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the Patchke Princess

Tag Archives: divorce

Agunah…

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Divorce Musings, General Rants & Thoughts

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

divorce

Images 1

 

I am in chains…

with every breath that I take…

I want to fight my captives…

but…

inorder to be free…

I have no choices left to me

& need to give in to their demands…

I have no will

as a woman

in a jewish marriage.

I am having a hard time understanding it all…

so all I can do is make sure that this does not happen to others after me…

THIS IS A WARNING!! DANGER AHEAD:

To all those doe eyed girls about to be wed….

protect yourself

it does not matter how much you love them…

does not matter what kind of “good” family they come from

does not matter how much money you or they might have…

when you sign your ketubah..

you are chaining yourself.

and if unfortunately there comes a day that you need to be FREE of your chains…

you need to make sure BEFORE you sign the ketubah

that you have a WRITTEN contract (a jewish pre-nup & you MUST get a civil marriage BEFORE the wedding) that can break those chains.

Because the SAD FACT is…

if you live in NJ especially…

there is NOT much (rabbis, law, organizations) you have on your side

that can actually help you.

and you will be a hostage…

in the cruel war that is…the Jewish GET proceedings.

 

 

 

regret…& cauliflower crust pizza

28 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Dairy, dinner, Divorce Musings, Whats for Dinner Tonight?

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

divorce, guilt free pizza, kid custody, Kosher cauliflower crust pizza how to

regret….

I try to live my life with out them

but this year

I am overwhelmed by

the abundance of them…

the father of my child

the man that I chose with all my heart to bring

my Tunie B. into this world

has not seen his daughter in over 5 months

I am devastated

for her.

for me.

can’t wrap my head around it

I have no idea how a man who loved his kid…..sooo much

can just walk away

no contact

nada –    ZERO

no reasoning

no amount of rationale

from….anyone (can help get through to him)

he has walked away…

for 5 months and counting

and all I can think is

regret…

I am having a hard day.

 

No REGRET Cauliflower Crust Pizza Recipe:

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makes 1 8-9 inch round pizza

I cook when I have a hard day…I cook I cook and then I cook some more. Luckily I have a lo of recipe testing to do this week – but I have pretty much procrastinated doing any of my real testing work, and went with this pizza this morning. I saw this idea recently and I have been dying to try it, wanted to see for myself what all the hype was about.

It was very good. Normally all the recipes call for fresh cauliflower that you grate on a mandolin into rice like pieces. However, because I only will use frozen cauliflower, I defrosted the cauliflower and used a food processor to make the “cauliflower rice flour” and then microwaved it to remove as much of the moisture as I could. The cauliflower makes a good alternative crust if you want to avoid flour. and Tunie B. seemed to love it as well. I will say that it does not replace the good ol fashion pizza crust, and I don’t think I will give up on my flour crust all together. But, I love the idea of making this pizza on a regular basis and not feeling guilty about eating 2 slices for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:

2 lbs frozen cauliflower, defrosted

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

2 eggs

2 tsp. oregano

2tsp. basil

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 cup favorite homemade marinara sauce (or jar sauce)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 F and spray your pizza pan with non-stick spray.

In a food processor, using the shredder/ricer attachment, process the cauliflower and transfer to a microwave bowl.

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Microwave the cauliflower on high for 3 minutes. Add the parmesan, 1/2 cup mozzarella, eggs, and all the spices and then mix everything together.

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Spread the mixture onto your pizza pan, making sure that the crust is thick and even. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

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Remove from oven and then spread the tomato sauce on to the cauliflower crust. Add your shredded mozzarella to the top and bake in oven for another 10 minutes until cheese has melted.

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Slice & serve.

 

 

 

the lonely birds…

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Divorce Musings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

divorce

the lonely birds…

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for all intents & purposes I had a wonderful weekend

thursday night..out with the girls

shabbat..by one of my oldest & dearest

sunday… a bat mitzvah party to behold

yet…the lonely birds are flying over my head

and have landed themselves around my heart.

it is hard..to keep a smile on my face

even though..I am genuinely thrilled..for all the happiness

that has befallen my friends.

a newly minted kalah(bride), a bat mitzvah girl, family fun shabbos filled with summer plans…

for them it seems…life is picture perfect.

