No, I Never Buy or Eat Chicken Feet…

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One of the most unusual questions I’ve ever received:

“Hi, I am attending a High Holiday dinner for the first time in 2018. Everyone has been asked to contribute a dish. I want to make chicken soup, but I can’t find chicken feet in any of my stores. Where do you buy them?”

I replied by email and stated that I see them for sale at some Walmarts. I do not, however, buy them, nor do I eat them, which seemed to cause considerable confusion. 

“You don’t? Wow. I have always heard that Jews love to eat chicken feet soup. I am not trying to be rude here or pretending. I am honestly asking.”

Jews love to eat chicken feet? Ok, that’s a new one for me and I’ve heard most—all?—the rumors and stereotypes. Just for the record so we’re clear: Yes, chicken soup is popular in the Jewish kitchen. I grew up eating it and I make it now myself, fairly regularly. Personally, I don’t like the smell or taste of broth made from a whole carcass and I don’t make my soup that way. Those who do use the traditional method, with a whole bird in a pot, do not use chicken feet.

The feet can be used, if they’re kosher, but it’s so unusual, I literally don’t know a single Jewish cook that includes them in modern cooking. There are some very, very old recipes that might, but it’s not popular. Whole chickens, sold in regular supermarkets, never have the feet attached, for that reason. I think they look repulsive in the raw pack and I wouldn’t dream of eating them.

So, just in case anyone else has heard this rumor, or was curious about this topic, or, more likely, never thought about it, but is now informed, there you go. Jewish chicken soup doesn’t include feet because feet are gross.

An Israeli Mom Who’s Living in America Shares Her Challenges & Solutions

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The following guest post was contributed by a lovely Israeli lady who has chosen to make America her home. Moving to another country is never easy. Ravit Dayan shares what challenges she has faced as an immigrant and offers some excellent solutions that can encourage all moms, regardless of where we come from. Her unique perspective is so beneficial.

I’m an Israeli stay-at-home mom living in the US. It was always a dream of mine to come to this country, and I’m so proud that I’ve built my life here. After arriving when I was 24-years-old, it’s been a busy and fulfilling 10 years. I have a loving husband, a beautiful 2-year-old son, and a baby due in September.

I love being a mother more than anything, and I receive so much joy from parenting. But, a question stuck out in my mind: “Do I have to live without a consistent dose of intellectual adult stimulation or challenge, whether from learning or conversation, just because I have prioritized motherhood?”

It can be difficult to make time for that type of fulfillment since being a mother with small children is never ending. It’s a lot of diapers, dishes, and sleepless nights. However, I made the personal decision that I could be a super-mom AND a career woman. I can do both: be the ideal mother and be intellectually engaged.

Since our networks aren’t deep here in the U.S., (it’s often isolating to live outside of the large Israeli networks like Miami, NY or LA) I personally began looking into online options. I decided to research getting another degree. (What a great way to engage with other students, learn new things, and expand my mind, right?)

But the dream didn’t last long. I soon found that getting a university education can be extremely expensive. Besides that, the enrollment process was tedious and time-consuming (and the last thing I have is time). They sure don’t make it easy for moms with dreams to go back to college!

My husband is an entrepreneur who’s grown accustomed through the years to hearing my many ideas. With this challenge in particular, he saw that the issue I was having was also shared by millions of people. He decided to launch a startup that could ease the burden. By providing help to get your first year of college free, parents like me can pursue our dreams while raising our kids. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Being a mom teaches us a lot. One learns how to challenge their child mentally, emotionally, and physically, how to be productive, how to shower in under 1 minute, and to appreciate coffee. It should also teach us that we can do everything we set our minds to, including personal goal setting.

Here are three steps you can take right now to improve your situation :

1. Learn Something New Each Day

Studies show that sticking to the same routine, day in and day out, results in decreased energy, low mood, and passivity. Over time, remaining stuck in a chronic rut can look like a lack of motivation or creativity, and feeling unfulfilled.

To counter the pull, commit to learning something fresh each day. Open the laptop during naptime and pursue that new hobby, new skill, or new career path. 

2. Breathe New Life into Your Days

Keep new endeavors and learning ventures on the horizon. Research shows that our happiness spikes when we’re focused on a challenging task. Make time for fun. Try to enjoy whatever free moments you have. Yes, we are busy moms, but life isn’t supposed to be miserable. We all need things that make us happy, no matter how small.

3. Accomplish Something Concrete

When you’re stuck in a rut, the way out seems unfathomable. This perpetuates the rut. So how do you achieve something big when you’re busy battling sleepless nights, endless diapers, and mountains of laundry?

One way out is goal-setting. Even if it’s something small, accomplishing a measurable goal results in a dopamine spike to the brain.

From getting enrolled in school during an episode of Blippi, to taking educational courses during naptime, any milestone checked off is a confidence boost, propelling you to that next step toward achieving your life goals.

So that’s how I found something that works for me. That fits my (impossible) schedule. It feels good knowing that I can accomplish anything as a mommy, and that I’ve found ways to remain stimulated so far from my established networks in Israel. That I’m paving a life for myself beyond my kids. You can take the steps above and do the same!

About the Author:

Ravit Dayan is an Israeli-American and stay-at-home mom. She enjoys writing about her experiences, educating her son, and helping other young moms. In her free time, she runs one of the most popular Baby Shower pages on Instagram and works on the family startup, Online Degree.

How Often Do You Need Air Conditioning?

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A comment left by a reader in Scottsdale, Arizona got me thinking about air conditioning. She mentioned that she uses it 10 months of the year, which seems like a lot.

The weather here in New England has been unusually hot this summer, with multiple 90 degree days. In my region, central air conditioning is rare; we rely on window units. I prefer the type that’s attached to the wall permanently. (I had one fall out of a second-story window once—never again!) Memorial Day is the most common start date and they’re off by mid September. 

In my home, we have one in each bedroom, plus another in the living room. We don’t run them all simultaneously (usually), and turn everything off when we’re away for more than 2 hours. 

I’m pretty wimpy when it comes to the heat, and it just boggles my mind that folks regularly deal with temps well above 100 degrees! So, my question for today is: how often do you need air conditioning? Daily, year-round or just as needed? Personally, if it gets above 85 degrees, mine is on.
 

Gazelle: Buy and Sell Used Electronics

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This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking them. I was compensated for this post.

Life without Smart devices—can we even imagine it? Electronics make life so much better, but they sure can cost a lot. Most of us have a couple and with technology constantly changing, we’re buying—and replacing—them regularly. 

I know a lot of folks want the latest and greatest, but that’s the most expensive. Finding something that’s gently used can save so much. Although there are a number of options for purchasing pre-owned online, not all of them are reliable. Gazelle is my favorite for all of these reasons:

Gazelle performs a 30+-point inspection on all their devices (iPhones, Galaxy phones, and iPads), which guarantees that every feature of the device is tested and is of the highest quality before it’s sold to you. This is also backed by a 30-day return policy.

Because Gazelle Certified devices mean no contracts or strings attached, you can upgrade your device at up to 40% less than buying a new one and avoid being tied to a contract that you might not need. You can keep your carrier, or go with a new one. The choice is yours.

You can also easily trade-in your used iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook, AppleTV, and other smartphones and smart devices to Gazelle for cash in three easy steps.

Using Gazelle only takes 3 steps:

Step 1: Select your gadget from a list of options on Gazelle’s “Trade-In” page, answer a few questions, and then Gazelle provides you with an offer for your device.

Step 2: For items worth $1 or more, it’s free to ship your device to Gazelle. Once your trade-in is received, the device is inspected to make sure its condition matches your evaluation.

Step 3: Payment. If the device matches your description, Gazelle will pay you in the form of a check, an Amazon.com gift card, or via PayPal. Payment takes about a week.

If you want to sell your old phone or device and get a fair price for it, Gazelle is the safest, easiest, most reliable way to go. And if you want to upgrade your device without having to pay retail or deal with a junk purchase, shop Gazelle Certified.