At Home Fun from Bagels & Locks Studios!

This #stayathome thing is really hard.

We've been basically self isolating because of some of our family members' pre-existing conditions and we are trying very hard to avoid exposure to the novel Coronavirus.

That being said, it's hard to stay at home for all this time. 

We have not had the complicating factor of our work outside our home, because our family business, the Safed Puzzle Room, being part of the tourism and entertainment sector, is closed. Unfortunately, this translates into actual, real, serious financial issues for us.

But instead of wallowing in self pity, we allowed ourselves a short period of time to absorb the shock that our business will likely not survive the pandemic, and then we decided to pick up the pieces.

So we worked night and day and day and night, and we created an amazing (if I may say so myself) online Israel-themed game that families, couples, and groups can play from the comfort of home: IsraelQuest: Challenge One, under the umbrella of Bagels & Locks Studios. More games are in the works!

I don't want to give the game away, but let's just say it's SOOO cool and fun for experienced puzzlers and escape room buffs, as well as for novice players and kids. You can choose from 3 options: IsraelQuest: Challenge One (for adults and teens 14+, novice or experienced puzzlers), IsraelQuest: Challenge One Jr. (for kids age 9-13 or novice puzzlers), or IsraelQuest: Challenge One Pro (for experienced puzzlers age 15+). And the price is amazing - it's currently available for an introductory price of just $10 (instead of $14.95) -- this way it's truly accessible to all! And best of all, you can play the game whether you know Israel well, or don't know anything about Israel! It's really that versatile.

Be sure to let me know when you've played, I'd love to hear what you all think of it!

If anyone wants to review the game, please reach out to me privately! Thank you!

Want to help out? Click on one of the share buttons on this page and share with your network! 

Follow Bagels & Locks Studios on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And of course, play the game! (And Virtual Hugs are welcome!)

IHerb: Impressive service!! (my report)

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money! I love to share iHerb deals whenever I hear about them, and right now, with many websites scaling back and delivery delays due to global shutdowns during #pandemic2020, I decided to jump in and place an order from IHerb, with delivery to my door (about $12 for the delivery fee - not much more than Rami Levy charged!). I was curious how things would play out. I'm super happy to report that I placed my order on April 16th and by April 19th in the late morning, the order was delivered to my door! The DHL guy left it on the table on my porch. Pretty amazing! I'm so happy that I filled in some of the things I was missing this way (like fragrance free laundry detergent, french roast coffee, and eco-friendly dishwasher detergent. I couldn't get those in my grocery delivery, for some reason...)! Be sure to use any of the links in this post to get a discount - the code will be automatically loaded into your cart - right now it should get you 5% off your entire order! IF you don't see it in your cart, you can manually enter code QEJ101 for your discount. More PRO tips for shopping at iHerb: If you use Shipping Savers, you can get really affordable shipping, even if you choose DHL to your door (I highly recommend this shipping method and sometimes it's as low as $2!) You can sort for Shipping Savers on iHerb by clicking the Shipping Saver checkbox on the left-hand side of the page. Check out my Shipping Saver suggestions, too - click the link for some, read below for others!   Here are some of the things I like to buy at iHerb: Toothbrushes - this 2 pack includes brush covers AND a small roll of floss, and is less than 10 NIS. That means less than 5 NIS for each brush plus cover and some floss! Try beating that price locally! BONUS: this is a shipping saver item, so your shipping cost will GO DOWN when you add it to your cart! Pretty Amazing deal right there! Neosporin and Neosporin with Pain Relief - you can't get these over the counter in Israel! And this is one of the only ways to get neosporin here! It's a bit pricey, but it's a shipping saver, so it should offset some of your shipping! SilverGel - similar products, that are great healing creams for skin, are all Rx only in Israel, and are about the same price or more. If you want to keep a silver based cream handy without needing to prove to your doctor that you need it, stock up at iHerb! AND this product is a shipping saver! Mederma - this scar reducing cream is widely used in the USA, and is not available, as far as I know in Israel! So ordering from iHerb is a great option. Bonus: it's a shipping saver!   Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or vegan fudge) Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel) Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality than teas I can find for an affordable price!) Vitamin D (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive) Probiotics are far less expensive from iHerb than any I've found in Israel, and they don't weigh much! Many of these are "shipping savers" - so they'll lower your shipping costs for the whole order if you add them in! Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying") Witch Hazel (it's really difficult to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - some people like the alcohol in it, but if you don't, they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products) Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners) - for a fraction of the price here in Israel! Yes, they are real and natural (and very importantly, not an MLM)! Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child) - I've never seen this in Israel! I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice. Let me know what your favorite deals are! Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you are ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations! Want more deals? Join my Facebook Group and/or my Whatsapp group!

Recipe: Pesach Brownies (GF, Pareve)

What is Pesach without brownies?
I mean, this year we are all home in our houses, no guests, and feeling a little out of sorts... It's a very different experience that Pesachs past. (I'm sure one day we'll tell our grandkids about the Pandemic Pesach of 2020, right?) So we needed something to jazz up our day - and I decided it would be a new brownie recipe!

I know that we are the lucky ones, we're not alone - there are six of us living in this house. So there's always someone to talk to when you don't want to feel alone. On the other hand, there's also always someone right there - even when you need some space! I'm sure you understand.

Anyway, brownies have always been a favorite in this house, so for the chag, we had brownies for dessert to help make sure everyone was feeling the holiday cheer! And they were a hit, so I'm sharing the latest variation with you.

Pesach Brownies (gluten free, non-gebrokts, pareve)

4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp pesach vanilla (optional)
1 3/4 cups sugar
2/3 cup potato starch
1 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Optional: chocolate frosting (I used part of a jar of pareve chocolate spread) or chocolate chips to mix in to the batter

Mix together eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. In a second bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Make a well in the dry ingredients, and add the wet mix. Mix well with a wooden spoon. If you want to use one bowl, you can, but you'll probably find this needs to be mixed with an electric mixer, rather than a wooden spoon. (Optional: mix in 1/2 package of chocolate chips)

Pour into a large pan (I used a lasagna size pan), and bake at 180 C for about 25 min. I actually baked these in my "Shabbat mode" oven on 140 C (the highest I can leave it on Shabbat mode. I know, that's very strange, but that is what it is) for about 35 or 40 minutes, and it was perfect. But not everyone leaves the baking for the chag, so if you're baking on a weekday, go ahead and bake it at 180 C for 25 min!

Allow to cool before frosting.

Cut. Serve.

YUM. Chocolate craving solved.

Hope you are managing this Pesach, and please know that you're not alone, we're really all in this together. Hang in there!

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Bar Cookies with Chocolate (Recipe)

Cookies.

When you're more or less living in lockdown (as we're all doing right now due to the pandemic), sometimes you just need some cookies!

And personally, I can't get enough of these peanut butter and chocolate creations - and the recipe is super simple so ... well, let's just say I've been making them a little too often!

So, for those of you who've been asking as well as those of you who didn't know to ask, here is the recipe:

Peanut Butter Bar Cookies with Chocolate Topping

Cookie bars:
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup Demerara sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla

Stir everything together with a wooden spoon until well combined. Spread out in a large pan (9x13 or so). It will be relatively thin and that's all good.
Bake at 180 C for 20-22 minutes. Turn off oven.

Topping:
1 bar bittersweet chocolate. If you want it extra chocolate-y, use 2 bars. You could totally do this with milk chocolate if you prefer, but I like to keep my baking pareve (dairy allergy!)!

Break the bar up and put it on top of the baked cookie layer (uncut). Return the pan to your still-warm (but off) oven. Leave it in the warm oven for about 8-10 min. Remove from oven when the chocolate is warm and spreadable. Use a silicone spatula to spread the chocolate evenly on top of the cookie layer. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into cookie bars.

Cool further before you eat them.

Enjoy!

Please tag me on Instagram (@kosher_frugal) or FB (@kosherfrugalmenus) if you make them!

Stock up for great prices: Deals on personal care products

(this post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, I may get paid a commission. Thanks in advance for your support)

Do you miss Amazon? I sure do!

Well, for now the days of Amazon free shipping to Israel are behind us, and while back then I advised buying deodorant and other personal care products from them, now it's time to acknowledge that we're back to where we used to be... buying locally.
But it's really not so bad. I found a whole bunch of deals for you - assuming you're willing to buy deo or whatever it is for the next few months all at once, these prices are not like regular store prices!

Here's what I found on Groo:

6 Dove for women deodorant spray bottles, for 59 NIS (plus 15.90 Boxit shipping) - choose which scent is your favorite!

6 Nivea roll-on for men, for 69 NIS (plus 15.90 Boxit shipping)

6 Dove roll-on for women, for 75 NIS, (plus 15.90 Boxit shipping) - choose which scent is your favorite!

6 bottles of Dove liquid moisturizing soap (we're all washing our hands so often, we definitely need the gentle stuff!) for just 49 NIS (plus 15.90 Boxit shipping)

10 tubes of Colgate Herbal White toothpaste, for 99 NIS (and free shipping!)