I know it is an illusion…life is never perfect

but the lonely birds flap their little wings…

and I remember…all the little life moments..with my ex.

the excitement planning my own dream wedding.

shabbat meals filled with laughter and fun disputes

going to parties with a plus one…who would be your BFF in a room filled with strangers..

the only other person who would truly appreciate…how perfectly devilishly delish our Tunie B. was behaving at that party.

because all those little moments with him…were perfect.

were filled in my mind at least… with love and happiness…

and i miss it ….terribly.

those incessant lonely birds are here…keeping me company

and despite their presence I am trying my best to

smile my way through..

because really I am doing fine… every day better than the next

its just these new life moments…

are… lonely.

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Tunie B. spent the whole day yesterday helping herself to her little hearts desire at the buffet…there is no doubt she is my kid!

Whats for Dinner Tonight?

Well for dinner tonight it’s Chicken nuggets for Tunie B. upon her request.. and for me..well I am gonna grill a salmon steak for one..little salt, pepper & some fresh garlic.

no recipe needed.

sometimes cooking for one..is not all its cracked up to be.

but tomorrow I have some recipe in the works I am testing…so stay tuned.

 

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Hikca -MOMMY!

07 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Salads

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

divorce, jicama salad, Potty training

Hikca -MOMMY!

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My

Tunie B.

gotta LOVE that kid.

decided to potty train herself… yes you heard me..

decided that she had just about enough with that old diaper thing!

It’s ONLY Hello Kittty underwear…if you please.

My days are now filled with cries of…

MOMMY!..MOMMY! Come See…

and as I race from kitchen to bathroom

to behold what wondrous “surprise” is waiting of me.

I know…

that this is what it means to love unconditionally.

Because why else would I be

(happily & willingly)  doing  my 100th  version of it’s a Poo Poo Potty Dance. (thank u elmo)

waving & jumping ..singing with unabashed glee

It is a Potty Party..every-time!

for me and Tunie B. are the only guests

and each time..is as if we won the mega million lottery!

But with all this.. there is just a little hiccup in my joy.

where is my baby? please I need her to stop growing up -so fast.

and am I being selfish?

if I wish my Tunie B. will just wait a month or two more..

so mommy can get things settled in the new home

get organized in the chaos that happens with change?

just a few more day of relief…to not have to ask every five minutes…”do you need to go potty?” in every store we go.

But NO..it is not to be.

my Tunie B. is a mini me

and when she wants things done..

well… she does them herself.

I should have guessed :)

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If you happen to be one of those mothers who want to potty train your child  - and personally I really believe on letting things happen organically with no pressure from me or anyone else, I think this elmo video started it all. I happen to have downloaded on one of our flights to Israel..well lets just say..by the end of the plane ride Tunie B. had seen it about 10 times and I kid you not…the guy siting next to us..was singing the lets go potty song by the end of the ride.

I actually had a college professor who I loved, Mr. Rosenfeld, who in our advance interpersonal communication class, did an exercise with us that made us recall our first memory of when we used the toilet.

The point being..that out of the 20 of us in the classroom, ALL 20 of us had some type of horror memory about going potty. According to Mr. Rosenfeld, it is the start of anxiety and fear development in children, and the less pressure we put on them, the more we are likely to have a child with a little less neurosis than, we, sitting in that room had. Sorta makes sense and rings true no?

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Jicama Salad

And because everything is ultimately about food for me.. well its JICAMA (hik-kama) season..and I ADORE this vegetable. It is a cross between an apple and a potato and has just light sweetness that is so delicious. They are really the perfect crunchy, refreshing light vegetable to add to any salad I am making, and I particularly LOVE them grilled on the BBQ.

Here is a Salad that I make as often as I can in the summer.

Ingredients:

l lb bag Fresh baby Spinach leaves (or any of your fav lettuce)

2 cups sliced Jicama

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 pint yellow cherry tomatoes, sliced

Dressing:

1/2 cup favorite strawberry preserve

3 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Assemble your salad ingredients. In a small bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients  - plate and dress salad. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You GNOCCHI!

