The Best Passover Hosting Guides

Whether you’re hosting Passover for the first time or the fortieth, a guide can be very helpful, especially if you’re overwhelmed and unsure where/how to start.

Here are a few that I really like:

Want step-by-step instructions? As usual, Chabad is the best resource

Dealing with allergies? Kosher.com has great advice for those who need to avoid eggs, ground nuts, and other holiday staples.

The Forward has a very comprehensive guide, with activities divided up over a few days, instead of a single marathon night of cooking and cleaning. 

Heritage Florida suggests visualizing the Seder you want, then planning. They also recommend potluck as an option, which is fun if others want to chip in.

Reform Judaism has a nice checklist that can be printed—wonderful for those who enjoy crossing things off as they go.

 

Are you hosting Passover this year? I’m having 11 people at my house!

Boxer Briefs…for Women?!

This evening, I went to Target in search of a new nightgown. (My favorite one came out of the dryer ripped up the left side. After a year of frequent use, it’s ready for retirement.) Since intimates, hosiery and sleepwear are grouped in the same section, I browsed through most of it, hoping to find a few things I’d like.

The nightgown selection was sorely lacking. I did, however, spot the oddest undies ever: boxer briefs for women! I’m not talking about Boy Shorts panties, but honest-to-goodness boxers intentionally made for us.

Here’s how Hanes classifies them: “When you combine his style with your fit…a vintage-inspired boxer brief that features full coverage. Tag-free and convenient…a boyfriend stretch that’s all girl.”

I understand that gender lines are exceptionally muddled right now, but there is a difference between men and women and the clothing/underwear that each gender requires. You can’t be “All Girl” if you’re wearing men’s briefs.

It doesn’t matter if Hanes makes them in pink, they’re still not feminine. They’re creepy, weird and actually don’t look comfortable in any way. 

What’s next, G-Strings for men? Thongs for teen boys? Where does the madness end? It shouldn’t even be a question that women wear panties and men wear boxers or briefs. 

I truly wonder what clothing stores will be like a decade from now. Will there be separate sections for men and women, or will everything be tossed together, labeled as unisex?

It’s a Brave New World, folks, and I wonder where dinosaurs like me will fit in…

Super Savings Saturday – 4/6/19

Welcome to another edition of Super Savings Saturday. This week was all about the yard, mainly prepping for the food garden and the flower garden. (I’m trying to narrow down my seed selection, which is always the hardest part.) Home Depot’s annual Spring Black Friday was in full swing, so I had to browse. Overall, it was nothing special. I did find a few goodies, however.

Home Depot:

A Gorilla ladder that was on sale for $99 looked tempting in the ad. Of course, the store was completely sold out since it was originally $219 when I checked in person yesterday. The same thing happened in 2018 when I waited too long. Maybe I’ll actually buy one in 2020!

5 Miracle-Gro soil bags, sale price $2.00. Total: $10.00.

2 mulch bags, sale price $2.00. Total: $4.00.

The above items are used for flowers and plants. I prefer to use organic and non-GMO for fruits and veggies.

Shaws:

2 dozen eggs, sale price $0.99. Total: $1.98.

4 cantaloupe, sale price $1.50. Total: $6.00.

Sparkle paper towels, sale price $3.99. I used a $0.75 manufacturer’s coupon. Total: $2.49.

Bone-in whole turkey breast, sale price $0.99/lb. Total: $5.83.

Rite Aid:

4 True Lime drink mixes, clearance price $0.25. Total: $1.00. (I found one on the shelf and three more hidden on an end cap. Sometimes you just have to dig.)

 

Did you use any coupons this week?

Cinnabon Copycat Recipe

Soft dough, fluffy frosting and an insane amount of sugar—what’s not to love about a Cinnabon? Seriously, these rolls are the best sweet ever and I never fail to buy one whenever I shop at the mall.

After several failed attempts to duplicate them at home, I think I’ve finally found a recipe that’s a keeper. By using a bread machine instead of mixing by hand, they came out much lighter and tastier.

To make a copycat Cinnabon, you’ll need:

Dough

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 4 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened

Frosting

  • 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place dough ingredients in bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle and Start.

After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

Shape dough into a 16×20 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture (don’t fill to edge, leave small space).

Roll up, then cut into 12 pieces. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake rolls in preheated 400 degree oven until golden brown (about 15 minutes) While rolls are baking, beat together frosting ingredients. Take rolls out of pan and flip them over onto serving plate, then spread with frosting while still warm. 

If you really want to be decadent, add caramel sauce and pecans. (I prefer the original, but PecanBon’s are good too, if you can handle the richness.)

My rolls may not look as pretty as the store made, however, they tasted every bit as delicious. They’re also cheaper, although not any lower in calories. Still, it’s worth a splurge!

Don’t have a bread machine? Check out Village Bakery. They have great information, tips and reviews.