And here we are again...

Wow, this was the week that flew past me!

Thank G-d, no one was sick, the weather was gorgeous, and the flowers are in bloom all around us!

So that makes for a good week!

We also took the kids to their favorite park in the area - about a 15 min drive away but they love it there.

And now, it's back to cooking for Shabbat!

Zol B'Shefa had Rabbanut chickens for 8.99 and Mehadrin chickens for 9.99 - and Rabbanut chicken breast for 18.99 and Mehadrin chicken breast for 14.99 so... didn't do a HUGE shopping run, but I did buy other things than I planned. I justified it because they had a dry red wine we sometimes get for a price that is lower than we usually find, so we bought some wine (we said, Pesach is coming, might as well get it!).

So here's our Shabbat menu!

Whole Wheat Challot from the freezer

Soup - beats me if I know what kind! I've been serving a lot of soup.

Roast chicken with potatoes (Friday night)

Shnitzel (for lunch. the baked kind, not the fried kind)

Vegetarian Black Bean Cholent

Apple Crisp (courtesy of my girls again)

Honey-Cinnamon Oranges

Salad which will likely be cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots (cut into matchsticks), since we don't have a lot of salad-worthy vegetables!

Something my vegetarian son will choose to learn how to make (I will try to report back)

Chocolate Cake from the freezer.

Definitely time to start trying to use up the freezer stash.

What are you making?

Subsidized Bread Discovery

Remember I wrote about price controlled foods, and some of you asked about the bread...?

Well, I was at the supermarket today, and they had sliced "lechem achid" on sale for 2.29 (price controlled price is 7.93, this store said the regular price was 7.29). So I looked at it, as the sliced version is packaged, and therefore, discloses ingredients. And I figured if the ingredients were half-decent, I might buy some to keep in my freezer for busy days, especially at this price, which was a lot cheaper than I could bake a 750g bread for at home!

Well... I was dismayed to learn that this subsidized bread (this was made by Angel's bakery) had, as the 3rd ingredient, partially hydrogenated oil!

So the government is subsidizing a food that is SUPER unhealthy.

WHY?

WHY is the Israeli government providing a cheap loaf of bread that is so bad for us? Partially hydrogenated oils are really "the bad guy" in the food world today. I mean, really. If you don't believe me, feel free to research!

I am so disgusted that the bread that the majority of Israelis use on a daily basis contains partially hydrogenated oil. The government is basically subsidizing our way to unhealthy consequences! The same government that provides us with health benefits, is encouraging its citizens to eat food that is truly unhealthy.

We should all be up in arms about this, but I wouldn't even know where to begin. Any ideas?

More Books on Sale!

Of course, free worldwide shipping.

Book Depository is offering a new sale book every 15 min. The specials won't last long, but rumor has it that it's worth trying to get your wish-list books this way!

You know you like free shipping as much as the next person....

Check it out!

(please note: if you have an adblocker installed, you won't be able to see this link. Please consider disabling your adblocker for this site.)

Bargain Books

You may or may not know that I am obsessed with books. We have over 3000 books in our home library... Please don't judge me. I'm just a book lover.

And I've been blessed with several children who love books. One handed me his wishlist. It had Eight Hundred and Twenty Six books on it.

I said no.

But I still will buy some books. And right now you can save 15% on every purchase of 4 or more used books with the Better World Books Shop from Work Sale. Free shipping worldwide. So I think I will be off. To buy some books, because if there is anything I like as much as I like books, it is a bargain. So I am a sucker for bargain books... (The sale is only valid on books in the BWB bargain book section)

Milk Recall (Israel)

Tara Dairies is recalling some 1 liter cartons of homogenized milk.
The affected cartons are 1% AND 3% fat milk, bear a Mehadrin hechsher, and have expiration dates of 16.2.2013, 17.2.013, and 19.2.2013

Consumers are advised NOT to drink this milk, and should call the company at 1-800-777-333 to arrange a refund.

Whole Grain Breakfast Muffins (Dairy)

I know, I usually do a lot of vegan baking, but these have dairy. They are extra-moist and truly a great way to start your day, if you're ok with dairy. If you want to make them vegan, just substitute 1 cup of soy milk or other non-dairy milk for the leben. It will work. My kids preferred the dairy version, though, so I'm sticking with it for now!

Whole Grain Breakfast Muffins (Dairy, but no eggs)

4 T. flaxseed
1/3 cup boiling water
2 bananas, mashed (or about 2/3 cup of your favorite fruit, pureed or mashed)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200 ml leben (I used Gil) or yogurt
1 cup orange juice or other liquid (I used the whey that was left after making cream cheese)
3 cups whole wheat flour (or your favorite whole grain multi-grain mix)
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Start by mixing flaxseed and boiling water, and allow to cool for 10 min. Add the rest of the liquid ingredients, and mix well. Add the dry ingredients, mix, but don't overmix. Transfer to muffin tin, lined with baking cups. Bake at 350 F for about 25 min (although I suspect my oven may not be registering the temp properly, check yours at 20 min!).
Makes 12 medium size muffins.

Note: you can use 2 eggs instead of the flaxseed/water mixture if you prefer

Today's Loaf

I was so proud of how my bread came out today, I just had to share a picture!

I used my usual whole-wheat-oatmeal-flaxseed bread recipe, and after the breads were shaped and risen, I brushed water over the tops and sprinkled oats and seeds on them.

Maybe all of you make bread like this, but I don't usually!

Shilav coupons (Israel Printable coupons)

Looking for baby gear, and the occasional kids' book or game?

Shilav (a chain of baby stores in Israel) has a new batch of printable coupons available!
Print the page and take it with you to Shilav.

Here's what you'll find there:

Cloth diapers
Sippy cup
Baby bath seat
Tiny Love baby toys
Pacifiers
Baby Feeding Bottles
Wooden Graggers (Ra'ashanim)
Baby Books (Classi-Kaletet)
Kids' Trivia Game

Weekly Menu

I'm trying to get organized and I decided to make lunch AND supper plans this week. I highly doubt I will actually stick to this plan 100% of the time, but at least it got me thinking about what I have in the house and how I will use it this week!

Sunday:
Lunch - split pea soup from Shabbat, salads from Shabbat, PBJ sandwiches using the leftover challah
Supper - pizza, baked french "fries" and roasted cauliflower (roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. inspired by Busy in Brooklyn. Really delish!)

Monday:
Lunch - bagels with cream cheese, cut veggies, red lentil soup
Supper - whatever is left from Shabbat

Tuesday:
Lunch - Potato and vegetable stew, grilled cheese sandwiches
Supper - Pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, steamed squash, garlic bread sticks

Wednesday:
Lunch - Leftovers from anything made this week so far
Supper - Red lentil soup, stuffed baked potatoes, salad

Thursday:
 Lunch - green lentils, roasted potatoes, tomato soup, salad
Supper - spaghetti, garlic bread sticks, salad

Printable Coupons (Israel)

Don't forget to print your Tnuva coupons!

They've recently added a new one for Facebook fans, so if you like their page, you can print a coupon for their new spreadable cottage cheese (2 for 10 shekels). It's valid thru March 31, 2013 and may be redeemed at Shufersal, Mega, Chatzi Chinam, Rami Levy, Kimat Chinam, and Yeinot Bitan.

The other coupons are available through their Facebook page OR on their website.
I've posted them in the past, but here they are again: