Jewish Holiday Kitchen Opens at Disney World

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A Jewish Holiday kitchen has opened at Disney World, part of this year’s Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Called “L’Chaim,” it will feature popular Jewish foods like pastrami on rye, potato knishes, chicken and matzo ball soup, and black and white cookies. The menu looks delicious to me, with reasonable prices. 

While I applaud Disney for making an effort, and I am so pleased that the Jewish community is represented, there are two things that confuse me: The food is not Kosher and nothing is offered for Hanukkah, even though it’s a holiday celebration. 

I understand that space and cost restrictions come into play, but surely they could have latkes and jelly donuts available. As for the Kashrut issue, third-party vendors do provide kosher meals for the park, so it would be possible to have them come in and assist as well. 

Like anything else, it’s never perfect the first time. Hopefully, next year, if it’s repeated, they can tweak the menu and make it fully Kosher so everyone, no matter how observant, can participate. 

I give Disney 5 stars for effort and 3 stars for results. Even so, this is a wonderful step forward. We have to focus on the intent and not be overly critical. Is it flawless? No. Is it heartwarming and awesome? YES!

Slow Cooker Chicken & White Bean Soup

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Snow, ice, wind, freezing drizzle, and gray days—yes, winter is here. When it’s bone-chillingly cold, there is nothing better than a hot bowl of soup for lunch or dinner. 

I love to make soup in the slow cooker because it’s a convenient, hands-off way to create meals. This particular recipe, made with chicken and white beans, is truly goof proof, with a short list of pantry-stable ingredients.

To make Chicken and White Bean Soup, combine these items in a 3-qt or larger slow cooker:

  • 1-lb. dried white beans  (Cannellini or Great Northern work well)
  • 1-lb. raw chicken breast  (Approximately 2)
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 Tbs. chili powder
  • 3 bouillon cubes

Cover everything with water, then cook on high for 2 hours. Shred the chicken with 2 large forks or tongs, and make sure water level is sufficient. Cook for an additional 2 hours. If the beans are soft and creamy, you’re good to go. If not, another hour may be needed. 

While this is the most basic version, feel free to add anything else you have on hand:

  • sliced onions
  • chopped garlic
  • diced tomatoes
  • diced peppers
  • corn  (frozen is fine)
  • shredded cabbage
  • lime juice

Normally, it yields 4 good-sized bowls. For larger families, it will easily double. Because the chicken is shredded, rather than sliced, it appears to be a lot of meat and is very filling. Even bean haters will eat it, due to the smooth texture and mild taste.

Whether you make the basic version or the jazzed up one, it’s delicious either way and pairs well with rolls, Challah, or corn bread and a green salad for a complete meal.

 

Do you have a good soup recipe? Please share.

$100.00 Madison Reed Gift Card Giveaway

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Ladies, it’s time to give ourselves the gift of beauty. With the holiday season here, looking our best is so important. I know that if my hair is a mess, I don’t feel pretty—especially if my roots are showing.

For the last four years, I have been coloring my hair at home with Madison Reed. Their professional-grade color produces the most even, vibrant looking results without stripping or frying your hair in the process. Finding your ideal shade, from the lightest blond to the darkest black, is easy with Find Your Match. (Their suggestion for me, 6NGV Tuscany Brown, worked perfectly.)

 

Each color kit contains a protective cap, barrier cream, cleansing wipes, two pairs of gloves, and color enhancing shampoo and conditioner that’s free from sulfates, parabens, and gluten.

The color itself contains nutrients like Argan oil, keratin, and ginseng root to strengthen and protect hair, and doesn’t have any scary stuff like ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, and/or parabens that can cause allergic reactions and sensitivity.

Because I love Madison Reed so much, I want to share it with my readers. Those of you who color will love it and for those who don’t, they offer a full line of hair care products for washing, moisturizing and styling.

One winner will receive a $100.00 Madison Reed gift card. Be sure to enter by 12/30/18. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Update on 1/1: Congrats to winner Bonnie P.

Thanksgiving & Black Friday Shopping Adventures

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This week’s Super Savings Saturday revolves around Thanksgiving and Black Friday aka The Coupon Olympics. 

I started out bright and early, up by 6:00AM, put the turkey into the oven, and headed over to Cumberland Farms for a free coffee. Since it was only 8 degrees outside, a hot drink was most welcome.

After that, it was on to the drugstores. 

Rite Aid:

I only focused on items that were free after rebates. Yes, there were other goodies, especially snack food, that I could enjoy, but I was honestly afraid I’d eat all of it and it took a lot of willpower to skip the cookies, Planter’s nuts, etc.

What did make it into my cart? Hair elastics, ear buds, Kleenex, two candy bars (for the kids), and lightbulbs. While not a huge haul, it was still good stuff. Total: $33.00 with $33.00 in Bonus Cash. 

CVS:

Better selection than Rite Aid. I separated transactions, rolling Bucks as I went, spending $4.00 and received $4.19 ECBs back. Freebies included toilet paper, paper towel, canned corn, pantiliners, baby wipes, razors, gum, face mask, toothpaste and Ibuprofen. Great haul!

I went back home to drop off the bags, checked my turkey, and then made a quick stop at Shaw’s for an extra pie. (I thought 3 would’ve been enough, silly me…) Well, I was too late and they didn’t have pecan, only unwanted gross ones like coconut custard and mince. I left with nothing.

Between noon and 4:00pm, it was feast time. I was starting to feel tired and was overly stuffed, but there was more shopping to do! At 5:01pm, when the Macy’s door opened, I was there.

Macy’s:

By far, this was the worst experience. 12 free-after-rebate doorbusters were advertised, some of which were really useful like a slow cooker, slippers, drinking glasses, watches, pearl earrings, perfume, etc. I was hoping to get the whole lot. I left with one item!

The store was unbelievably ill equipped—no sale flyers, very few signs and/or mismatched signs, low stock, and confused employees. Supposedly, 3 of the 12 items were never delivered to them, along with the flyers—something I find hard to believe. Rebate forms, which should’ve been plentiful, were not at registers, only in the office. Every cashier I spoke to was incredibly frazzled and most were downright rude. I get that working on a holiday can be unpleasant, but these folks were beyond nasty. 

Another thing I noticed was the large number of East Indians in the store. I do NOT say this to disparage the Indian community in any way! It was just unusual because 90% of the customers were Indian and that’s not common in my area, here in Northern New England. 

So what did I buy? The only thing I could readily find—a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal. 

Hopefully within a year or two, every doorbuster will be online. The mall experience has truly gone downhill and become nightmarish. Although, I can’t even imagine what it was like at the Alabama mall shooting. People get too caught up in the craziness. 

Black Friday:

On Friday, I decided to venture into Walmart. I had free food digital coupons that were expiring, and I was curious to see how it compared to the mall madness.

At 10:00AM, the store was pretty messy, but not overly crowded. The big tickets items like TVs and phones were long gone and the folks I saw had carts filled mainly with toys and housewares. The atmosphere was no different than an average day. 

I bought canned corn, canned green beans, canned cranberry sauce and a bag of red potatoes. The cans will be donated to the local pantry since my family doesn’t like that stuff. 

After Walmart, I drove across the street, into the Target parking lot just to peek. It was not busy, which surprised me, nor was the Home Depot next door. It seems like Thanksgiving Day has become the new “Black Friday” making Friday much less chaotic. 

 

And that was my holiday shopping experience. How about you guys? I’d love to hear where you shopped and what you bought, if anything.