kids in the Kitchen by Susie Fishbein

Before I became a mother, I worried that I would hate baking cookies with my kids. And I do. Probably because I don’t love baking myself. But I absolutely love cooking with them and teaching them how to cook on my own. I love teaching them how to create flavor profiles, how to put a whole, balanced meal together and how to read a recipe. We have a bunch of kosher cookbooks specifically for kids but this one is my favorite. My kids love flipping through it to create a menu for supper and as their reading skills get better, so do their cooking skills. The instructions for each recipe are thorough; the author assumes that the kids cooking are beginners and she details every step with accuracy. Of course, the food is always flavorful as well.

8. Millenial Kosher by Chanie Apfelbaum

If you’re in the market for gorgeous kosher cookbooks with trendy recipes that also taste fantastic, this is the cookbook for you. It’s bright and beautiful to read, cover-to-cover. Additionally, the recipes are so interesting, with modern appeal, yet simple to execute. It’s not necessarily the cookbook I turn to for my everyday, every Shabbos recipes, but it’s definitely the go-to when I want to impress someone or have something new and different to serve.

9. Shabbos Under Pressure by Sharon Matten

This cookbook is fairly new on the market, but it is the first one of its kind; a kosher cookbook written specifically for your Instant Pot. If you’ve read some previous blog posts of mine, you know that I absolutely love my Instant Pot. I have 2, one for year-round and one for Pesach, and they are a huge asset to me in my kitchen. I haven’t tried all the recipes in this cookbook yet, but I have used many as inspiration for my own concoctions. I’m also finding it very helpful as a guide on how to utilize your Instant Pot to its maximum capabilities.

10. The Balabuste’s Choice

Of all the kosher cookbooks on this list, this one is the most nostalgic for me. It was the first cookbook I received as a gift when I was a new bride and I cooked many, many recipes from it when we started off our marriage in Israel. The pictures are few and outdated and the recipes are simple and traditional. But they are practical recipes, easy to follow and come out tasting like the comfort food your mother used to make when you were a child.

Above, I mentioned preferring cooking over baking, because I can be more creative – and the recipes I play around with in the kitchen draw so much inspiration from the ten kosher cookbooks I’ve listed.

What are YOUR favorite kosher cookbooks?

The post My Favorite Kosher Cookbooks appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Purim is one of my most favorite times of the year. It’s a time when I like to allow my creative side to come through. I love getting all caught up in planning the costumes, the menu, the mishloach manos. I love when it coordinates to a theme. (Yes, I know, that’s not a halachic or non-halachic requirement. But it’s fun!)

This year is the first one that my children have decided to dress up as separate individuals, without a theme to tie it all together. And I’m totally okay with that. I always promised myself that I’d do a theme as long as my children were game. Now they’ve each requested to be different things (and they stuck to their requests for 3 straight months!) so my husband and I are ditching the costumes, planning a simple mishloach manos, and letting the kids party their way.

The Purim Planner I’ve designed is family oriented. You have 5 sections; one for costumes, one for mishloach manos, one for megillah, one to menu plan your Purim seuda, and one all important Things to Do section. If you’re invited out for the seuda (lucky you!) just cross that section out. As always, with all our printables, make it work for YOU.

You can download the Purim Planner below. (Donations are optional, just enter $0 as the price, but a small tip helps us run this blog and pay our hosting and other fees):

Do you love all the planning that Purim entails? How will this Purim Planner printable make it easier for you? Comment below!

The post Purim Planner – Free Printable appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Are you looking for ways to make Pesach more special this year?

Simple solutions to beautify the chag and your seder table?

Or are you looking to make things easier on yourself? To be more organized and budget better? To avoid last minute craziness with better planning?

Maybe you just want more things that the kids can do to keep busy? Or fun stuff to make them feel more involved – without it taking over your time?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, the Pesach Bundle was designed with you in mind!

Following the success of this year’s Tishrei bundle, Rochel and I decided to put one together for Pesach, only we made it bigger and better. From printable planners to coloring pages, and even Pesach themed games that can be played on the chag itself, the bundle is now available at the incredibly low price of $72.84 $18.

Yep, you read that right!

We are offering the entire digital bundle of planners, games, coloring pages, and more… at the insanely low price of $18. That’s 75% off the full value!

That includes everything listed below!

Please note: these are printable PDF files! Offering these in printable format allows us to bundle them for this price. Print what you need as you need it, and reuse it year after year!

Here’s a quick summary of what’s inside the Pesach bundle.

Below this, I’ve included a full description of each,  a link to the product listing for the individual products (where relevant) so that you can see it in more detail, and multiple photos.

