Reminder: The Lag Baomer Bonfires are all over (and yes, I made it thru without leaving the house and without an asthma attack - an amazing first for me!), and the kids are all wondering what to do.
So quick, pack a lunch, and pick a museum - there are more than 70 museums offering free admission today!
Check out the list in English HERE
I'm so excited to bring you my favorite tips, deals, great things to know and do for your life in Israel or for when you visit Israel! (please note: this blog contains affiliate links)
Monday, May 19, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
What I'm making for Shabbat
I say the same thing every week - how did the week slip by so quickly?!
We've been super busy around here and we are sooo looking forward to a quiet, restful Shabbat. (And then maybe, maybe, a free museum on Monday?)
But we'll probably be a little nutty and do a Friday tiyul first.
So the plan is to do some cooking (not a lot) tonight, and then most of the work between 4 pm Friday and candlelighting time.
Focusing on getting everything into the oven and hardly using the stovetop, it is just too hot for an open flame in my kitchen these days (no, we have not begun using the A/C yet, you'll hear about it when we do. Not using the A/C should hopefully help keep our electric bills under control...)
Fresh Whole Wheat and Oat Bran Challot
Vegetarian Pate (instead of soup) - haven't written up this recipe, if I have time, I will.
Black Bean Cholent because my family doesn't think there's a problem eating cholent in the summer
Chicken in honey-mustard marinade (I never blog my chicken recipes because I only make them immediately prior to shabbat!)
Oven-baked rice
Roasted Kishuim
Potato Kugel
Purple Cabbage Salad
Make-your-own-salad with whatever other vegetables we have
Baking: Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Banana Cake
Seudah Shlishit will be sandwiches, spreads, salads, and corn bread cake
Free Museum Admission May 19, 2014
Many museums on this list are usually quite pricey for a family to visit, but i will warn you now - get there early or risk having the doors closed due to overcrowding.
Here's the list (the full list in Hebrew is available here)
North
The Kupferman Collection, Lochamei HaGeta'ot
The Fisher House, Kiryat Ata. 04-8440207
Ein-Dor Museum of Archaeology, Kibbutz Ein-Dor
The National Maritime Museum. 04-853662
The Open Museum in Tefen
The Open Museum in Tel-Hai
Memorial Museum of Hungarian Speaking Jewry, Tsfat
MadaTech in Haifa
Uri and Rami Nehoshtan Museum, Ashdot Yaakov
The Galilee Nature Center - Ussishkin House, Kibbutz Dan
HaShomer House Museum - Kfar Giladi 04-6941565
The Ghetto Fighters' House Museum, Kibbutz Lochamei HaGetaot
The Chaim Shturman House - at Kibbutz Ein Harud. 04-6486337 | 04-6486328
The Goara Museum of the Hagana. 04-9597402
The Hecht Museum, University of Haifa
The Museum of the First Aliyah in Zichron, 04-6294777
The Museum of the First Aliyah in Zichron, 04-6294777
The Pioneer Settlers Museum - Kibbutz Yifat 04-6548974
Wilfrid Israel Museum, Kibbutz HaZorea
The Haifa City Museum. 04-9115888
The Herman Struk Museum 04-6359962
The Janco-Dada Museum, Ein Hod
Museum of Art, Ein Hod
Mane Katz Museum, Haifa
{And of course, the Maimonides Heritage Center, Tiberias, is always free for individuals. Groups must make advance reservations }
{And of course, the Maimonides Heritage Center, Tiberias, is always free for individuals. Groups must make advance reservations }
Center
The Weizmann House, Rechovot 08-9344499/4500
Clore Garden of Science, Rechovot
Kfar Saba Archaeology Museum, Kfar Saba 09-7640867/8
The Israeli Cartoon Museum, Holon
The Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan
The Israel Puppet Center, Holon
Museums of Bat Yam, Bat Yam
Ilana Goor Museum, Tel Aviv
Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv
Krinitzi House, Ramat Gan
HaGedudim Museum, Moshav Avichail
The Rubin Museum, Tel Aviv
Toldot Tzahal Museum, Tel Aviv
Man and the Living World Museum, Ramat Gan
Museum of People and the Environment, Petach Tikvah
Etzel Museum, Tel Aviv
