Do you find that after Shabbos, you’re back to square one?

By Bina Stern

Shabbos is the most wonderful time of the week. Replete with family time, rest, relaxation and delicious meals, it’s something we look forward to as the days progress. One of the most exciting parts of Shabbos is the menu. Just the traditional Friday night framework is enough to have anyone’s mouth watering. However, lots of our classic Shabbos evening foods contains lots of calories that could challenge even the most healthy of eaters. A lot of people eat very well during the week, only to give it all up on Shabbos. In healthy eating, there’s the common misconception of the “work hard, play hard” concept. Many are strict on themselves the entire week only to binge on Shabbos, going all out on goodies they wouldn’t even dream of having regularly. Sure, Shabbos is all about the oneg, but there are some subtle changes you can make that won’t leave you suffering the consequences once your neshama yeseira leaves for the week. Even a little modification can make a big difference. Here’s a new take on the traditional Shabbos menu without having to sacrifice on the classics.

These are three of my favorite tips for a successful Shabbos:

1. Even though Fridays are packed with food, it’s usually the day that mothers eat the least. We’re so busy feeding everyone else Erev Shabbos, we forget about ourselves. When the Fridays are very long, the evening seudah could be the first time you’ve eaten the whole day. When we’re ravenous, were much less inclined to make the right choices when it comes to eating. Ensuring that you get some nutrition before Shabbos is a great preventative measure for healthy eating. I like to have vegetables from the chicken soup; I’ll also roast a tray of vegetables, or bake an extra piece of fish to fill me up.

2. Enjoy what you’re eating! Once you make the decision to eat something, savor and enjoy the oneg Shabbos. Whatever you do eat, don’t guilt yourself about it afterwards. You made the decision to eat it, so savor it!

3. Be mindful of what you’re eating. Try not to “chain-eat,” taking whatever whenever just so your mouth is full. Pay attention to what you’re ingesting.

Need ideas for some great diet-friendly Shabbos dishes and tips for every course? See my Great Big List of Healthy Foods to Enjoy on Shabbos.

About Bina:

Bina Gottdiener is a Biology major, aspiring RDN & mommy living in Yerushalayim. She believes that a healthy lifestyle should be fabulous and exciting, without  being to costly or time consuming. For more info, feel free to email binastern1@gmail.com.

The post Three Ways to Prevent Wrecking Your Diet on Shabbos appeared first on Between Carpools.

With a long stretch of uninterrupted school days ahead, it’s time for kids to focus on education…while mom can focus on getting organized! Here’s your Amazon favorites for October and November.

Awhile back, we asked you for your Amazon favorites. It’s these picks that thought would be perfect for this time of year. All recommendations come from BCP readers like you!

Picks for Kids:

“Does your child love history? This is an amazing series for kids   Titles include Who Was George Washington?”and“What was the Statue of Liberty?”– @bubagifts

“Nurturing a love of reading? Don’t forget old time favorites like Fancy Nancy, Amelia Bedelia, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.” – @bubagifts

“The Mr. Men Series are the cutest, funniest books that kids (and adults) enjoy reading again and again!”

“My second grader struggled with math. She knew all new concepts, but when it came to basic math like 7+3 she always messed up. She always wanted to learn more and more that she didn’t have the patience to sit and practice this basic stuff. This Educational Insights Math Slam was my lifesaver. It’s a game, its fun, its practice! Once I bought this, her math skills really improved.” – @geeteegee

Picks for Mom:

“The 52 Lists Project helps me to reflect and be thoughtful about what I’m doing.”

“I tend to take my recipes from online or magazines so my papers are always flying. My hubby did me a favor and bought me this Pocket Protector Presentation Book!” -@faigysfood

“The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) was a game changer for me!” 

The post Your Amazon Picks: It’s Time for Kids to Learn and for Moms to Get Organized appeared first on Between Carpools.

The doctors were stumped. And every remedy I tried didn’t work. But I wouldn’t stop until I found the solution.

By Shaindy Niederman

When my son turned 18 months, I realized he had some minor spots on his face. At first I brushed it off as a temporary rash. But that rash never went away. It just got worse and worse…

I scheduled an appointment to see a specialist and I was told that my son was suffering from eczema. He was tested for allergies and I learned that he was not allergic to any foods; the doctors diagnosed the eczema as being triggered by environmental factors. I was told there is not treatment and by the age of two it’ll be gone as quick as it came.

My son turned two. And then three, and onto age four. And the eczema did not leave his body. Some days were better than others, but most of the time I had a kid who was suffering in silence.

Throughout this time I had seen five different doctors; I had done wet wrapping for six months. I tried every cream including: steroid, aloe vera, coconut oil, and even went to see a woman who claimed to do “natural miracles.” Nothing improved his skin.

I read about the Swiss Allergy Centre in Zurich and decided to do my research. Unfortunately, in that year I spent networking, I couldn’t find one family that was healed with one visit. Most kept returning for yearly treatment. I wasn’t looking for another goose chase…I was desperate to find a solution that would put his eczema to rest for good!

Then, someone suggested that healthy eating might combat the eczema (Thanks PW! I’m forever grateful). She told me which foods might be triggering his eczema. She guided me and helped me start my journey…but I realized I was so unfamiliar in this new healthy world.

Through the hands of Hashem, I found the amazing Sury Wohlender (@healthcoachsarah). She coached me and taught me all about leaky guts, one of the causes of eczema. She taught me about which foods might be causing inflammation of the gut, which leads to the leaky guts, and how I can heal my son through the foods he eats. My son went gluten and sugar-free. We also removed soy, GMOs, MSG, and basically anything processed from his diet. After a few weeks, we started seeing the light. His hands were no longer bloody and he was finally sleeping through the night! As the weeks rolled by, his body started healing…slowly. However, the bruise marks remained.

There was one more thing I could try. I had asked around and learned that eating fermented foods can also help to heal the leaky gut and the problems it causes. But that didn’t mean commercially processed pickles…it didn’t even mean homemade pickles in vinegar. The fermented foods which could be helpful for my son were fermented using a slower process, which grows the probiotic bacteria in the food. Those probiotics would be very helpful.

I started fermenting my own food. After my failed attempts, I tried finding fermented foods locally but I couldn’t find anyone carrying them. I searched on Instagram and found a company Fer Real Foods (@fer_real_foods) selling fermented foods, hechsher and all.

The images above are proof of the pudding. Both images were taken three days apart, before and after my son began eating the fermented product…and no photoshop or enhancement were used.

Fermented food became our new vitamin. My entire family jumped onto the bandwagon. We also adapted a new healthy lifestyle. With my son’s gut healed, I started baking with spelt flour and organic sugar, and so far those ingredients haven’t affected him negatively at all.

When my son class throws a party or has treats, I makes sure he eats or drinks fermented foods before going to school and again when he gets home. In order to combat those times when he eat things that will affect him negatively, during those evenings we’ll smear coconut oil on his hands and feet to prevent his eczema from reappearing (when we don’t do it, he wakes up with wounds). Every morning when my son wakes up, I feel like I’m reliving a miracle. I’m so grateful to Hashem for guiding me in the right direction and sending me the right people to guide me.

I know it can be tough to change everything about the way you prepare food, especially when you’re an avid recipe collector and cook. But for the joy of seeing my son healthy…it hasn’t been a sacrifice at all.

Read more about Shaindy’s cooking adventures here.

About Shaindy:

Shaindy is a mother of three boys. She enjoys spending time in the kitchen, creating healthier recipes for her family. Follow her on Instagram @kosher_heatlhy_cooking.

The post The Journey I Took to Heal My Son’s Eczema appeared first on Between Carpools.

It’s time to cozy up! Save big on those yummy velours.

There’s one day left to use code 3720 for  40% off your entire order of velour pajamas!

To shop: CLICK HERE and enter “velour pyjamas” into the search bar. Don’t forget to use code 3720 at checkout for 40% off.

Here are some of our favorites:

BOYS

GIRLS

BABY BOY

BABY GIRL

To shop the sale CLICK HERE and enter “velour pyjamas” into the search bar. Shipping is free in the U.S. on orders $119 and over.

The post Deals We Love: Today Only! 40% off Velour Pajamas appeared first on Between Carpools.

Tired of a cluttered inbox? Here’s how I conquered the junk mail and went from 115,000 unread messages to the blissful number of…zero!

By Debra Okun

A few weeks ago, Between Carpools posted a cute quote on Instagram about Inbox volume.