Planners:

• Monthly planner to draft a prep outline
• Weekly planner to draft detailed to do lists
• Pesach cleaning fill-in-your-own checklist, with an outline to help you draft it. Separate lists for the house and the kitchen
• Pesach brain dump to keep handy so you don’t forget anything
• Pantry inventory and pre-Pesach meal planner to help you purge chametz.
• Pesach expense tracker to help you budget better
• Shopping list that can be used as a plain sheet organized into sections, or cut out into cards and stacked by store
• Pesach cooking planner to better coordinate when you cook what according to cook method, time, and temperature, as well as fresh/freezer categorization
• Freezer inventory so that you don’t forget what you have and meal plan better
• Packing list for adults and kids for those of us who are going away for some or all of chag
• Erev Pesach checklist
• Separate first days, seder, and second days menu planners
• Chol Hamo’ed activity and menu planner
• Pesach storage box labels to print on sticker paper and organize better
• After Pesach notes so that you can improve for next year

Table Decor:

Original watercolor artwork was designed for these beautiful table decorations, in three different on-trend themes and styles so that you can match it to the rest of your table setting.

• Three different styles of paper napkin rings – wine glasses, seder plate, and a kriyat yam suf inspired water print.
• Three styles of place cards, perfect for seating all your seder guests quickly!

Kids Activities and Games:

• Nine brand new coloring pages in assorted Pesach themes
• Our famous Makkos puppets in both uncolored and full-color versions
• Brand new Pesach puppets featuring the four main characters of the Pesach story – in both color-in and full color versions.
• A “kids’ bedikat chametz” coloring page craft. Kids can color, cut out, assemble and do their own number hunt using paper pieces of bread.
• A brand new Ditch the Chametz Pesach old maid game that can be played on the chag too! Featuring original drawings.
• My Splitting the Sea board game with trivia questions.

Want to see the Pesach bundle in detail? Here you go!

Please note: any previews here are low resolution and will not print properly. Please purchase the bundle to print.

Pesach Planners:

Proper organizing and planning helps you get a better handle on what needs to be done, avoid distractions, save time, and even save money. Rochel designed these to hold your hand through the planning process. Print as many of each page as you need, and put them into a binder to use them easily and efficiently.

Pesach cleaning and pre-Pesach prep:

Non-bundle price: $6.99

• Monthly planner to draft a prep outline. This calendar is blank, so you can print out as many as you need and fill in the dates on your own.
• Weekly to-do planner to draft detailed to do lists.

• Pesach cleaning “make-it-your-own” checklist, with an outline to help you draft it. Separate checklists for the house and the kitchen.
• Pesach brain dump to keep handy so you don’t forget anything. All the last minute thoughts, everything that’s overwhelming you- just jot it down on the brain dump and then sort it out after.
• Pantry inventory and pre-Pesach meal planner to help you purge chametz. There are two versions of this printable included. One is pre-categorized for you, with sections like “Grains”, Sweeteners” etc, and one is blank for you to organize as you’d like. Use whichever one is easier for you.

• Erev Pesach checklist for all the important millions of things you need to do Erev Pesach.
• Comprehensive packing list for adults and kids for those of us who are going away for some or all of chag.

Pesach & Chol HaMoed meals, cooking, planning, etc:

Non-bundle price: $6.99

• Pesach expense tracker to help you budget better.
• Shopping list that can be used as a plain sheet organized into sections, or cut out into cards and stacked by store. This page can be totally customized for your own needs and is versatile enough to use for any store. You can make lists for each type of store or for aisles and sections within the store. For example, divide up your grocery list into freezer items, produce section, meats, etc.

• Pesach cooking planner to better coordinate when you cook what according to cook method, time, and temperature, as well as fresh/freezer categorization. There’s also a handy column for the recipe source- write down the cookbook number and page number when you menu plan, so that when you actually cook, you know exactly where to find the recipe.
• Freezer inventory so that you don’t forget what you have and meal plan better.
• Separate menu planners for the Sedarim, first days and second days.

• Chol HaMoed activity and menu planner so that you can organize your days in advance and enjoy each day to the fullest.

Post-pesach and next year:

Non-bundle price: $2.99

• Pesach storage box labels to help you organize better. These can be printed on sticker paper or cardstock and affix using clear packing tape.
• After Pesach notes so that you can improve for next year
• Pesach expense tracker to help you budget wisely and plan better for the future

Table Decor:

When we asked our Instagram followers what they prefer on their napkin rings, wine glasses or seder plates, we got a close vote. So I decided to do both… and a bonus one! I created these using watercolor art with graphic backgrounds in marble and watercolor textures.

I figured that with the amount of meals you have over Pesach, you might want to switch between a few different styles!

