Gefilte Fish - Love it or leave it

What can I say about gefilte fish?  You either love it or you hate it.  I belong to the former group, and we are a minority.




I have seen, and tasted, gefilte fish in 2 forms - the bottled-in-brine fishcakes that you buy in the grocery store and the kind that one of Mom's oldest (as in length of friendship) and dearest friends makes.  Until "Auntie Nora" entered our lives, I did not know that gefilte fish came any way other than in a bottle.  We always had a jar or 2 on hand for Pesach, and we ate it with khren (horseradish).  It helped to satisfy my inner 'salty' and I ate it with Mom every holiday. 




As long as (Auntie) Nora and Jessie have been together - which is going on 30 years now - we spent the Yomim Tovim (holidays) together.   Usually Mom took one night and Nora the other.  Jesse and Dad's friendship dates back to law school days, and they share a birthday (1 year apart).  Nora and Mom just hit it off from day one, and their friendship blossomed into one of those deep and powerful sisterhood-type friendships featured in movies - only theirs was real.


So it comes as no surprise that I found many of Nora's recipes written on food-stained pieces of paper in Mom's cookbook.  Nora, like Mom, is a fantastic cook.  Hers is the only chicken soup - other than Mom's, now mine - that Davie will go for seconds and thirds.  Her matzo balls are light and airy, always floating to the top.  In fact, everything she serves is unbelievably delicious.  Yom Tov at Nora's table was always a treat. 


Sadly, as Mom's condition worsened, we had to cut back numbers and keep things really small and quiet in order to quell her anxiety.  Large dinners with our 2 families were one of the casualties during this period.  But to this day, I carry with me the wonderful memories of dinners at Nora and Jesse's table, and now I replicate some of her traditional dishes that I adore. 




One of them is her baked gefilte fish.  It is delicious and out of this world.  It combines 3 types of pre-ground fish, with various seasonings, onions, eggs and veggies and the whole shebang is baked in the oven in a bundt pan.  Lena, Becca and I adore this recipe, and after having Nora's gefilte fish, I could never revert to the jarred stuff - never. 




Every Yom Tov Nora would serve the gefilte fish, and generously wrap up the leftovers for me to take home!  Finally, a few years back, I decided to take the plunge and make it myself.  Armed with the recipe, I went to the market and bought the salmon, sole and whitefish.  One small problem - I did not know you could buy it already ground/minced!  So I spent hours deboning and grinding all this fish - uggh!  Now, don't forget, I have a daughter who reacts to fish.  If she tastes even a morsel she becomes nauseous.  A few bites and she is physically ill.  Thankfully she is not anaphylactic, but I do avoid bombarding her with fish smells - you can only imagine how much she appreciated my new endeavour of home-grinding fish!  Later on, when the wonderful gefilte fish bundt was ready, I recounted my less-than-pleasant preparation experience with Mom, who burst out laughing!  She asked why I didn't just go to the Kosher Sobey's and pick up 3 pounds of pre-ground fish?!  I was shocked - it never occurred to me that it came pre-ground!  She laughed and told me that this should be enough proof that I still need to consult with my mama!  So, don't make the same mistake I did - just to go your local market (Sobey's at Clark & Hilda if you're from my neck of the woods) and ask for minced or ground fish!!



Nora's version of gefilte fish was appetizing enough that Carlo relented on his vow to never try it  and ate some - he says the jellied fish reminds him of an Italian dish Souse (pronounced sootzoo) which will never pass his lips either!  I think he liked it, but just can't get his head around the connection to jellied products, so he does not partake with us.  That's OK - just means that there is even more left for us!


So, from Auntie Nora's table to mine, and now to yours, I hope you and your family will enjoy this outstanding gefilte fish recipe as much as we do. 




Auntie Nora's Great Gefilte Fish


Ingredients

• 3 lbs minced fish - ¾ lb salmon,   ¾ lb sole, 1½ lb whitefish (remember - buy it minced!!)
• 2 large onions - diced and sauteed 
• 4 eggs
• 6 tbsp matzo meal (or cream of wheat if not for Pesach)
• 2C ice cold water
• 5 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 4 carrots - grated
• parsley

Method
Preheat oven to 350°.  Mix all ingredients together for 20 minutes in mixer.  Grease bundt pan and sprinkle with parsley.  Pour in mixture.  Bake for 2 hours, covering with foil 1 hour into baking so it does not get too brown.  Delicious! 