There was a huge response, with lots of followers posting their number of unread messages. I was once one of those people with huge amounts of unread messages, secretly envying those organized people who only received the emails they really wanted and could get their inbox down to the magic number of “0” every day. I watched the number climb over the past few years and just got so tired of looking at it. My number of unread messages in by inbox reached 115,000 at its peak.

I finally decided I had two options: Get a new email address or look into options to help me deal. I found two apps that make the process of going through my emails and deleting/unsubscribing and now I’m down to 0! Seeing the “0” makes me feel so much less cluttered. It also helps me find what I need faster because I got rid of all the junk mail that just kept sitting in my inbox.

Unrollme.

Unroll me goes through your mailbox and unsubscribes you from anything you don’t want so you don’t have to do it manually.

Chuck.

Chuck organizes all your emails by sender, so it’s easier to delete all emails from one source with one click, i.e. all those emails from Bed Bath and Beyond at once.

These were a game changer for me!

About Debra:

Debra is an occupational therapist who recently moved to NJ with her husband and two kids. She’s been busy setting up and organizing her new home and finding new ways to simplify her life, starting with her phone.

The post The 2 Best Apps for Cleaning Up Your Inbox appeared first on Between Carpools.

Where else can you find so much style at such little prices? We searched and found the best of the best for your wardrobe and home…for less. And here they are…

A Bead-Embroidered Sweater – so classic and chic.

The perfect  Patterned Maxi Dress

A Fine Knit Skirt + Flared Knit Top to take your wardrobe up a notch.

This Ribbed Dress that you can hang out all day in. 

An Oversized Knit Sweater for when comfort is all that matters.

A Pair of Pointed Loafers that will look good with literally anything.

A Striped Cotton Tablecloth

A Much Needed Circle Skirt

A tried and tested Fine-Knit Sweater for every Friday night (more colors available)

Dress up your entryway with some Tall Candlesticks + Oval Vases

A Felted Coat to hide under all winter.

A Knit Headband to keep your ears from falling off.

A Rib-knit Skirt + Sweater  that you might just live in. 

A Waisted Belt that will take it to the next level. 

A Teapot + Glass Mug  because……brrrr.. it’s cold out. 

A Double-Strand Necklace that comes in colorful beads as well. 

These Jacquard Towels  will upgrade your bathroom.

A Sweet Jacket  your teen might actually like.

An Elastic Hair Bow to go with the look.

A Hooded Sweatshirt Cardigan that will become your favorite.

This Colored Necklace. For yourself, your niece, or granddaughter. (Think Chanukkah)

A Silver Puffy Jacket that will make her shine!

3-pack Gloves. For this price they could keep losing them. 

A Heart Shirt Dress for your little heart-breaker.

A Classic Cable or Funky Rib Knit for cozy winter days.

Some Corduroy Pants that come in great colors and in cotton too!

A Lined Hooded Sweatshirt that’s perfect until you are ready to pull the coats out. 

A Jersey Turtleneck Dress that I wish would come in my size.

 The perfect mid height 5-pack socks for girls 

And for boys…add these to cart x 6 (never enough!)

Warm-lined Boots

2-pack Ribbed T-shirt + CozyJoggers that will become his go-to pajamas.

A Pair of Animal PJ’s  – that’s sure to make bedtime a little bit easier.

A Sweet Duvet Cover Set as a backup, if those pj’s don’t work.

This Patterned Dress + Fluffy Cardigan

A Band-Collar Shirt for when Rosh Chodesh rolls around.

A Sweatshirt with Ruffles

A Practical Padded Jacket

7-pack Boxer Shorts – Boys love these!

This cute set for when baby goes on an outing.

5-pack Bodysuits to keep them layered and warm.

A Baby Knit Set that comes in pink and blue. 

A Cute Sweat Set  for lounging around in all day.

This 3-pack Pima Cotton Leggings Set

That pairs great with this Brown Bear Sweatshirt

A Rib-knit Hat

And These Warm Woolen Socks

This Knit Sweater + Pant ensemble for little boys

With a coordinating set for girls

Some Suede Slipper Socks just because. 

The post It’s Here! Our H&M Fall Favorites for Mom, Kids, and Home appeared first on Between Carpools.

All I had to do was listen to that timer…

By Miriam Hammerman

I’m usually an organized person: I can plan a month’s worth of lessons, create custom itineraries for travelers, head school productions and create day camp programs. But it took me 9 years to figure out how to make Shabbos.

Making Shabbos was something I couldn’t seem to master. I’d plan to make chicken soup on Thursday morning before work only to wake up and see that I’d forgotten to defrost the chicken bones. Or that I had no carrots. I’d leave all my cooking for Friday and make a huge mess in the kitchen just after the cleaning lady left. Or I’d be too exhausted to shop on Thursday after work but then not have any ingredients in the house on Friday morning.

Well, I found a solution. Maybe it could help some of you as well.

I set a series of alarm clocks reminding me what to do. For example: On Wednesday afternoon, it rings for shopping, Wednesday evening for defrosting whatever’s in the freezer. Thursday morning for making soup, kugel, chicken, eggs. Thursday evening for baking challos or cake and Friday morning for cholent, sides and salmon.

The trick to making this work for you is figuring out your schedule and fitting your errands/cooking in around it. It’s also very important to ‘listen’ to your alarm no matter what. Otherwise it won’t become ingrained in you. If you follow the cues of the reminders then within a few months you won’t need them anymore.

About Miriam:

Miriam Hammer is a mom of two boys and an English teacher in Vienna, Austria. Her hobbies include photography, graphic design and cooking quick, fresh, and nutritious meals that her picky 4-year old won’t touch. She loves using her creativity to come up with fun lesson plans and exciting projects for her students and kids.

The post My One Little Trick That Helped Me Master the Art of Making Shabbos appeared first on Between Carpools.

Is every morning a marathon to get everyone out of the house and where they need to be in time?

Do you feel exhausted before you even get to start your day? And do you feel guilty for yelling and shoving your kids out the door instead of sending them off calmly and ready to start their day?

We can all do this better! Here are some tips we’ve put together to improve that morning routine:

—Go to sleep on time. That’s the simplest way to make your morning better.

—Don’t snooze and go back to sleep. The interrupted sleep just makes you more tired.

—Get up earlier than your kids. Set your alarm at least 15 minutes before the first wake up needs to happen. What you do with those 15 minutes is up to you, but don’t expect to be able to wake up a child with the right attitude if you haven’t fully woken up. Take a shower, drink a coffee, do some sit-ups, or just lie in bed planning your day. But give yourself at least 15 minutes in which to do that.

—Work with the child you have. Do you have a kid who should be dressing himself without prompting but still loses focus and takes forever? Maybe dress his younger siblings in his room so you can stay on top of things. It may be frustrating, but losing it and yelling at him every morning is not how he’ll learn. Work with incentives and positive reinforcement and eventually he will get faster, but don’t sacrifice a peaceful morning to frustration.

—The most important factor for a smooth morning is being prepared. Do not go to sleep at night without confirming that every single thing possible has been prepared. Lunches and snacks, water bottles, homework signatures, excuse notes – all should be ready. Do you work out first thing in the morning? Your workout clothes should be laid out. School clothes? Work clothes? Don’t wait until morning to realize there are no clean tights that also don’t have holes. Not enough milk/eggs/bread on hand? Make sure to take care of that at night! (Freezer backups will save you!)

Backpacks, purses, boots, coats – everything must be in place before you to bed. And if that place is close to the door, that’s even better.

The post Yes, Mom. Smoother Mornings Are Possible! appeared first on Between Carpools.

Fermented Vegetables

By Shaindy Niederman

If you read about my quest to heal my son’s eczema, then you read that I tried and failed many times at the challenge of making my own fermented vegetables (Read why fermented veggies are beneficial for health here). If I’ve learned one lesson in life, it is to never give up! After four attempts to ferment pickles I finally did it! The pickles are crunchy and crispy and taste way better than any store bought version.

First and foremost, it is very important to work with clean dry utensils.

1. First, start by hand selecting small and firm kirbies (preferably organic). Wash them with plain cold water and dry well.

2. Then remove a little piece from the top part of your kirbies (by the stem part) and poke a 1” hole into the kirby with a clean toothpick; this will allow the water to get inside and prevent mushy pickles.