Print these on card stock for best results. These can be tossed or recycled when you’re done, or they can be laid flat for next year. The napkin rings use a glue-less tab closure so that you can just open them and store them flat. The place cards – even the ones with the cutouts – stack nicely either lying flat, or in the tent position.

Just a reminder: you get the digital files to print these yourself! I printed them out to show you what they look like. Does not include printed files, plates, napkins, flatware, etc.

Wine glass set:

Non-bundle price: $4 each or $7 for both

On these beautiful napkin rings, the wine glass shape sits nicely on the napkin, adding form. On the place card, the top is cut out to stick up. You can use stickers, a label maker, or a brush pen to write names, or just write it in simple block handwriting. Since it’s not Pesach-specific you can use it any time of year, however it’s still totally in the Pesach spirit and will look great next to the sparkling glasses of wine.

Ke’arah/seder plate set:

Non-bundle price: $4 each or $7 for both

On these beautiful napkin rings, the seder plate was painted with metallic watercolors, which shows on the scanned and copied result! Both components are assembled similarly to the cups, but the shape is easier to work with,  the colors are more neutral, and the marble background is on-trend.  You can use stickers, a label maker, or a brush pen to write names on the place cards, or just write it in simple block handwriting.

Sea set:

Non-bundle price: $4 each or $7 for both

If you’re looking for a much easier assembly, and a neutral pattern-based design, this set is perfect. It’s inspired by the splitting of the sea, but isn’t quite a drawing. You can also use it year round, however it’s very appropriate for Pesach.

Kids Activities:

When we asked our Instagram followers what more they want to see in our bundle, the consensus was… help! As in, a babysitter help. Cleaning help. You get the drift.

While we can’t quite send you that, we can try and keep your children productively occupied with Pesach themed activities, crafts, and games. The games are designed to be assembled and printed before Pesach, and can be played with both before and on once you’ve assembled it.

Just a reminder: you get the digital files to print these yourself! I printed them out to show you what they look like. Does not include printed files, scissors, glue, coloring tools, etc

Coloring pages:

Non-bundle price: $5.50

There’s nothing like good old fashioned coloring pages to keep the kids occupied! These include various themes, with quirky characterization of various familiar Pesach images.

Makkot puppets in both uncolored and full-color versions:

Non-bundle price: Uncolored is free with optional donations, full-color is $5

The uncolored version serves as a coloring activity and craft from scratch, while the full-color one is more of a “print and craft” toy. Both are a great way to bring the Seder to life and a great tool for when you talk about the makkos. I illustrated these so that they are non-scary and appropriate for very young children too.

Pesach Character puppets in both color-in and full color versions:

Non-Bundle price: $4 each

This year, to add to the storytelling aspect, I also made Moshe, Aharon, Miriam, and Pharaoh puppets so that you can play out how things went down!

Kids’ pretend bedikat chametz:

Non-Bundle price: $4.50

Kids love to feel like they’re part of things, but you don’t want them hiding real chametz without supervision! This is a learning tool and a number hunt, a coloring page, a craft, and a fun activity all in one. The bags are simple to assemble, and I included to versions of the bag: a “decorate-your-own” that only says the words “bedikat chametz” in Hebrew, and one with a fun cartoon drawing.

Games:

Bestselling Ditch the Chametz Pesach old maid game:

Non-Bundle price: $8

How cool is a deck of Pesach cards? You can two of each card – but wait! There’s only one Chametz card! Don’t get stuck with it because that one has no match. Based on the classic old maid game, this deck of cards can be played with other games, including memory match.

I used both illustrations designed for some of the products above as well as brand new illustrations for this fun Pesach card game. I even designed a box that you can print and assemble – but if you want to play it the easy way, just print the cards on card stock and cut them out.

Splitting the Sea board game:

Non-Bundle price: $7

This printable board game was designed a few years ago, using hand-drawn elements and backgrounds. The simple game play includes a board with rocks trailing through water. You have a spinner that shows which level trivia card you pick according to the pattern on the back… and how many spaces you move forward if you get the answer right!

Since it’s also designed like a classic board game, you can make up your own game play rules.

Got any questions about the Pesach bundle? Comment below!

The post Pesach Productivity and Activity Bundle – Crafts, Planners & More! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

After years of trying to pack myself a decent lunch for work and usually failing, I finally came up with a sensible plan that works. The best part about these lunch ideas for work is that they’re A. healthy and easy to assemble and B. require minimal work- if you do it the way I describe below.

There are inspiring meal prep plans all over social media, but the problem is, those are typically geared for dinner, and for a family at that. I decided to come up with my own kind of meal prep meal, but for only one or two people (myself and my husband, occasionally), and specifically for lunches. I wanted food that was filling, healthful and that had just enough variety that I wouldn’t get bored. Because I HATE when I get bored of a favorite meal.

