Author Archives: The Jewish Lady

Pumpkin Spice in August? No Thanks

15 Replies

Correct me if I’m wrong: pumpkin spice is supposed to be a Fall favorite. Or, it used to be, back when we actually stuck to the seasons. Now, it seems like they’re pushing everything much earlier than needed. Even though it’s still August, and most of us are experiencing 90-degree heat, restaurants are in a competition to put out the pumpkin.

  • Starbucks is releasing the PSL on August 27th
  • Dunkin Donuts is releasing their Pumpkin menu on August 21th
  • Dairy Queen will have Pumpkin Pie Blizzards on August 26th

7-Eleven, however, has beaten them all; their Pumpkin coffee is already in stores today. (FYI: If you want one, it’s only a dollar.)

And it’s not just the big guys. A local coffee shop that I like has pumpkin cookies and pumpkin drinks on the menu, starting September 1st, along with apple cider and apple muffins.

While I truly love pumpkin flavor, I enjoy it more when it’s a specialty flavor, with a limited time offer, rather than daily fare.

Oh, and while we’re on this topic, my local Walmart already has Fall decorations and Halloween signs in the aisles! Too much, too soon, I say. Let me enjoy Summer when it’s actually still Summer.

Apples That Look Like Donuts (Fun Dessert)

9 Replies

Since Rosh Hashanah is next month, I’m on the lookout for new apple recipes. On Facebook, I asked for suggestions, and discovered a super fun “dupe” dessert.

My Food and Family calls them Apple Donuts, but I think it makes more sense to say an apple that looks like a donut. Creating them couldn’t be simpler:

  • Slice apple into rounds
  • Spread with strawberry cream cheese
  • Toss on some sprinkles

And they do indeed resemble a donut—with a lot less calories and gluten free for anyone that’s sensitive.

There are so many ways to customize this recipe. Peanut butter and jelly, Nutella, chocolate chips, raisins, mini marshmallow, caramel drizzle, etc.

I bet kids would love to decorate, and similar to a cookie party, why not decorate a bunch of apples for High Holidays? No extra cooking required and it will definitely occupy the little ones.

Israeli Teen Drugged & Abused by 3 Egyptian Men

5 Replies

A 15-year-old Israeli went to Egypt on vacation. Instead of the fun experience she was expecting, she was drugged and abused by 3 men repeatedly.

The details of this bizarre incident are a bit muddled, but it seems she was at a Sinai hotel, unattended by a parent or guardian, and made friends with a 20-year-old employee who slipped a different drug into the hooka she willingly smoked.

The drug in question, Datura, is something I’d never heard of. A quick internet search described it as an all-encompassing delirium that can last for several days—exactly what the girl described.

While she was delirious, she was repeatedly groped, and attempts were made to rape her—by the hotel employee, the hotel manager, and a third man. She was forced to wear Bedouin clothing—probably to disguise her for kidnapping—and was pressured to marry a 56-year-old and remain in Egypt.

By the grace of God, she was able to escape and return home. Upon her arrival, she was in need of psych evaluation, medication, and a hospital stay, still confused about what had occurred. As her memory returned, she was able to recount what happened and filed a complaint.

When questioned by authorities, the hotel manager’s “defense” was unbelievable: “I don’t need to rape girls,” he protested, claiming to have had consensual relations with 400 Israeli women!

Shockingly, what happened to this teen was not the only attack reported. There have been several, which means they most certainly were not consensual.

Obviously, it’s not a good idea for a young teen to be left unsupervised so she can do drugs with strangers. Regardless, she is the victim and this incident appears to be one of many assaults that happened at this hotel. These barbarians should’ve been arrested the first time!

Moral of the story: Ladies, be careful where you go on vacation and do not put yourself into a vulnerable situation with strange men. This can happen to anyone, it does with a terrible frequency, and we must be extra cautious in foreign countries.

How to Keep Flowers Fresh Longer

2 Replies

Fresh flowers are one of the greatest joys in life. Whether it’s a fancy rose bouquet or a simple daisy growing on the side of the road, I truly love them all—especially if they’re purple (my favorite color).

Unfortunately, they wilt much too quickly, some even the same day you buy them! Here are a few tricks to keep flowers fresh longer:

  • Trim the stems at a 45-degree angle
  • Remove all foliage below the water line
  • Fill the vase with lukewarm water
  • Change water daily
  • Mist petals with water if they look dry
  • Keep away from direct sunlight
  • Put the vase in the fridge overnight

Don’t forget that flowers, like all living things, need to be nourished. Use flower food packets, if they come with a bouquet. If not, it’s actually easy to make some. Combine dissolved sugar and apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons each, per quart of water, along with a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach.

Extremely fussy flowers like daffodils and tulips truly do need professional packets, but everything else seems to thrive with homemade food, in my experience.

Do you have any flower tips? I’d love to hear them!