3. Prepare your spices. You can really play around with this part, there are no measurements. Don’t worry, you can always add spices when your pickles are done fermenting.  This is my preferred spice list: 4 fresh garlic cloves, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, some fresh dill (about 1/4 bunch), slices of fresh lemon, whole medley black peppers, and for a spicy kick fresh chili pepper.  I also add 3-4 bay leaves (depending on size) they help the pickles stay crunchy.

4. Next, prepare the brine. Always use unfiltered clean well water. If you don’t have access to that you can use spring water. It should never be tap or chlorinated water.

For full sour pickles you need to use a ratio of 95% water and 5% salt. For half sour pickles use 97.5% water to 2.5% salt. The ratio of water and salt is an important step; this helps the pickles stay crunchy and fresh. Mix the salt and water together, do not pour them into your jar separately (i.e. for 1 gallon water, use 3/4 cup salt).

5. Prepare a clean 2 quart Mason jar. For best results I would advise you to buy Mason jar airlock lids.

6.When all your components are ready, you can start assembling:

Start by layering your pickles.

When done, pour the brine into the jar leaving some space for your weights and spices.

Next, pour in your desired spices adding the lemon slices last.

Then add your weights. (I found it unnecessary to purchase expensive weights, I created my own weights by using a small Ziploc bag filled with leftover brine. See bottom note.)

Add 1 weight to the jar and close with the Mason airlock lids. Make sure the lid is closed properly. It’s very important that no oxygen enters. The Mason airlock lids allow air to exit but not enter. This method does not require any burping.

7. If you opt to use the standard Mason jar covers, you will need to burp your your pickles daily starting on day three. You may also not get the same results as with an airlock Mason jar cover. (Personally, I wasn’t successful using this method).

8. Place your jars on a cookie sheet (the brine might leak) and store in a cool place. For best results do not touch or move it around.

The pickles take 10-14 days to ferment. On the day you start tasting them, if the pickles aren’t ready, close the jar and let ferment longer. However, once your jar is opened it needs to be refrigerated. The fermentation will continue in the fridge. Untouched jars can stay 6 months outside if placed in a cool place (I only tried mine for one month and it was no issue). For best results place in the fridge 24 hours before tasting it.

White spots on the pickles are totally normal; they are actually healthy probiotics.

Note: Plastic (such as that found in resealable bags) might release toxins while the pickles ferment. If you don’t know the quality of your plastic, it is recommended to buy glass weights. However you can also try adding your lemon slices last and make sure they properly submerge all pickles. If your pickles aren’t submerged they will grow mold.

If you’re interested in more information about fermenting, a great book I recommend reading is Fermented Vegetables by Christopher Shockey. The book teaches you how to ferment any type of vegetable.

I would like to thank @mean_meats_by_shmuly for helping me with all my troubleshooting issues and providing me with the below information.

About Shaindy:

Shaindy is a mother of three boys. She enjoys spending time in the kitchen, creating healthier recipes for her family. Follow her on Instagram @kosher_heatlhy_cooking.

The post How to Make Fermented Pickles – for Health! appeared first on Between Carpools.

Need easy pieces? Want to look classy and put together this fall and winter? You don’t need to look further.

By Estee Stern

The Leather Two-Piece Set.

Definitely for the trendier woman, but it’s still very classy. Either buy both pieces and have a stunning look that will look so finished and classy or wear the shirt tucked into a black skirt or the skirt with a simple ribbed turtle neck.

Leather Shirt + Leather Skirt

Anything in Houndstooth

Houndstooth is very in right now. You can either get just the skirt and wear it with a simple black turtleneck, or pair it with the matching jacket for a finished look.

The Perfect Knit

The knit black midi skirt can be worn with anything…like the sweaters we’re going to show you next.

Great Sweaters

This one is a great basic and comes in three colors.

I love the inside out seams on this top.

This one is super sharp and easy

Wear this sweater over a black layering dress, like the one below.

This Season’s Black Dress

Super easy black waisted midi dress with tone in tone print.

A Leather Dress

A bit more trendy; wear it with black tights and boots. I love this leather dress – just add a turtleneck or sweater underneath.

A Layering Dress

An easy black dress to throw on – only $19.99 I’d even throw a cropped or ribbed sweater on top in the winter. It’s a great layering piece to have.

About Estee:

Estee is a fashion stylist and consultant specializing in lookbook dressing,  campaign, fashion editorial and personal shopping.You can follow her @styledbyestee or email her Estee1792@gmail.com for business inquiries.

The post We Had a Stylist Pick 7 Great Looks for You for Fall. appeared first on Between Carpools.

Do you find it difficult to create a healthier, lower calorie Shabbos menu? I put together a list of all of my favorites so you can enjoy a healthy Shabbos with all the foods you love.

By Bina Stern

Find it hard to figure out a way to have your “oneg Shabbos” without getting your diet derailed? Then you’ll find this list super handy. It’s my master list of healthful Shabbos foods. I find it’s a great reference for planning a balanced Shabbos. Pick and choose your favorites and you’ll enjoy your Shabbos, diet or not. Note that while all options might not be “low-calorie,” they’re all more nutritious than some of typical Shabbos standards and will keep you feeling energized vs. that sluggish feeling you get after getting filled up on junk.

Challah

The Feel Good 5 Grain Challah—Whoa! This really leaves me feeling energized. It’s so delicious and tasty without giving you that sluggish, tired feeling usually felt after eating white flour challah. The taste and texture gets even my die-hard white challah fans!

Really Good Whole Wheat Challah—Get Renee Muller’s recipe. It’s delicious and nutritious and will leave you feeling so much better than the classic white.

A note about portions: if you’re the type that waits to wash the entire week on fresh homemade challah, try to at least be aware of how many slices you’re eating, rather than just eating infinitely. Awareness is a wonderful tool for healthy eating. For those that wish to watch portions, something I love doing is making individual challah rolls and putting one by each setting. This way I allot myself my challah for the evening without being tempted to go for more.

Dips

The goal here is to stay away from mayonnaise-based dips. Aside from being high in calories and low in nutritional value, there are so many delicious dips to enjoy that don’t include mayo!

Sun Dried Tomato Dip— I buy the Pereg brand, which doesn’t contain any sugar or other additives. It’s so delicious and refreshing, we even eat it during the week as a dip for veggies and crackers.

Garlic Confit—Renee Muller’s wonderful recipe (Our Table page 148) is so warm and comforting on a cozy Friday night.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip—See Miriam Pascal’s recipe here. It’s so fabulous, I even eat it plain! You’ll see what I mean when you make it.

Pesto—I love pesto because I can repurpose it for salmon, chicken and other dishes later on in the week. Get a recipe for an easy version here.

Spicy Avocado Dip—Blend ripe avocado with lemon juice, red onion, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. The spiciness will definitely get your metabolism going!

Romanian Eggplant Dip – so easy and delicious. This will quickly become your go to favorite. Find the recipe here. 

Fish Course

I’m always disappointed when I see fish recipes that include ketchup, mayonnaise, sugar or soup mix. Aside from the health benefits, fish is so flavorful on its own that these unnatural additives seem so unnecessary! Unless it’s not Friday night for you without Gefilte Fish, try to stay away. It’s usually full of sugar and barely has nutritional value.

Trader Joe’s Spice Rubs—I love to use a Trader Joe’s spice rub for my salmon. My favorites are the Coffee BBQ (which you can easily make on your own) or Chili Lime.

Pesto Salmon—Spread some pesto dip onto your salmon and broil for a delicious and creamy piece of fish.

Herbed Salmon—Making any type of herbed salmon brings out the true flavors in the fish. Doing so will leave you feeling satiated yet energized from all the wonderful nutrients.

Silan, Mustard and Honey Salmon—Renee Muller’s exotic salmon (from Our Table) is beautiful to present and scrumptious to eat. People have a hard time believing it’s really so healthy!

Salads

I like to put out four types of salad by the fish course and leave them there throughout the rest of the seudah. Munching on all the vegetables fills me up in a good, healthy way. Everyone enjoys the variety and the healthy accompaniment to the dips and challah.

Tomato Salad—Many people have their classic recipe they make that isn’t really a recipe but more like a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Here’s one you can try. So delicious! Dress up the salad with multicolored tomatoes for beautiful presentation.

White Cabbage Salad—I love preparing an Asian slaw. The tangy dressing and toasty nuts and seeds make it almost addictive! Here’s a quick cabbage slaw to try. 

Red Cabbage Salad—See a delicious exotic recipe here. I make my own candied pecans by toasting them with some olive oil, silan and maple syrup.

Cucumber Salad—Many people include sugar in their cucumber salad recipes, though I find it really unnecessary. In Daniella Silver’s The Silver Platter, there’s an excellent cucumber salad with baby radishes and herbs that is just so refreshing!

Beet Salad—The pre-cooked packaged beets make any beet salad so easy to prepare. I love the texture and taste of beets at any meal.

Soup

Soup is probably the healthiest part of the meal, unless you use soup mix! Although it’s tempting, chicken soup is so flavorful without it. If you feel like your soup needs that oomph, try adding the leaves from celery, fresh parsley, dill, turkey necks or flanken for a flavor boost.

Lukshen—Spaghetti squash noodles or vermicelli (aka rice noodles) are a great low- calorie option to the classic lukshen. They’re both so good that you can hardly taste the difference.

Crouton Alternatives— The classic soup nuts contain all sorts of things you’d rather not subject your digestive system to. If you really need that crunch, try adding flavored baked chickpeas, edamame, or toasted nuts. You can buy ‘em or make ‘em. See a recipe for Roasted Chickpeas by Esti Waldman here.

Mains

Meats Meats are delicious, flavorful and comforting, perfect for a Friday evening. Many contain natural flavors that can be beautifully enhanced by different spices, vegetables, broths (I love the organic Imagine brand) and wines. Try to look for recipes that aren’t smothered in sugars, duck sauce, BBQ sauce, or soup mix. Marinate your meats overnight to let the flavors absorb, or massage in a spice rub and let it stand. If you love BBQ sauce and can’t give it up, consider trying Efrat Libfroind’s recipe so you can avoid the preservatives and sugars. I love braised red wine ribs (I use the recipe from Celebrate), pistachio lamb chops (simply some crushed pistachios and olive oil, then broiled), coffee London broil, maple mustard French roast (both from The Silver Platter) or overnight flanken (I put the meat on a bed of sliced garlic & onion and then season with garlic salt & lemon pepper, and bake at 200ºF for 12 hours).

Letting chicken on the bone cook for hours allows all the flavors to meld beautifully. Once again, the soup mixes, duck sauces and sugars are unnecessary. Flavor can be achieved in many alternative ways. I love using my mother’s recipe (below), or a crispy recipe chock full with dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil.

Mommy’s Shabbos Chicken—Place the chicken on the bone on a bed of sliced onion. Wedge sweet potatoes cut into rings around the chicken. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika. Pour orange juice till the chicken is covered midway and bake till soft. Uncover a little to crisp up the chicken. I like to broil a few orange slices separately to serve with the chicken for nice presentation.

“Healthy” Poppers—While I wouldn’t call these super healthy, they’re definitely a better alternative to regular fire poppers. Beat an egg and season with spices of choice. Crush Terra chips and add salt and pepper. Bread chicken breast cut into bite size pieces in the egg then crushed chips. Spray with olive oil. Bake at 350⁰F until golden. Make a sauce of hot sauce and honey, and pour over the chicken. Serve hot.

Chicken Skewers—Chicken skewers are a fun, kid-friendly way to serve chicken and can be healthy too! I like to marinate the chicken in pesto and serve on a skewer with cherry tomatoes. Alternatively, you can make a delicious spice rub, add some oil, and marinate, then serve with a zesty avocado dipping sauce.

Sides

Kugels—For potato kugel, try substituting half of your potato mixture with cauliflower. I love making tasty broccoli kugel with eggs, garlic, assorted spices and sautéed onions. I make them in muffin tins for little soufflés that make a pretty presentation.

Sweet Potato Gratin is easy, delicious, and healthy. I cook sweet potato, mash with maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon and top with granola for crunch. Put it in ramekins for individuals servings.

Vegetable Sides—I personally don’t love roasted vegetables on Friday night because they don’t work well when reheated, so I serve lots of fresh salads instead. However, ratatouille, cauliflower ‘popcorn’, green beans, marinated veggie stacks, tri-color baby peppers, and stuffed mushrooms are some great ways to incorporate vegetables in to your seudos.

Desserts

It’s better for digestion to eat fruit on an empty stomach, however dessert inevitably comes at the end of the meal and therefore it’s far better to ingest fruit-based desserts rather than sugary alternatives. Here some fruit ideas and other healthful options.

Fruit Compote—Compote is a delicious and refreshing dessert. Combine fruits such as strawberries, apples and pears, put water to cover, cook and blend. If the end result is too tart, add a bit of honey or silan. Compote is also delicious as ice pops, and you can dip the ends in bittersweet chocolate.

Healthy Apple Crumble—Chop up some apples, sprinkle with cinnamon and orange juice. Mix 1 cup rolled oats, 1⁄2 cup of whole wheat or almond flour, 1⁄2 cup of nuts (like pecans, almonds or walnuts), 1⁄4 cup of coconut oil or melted Earth Balance, 1⁄4 cup of maple syrup (or to taste) and sprinkle generously with cinnamon and a bit of salt. Put the crumb topping on your apples and bake until golden. I make a lot of these crumbs and keep them in the freezer.

Fruit Skewers—Delicious and easy to eat. Get creative with the presentation and utilize the beautiful colors of fruit to your advantage.

Sorbet Sundaes—Find the healthiest, most fruit filled sorbet you can where you live and make sorbet sundaes. You can top with melted chocolate (left on top of urn), shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, granola, chopped fruit, or nuts.

Fruit Salad—Chop any fruit of choice and pour orange juice to cover to ensure it stays crisp. Distribute into martini glasses to increase the appeal.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels—Buy spelt pretzels (if you buy the right type, no one will taste the difference) and dip in good quality bittersweet chocolate. You can add any of the toppings mentioned above to the pretzels too.

Savory Popcorn—Savory popcorn flavors are a yum way to end the meal and usually require minimal olive oil and basic spices. Pop your popcorn, spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with spices. Try for a delicious light snack.

Dried Fruit—So long as there is no added sugar, another great snack to serve at the sweet table.

Assorted Nuts—Great for crunching and munching, just stay far from the ones that have things added, like salt, sugar and preservatives.

About Bina:

Bina Gottdiener is a Biology major, aspiring RDN & mommy living in Yerushalayim. She believes that a healthy lifestyle should be fabulous and exciting, without  being to costly or time consuming. For more info, feel free to email binastern1@gmail.com.

The post A Great Big List of Healthy Foods to Enjoy on Shabbos appeared first on Between Carpools.

Because it’s the time of year when you want that extra warmth.

By Esti Waldman

Summer seems to have left without even saying goodbye, and sweatshirt weather became the new reality overnight. If you’re caught scrambling like we are, check out these options and get your whole family cozy without leaving your house.

Need a good option for school, with no words and conservative colors? Here’s a good choice for your little girls:

Your bigger girls will like this one.

And an athletic looking, logo-less and word-less one for your boys:

Does he prefer a pullover style? Here you go!

Have high school girls who need a solid sweatshirt? Try one of many colors with a zipper.

Or get the pullover.

Stars are always a fun choice for a little boy.

Or this one for a toddler.

These Butter Super Soft Sweatshirts are all the rave right now. Here’s one for boys. 

and a fun one for girls

How about some fun on the weekends? Doesn’t get more colorful and cozy than this pullover!

And for the ultimate in baby comfort, try one of the fun prints in a one-piece style.

For serious warmth, these sherpa lined hoodies will keep boys and girls warm right up until they need a coat.

Don’t forget the big girls – or yourself!

These sherpa hoodies from Lands End are a classic that stand the test of time – and boyhood:

Or try this soft, stylish version – we’ve lost more of them than I can remember!

Here’s a sporty lightweight hoodie for the boy who likes to wear one all day.

And a dry-fit athletic one for the kids who play outdoors sports until the snow forces them indoors.

Do you work out in a gym and need a lightweight hoodie to throw on top of your gym clothes?

Is your girl still rocking the flip sequin look? This emoji sweatshirt will be her favorite.

This fun star sweatshirt is a great style that can be dressed down with denim or dressed up with corduroy.

And this rainbow will keep your toddler happy for the right price.

This black sweatshirt will hide all kinds of toddler mess while giving off a street chic vibe.

And this one will keep him learning all day.

The post All I Want is a Cozy Hoodie or Sweatshirt (Our Top Picks!) appeared first on Between Carpools.

Teens today get so many mixed messages about health.