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Dairy, dinner, Potato, Whats for Dinner Tonight?

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

divorce, Gnocchi ala marinara, Gnocchi from Scratch, Parmesan Gnocchi, whats for dinner tonight

You GNOCCHI!

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Ok so today I confronted my soon to be ex.

don’t judge.

I heard he was at my old house..getting it ready for the new owners.

the idea of getting him when he was alone…no brothers, no nephew, no mother, no lawyers…

just him…

was too tempting…to my mind & the lets get things- worked- out- civilly,  side of my brain.

I thought..maybe …maybe he would finally  talk.

no self imposed “gag order” that was the last few months of our living together…but talk …rationally with me.

Stop the madness.

Just me & him…face to face….no arguing, no court, 2 mature adults who share a wonderful daughter…

trying to make things ….I don’t know…better for us all..for her.

especially for her…for her future as a kid of a divorce home.

I know personally – how awful things can be when your parents are not cordial.

not a talk to reconcile..things are way to far gone.

but a talk on how to behave amicable..to come to terms with the divorce decision..and let there be some sort of peace for us.

it was a fantasy.

I thought I could reach the man who I had  loved so deeply.

But he has left the building,

permanently.

instead he called the police…reported my license plate

I  was trespassing….

You GNOCCHI!

there is nothing else I can say

other than YOU YOU….GNOCCHI!

missing yet another opportunity to make life…better.

but on the bright side.

for the first time.. there are no tears.

nope…just a strong feeling of …what a shame.

because finally I realize… there IS a whole life of …so much better

and I am on the road…

no matter along the way.. what kinda Gnocchi I gots ta eat.

Gnocchi from scratch…

When I was in Israel for Pesach this year, every and I mean EVERY dairy restaurant that was open, featured Gnocchi with salsa rosa (their version of penne vodka).

Some were better than others..and the best one I had was in Cafe Hillel in Amek Rifaem. In general food on Pesach in Israel..lets just say ..you feel like you are eating Chametz. What they make from potatoes and potato starch ..is not to believe.

Here is the “bread” I was served with my soup….see what I mean.

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But ..back to Gnocchi.

Coincidentally I also had made a Gnocchi recipe recently when I was testing the Manischewitz finalist recipes a few months back that I really liked.

So with a recipe from my friend Danielle Miles (a non-jewish Italian who is a crazy good baker and who has shared with me some really fantastic recipes over the years) I decided that this dreary rainy day was the perfect day to make a batch for dinner tonight.

I cut some corners – I microwaved the potatoes..yes I said MICROWAVEd (even us “at-home” gourmets use them!)

and since I, who has every practical basic kitchen tool…EXCEPT a potato ricer.. I used a good old strainer and fork to mash my potatoes.

The last short cut I can give you, if you are looking to do this…you really do not have to make the grooves with the fork..just cook them without.

tastes as delicious…just not as pretty.

This recipe uses flour..but if you are GF, go for the GF flour or potato starch instead.

And for those of you who want to know..NO this recipe does not work if you substitute sweet potatoes…I learnt the hard way this morning.

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For the Gnocchi Ala Marinara

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes

3/4 cup flour, plus extra for kneading

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1 cup Home-made Marinara Sauce (or favorite Jar sauce)

3/4 cup mixed shredded Mozzarella & Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Microwave your potatoes for about 10-12 minutes. They should be soft and easily pierceable with your fork.Let them cool off for about 5-6 minutes on the counter.

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Peel the skins from the cooked potatoes. Using a mesh strainer or potato ricer if you have, mash the potatoes through with a fork, into a medium size bowl.

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Once all the potatoes are mashed add the flour, salt , pepper and mix together well.

Dump the mixture on a floured cutting board, and knead into dough ball.

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Cut the dough into small workable chunks, and roll into a long 3/4 inch thick ropes.

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Then cut into small 1 1/2 inch thick pieces.

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Now bring pot of water to a boil with some kosher salt.