I typically make it ahead of time and freeze it.




Whatever you're making and whatever you're celebrating, I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food. B'Tayavon and Buon appetito!

Pesach is here -- already ?!?!?

As the Jewish holiday of Pesach (Passover) approaches, I really miss my mom. 

  

As far back as I can remember, Mom had me as her very own captive audience, reviewing her Yom Tov menus with me, over and over again, until everything was just right.  She would delight in updating me on the progress of her preparation, happily crossing off items that she had finished making and frozen for the dinner.  At the time, it did not impress me and, if I'm perfectly honest, I think it made me a little nuts. 

  

So it is especially ironic that I have turned out just like her, only worse!  Not only do I review my menu 500 times, delighting in every item that I have crossed off my list, but I do the same thing with my weekly groceries!  I know what you are thinking - poor Carlo, Sara and Becca.

  

So, now that Mom is not available to share these moments with me, I have decided to share them with you!  Ready?  Set?   Let's Go!

In years gone by, our Seders have ballooned to 40 people, and shrunk to the immediate 8 (when Mom and Mildred were still able to come over, and Abby was but a twinkle in Davie & Lena's eye).  When entertaining proved difficult for Mom, I took over.  Depending on our numbers, we entertained in the condo party rooms and at our house.  Mom and Dad were always firm believers that no-one should be alone for Yom Tov, and room was always found for those last minute discoveries that a friend or acquaintance was on their own.  This is just one of the things for which I am immensely proud of our parents. 

  

But some unexpected twists and turns in our life path (Mom getting EOAD) have made it more difficult to open our doors and not have the preparation lead up turn into a wholly negative and exhausting experience.  Lena and I talked, as the new leading ladies of my family, and agreed to scale down the numbers - not for any other reason than we wanted our kids to grow up with happy memories of these festive meals, and not just remember a grumpy mom who did nothing but lament about how she had too much to do. 

  

So fast forward to 2012.  Carlo and I are hosting the first Seder, Davie & Lena the second (in the Diaspora, we observe the holidays for 2 nights, to ensure we do not miss the proper timing - as it falls in Israel). 

  

There is a lot of pressure on this night - and while I will still emit the occasional whine and complaint over the next 2 weeks - I wouldn't trade a moment of it.  There is much more to this evening than just the festive meal, but at the moment, that it what I am concerning myself with. 

  

Now, let's run down this year's "Dos & Don'ts Checklist": 

1. First off, Davie & Dad are strictly kosher - the evening will be too
2. Dad and Joel (and if I am truthful - I) need to have sodium-reduced diets
3. Davie and I insist on having the hard boiled eggs, celery and potatoes, all in salt water
4. Lena is pescatarian, and she, Becca and I adore Auntie Nora's Gefilte Fish (recipe to follow in a future post)
5. Davie and the kids love chicken soup with matzo balls - can't forget that
6. Carlo, Dad & Davie love chopped liver - Aviva is making that
7. Carlo, Davie, Dad, Becca, Abby and occasionally Sara love meat - need a brisket (although they are pushing me for rib roast - but the brisket will have similar flavouring to the chicken, come on people!)
8. We need chicken for those who prefer poultry - country apricot chicken will go well with brisket
9. We need lots of veggies for Lena, Sara and I - Lena is bringing her famous salad - yumm!
10. We need potato kugel - what is a holiday meal without it!?!?
11. We need stuffing - Norene's recipe is out of this world
12. We need tsimmes to combat what Mom called "Princess Matza Belly" effects of Pesach
13. We need Auntie Nora's asparagus vinaigrette - too delish to omit (recipe to follow in a future post)
14. I am thinking we need some kabakel (roasted eggplant spread) - thankfully I found Zaida Sam's recipe
15. Dessert - no lemon rolls for us!  I refuse...we'll have fruit and some kind of baking - I am thinking Ruth Heiges' Sponge Cake & Meringues...we'll see!

Well, now you see that this is not such a simple endeavour...I hope you will join me over the next 2 weeks as I prepare the dishes listed above, and make my first: Strictly Kosher, Low-Sodium, Pescatarian, Carnivore-friendly, Veggie filled Seder!


Until next time, I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food. B'Tayavon & Buon Appetito!

Salty in a Sweet World

I am a 'salty' in a 'sweet' world.   I adore salty food, crave it and face the daily struggle of resisting it.