By Julie Botton, IN Health Coach

So, how do we raise healthy, confident girls in today’s society? That’s a pretty loaded question and a very important one. It’s also a question that we’ve come to expect from parents addressing the needs of teenagers. Yet, more and more often, I am getting this question from moms panicking when their 6-year-old asks why their belly is bigger than their friend’s, when their 9-year-old says they only want to eat salad without dressing for lunch everyday, when their 12-year-old asks why she doesn’t have a thigh gap…

Between new societal expectations and simply kids maturing way too early, this epidemic of poor body image and early eating disorders is spreading and spreading fast. So what can we as parents do?

First and foremost is…watch our own language. We need to start to pay attention to the things we say about ourselves―because as we all know, kids hear EVERYTHING! Do you discuss your newest diet on the phone with a friend? Complain to your husband that your dress got too tight or your behind got too big? Do you obsess over the dessert you shouldn’t have eaten, or the exercise class you missed? Is your order in restaurants the “egg white, no oil, salad, dressing on the side, make sure there’s no cream in the soup!!” order?

Inadvertently, some of us talk about OTHER people without realizing it, for good OR for bad. And again, our kids are absorbing it all. We comment and rave about weight loss and how good others look as well as the flipside, weight gain and other negative comments….“You look so skinny” has become a normal complement in our world, yet kids need to learn that commenting on ANY type of body size is inappropriate. It sends our children the message that the size and shape of your body is what defines you and that “skinny” is the best thing they could be.

We must retrain ourselves to emphasize all of our children’s beautiful qualities. We need to remark on their artistic ability, beautiful character traits, their intelligence and resourcefulness. We need to remind them that being kind, independent, generous and caring are what will carry them through this life successfully.

Involving your children with pursuits beyond physicality will take the emphasis off of looks and onto character and talent. Get them involved in a volunteer organization, join a sports team, take art classes, have them learn a second language… The sense of purpose and accomplishments from working towards a goal will build their confidence and esteem more than any superficial compliment can.  

Be in tune to the groups of friends they associate with and the books and magazines left lying around the house. Know what may trigger your child and either actively avoid it or address it head on (friends, peer pressure, and body-shaming instances). Ignorance is NOT bliss!

Kids are bombarded with so many conflicting and confusing messages about food, diet and health, so start with the basics. Teach them what the food groups are and how beneficial each one is and how we need all of them to survive. Carbs are not evil, fats are not bad; our body needs them all to thrive and grow. Show them what a healthy plate looks like using your own plate as an example. Coach them that food is fuel for strength, endurance, brain function, disease prevention; not that food makes us fat or skinny.

Emphasizing HOW we eat rather than WHAT we eat is also a crucial lesson. Kids obviously learn by example, so be mindful that they see mealtime as a relaxed and calm. The dinner table is NOT the place to lecture and educate, but the place to bond and listen to one another. Practice eating without distractions (be it cellphones, games, books or general multitasking), and pay attention to the food, eat slowly and sit down at a table. Show your imperfections as well as your healthy habits- show them that were all human, even MOM!

The best message we can send is, that if we eat well most of the time, we can indulge without guilt and live our lives without obsessing over what went into our mouths. Let’s teach our children healthy habits and simultaneously give them the confidence, support, and love without the judgement and pressure. Together we can work towards a generation of self assured, well-rounded young adults who value health and fulfillment above size and shape.

About Julie:

Julie Botton is a Health Coach certified with the Institute of Integrative Health and a mom of four. She specializes in pre-teen and teen girls, as well as coaching adults, speaking in public and teaching in local high schools. She believes in promoting positive body image and giving her clients an education in foundational nutrition. Together they work on small upgrades to build sustainable change for a lifetime of healthy habits! She is also a doTerra Wellness Advocate and Educator to help people utilize natural solutions for their health. Check her out on insta @juliebotton or on website at www.juliebottonwellness.com.

The post How do we raise healthy, confident girls in today’s society? appeared first on Between Carpools.

Who doesn’t love Chinese food? This is better than take-out and ready in 20 minutes (or make ahead using your Crock-Pot!).

By Sara Goldstein

The temperature outside is slowly dropping. I feel myself reaching for cozy sweaters, hot drinks, and comforting food. I can’t say i’m mad about it! I know it will resonate with alot of you when I say that one of my most favorite comfort foods is American Chinese food. It’s addictive, as authentic or not to actual Chinese cuisine it might be.

There are actually quite a few of these dishes that you can make at home that will taste just as good (or better!) then the version at your local place. One of my favorites is General Tso’s Chicken. It consists mainly of pantry ingredients, so once you have them, you can make this dish many times over! I tossed it with ramen noodles to make it the ultimate meal.

I’ve included two cooking methods, so you can use the stove top or the Crock-Pot. Both ways are delicious. You can decide which to use depending on if you need dinner in 20 minutes or 3 hours. If you are doing dinner in shifts, make it in the Crock-Pot and toss it with fresh with ready cooked noodles every time.

To many more comforting, crowd pleasing meals with your loved ones!

Yield: 4-6 servings

Sara Goldstein is a graduate of the Jerusalem Culinary Institute, where she trained in classic French and Middle eastern cuisine. She spends her days dabbling in food photography, food styling and recipe developing, with the help from her husband and food partner in crime, Yossi. Follow us on Instagram @tomatoes_tomahtos and on our blog at https://tomatoestomahtos.com/

The post General Tso’s Chicken with Ramen: Make It On the Stove or in a Crock-Pot! appeared first on Between Carpools.

Do you children usually wake up at dawn that day we push back the clocks? Here’s how to get their bedtimes and wake-times back to normal.

By Chaya Shifra Sadoff

Some things in the world should just be predictable, know what I mean?

Like time.

That steady tick-tick-tick of the second hand is rhythmic, soothing, predictable. I know that at the end of every 60 minutes, it’ll have been another hour. Every 24 hours, another day… right?

Well, most of the time.

But not always.

You could say the government just wants to keep you on your toes, but twice a year we change things up a bit—a 23 hour day and a 25 hour day. It’s like your teacher making sure you’re listening, except they call it something fancier: Daylight Savings Time.

And the fun part of it is that your kids—the ones who you FINALLY got onto a decent schedule now that summer and Yom Tov are over—are now going to be out of whack again.

So unless you’d like to put them all to bed an hour earlier every night—and wake up an hour earlier, too—let’s dive in to some practical tips: how to adjust your kids to the new time—and a super-mom tip: how to get your extra hour of sleep on Motzei Shabbos.

The Easy Switch for Newborns (and many babies 3-6 months)

Since I don’t really believe in schedules for the sake of schedules, and focus more on awake time limits, the day of babies under 6 months is often a little bit unpredictable. Some babies will fall into a regular routine with their nap length, which will result in a regular, predictable day (if your baby falls into that category, see adjusting tips below), but if your baby falls into the former category, bedtime is usually more of a moving target: you aim for around 7, and it’ll happen somewhere between 6 and 8.

This age is the easiest when it comes to clock change: just move your bedtime goal hour to the “new” 7 once you change the clocks and you are good to go!

Bigger Babies, Toddlers, Pre-schoolers and Beyond

Once a (well-rested) baby hits around 6 months, their longer awake time limit (about 2-3 hours), along with the consolidation of daytime sleep (translation: longer naps) will usually result in a predictable 2-nap day and 12 hour night. While their awake time limit will continue to lengthen as they get older, for most little kids (especially those under 8 who still need about 12 hours of nighttime sleep) being up a whole extra hour is a little too tough for them. So, to make this transition smoother—and to prevent you from having an overtired nutcase on your hands—I like to split the difference.

(I know, I know—you’re wondering about how you can get that miraculous extra hour of sleep on Motzei Shabbos. Hang in here with me—I’m getting there!)

Babies under 12 months on a predictable schedule (usually 6-12 months of age):

While a baby is still on a 2-nap day, their awake time limit generally doesn’t allow for very much variation in length. For this age, I split the hour into 4 15 minute chunks, so that each day, for 4 days, you’re changing things by only 15 minutes.

Babies over 12 months, Toddlers and Pre-schoolers (& beyond)

These cute kiddos are able to do a bit more than just 15 minutes, but a full hour at a time is still a wee too much for those cute little brains to handle. For these fellas, we’ll only move 30 minutes at a time—but we’ll take things a little slower. Change 30 minutes; hold there for 3 days; then move the last 30 minutes.

Ready to do some magic and see how this works?

The Magical Insider’s Trick (Warning: it’ll hurt your brain!)