Using the tines of a fork, take a piece of the Gnocchi into the palm of your hands and roll the tines down to create the groves and the oblong shape.

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Throw the gnocchi into the boiling water to cook. When gnocchi rises to the top, they are ready.

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Strain and  place the cooked gnocchi into a baking dish. Pour your marinara onto the gnocchi, and then sprinkle the cheese over the marinara.

Bake in 350F oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cheese has melted and sauce is bubbling.

For another variation using your cooked gnocchi, just add butter, sage, and some parmesan cheese for a great bowl of yumminess.

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a little taste of Sunshine….

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Chicken, Whats for Dinner Tonight?

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

divorce, light easy meals, orange lemon chicken, whats for dinner tonight

 

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a little taste of Sunshine….

This morning I woke up

sun was streaming hot & glorious through my windows

I was like the walrus on a rock (ok i know not the most  flattering image…but thats how I felt )

basking and stretching

For a few minutes I truly forgot what my life has turned into.

reality showed up

up & adam…. gotta pay the bills

gotta make the donuts …as i say

to live…to survive.

What use to be no problem, no worries…has become

the giant heavy boulder that has permanently landed on my shoulders…alone.

This new reality….starting from scratch…

sorta sucks right now  - if you want to know the truth.

but I can make a choice…let it  topple me over..

or be creative…and keep that dang *&%$ rock afloat.

Because while my old partner in “crime”…is busy counting his money

and high-fiving himself on his “Wins”

I gotta figure out a way to THRIVE not survive

So I can high-five myself …

and know deep down, that ….I  always was and will be….the winner.

no matter what people say….it is important to me.

it is the reason for me to get up each morning

and just maybe I will not need this  daily motivation …for too much longer

because my reality will be …full of sunshine..for real.

i hope.

i pray.

I must make it so.

 

What’s for Dinner Tonight?

Orange Lemon Chicken 

I have for some reason a boat load of oranges sitting in a bowl on the counter in my new kitchen.

These days I find myself buying small affordable things that make me feel good…like a colorful bowl of oranges. There is just something “hopeful” about a bountiful bowl of bright colored fruit – not to mention adds great color to my somewhat dreary “new” kitchen.

But, practically speaking there is no way I was going to eat them all…even with the help of orange loving Tunie B. So I decided tonight for dinner it is time to incorporate them into my Tuesday night chicken dinner. Citrus and chicken is a long standing partnership and works really well, especially when you add just a tad of spicy sweetness to the mix. This time its a little of that good ol duck sauce from a jar. I plan on serving this with a nice light salad, because after a few days of gorging on food this past Shavout holiday…I’m looking for light meals that are satisfying.

Ingredients:

1 package of Dark Chicken Cutlets

2 large naval oranges, sliced into thin rounds

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. fresh lemon rind

11/2  cups Favorite Duck Sauce + 3tbsp.

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 shallot, minced

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. rosemary

kosher salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange Juice (I used 2 large oranges)

2 tsp.  fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a disposable 9 x 13 lay your orange slices down on the bottom.

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Pound your chicken into thin workable pieces that you can easily roll.

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In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon rind, duck sauce, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary and a pinch of salt and pepper.

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Using your fingers, shmear and heavily coat all your chicken pieces well on all sides.

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Place 2 sliced oranges in the center of your coated chicken and roll.

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Place the chicken roll up on top of the orange slices in your pan, and repeat with remaining chicken.

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In a small bowl, mix together the orange juice, lemon juice and remaining 3 tbsp. of duck sauce. Pour in the pan to cover the oranges.

Serve over some light couscous .

Place chicken in oven and bake for 45 -55 minutes Let the chicken bake covered for about 30 minutes and then uncover for remaining 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I lied.

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Dairy, dessert

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

divorce, ultimate carrot cake

 

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ok so I lied.

Well, not so much lied… but sugar coated the truth of how I am feeling.

About this move. About this impending Shavout holiday.

Today, I can’t even pretend & just have a nice cup of coffee with friends for a few minutes.

I am overwhelmed. overwhelmed. overwhelmed.

Today, while every one is fluttering around,  prepping and cooking for my all time favorite holiday….I am crying.

tears just seem to keep rolling down my eyes.

no matter how i try to hold it together.

in the car on the way home from dropping off Tunie B.

in the parking lot for 15 minutes in shoprite plaza.

thank god for sunglasses.

in my house as i unpack.

memories are just everywhere.

despite all my efforts to “make the best of things”

its B.S….

there is no best of things…

right now…it just hurts. its just sad. it just SUCKS.

i am crying.

endless tears.

will they ever stop.

is there such a thing as someone crying to much?

last year I was hosting.

2 families at every meal.

last year i loved & enjoyed every minute of this holiday.

today i wish…. it was tuesday.

next week.

I know it is not helpful… can’t help but think…

What is he feeling?

Does he have any moments of remorse about this?  Does his heart hurt as much as mine does…

everyday?

especially …now…before a holiday?

Last year, things were good between us at this time…very good.

how did it all go so bad….so fast?

or was I living in a dream.

i am thinking of making carrot cake today.

at starbucks this morning someone brought a sample of theirs that they just made.

it was not mine.

i have all the ingredients sitting on my counter.

I probably will eat the whole thing by myself this year.

Carrot Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

For Cake:

1 ½ cups grated carrots

1 ½ cups flour

¾ cups sugar

¾ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup shredded coconut

½ cup crushed pineapple, unsweetened and drained

Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 oz. cream cheese, softened at room temperature

1 ½ tbsp.unsalted butter softened at room temperature

¾ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

½ tsp. lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a separate bowl, grate the carrots and set aside.

In a bowl of your mixer fitted with paddle attachment, sift the flour and add the sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. On low speed, add the oil, vanilla, and eggs one at a time. Blend well. Remove the bowl from the mixer.  Using a rubber spatula, fold in the carrots, nuts, coconut and pineapple, making sure all ingredients are well combined.

In a well-greased muffin pan, spoon out the carrot cake batter ¾ of the way up. Bake for about 20 minutes or until center comes out clean.

While carrot muffins are baking prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment, add softened cream cheese, butter and confectioners’ sugar. Blend on medium-high speed until creamy and smooth. Add vanilla and lemon juice and blend well. Set aside until you are ready to frost the muffins.

After muffins have cooled completely, generously frost the top of the muffins with cream cheese frosting. For a nice garnish, grate extra carrot on top of frosting.

 

 

 

 

 

the Last Word(s)….

16 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Dairy, Soup

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

cauliflower soup, comfort food, divorce, garlic bread, Shavous Dairy

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The Last Words I heard from you before you walked out my door…
“The happiest day in my life will be when I see you and our daughter out in the streets with nothing!”
And for the last few months your team of lawyers and your aggressive family are making these words true.
I have cried enough tears over you.
I have kept my mouth shut. I have even given you the benefit of the doubt all this time…this is not my husband – he is hurt, he is not well…this is not the man I fell in love with…something or someones are making him do this.
But now I have the proof. I have been a fool..yet again.
But a fool no more.
Through my tears, through my pain, through the endless days of heartbreak… there is left standing here ….a MOTHER made of steel.
So you can take my House…but you can never take my HOME!
You can even try to take my kitchen table…. the one we picked out together…the one where I lovingly served you delicious handmade meals , that I was always happily thrilled to prepare for you.
But NOW -you are the one who will miss out.
Because despite all your best efforts… those meals are still being made.
And now it is just me and Tunie B., laughing, eating & enjoying…and we will forever…no matter what table we sit at.
What house we live in.
There is just nothing in this world that you can do to change that….No matter what you take.
Have it all.
And in the end…. (after you take every piece of physical thing we owned together)
I have what is most important.
I… I HAVE it all.
these are MY last words…..

FOOD THERAPY RECIPE:

Yesterday after a day that I wish I could wipe from my memory permanently…I was desperate. I needed comfort…and at 6pm I had a choice…take out food for dinner or make something myself.