Everyone around me loves sweets of some kind, and each one has a favourite - their Achilles Heel so to speak.  Carlo loves fudge, Sara loves Nerds, Becca loves Toblerone and Dad loves ice cream.  The old joke was that Mom would just buy Dad a case of ice cream and keeping bringing him dishes to his den whenever my grandparents would come to stay for a visit! 


Mom had a sweet tooth, and her weakness was for licorice allsorts.  She loved black licorice, and always had a stash on hand 'just in case'.   I was not a fan myself, and she would always try to convince me that I needed to give it another try: "It's good for the mugen (stomach) - aids in digestion".  Oy Mom, to this day I am not convinced!

Last night I popped into bulk barm for a couple of supplies.  I decided to get Carlo a treat while I was there...but what to get?  The man loves every kind of sweet imaginable.  He was no help - "I can't decide between jujubes, jelly beans or allsorts...surprise me".  So, off I went to kill 20 minutes before Sara would be finished at tutor, and leisurely strolled the aisles of bulk barn.  I found the almond paste I need for another recipe I've been dying to try, and the piping bags I'd run out of, and then it was off to the candy aisles. 


Don't get me wrong, I don't hate sweets, I just don't love them.  Maybe it stems from working in fro yo (frozen yoghurt) shops through my teens, and being surrounded by toppings - a sweet lover's paradise.  It just does nothing for me.  I do like the occasional sour soother, and peanut butter and chocolate is my weakness.  So walking through aisles of candy is not in the least bit tempting to me.  I stumbled upon the licorice allsorts bin and decided that this was his treat - why?  Because it was Mom's favourite, and in some way, it made me feel connected to her at that moment.  Off I went to get Sara and go home for Shabbat dinner.  Afterwards, Carlo and I plunked ourselves in front of the television and I got out the allsorts. 

Let me explain, as I venture further into my 40s I have noticed that I occasionally have a hankering for something sweet after dinner, just to nosh on while we clean up.  My mother-in-law has a little jar or jelly tots that call my name every time we go there, and I keep some dried figs on hand at home for just such 'emergencies' - the big jar or tots and/or soothers was proving too much for me too resist, and my waistline began showing signs of my weakness!

Mom, too,  had a nightly routine - she would finish up in the kitchen after dinner, and then go peruse her nosh (snack) stash, taking great pains to choose just the right combination.  Then she would head upstairs and settle in on her bed to watch her favourite shows and nibble on sweets - often a Costco-sized box of allsorts. 

So, last night, I sat down with Carlo and our allsorts when the phone rang.  It was Aviva, and it turns out that allsorts are her favourite too (no offence, but what is wrong with these people?!?!?).   Then the conversation started, and I discovered that there is an allsorts etiquette of sorts!  Seriously!  Both of them hate the candy coated ones (as far as I am concerned, the best in a bad lot of treats), throw out the plain black licorice ones (how wasteful!), and like the coconut centred candies.  When I called them on this, their explanation was simple - that I am weird!  That's ok - I can take it...besides, sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me!

Oh, well, I will leave the allsort officianados to their craft, and I will move on with the nice memory of my beautiful mother, relaxing with her allsorts, appreciating every morsel, especially the black licorice ones - after all, they are good for the mugen!

Until next time, I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food.  B'Tayavon & Buon Appetito!

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato: Stuffed Tomatoes

My mother was always a huge fan of the musical.   Growing up, Mom and Dad often took us to the theatre, symphony and ballet (actually, she and I went to the ballet while Dad took Davie to see the Leafs).  Consequently I, too, have a deep love for musicals.  I watch them on television every chance I get, and Carlo and I take the kids to the theatre and symphony whenever our busy lives permit. 


If I had to pick an all-time favourite musical it would have to be Les Miz (I know, it sounds so cliche, but it's true!), and I have been to see it at least 4 times - not to mention watching the 25th anniversary special that keeps appearing on PBS!

So...going back to my childhood - Mom would go around the house singing songs from the classics - the clips that follow are a sampling of Mom's and my favourites...she would sing or hum them as she went about her business...they always brightened her mood and mine. 


Nowadays, I sing them as I putter around our home - the only difference being that I am tone deaf and drive the kids a little nuts when I try to sing.  No worries, 25 years from now they will look back on these days with warm fuzzy memories. 