The key to helping you get that extra hour of sleep is to do the time change in advance of the actual clock change. How far in advance to do it is completely up to you (I had a client tell me she did it a full 2 weeks in advance!), but keep in mind that if your child(ren) are a little bit more sensitive, they may need some more time to adjust, and it might be helpful if you stretch out the length of time at each change (for example: 15 minutes every 2-3 days for babies below 6 months, or 30 minutes for a full week for older babies and kids).

So now I’m going to hurt your brain a little bit.

Since we’re moving the clocks back, we need to move your child’s schedule forward. I know it doesn’t really make sense at surface level, so I’m going to walk you through this verbally, and I want you to pull out an analog clock so you can follow along with me.

Let’s say bedtime is currently at 7:00 (because I always use my own kids’ schedules, and that’s what we do). Okay? So I want you to set the clock to 7:00.

Now we’re going to bump bedtime and naptime 30 minutes forward for 3 days. My goal is to be on “new” time by Friday night, so since we always start with nighttime when making changes to children’s sleep, we’ll do Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night bedtime at 7:30. My baby’s 11:30 naptime will become 12:00 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Got it? So I want you to move your clock to 7:30 now.

If you’re still with me, let’s move on to phase 2: moving the second half hour.

Starting on Friday night, we’re going to adjust that second half hour, which will bring us to an 8:00 bedtime. So bedtime on Friday night and Motzei Shabbos will be at 8. Sir G’s nap on Shabbos will be now a complete hour later than when it usually is—12:30.

If your baby would be under 12 months — say a 9 month old with a 9:30 nap and a 2:30 nap, by the time you get to Friday night, bedtime will also be at 8, but we’ll move a little bit differently to get there: Tuesday night bedtime at 7:15 so Wednesday morning wakeup is at 7:15, and Wednesday day naps at 9:45 and 2:45. On Wednesday night, you’ll do another 15 minutes: bedtime at 7:30, Thursday wake-up at 7:30, naps at 10 and 3. Thursday night, you’ll do a 7:45 bedtime, Friday morning starts at 7:45 also, and then naps are at 10:15 and 3:15. And then, by Friday night, we’ll be at an 8:00 bedtime, with all naps Shabbos day an hour later than their usual time.

You ready for me to work my magic?

Now sometime in the wee hours of the morning, I’ll wave my magic wand and 8 will magically become 7. (Or at least that’s what I thought happened as a kid—really what’ll happen is you’ll go around the house and move all the clocks back an hour—so that 8:00 becomes 7:00 again!)

Did you do it with your clock? Does your brain hurt? (If you did it with a clock it shouldn’t!) Does it make sense? (If you used your clock, it should!)

And if you don’t want to do the magical insider’s trick…

Depending on how much time you have in the morning from wake-up until your kids need to be out the door, making the time change in advance may not work for your family. If that’s the case, not to fear: you can always make the change afterwards!

As with the first strategy, you’ll still split the difference — 30 minutes every 3 days for kids with over 12 months and 15 minutes every day for younger babies.

Since you will have changed the clocks already, your kids’ 7:00 bedtime will now be at 6:00. To split the difference, start with bedtime on Sunday night at 6:30. Naps on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be 30 minutes early, and you’ll hold bedtime at 6:30 for Monday and Tuesday nights, too. Starting Wednesday night and Thursday day, bedtime and nap times will be back to regular time.

Of course, you can play around with it — if you want to start on Friday night or Motzei Shabbos, follow the same guidelines and make this work for your family.

Your Last Step: Be Patient!

Like I said above, some kids do this transition easily and smoothly, while others will take a little longer — up to 2 weeks is normal! — before things really fall into place.

If your newborn, infant or toddler was struggling with sleep even before the clock change, and you’re looking for a quick and easy guide on the foundation of good sleep, I’ve got just the thing for you — check out my free guide on the Five Habits You Didn’t Know Your Baby Needs So You Can BOTH Sleep Well At Night.

About Chaya Shifra:

Chaya Shifra Sadoff is mom of twins and a miracle worker (under the guise of a Certified Sleep Sense Consultant and Lactation Counselor). She works with mothers across the world to build the motherhood they dreamed of by transforming their children (newborns, infants and toddlers) into superstar sleepers. She would also would love feedback from YOU! Shoot her an email shifra@kinderwink.com, call 847-868-9465, find her on instagram @kinderwink or check out www.kinderwink.com for more great tricks, tips, and info.

The post How to Get That Extra Hour of Sleep During the Fall Clock Change— Even Though You Have Kids! appeared first on Between Carpools.

Some kids need endless amounts of reading material. But how do you know what’s kosher or not? We’ve read all the books so you don’t have to.

By Alisa Avruch

They say a journey  of a thousand miles starts with a  single step.

When my friend and I started pre-reading our children’s books 20 years ago, we never dreamed that one day we would have a list of over 4000 books. We never imagined that we would have detailed summaries and comments for nearly all of them.  And only in our wildest dreams could we envision our own website where frum parents could search for books for their kids.

Kosherbooks started with a humble mission: to provide our own kids with books that were appropriate, and (as much as possible) did not contradict our hashkafos and value system.  Using Rivky Kaganoff’s list as our starting point, we checked our own kids’ selections which were not included in her directory. We quickly learned from experience that the front book flap is not the most complete source of information; if we wanted to monitor our kids’ reading, it was up to us to actually plow through each and every book.

Fortunately for us, we are both bookworms and love to read.  While there were some books we struggled to get through (Moby Dick, anyone?), for the most part it was a matter of finding the time–so we discovered some spare hours lying around and tacked them onto our hectic days (just kidding–stray story book device there).

With the encouragement of our Rav, we did our best to make Kosherbooks available to other frum parents and educators.  After over 10 years and over 10,000 downloads of our list on Chinuch.org, we are now zoche to the invaluable (and sometimes superhuman) services of our web designer, who burned the midnight LEDs to provide busy parents like you with a priceless resource: a searchable website complete with comments and recommendations for over 4400 books (and counting!).

It is our great privilege to share some of the books that we have come across through the years.  As problem-free books are exceedingly rare, and since personal standards vary, we also include here “questionable” books and encourage parents to check out the full reviews on Kosherbooks.org

10 Timeless Favorites That You Can Share With Your Own Kids

You surely remember the imaginary vistas of your childhood, inhabited by the intrepid characters of your favorite books: Winnie the Pooh, Cam Jansen, Laura Ingalls, and Nancy Drew.  When it came to sharing our childhood favorites with our kids, we found that in the glaring lights of 21st century, we re-read those classics with new, sharper lenses.  To what extent did we want our kids exposed to mild, childish romance?  Warm and mushy descriptions of non-Jewish holidays? Unrefined language and midos?  Here are a few of your childhood favorites that you may wish to share with your kids. Please check out full reviews on Kosherbooks.org for complete details on any book or series.

Encyclopedia Brown (Daniel J. Sobel) – the boy detective challenges young readers to solve mysteries along with him.

The Boxcar Children (Gertrude Chandler Warner)  – Orphaned siblings go on adventures and solve mysteries.  Some holiday mentions.

Stuart Little (E. B. Webb) –  Mouse adopted by humans.  Some very mild holidays and boy/girl.

Bedknob and Broomstick (Mary Norton) – Kids have magical adventure.  Very mild romance at the end.

The Indian in the Cupboard (Lynne Reid Banks) – Boy has adventures with toy Indian that comes alive.  Sequels have some slight issues – see list.

Hardy Boys (Franklin W. Dixon) / Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene)– The teenage prodigies solve mysteries that adults somehow miss.  In both series, main characters have boyfriend/girlfriends – see comments on individual books.  More recent books in both series are much more problematic.

Heidi (Johanna Spyri) – Classic story of girl brought up on mountain by eccentric grandfather.  Some mild religion.

The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)  A lonely unsociable child is sent to live with her hunchback uncle.  Minor religion.

A Little Princess  (Frances Hodgson Burnett) A rich girl in an orphanage.

The Hobbit  (J.R.R. Tolkien) – The classic fantasy.  Mild language and holiday. Sequel The Lord of the Rings  trilogy has some mild issues – see reviews.

What are YOUR kids reading? Look up the book on Kosherbooks.org: Let the reading begin!

About Alisa:

Alisa Avruch is a book addict and freelance writer.  She writes features and personal reflections for Binah Magazine, and is currently starting a copywriting business for healthcare and homecare websites.

The post 10 Timeless Books That You Can Share With Your Own Kids appeared first on Between Carpools.