That is when I resolved: NO matter how bad I am feeling… I will make sure that Tunie B. & I will have a MEAL together. We will sit around a table. Take out my miss matched place mates, and plates, and set the table right And even if that meal is a take out one (because there are bound to be days that they will be) we will sit down together and enjoy those 30 minutes it takes to eat with each other.. Talking, laughing, eating…..

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Because, I truly believe there is no better children’s therapy or temporary mood relief for the days troubles, than those precious minutes shared together around the dinner table. Even if she is only 2.5 years old

So this is the meal I prepared – not only because it is one of her favorite soups, but because it takes literally minutes to put together. And nothing says warm comfort food to me, like a hunk of parmesan basil laden garlic bread served with a delicious hearty soup.

It also just happens to be a grab way to start any dairy meal you may be having on Shavous.

Cauliflower Walnut Soup

You can make this pareve by substituting the milk with water or almond milk. This also works well with broccoli and almonds.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1lb bag frozen cauliflower florets
1 medium white onion, diced
1.5 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 14 oz can lite coconut milk
3 tbsp. crushed walnut pieces
1.5 cups milk (i use whole but skim works just as well)
kosher salt & black pepper to taste
1 tsp. sweet red paprika + extra for garnish

Directions:

1. In a small soup pot, sauté the onions and cauliflower in olive oil, over medium-high heat.
2. let them sauté together for about 6-8 minutes.
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3. add the garlic powder, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. mix well. and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil.
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5. Once soup is boiling, lower flame to medium-low, and add the crushed walnuts and half of the milk.
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6. remove from flame and using a hand-held blender, blend the soup till it turns thick and creamy.
7. If necessary, add the rest of the milk to desired consistency.
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8. add some more, salt, pepper and red paprika, mix in well and let cook on oven for another 4-5 minutes.
9. remove and serve hot.

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Garlic Basil Parmesan Bread

This by far is my favorite way to eat garlic bread. it is a sophisticated version of garlic bread, and despite it’s somewhat adult topping of basil and parmesan, my Tunie B.laps it up. We in fact, had the leftover bread this morning with some eggs for breakfast. It is an indulgence that I know is laden with calories… but a girl gotta eat what a girls gotta eat. :) I will say I rarely indulge in bread at all – but this had my name written all over it last night!

ingredients:

French Bread or baguette

1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and cleaned

3-4 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp. olive oil

1 stick butter

1 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese

directions:

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1. prepare a cookie sheet with foil. pre-heat oven to 400F

2. Cut your french bread into 4 open slices.

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3. in a food processor, pulse together the basil, garlic, and olive oil.

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4. evenly distribute and slather with a knife, the basil spread on each slice of bread.

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5. cut your butter stick into 1/2 inch even slices. Distrubute the butter slices on top of the basil spread on all the bread.

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6. evenly top all the bread with handfuls of grated parmesan cheese.

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7. bake in oven for about 8-10 minutes. Till tops are slightly golden brown and the french bread is crispy.

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8. Slice into smaller pieces and serve hot!

Starting from Scratch…Tunie B. & Me

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Sarah Lasry in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

divorce, Food from Scratch, Pasta, Single Motherhood

I am getting a Divorce.

There I said it….out loud… Now everyone knows.

No more excuses for hiding from reality. I am sorry to all whom I have dropped the ever bouncing ball of demands that is my crazy life with.

Today is the first day I woke feeling like I just had enough. Enough of walking through my days like a coma patient.

Enough crying. Enough what ifs. Enough why me. Enough how could this be….

5 1.2 years ago my life and dreams were on a very different path. I had my little cafe that I loved so much. I had met the man that I thought was going to be my everything.

Life was good. Life was full of promise and sunshine.

Today life is very different. Dreams and goals that were once right at my fingertips have now slipped into an endless black abyss. Not even a glimmer in sight.

Yet there is Tunie B. For her there is nothing but good and wonderful on her horizon.

She is and will always be, all I need – to be a success.

Tunie B. & Me. Blessed that every day is Mothers day.

These last 2 years were a lesson taught and a lesson well learned – NOTHING is in my CONTROL.

So I am giving in – I am in someone else’s hands… and I am going to try my best to ENJOY the ride.