Personally, I like to take an item from each section below and create lunch bowls. I start with my base, add a protein, a vegetable or two and a topping. Occasionally, I’ll add a dressing, but I prefer to season each item individually when I prepare it and then allow the flavors to meld together in the bowl. While I typically prepare these lunch bowls “macro bowl” style, all the components below would do really well in a wrap as well, if you’d prefer.

All the items below can be made all at once, on Sunday (or whatever day works best for you). If stored properly, I’ve found that everything below will last at least 5 days in the fridge, which gives you a week worth of lunch ideas for work. Storage is important. While I take each lunch to work in a plastic, disposable container, the food each gets stored individually in glass containers. These keep the food freshest for longest, without any unwanted flavors (i.e. from an aluminum pan) mixing into my food.

I generally spend less than an hour on Sundays preparing these lunches. All the veggies get roasted at once on a large sheet pan– as pictured below, I don’t mix the items, I just keep them separate and season them each individually.

While the vegetables cook, I prepare my base (often a grain) and proteins- I grill chicken, bake salmon, prepare tuna, cook quinoa, etc. I usually prepare two proteins and two lunch bowl bases per week and switch it up every day. The toppings are easy. My favorite is roasted chickpeas which can cook with the vegetables. If you’re adding nuts or seeds and dressing, preparing those should take you less than 5 minutes.

It’s important to note that I do NOT make everything below every single week. I pick a few items from each list, prepare it and refrigerate, and then, every morning, assemble my lunch bowl with the various components. I make just enough that every day is a little different.

Lunch Ideas for Work

Lunch Bowl Base Ideas

• Spaghetti Squash (I find it easiest to prepare this in my Instant Pot)
• Zoodles
• Quinoa (my favorite!)
• Farro
• Brown Rice

Lunch Bowl Protein Ideas

• Baked salmon (you can even season a couple of pieces in 2 or 3 different ways and bake them all at once in the same pan)
• Grilled chicken
• Tuna
• Sliced turkey

Lunch Bowl Vegetable Ideas

• Broccoli (roasted or fresh)
• Sweet potatoes (roasted)
• Butternut squash (roasted)
• Shredded carrots
• Sugar snap peas
• Red onion (raw, roasted or pickled)
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Red cabbage
• Roasted zucchini
• Cherry tomatoes (raw or roasted)
• Leaves/greens of choice (spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, arugula, etc.)

Lunch Bowl Topping Ideas

• Roasted chickpeas
• Avocado
• Nuts
• Sunflower seeds
• Your favorite salad dressing

If you’re not in the mood of making a lunch bowl or wrap, you can also make a big pot of soup for the week, and take some in a thermos every day for work- an especially comforting lunch in the colder months.

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What do you typically take for lunch to work? Do you buy lunch often? Comment below!

The post Easy & Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Whether you’re hosting one party, multiple parties or no parties at all, this Chanukah party planner will come in handy. Even if it’s just you and your family, fill out one of these to make a regular supper turn into a fun night!

While formatting this Chanukah party planner, I could not decide whether or not to include lines or blank space. Personally, I love blank space. I’m one to scribble in the margins, draw little diagrams, and preset lines are too restrictive for me. But after doing a poll in our Instagram stories, I decided to offer both versions- so when you download this free printable (below) you’ll get both options, a planner with lines and a planner with blank space, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

I had a hard time choosing what to include on this Chanukah party planner- specifically regarding the party favors. I’ve never given out party favors, but I’ve definitely received them, so I chose to include it. Of course, you do you! If you don’t want to spend on party favors, considering doing a secret gift exchange and/or grab bag with your guests, so that everyone leaves with something, but not at your (additional) expense.

For the entertainment section of this Chanukah party planner, why not choose from my list of Chanukah party games and activities for a low budget, fun activity?

Decide whether you’ll be serving buffet style, or a sit-down meal. If you’ll be doing a meal, will you serve family style or individually plate each course? Consider the amount of work that will go into whichever choice you make. As Chanukah is a time that most of us still work, a party may be happening after a full day, so take that into account in your planning.

Some delicious additions to your meal may include my refreshing Crunchy Snow Pea Salad, or Menucha’s healthful Spaghetti Squash Latkes.

You can download the Chanukah Party Planner below. (Donations are optional, just enter $0 as the price, but a small tip helps us run this blog and pay our hosting and other fees):

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Will you be hosting any Chanukah parties this year? Or will you only be a guest? Comment below!

The post Chanukah Party Planner – Free Printable! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.