Oral-B Vitality Electric toothbrush, for 89 NIS (and free shipping!)

Find more personal care products on Groo - click here to see them all!

Important Note: I don't know what will happen with Boxit Shipping if there is a full lockdown. I imagine there will be ways to get out packages, but I just don't know for sure what will be. I'm still shopping online, and assuming it will get worked out. Hopefully Boxit will find a way to get our packages to us even if there's a lockdown!

Don't forget to follow my page on Facebook and join my Facebook Deals group or my Whatsapp Deals group! Thanks!

Deal: Sanitizing Wipes!

(this post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, I may get paid a commission. Thanks in advance for your support)

Sanitizing Wipes on your list?

Currently, we're all being told to use cleaners that can kill pathogens, especially on high touch surfaces. Here's a deal for sanitizing wipes - get 10 packages for 59.90 NIS, or 18 packages for 99.90 NIS! Boxit shipping costs 15.90, and delivery to your door is 25 NIS

Click here to go to GROO to buy this deal!

Important Note: I don't know what will happen with Boxit Shipping if there is a full lockdown. I imagine there will be ways to get out packages, but I just don't know for sure what will be. I'm still shopping online, and assuming it will get worked out. Hopefully Boxit will find a way to get our packages to us even if there's a lockdown!

Don't forget to follow my page on Facebook and join my Facebook Deals group or my Whatsapp Deals group! Thanks!

Shopping from home during quasi-lockdown

(this post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, I may get paid a commission. Thanks in advance for your support)

Check out these deals you can buy from HOME!

These deals ship from Israel, and only ship within Israel!

Meshek Achiya deal - get 5 liters of their awesome olive oil PLUS a jar of Ethiopian Techina, for 199 NIS. Shipping is another 20 shekels. For the best deal, buy 2 and pay just one shipping fee (limit 2 per order, but you can make multiple orders!). This olive oil is consistently rated VERY highly, and this is a great price!

Click here to go to GROO to buy this deal!

If you're looking for masks, GROO still has a deal for them, for about 3 NIS per mask.

(Boxit shipping is an additional 15.90 NIS per order)
Not everyone currently needs masks, but you know, some people are using them - especially if only some members of a household have to go into quarantine, and not others.

Click here to go to GROO to buy this deal!

Stocking up on shelf stable emergency supplies? Here's a deal for 10 boxes of granola bars for 119 NIS! And free shipping!

Click here to go to Groo to buy this deal!

Important Note: I don't know what will happen with Boxit Shipping if there is a full lockdown. I imagine there will be ways to get out packages, but I just don't know for sure what will be. I'm still shopping online, and assuming it will get worked out. Hopefully Boxit will find a way to get our packages to us even if there's a lockdown!

Don't forget to follow my page on Facebook and join my Facebook Deals group or my Whatsapp Deals group! Thanks!

Perfect timing for these deals!

(this post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, I may get paid a commission. Thanks in advance for your support)

Check Out These Corona-relevant Deals!

This deal sold out - check out the latest deal instead at: https://www.kosherfrugal.com/2020/03/deal-sanitizing-wipes.html
Currently, we're all being told to use cleaners that can kill pathogens, especially on high touch surfaces. Here's a deal for sanitizing wipes, with free Boxit shipping - get 10 packages for 79 NIS! This may not be the cheapest deal out there, actually, but it's certainly convenient to shop from home without going out!

Click here to go to GROO to buy this deal! This deal sold out - so check the latest deal here!

If you are looking for masks, GROO still has a deal for them, for about 3 NIS per mask.

(Boxit shipping is an additional 15.90 NIS per order)
Not everyone currently needs masks, but you know, some people are using them - especially if only some members of a household have to go into quarantine, and not others.

Click here to go to GROO to buy this deal!

Important Note: I don't know what will happen with Boxit Shipping if there is a full lockdown. I imagine there will be ways to get out packages, but I just don't know for sure what will be. I'm still shopping online, and assuming it will get worked out. Hopefully Boxit will find a way to get our packages to us even if there's a lockdown!

Don't forget to follow my page on Facebook and join my Facebook Deals group or my Whatsapp Deals group! Thanks!