Starting from Scratch – literally.

For the tastiest most awesome kinda cooking  -it is the best and only way – I like to do things.

Something from nothing is the way this girl rolls. I am awesome like that – you have tasted my food – you know…

My future is going to be delicious!

I am back.

thank you all for sticking with me ….

its gonna be a wild ride….hang on.

:) Sarah

 

And because everything is always about food – and it has been my one true thing to keep me sane through the crazy – I have developed my own kinda therapy – FOOD THERAPY.

I also have decided to start a more personal blog called ThePatchkePrincess.com  - launching this week in its very early form. Please help support me by joining & liking my Facebook page. I am not sure of the fate of kosher street – i love it and it is my passion project, however, because of my life situation I feel the need to temporarily  abandon it. But if you are a fan of my recipes, life style home decor and fashion posts, and can handle a little of my real life venting – then thepatchkeprincess.com is my way of starting Life from Scratch.  A Simple Easy Life – Deliciously. (A life that’s worth the extra 5 minutes)


From Scratch…. Hand Rolled Pasta  (the most delicious you will ever eat.)

I have made pasta from scratch quite a few times before in my life. Always with a pasta machine. I always found it more trouble than it was worth. Recently I saw a recipe for hand-made pasta – no machine. I had to try it. And I did – to the most outrageous delicious results I have ever tried. I am ruined for life – I can never ever go back to pasta from a box.

Do not be frightened. It literally takes minutes to assemble. And yes there is an hour wait for the dough to rest – but so what. The meal you will eat.. it will be so worth it! And I found that rolling out the dough, engaging my mind and muscles in this mindless methodical way with Adele basting in the background… the best THERAPY money could buy. Satisfying with immediate results. Try it you will be hooked.

Shavous is only a few weeks away. Make this now. It freezes like a dream. And for your milchig meal all you have to do is boil water, have a great sauce and some terrific cheese – and your dairy  meal will be more than worthy for a YOM TOV table.

Hand Rolled Pasta

I have tried this recipe with gluten free flour and white whole wheat flour – and it works just as well with both kinds.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 eggs + 6 egg yolks

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. kosher salt

Directions:

In a food processor, add all your ingredients and pulse together for about 40 seconds until dough is formed. Your dough should be able to come together when pinched between your fingers, but should not feel sticky to the touch.

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Add more flour if too sticky

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Dump your dough onto your counter and form a ball. Kneed dough and roll into a 6 inch long oval shaped form.

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Cover completly in plastic wrap and let sit on counter for minimum of 1 hr – up to 4 hrs.

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After the pasta dough has rested. Unwrap from plastic and cut into 6 portions so we can start making Fettuchini. (you can also make spaghetti and other shaped pastas with this dough – but we are starting with the most basic and easiest)

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Remove one piece and rewrap the rest in the plastic wrap.

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Working one piece at a time – Lightly dust all sides with flour.

 Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a small rectangle.

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Dust both sides lightly with flour

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Starting from the middle, roll out the dough into a longer 9 x 12 inch piece. Constantly adding little dustings of flour to both sides as you roll out. This will help the dough avoid sticking to the counter.

The dough is at its perfect thinness once you can see the outline of your fingers through the dough.

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Lay the dough down on a try that you have lined with parchment paper. Cover with more paper to avoid drying out. Repeat process with rest of the dough.

Once you have rolled out all your pieces it is time to cut the Pasta.

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Fold one long pasta piece gently into an oblong roll.

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Then with your knife gently cut slices that are about 1 inch apart in width.

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Unfurl  - and viola its Fettuchini!

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TO COOK: Just boil water with a little salt. Once water is boiling – Drop in your pasta, and watch for your pasta to float to the top. About 4 minutes. Drain and serve with your favorite tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese.

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And if you are smart like me – you get your close friends to come join you for dinner and put their kids to work!

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And YES! that is Dr. David Lieberman (husband of my close friend Shira – one of my rocks thru this crazy time) eating my Pasta from Scratch – I told you this was FOOD THERAPY! Cheaper then the real thing – and oh so much more delicious!

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