Jewish Cooking Boot Camp: The Modern Girl's Guide to Cooking Like a Jewish Grandmother (4 page)

"If you don't put in the effort the day before, what are you going to eat on Shabbat?"

-TALMUD AVODAH ZARAH 3A

Whether orthodox or reform, preparation is always key when it comes to Shabbat. Capping
off a busy week with a family dinner is a great idea, but spending all day Friday in a
kitchen isn't always feasible. For that reason we've given you dishes that are simple to
make, many of which can be prepared during the week. The appetizers, onion kugel, salad
dressing, and ice cream pie can all be made in advance, leaving plenty of time on Friday to
prep and cook the chicken. Another benefit? Having many elements of the menu finished in
advance creates fewer pots and pans to clean after dinner! And when it comes to baking the
challah, just remember one thing: Homemade is lovely on special occasions, but there's no
shame in bakery-bought bread. In fact, a local temple or school is likely to sell fresh challah on Friday as a fundraiser.

Moderately Priced Red:

Monte Antico (Tuscany, Italy)

Special-Occasion Red:

Braida Monte Bruna Barbera (Piedmont, Italy)

Moderately Priced White:

Bernier Chardonnay (Loire, France)

Special-Occasion White:

Cambia Katherines Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Barbara, California)

"At our Shabbat dinner we go around the table and share our highs (best part of our week)
and our lows (worst part of our week), and then we each say what we are looking forward
to in the coming week. It's a really nice way for our kids to learn how to speak in front of a
group (even though it is usually just the five of us-we do this even when we have company
or are out to eat), and it is also a great way for them to learn how to listen to one another
and to see that their parents also have bad days sometimes! We do our `highs and lows' after
the Shabbat blessings, and then after dinner we sing Shabbat songs and either play board
games or take a walk. We try to do this as many Friday nights as possible."

-WENDY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

"I bring my twin girls home early from school on Fridays so that we can bake together for
Shabbat. We make challah, and we also bake a dessert for Shabbat dinner. On Friday morning before school I give the girls cookbooks with pictures, since they cannot read yet, to pick
out what dessert they want. While they are in school, I go shopping for ingredients. They
love placing the ingredients into the mixer and making sure all the right ingredients go
into the recipe. They also love to knead the dough for the challah. They show such pride
at Shabbat dinner that they have made the dessert and challah. I love that at least once a
week I get to spend true quality time with my girls."

-AVISHAG, NORTH MIAMI, FLORIDA

"Every Friday morning I wake up at 6 a.m. and begin to prepare Shabbat dinner for at least
eight and sometimes up to fourteen people. This is a new tradition for my husband and me,
who only began seriously observing the Sabbath once our son was born. No matter what
is happening with work or how many endless business and social obligations we need to
attend, Friday night is sacred. We do not go out, we don't get in a car or on a plane, and our
BlackBerries, cells, and computers are all off. It's just us and whomever we decide to invite
into our home. The whole world gets shut out, we say kiddush and the other blessings, and
the fun begins.

"We have lots of non-Jewish friends and invite them to Shabbat dinner along with our
Jewish friends. We always try to explain what is going on in funny, non-boring ways. For
example, after the kiddush I usually say, `This means, thank God we have wine!' We also
usually end up playing `Rock Band' on the Playstation afterward, unless our guests are
shomer shabbat, in which case, we keep drinking and chatting for the rest of the night. They
stumble home, and we pray we don't break any of our china or crystal.

"The question I get most often is: How did you pull this off and make it look so easy? It's
a long complicated answer that involves a nanny, a kosher butcher that delivers, and frantic calls to my husband that he needs to be home by 6 p.m. sharp. There is a lot of hard work
involved to pull this off, and sometimes I wonder why I am doing this to myself. Okay, every
Friday by midday I get there! But it is worth it every time in the end."

-DEB, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

1. Shabbat begins at sunset, but the Shabbat candles that welcome the Sabbath are traditionally lit eighteen minutes before sundown.

2. Many believe Shabbat to be the most important holy day in the Jewish calendar, and it is
often referred to as a "queen" or "bride."

3. Hachnasat orchim (or hosting guests) is considered a mitzvah in the Jewish religion and
is especially encouraged for Shabbat meals.

• Shabbat is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments.

• The two candles lit on Shabbat represent the two commandments of Shabbat: zakhor
(remember) and shamor (observe).

• While the woman of the house welcomes Shabbat by saying the prayer over the candles,
the man of the house says the prayer over the wine (see Shabbat Blessings on page 28).

• Shabbat is considered officially over on Saturday night when one can count three stars in
the sky.

• Sex is not only encouraged between spouses on Shabbat, it is actually considered a
double mitzvah!

These cheese squares are such an old recipe that no one in our family can remember who passed
it along. Though they may be small, they pack a lot of spinach flavor; when we tested them at a
weeknight family dinner, they disappeared before we could even ask if anyone liked them.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Melt the butter and pour it into an 8 x 11-inch baking dish.

3. In a large bowl beat the eggs; add the flour, milk, salt, and baking powder. Mix well.

4. Add the cheese and spinach. Mix well.

5. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.

6. Bake for 35 minutes-or until set and golden brown on top.

7. Let cool for 40 to 50 minutes. Cut into bite-sized squares and serve.

Whenever you work with frozen chopped spinach, be sure to drain it well. If you don't have
time to let it sit in a colander for a few hours, paper towels can work well to squeeze out
excess water.

* These squares are easily prepared in advance and reheated prior to serving (or the next day).

Full disclosure: Andrea hates sweets. And raisins. So her loving Grandma Edith would always
make this favorite for her at family holidays. It takes the sweet flavor out of kugel and replaces
it with a more savory taste that works well with the garlic flavor of the chicken.
Call it a different take on a Jewish classic.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish, greased with butter or cooking spray.

4. Dot the top with a little extra butter.

5. Bake for 60 minutes or until golden brown on top.

6. Salt to taste right before serving.

The Thirty-nine Categories of Forbidden Acts on Shabbat

The thirty-nine forbidden acts (or thirty-nine melachot) form the basic outline of activities that are forbidden on Shabbat. Unlike "work" in the traditional English sense of
the word, melachot is usually described as creative activities that exercise control over
one's environment, or a skill or craftsmanship. These thirty-nine categories are simply
that, categories, and have been expanded, interpreted, and debated over the years.