 I was so excited when I discovered fun, high quality Torah Treasure videos…and I wanted to tell moms everywhere.

By Victoria Dwek

When I first heard from Nechama Hershkowitz of Torah Treasure, I was so excited. I’ve been a big fan of Torah Treasure for awhile now…when I discovered it I thought I had literally stumbled across…well, yes…a treasure.

Torah Treasure is a Jewish website/app with high quality Jewish videos for kids. Now, let’s be real. Even the most engaged mothers sometimes just “need that 30 minutes” of quiet time and I don’t need to explain why! I love that all the videos are self-contained on the Torah Treasure website or app, so there’s no need to worry about kids clicking elsewhere. They’re in a kosher, safe zone (and there’s no need to worry about scratched DVDs!).

Plus—the videos are so educational! Moms have enough guilt when they put on a video—if my child is learning something, whether it’s about brochos, parsha, or even about exotic undersea creatures, then I feel much better about it.

But the most impressive part about Torah Treasure is actually the quality of the videos. It’s really beyond what you typically expect from Jewish videos, and that makes it so much easier because kids love them and don’t mind watching them over and over! They’re really top notch and professional, and I’m so impressed with each video, from the original music, animation, and all the visuals.

Torah Treasure was something I thought all moms would love to know about.

But, then when Nechama contacted us, and I heard the story behind Torah Treasure, I was even more intrigued.

The Story Behind Torah Treasure: When There’s a Need, Fill It

As a young couple, Nechama and Chaim Hershkowitz were debating whether to stay in Crown Heights or go out on shlichus. When their second child, their first daughter, Mussia, was born with spina bifida, they knew they’d be staying put in New York.  

“At the time, our oldest son Ari was 2-years-old. From the time Mussia was born, we were constantly at the hospital with her as she underwent numerous surgeries. There were doctors appointments every day and we frequently returned home late at night. At that time, my son was spending time at my in-laws, watching PBS videos. It’s hard to keep a 2-year-old entertained and happy when parents and siblings aren’t around. We weren’t happy about it, but that was the circumstances of life, so what could we do? As holiday time approached, the videos were just not appropriate anymore.

Chaim thought, “Why aren’t there good quality, Torah-based, educational videos that we can show him instead?” There were Jewish DVDs available, but the selection was slim. So, Chaim, who always had a creative knack (he had been the host of Jewish Kids Radio before he was married), decided to produce the videos he thought were missing on the market. He went into numerous Judaica stores and asked, “What are you missing in the DVD category? What do parents want that doesn’t yet exist?”

They all told him, “Aleph-Bais…Aleph Bais.”

So, Chaim got working. He began playing around with puppets and practicing story lines with Ari.  He wanted the videos not only to be exciting for children, but also interesting for the adults. The first DVD took three years to produce―the first ever Torah Treasure video was Mitzvah Boulevard: Aleph-Bais.

“It took so long that our son, who appears on the video, appears both with long hair, before the age of three, and as a young boy with a short haircut later on!”

Nowadays, because of the advancement in technology and Chaim’s skills, videos take 3-6 months to produce. Chaim writes the storylines, but also hires Jewish singers and songwriters, and actors to contribute to the videos.

Watch the Trailer for Torah Treasure’s Latest Release: Parsha Time!

What kind of videos are on Torah Treasure?

The first Torah Treasures video I rented for my children was “Wonders of Hashem: Under the Sea” – I really couldn’t believe something so high quality existed when I watched it (Yes, parents don’t mind watching the videos either) and my kids didn’t mind watching over and over again. The Wonders of the Hashem series was created to especially interest boys. Chaim went through the Gemara and Chumash to learn what the Torah says about every animal, so he could teach about nature from a Torah perspective. Girls who want something special for them will love the Bella Bracha (but of course, both boys and girls love all of them)…and the latest video in the Torah Treasure collection is Parsha Time (it’s amazing!).

There’s been so much excitement for children of all ages since the first videos of The Mitzvah Boulevard series (on Aleph-Bais, Shabbos, Brochos, and Songs), geared towards younger children were first released. And though the lineup keeps getting better, there are also common threads throughout. Mussia, Chaim and Nechama’s daughter, appears in all the Torah Treasure videos. “When kids see a child in a wheelchair, they grow up learning there’s all different types. It’s not just about the gorgeous and perfect kids. We include her to be inclusive of children with disabilities.”

See the entire line of Torah Treasure videos here.

You can rent each video for a 3-month subscriptions or subscribe and have access to every video for a full year and have the video up and running in an instant! (Either on the App which is compatible with Android and IOs or on any computer.)

Of course you can also get any DVD at your local Judaica store or on Amazon.

Learn more and have fun at TorahTreasure.com.

This post is sponsored, however opinions are our own.

The post Torah Treasure is Really a Mother’s Dream appeared first on Between Carpools.

Have you had braces as a child, and then watched your teeth begin to shift back to their original position over time?

By Sara Fleischer, MA, CCC-SLP,

Has your teen completed his or her years of braces only to have some of the same issues reoccur?

If you’ve ever experienced any of these scenarios, chances are you’re upset, frustrated, and definitely not ready to spend all that money again.

Why does this happen?

Often times, a child will go to the orthodontist with “pre-existing conditions.” Some examples might be: tongue thrusting, tongue tie, open mouth breathing, and/or sucking habits to name a few.

Many orthodontist treat the structure, meaning, they see crooked teeth, misaligned jaw, or narrow palate and repair just that with the proper orthodontic appliances. They fix exactly the concern that was presented to them. However, they haven’t taken into account the bigger picture.

Take, for instance, the thumb sucker. Chances are she only needed the ortho in the first place due to the sucking habit. Braces go on, job complete, off they go. In a matter of a couple of weeks, the pressure of the sucking will reverse the corrected structures (teeth, bite, jaw…), sending her right back to square one. 

In another example is the open-mouth breathing kid. This child has his jaw hanging open and tongue lying low in his mouth. After months of braces and ortho visits (not to mention the prohibitive costs), his underjet, overbite, or other issue will most likely re-occur within as little as a few weeks.

Many competent orthodontists will recommend clients have tongue thrust or other negative oral habits corrected prior to applying braces. However, more often than not, children are getting the usual orthodontic procedures done without this–leading to unfortunate setbacks and the need to repeat the orthodontics. 

Here’s a little secret: Our lips and tongue function as natural “orthodontics.” The tongue acts as a palate expander, and lips act as braces when in they are both in the correct resting posture. They will act in synchrony to keep the teeth aligned and in correct positioning. Ever notice how some people who have nice facial profiles and lip closure, smile and reveal beautiful aligned teeth? It’s possible that they even had braces, but they maintained that beautiful smile in some part by keeping their lips closed habitually.

There is much to be said about the benefits of lip closure, nasal breathing, and oral rest posture, and how they all affect our health, dentition, and even facial features, (maybe that’s a topic for another time). The point of this post, though, is just to bring awareness to so many frustrated parents, and to avoid a lot of heartache for those who are just getting into the whole orthodontics world.

If there’s an underlying issue, orthodontics will very possibly be needed, but correct the root of the issue. Don’t just slap those braces on, only to have it undone soon after completion. And for those of you ortho “grads,” even you mom, who watched your teeth reverse back to their not so pretty places, it’s never too late to correct your habits either.

About Sara:

Sara Fleischer, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech therapist in private practice in Lakewood, NJ, specializing in Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. She is passionate about her area of specialty in remediating swallows, smiles and speech. When she’s not evaluating and treating clients, she is fulfilling her prized role as wife and mom of her family. She can be contacted at SimplySpeechNJ@gmail.com

The post The Problem? Teeth Sometimes Return to Their Original Places After Braces. Here’s the Solution. appeared first on Between Carpools.

Do you like long grain rice? Or brown rice? Or do you keep basmati or jasmine in your pantry? No matter your rice, there’s a perfect cooking method for you.

By Sara Chana Gruskin

Rice is a highly common winter comfort food. It’s a healthy, inexpensive grain that has the ability to transform a humble dinner into a hot, hearty meal. Though, all too often, cooking a pot of rice turns into a failed attempt at turning out a hearty dish.

Rice is a dried grain that needs to be properly rehydrated. Gummy, starchy, and overcooked rice are all signs of incorrectly cooked rice. Learning to perfectly cook rice can be a game changer.

There are countless varieties of rice to choose from but, the 3 most commonly used kinds are; long-grain white rice, brown rice, and basmati or jasmine.