There's Singing in The Rain:

Cats, The Musical:

Fiddler on the Roof:

Evita:





They say that music is one of the last things to be lost to an Alzheimer's patient.  I would agree.  Mom still taps her feet and smiles a bright smile when she hears music.  When I visit, I always pull out the old songs she used to sing to me and then to my girls.  Now I sing them to her, and she smiles, occasionally remembering the words to fill in a blank:

Mairzy Doats:

Nobody Loves Me:

I love you a bushel and a peck :

Wow!  Looking for these songs has transported me back to a happy, simple time about 35 years ago, snuggling up with my mother on my parents' bed on a Sunday afternoon, covered by her favourite, tattered blue, purple and red mohair throw (boy was it itchy, but she loved it, and it was a small price to pay for a delicious cuddle with my mama), watching old musicals on TV.  Mom had a few mohair throws, and Sara inherited one, which she keeps on her bed (oy - it itches me just to fold and lay it on top when I change the sheets!!!).

My parents had one just like this!!



I thought I would share these special memories and songs with you because they have become part of who I am - I sing silly ditties that apply to the dish I am preparing.  In this case, I sing "you say tomato and I say tomato - let's call the whole thing off!".  What is the dish, you may ask?  Stuffed tomatoes!  I think I followed a recipe for them at one time, but now I just wing it!  I hope you enjoy making these, and don't forget to sing (ok - maybe just hum) the song while you're doing it!

Until next time,  I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food!  B'Tayavon & Buon Appetito!


Naomi's Sumptuous Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients: 

• 4 firm tomatoes - hollowed, reserve pulp! (I prefer plum or hot house)
• ½ C bread crumbs
• ¼ C melted margarine
• 1 tsp Mrs. Dash
• 1 tsp dried chives
• 1 tsp parsley

Method:

• preheat oven to 350 °
• slice top off each tomato, close to edge
• gently scoop pulp so tomato is hollow
• cut around stem of tomato, adding cuttings to pulp
• finely chop pulp and tops (approx 4 pulses on mini chopper - do not liquefy)
• combine with remaining ingredients - mixture should be firm enough to hold it's form, not sticky.  If it is sticky, add more bread crumbs until you achieve a workable consistency
• place tomatoes in muffin pan to hold them upright
• stuff each tomato with mixture
• bake for 20 minutes or until filling is golden brown and slightly crispy

March is Media Month!

I always try to do things for the right reason - acknowledgement, attention & accolades are not what drive me.   Awareness, on the other hand, is fantastic!!

My bird's eyeview of the 2012 Walk for Memories

This is a lesson that Carlo and I are teaching our children as well.  For as long as I can remember, we have volunteered for causes that are important to us, and made an effort to include our children in them too.  We participate in various walks - Walk for Israel, Run for the Cure, Walk for Memories - and volunteer our time and effort on different councils and committees.


We attended the Walk for Memories on January 28th, 2012.  The excitement was in the air.  Media was everywhere, and photos and videos were being shot all around.  At one point a photographer came up to us and started photographing Becca tying the memories shoelace on my finger.  It was a cool, fleeting moment.  We never saw the photograph.  It was not in the papers that we could see.  Oh well, that was not the reason we went anyways.  And life went on. 


Last week (is it only a week ago?!?!) I met with Joan and Marija at Alzheimer's Society of Toronto for the taping of the e-learning module.  Afterwards, Joan and I perused their website.  I discovered a blogger who, like me, is documenting her journey.  I discovered the Walk for Memories online album.  Over the weekend I took a few minutes to view the album - and there was Beccaloo's picture!  So exciting - I blasted it on twitter and MMT facebook.  The end....or so I thought.


Today I opened my e-newsletter from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto - and there is her photo!  So, please - go check out one of my two cuties, and take some time to read about all the exciting programming and wealth of information listed in their newsletter.  What the heck - subscribe to it and stay informed!


I had better get ready for work now.  So, until next time, I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food.  B'Tayavon & Buon Appetito!

It's Here!!! CJN Article about Mom

Last January 31st, 2012 I had the pleasure of meeting Carolyn Blackman of the Canadian Jewish News - to talk about Mom and her recipes.  I went into our meeting with no expectations, and really enjoyed our visit.

This morning a friend emailed me that she read Carolyn's article in the CJN - out today.  I immediately stumbled (I am not the most techno-savvy gal around) and found the article (CJN - go to page 38).

I read it and started to cry.  I am starting to cry as I write this!  Why the tears?  Because every article and post about my mother returns her to who she was - a vibrant, beautiful and treasured daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  If you take nothing more away from my blog, please let it be that, and let that be her legacy.  

Thank you Carolyn - it is a beautiful article - for helping to memorialize Carol Joy Reiter.  I am forever grateful. 

March 15, 2012 Edition of Canadian Jewish News

CB loves PB ... Cookies, that is!

They say opposites attract, and if you need any proof, look no further than my husband and me.  He's Italian and I am Jewish.  He loves sports and I...well, I don't.  He likes action movies and I love romcoms.  He loves Discovery Channel and I love TLC.  He loves meat and I would be happy to never eat it again.  Actually, that's really where our differences end.




After more than 20 years together, we have meshed into 2 halve of a whole, and the truth is that our differences serve a purpose - we compliment one another.  Carlo LOVES sweets; I don't.  I LOVE baking sweets; he doesn't.  Together, we are the perfect fit - I bake, and he eats!




Recently, a friend from Norene's Kitchen posted a recipe for peanut butter cookies.  Carlo LOVES peanut butter cookies. So, of  course I have been plotzing (exploding with excitement)  to make a batch of these cookies for him!




This past Sunday the timing was finally right.  I managed to spend a quality hour and a half with Mom, Dad and Davie, then had a luxurious stroll through No Frills - you may think I am kidding but I'm not, I love my grocery shopping time and look forward to it - and came home.  Carlo had a beautiful fajita waiting for me, we unloaded and washed everything up and there was still time for me to whip up a batch of cookies. 




I usually ask the kids what cookie they feel like, and alternate between them, but this time I decided that it was Carlo's turn.  So I gathered the ingredients, got myself organized, and then decided to double the recipe so I could freeze a batch of pre-rolled cookies.  If there is one thing I love to do, it is to simplify my life by doubling recipes and freezing half.  Mom taught me this and lived by this rule herself.  It makes sense - the clean up is the same, the increased effort is negligible, but the benefits - well they are obvious!  Easy access to fresh, home cooked/baked treats. 




But, to quote Sophia on Golden Girls, "I digress". The recipe is so easy, and the batter is thick but not too sticky - a pleasure to work with.  I made a couple dozen, and rolled another 5 dozen for freezing.  They were barely out of the oven when Sara came in and tried one - delish!  Then the big test: Carlo.  He LOVED them!  Hurray!  (Otherwise I would have been in big trouble with an extra 5 dozen in the freezer!). 



I want to thank Marion Kaplan for allowing me to share her recipe with my readers. Without further adieu, here is a pictorial step by step of The Making of Marion's Peanut Butter Cookies.

Mix ½ C each of white & brown sugars 

Add ½ C margarine or shortening

Cream sugars and margarine

Add 1 egg & 1 tsp vanilla

Y Mom's Sifter Y 

First, mix dry ingredients separately,
then blend dry mixture with creamed sugars

Blend ½ C  peanut butter, roll into 1/2 tbsp balls, bake for 10" at 
375° for 10 minutes, cool for 2 minutes and transfer to cooling rack

I always try to double recipes &  freeze a batch
 for freshly -baked cookies on a moment's notice

The finished product - family approved!

Until next time, I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, fun, friends and fantastic food.  B'Tayavon & Buon Appetito!

MARION'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES 

INGREDIENTS

• ½ C shortening or margarine
• ½ C white sugar
• ½ C brown sugar                                 
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ c. sifted flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• ½ tsp vanilla
• ½ C smooth peanut butter
• 12 oz. package peanut butter morsels (optional)

METHOD

• preheat oven to 375° F
• spray cookie sheets or line with parchment
• cream shortening (or margarine) with white & brown sugars at medium speed for approx 3 – 5 minutes
• Add egg & beat well
• gradually add sifted flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla and peanut nutter
• MIX WELL on low speed
• hand mix peanut butter morsels (optional)
• batter will be THICK, roll into 1¼” balls by hand (or scoop if desired)
• flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork
• bake at 375° for 10 minutes (for chewier version bake at 300° for 15 minutes)
• cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes, then remove & cool completely
• Cookies will be a light golden color with a light brown edge
• Yields 6 dozen  2” cookies