Long-Grain White Rice: White rice is neutral in flavor, providing a backdrop for other foods. Nonetheless, higher-quality white rice—like good white pasta—offers a pleasingly chewy “al dente” feel when cooked correctly. Since white rice is low in starch after cooking, it remains fluffy and separate. White rice uses the simmer-and-steam method.

Brown Rice: Brown rice has a nutty flavor and delightful chew. It also has a tough reputation, often cooking up gummy or underdone. A fool-proof method is what this rice needs and cooking brown rice like pasta fits the bill.

Basmati or Jasmine Rice: Basmati and jasmine are both fragrant kinds of rice, highly sought after for their delicate taste. Basmati and jasmine rice are most often cooked using the pilaf method.

My Top 7 Things to Keep in Mind When Cooking Rice

1. Using a sturdy sauce pot with a tightly fitted lid is key for good results. It can be the first solution to avoid improperly cooked rice.
2. 1 cup of uncooked rice serves 2 to 3 people.
3. Rinsing rice is the first line of defense against gummy grains as it washes away loose, powdery starch that can stick to the grains as it cooks. Always use a fine-mesh strainer to rinse rice under cool running water till water runs clear— no matter the cooking method.
4. Although water is not your only liquid option, it is the most common. A variety of stock/broth- such as chicken, vegetable, mushroom, etc.; can really take the flavor of your dish to a whole new level.   
5. Setting the stovetop knob on “2” with a tightly fitted lid for your pot will give your rice a perfect simmer
6. Avoid stirring–it will agitate the rice, leaving you with mushy, gummy rice.
7. It’s tempting to serve rice just off the fire without allowing it to rest, but then you’d find the top layer drier and fluffier than the bottom, which can be very moist and fragile. Allowing the rice to sit undisturbed with the lid on for a minimum of 5-10 minutes (or as long as 30 minutes) allows the moisture to redistribute. The grains retain their integrity and come out light and fluffy resulting in a more uniform texture.    

The 3 Rice Cooking Methods

Simmer-and-Steam Method

The simmer-and-steam method is probably the most used method when it comes to cooking rice. Standard long-grain white rice is traditionally cooked this way. In this method the rice simmers in water or broth until completely absorbed. You slide the pot off the heat to steam for 10 minutes. With a quick fluff of your fork, the rice is ready.

Add 1 ½ (for more pronounced grains) to 2 cups (for stickier rice) cold water and 1 cup short/long grain white rice to a 2-quart sauce pot. Season with a teaspoon of salt.  Cover pot and bring to a boil (peak after 5-6 minutes to see if it’s boiling, but don’t lift lid completely)**. Reduce to a simmer and allow rice to cook for 15 minutes. Avoid stirring as it will agitate the rice, giving you mushy rice. Turn the heat off, push the pot to the back of the stove (off the hot heat source) and allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. Add oil, about a tablespoon. Fluff with a fork, and serve.   

**It takes 5-6 minutes for water and rice to come to a boil. This timing applies only when using 1 cup rice and 2 cups liquid in a 2-quart. If you have a glass lid it can be easy to gauge when the water comes to a boil.

The Pasta Method

The pasta method uses enough water to cover the rice. Once the rice is tender and chewy, excess liquid gets drained. The rice is then returned to the hot pot and steams off to get rid of any excess moisture.

Rinse rice over cold running water until water runs clear. Add 3 cups cold water and 1 cup short/long grain brown rice to a 2-quart sauce pot. Season with a generous amount of salt, about a tablespoon. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes. After the 25-minute mark, fish out a grain or two every so often and take a taste to test for doneness.

If you prefer your rice al’ dente 25 minutes of cooking time should be enough. For a softer, lighter rice feel, lean toward 30 minutes or more of cooking time. I know that this sounds short for brown rice, so you can cook a little longer for softer rice. Just keep in mind that rice will keep cooking while it steams in the next step, so don’t wait until it’s completely to your liking before draining and steaming. Take it off when it’s “almost” done. 

Drain excess water, turn off the heat, and drain rice in a fine mesh strainer. Return the rice to the pot and replace the lid. push the pot to the back of the stove and allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. Add the oil, about a tablespoon, and salt to season. Fluff with a fork and serve.   

The Pilaf Method

The phrase “pilaf” is referenced to a way of cooking rice that is first sautéed/toasted in oil followed with a simmer and steam method. Toasting keeps the grains separate which creates a fluffy texture and lends the rice a highly preferred nutty and fragrant flavor. Basmati and jasmine rice are almost always made in pilaf-style. The pilaf method is most often cooked incorporating sautéed vegetables; think Spanish rice.  

Heat a 3- quart sauté pan   on medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil, and heat.

Add 1 cup white Jasmine or basmati rice, and sauté rice till fragrant and pearly white, about 5-7 minutes.

Add 1 ½ cups HOT water, or HOT chicken or vegetable broth. The mixture will bubble up; don’t be alarmed. Stir once to combine and cover with lid. Bring mixture to a boil, without lifting the lid reduce to a simmer. Cook rice for 12 minutes. Turn the heat off, push the pot to the back of the stove and allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. Add oil, about a tablespoon. Fluff with a fork, and serve.   

About Sarah Chana Gruskin:

A graduate of CKCA, Sara Chana is a busy personal chef; she also works frequently as a destination chef, preparing gourmet kosher food for kosher travelers. You can see her work on her site www.shecooksthat.com on Instagram @she_cooks_that or contact her at shecooksthat @ gmail.com

The post How to Achieve Perfectly Cooked Stovetop Rice appeared first on Between Carpools.

Want to travel beyond Miami? Perk up that time away with a new exotic destination.

Perhaps you never wanted to go too far or you didn’t want to think too much about obtaining kosher food. But if perhaps the kids are a little older, or you can get away for an extra couple of days this winter, it could be time to expand the vistas. Here’s three ideas where you find new sights, nice winter weather, and yes…still find kosher food and minyanim too.

Costa Rica. There’s tons to do in Costa Rica, and it’s especially worth the trip if you’re looking for more privacy, perhaps a quiet piece of beach or a private pool. There’s also an active Jewish community and kosher food in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, but you’d probably want to venture out coasts and explore further. The good news is that all the exotic places to visit are within 3 hours of the capital, so you can cover everything, from relaxing on a quiet beach on the Golden Coast, to a visit up to the Arenal volcano or the rainforests…all while spending Shabbat with the local Orthodox Jewish community. There is also a kosher hotel in beachside town of Jaco, only an hour from the capital. Kosher Casas, which offers private kosher villas and even chefs, is also active in Costa Rica. Click here to search for flights.

Gibraltar + Spain is a tiny British colony that sits at the tip of Spain.  Some call it the “perfect Jewish destination,” as there is a vibrant Sephardic Jewish community, active shuls, restaurants and a bakery, and exotic vistas. If you’re on the way to Israel, it’s a great place to stop on the way. On Shabbat, the streets really come alive with the members of the Jewish community walking everywhere. There are a few sights to see in Gibraltar–the most famous is “The Rock.” Take the cable car up or take the shuttle bus (if you take the shuttle, you get to see more sights along the way, like the caves dug by soldiers inside The Rock and the famous Barbary apes). From the top of The Rock, you can see the Northern coast of Africa, the Southern coast of Spain, and the Straits of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean sea meet. You can relax in Alameda Gardens, a haven of plant and wildlife and take a boat and go dolphin watching in the blue waters. If you’re sticking to Europe, you can couple your Gibraltar weekend with a few days in Madrid and Toledo and take fascinating tours of the ancient Jewish communities that once resided there. Unlike the rest of Europe, you’ll enjoy moderate year round temperatures in both Spain and Gibraltar. It’s best to have a travel agent help you plan your stopover in Gibraltar, as planning multi-leg European trips can get confusing for the layman.

Cancun. Cancun isn’t only about the beaches. You don’t have to bake in the sun to enjoy exotic surroundings (in addition to solid kosher restaurants and daily Shacharis during the winter; confirm times before you travel). You can take a short ferry ride to the island of Isla Mujeres, tour ancient ruins, and if you’re adventurous, there’s a lot to do to, including the a wide range of water activities or a visit to the exciting nature park of Xcaret. If you’re tired of Miami but really don’t want to travel much further, then this will be a nice change, with a short 4 hour plane ride. Easily search for flights here.

Where would you like to go this winter?

This post is sponsored by Do-All

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