The Etzel 1948 Museum , Tel Aviv 03-5177180 , 03-5172044
The Hagana Museum - 03-560862
The Khan Museum, Hadera. 04-6322330 , 04-6324562
Design Museum, Holon
Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Herzliya
The Jabotinsky Museum 03-5287320
The Hosmasa Museum - Holon - 03-5050425
Museum and Archives of the History of Holon, Holon
The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, Or Yehuda
Massuah Institute for Holocaust Studies, Kibbutz Tel Yitzchak
Nahum Gutman Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
The Rishon L'Tzion Museum 03-9598862, 03-9598890
The Ramla Museum, Ramla
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, Or Yehuda
Massuah Institute for Holocaust Studies, Kibbutz Tel Yitzchak
Nahum Gutman Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
The Rishon L'Tzion Museum 03-9598862, 03-9598890
The Ramla Museum, Ramla
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
Jerusalem Area
Yad Vashem
The Underground Prisoners Museum in Jerusalem 02-6233166
The Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem
The Shai Agnon House - open 9 am - 4 pm -02-6716498
The Nature Museum, Jerusalem
Hechal Shlomo, Jerusalem
Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem
The Old Yishuv Court Museum, 02-6276319, 052-4002478
U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
The Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem
Tower of David Museum
The Israel Museum
The Open Museum, Omer
The Negev Museum of Art, Beer Sheva
From Holocaust to Revival Museum in Yad Mordechai - 08-6720599 , 052-3923
The Underground Prisoners Museum in Jerusalem 02-6233166
The Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem
The Shai Agnon House - open 9 am - 4 pm -02-6716498
The Nature Museum, Jerusalem
Hechal Shlomo, Jerusalem
Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem
The Old Yishuv Court Museum, 02-6276319, 052-4002478
U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
The Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem
Tower of David Museum
The Israel Museum
South
The Museum of Philistine CultureThe Open Museum, Omer
The Negev Museum of Art, Beer Sheva
From Holocaust to Revival Museum in Yad Mordechai - 08-6720599 , 052-3923
Let me know where you decide to go!
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Tuesday, May 13, 2014
"Quick Bread" Breadsticks or Pizza Crust (vegan)
I am always looking for shortcuts. I like simple, easy, no fuss recipes I can throw together at the last second, because I often don't plan ahead (I roll with my days)...
Here's our latest favorite - breadsticks! We like them with garlic but you can do whatever you want with them.
I wanted a super easy, whole grain, pourable batter.... but of course, if you want to use white flour, it will work fine too. I really wanted something pourable because it just seemed so much simpler!
Quick Breadsticks (Basic)
3 cups whole wheat flour (sifted)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups water + 1.5 tsp apple cider vinegar
Toppings:
olive oi
crushed garlic or granulated garlic
sesame seeds
coarse salt
anything else you like
Mix together dry ingredients, then make a well in the middle and add wet ingredients. Stir with a large spoon. Combine thoroughly.
The mixture will be batter, not dough.
Pour half the batter onto a lined cookie sheet.
Spread it out with your mixing spoon. Sprinkle the top with olive oil, then top as desired.
Bake at 200 C for about 20 min (but check it because my oven is acting a little funny, it may not be heating up enough!)
Cut and serve. These come out pretty thin and flat, but tasty. If you want them thicker, experiment with making this recipe in just ONE cookie sheet instead of two.
Enjoy!
You can also use this as pizza crust, by the way. Just bake for half the time, then top with your favorite pizza toppings and bake for another 8-10 min.
Let me know if you give it a try!
Here's our latest favorite - breadsticks! We like them with garlic but you can do whatever you want with them.
I wanted a super easy, whole grain, pourable batter.... but of course, if you want to use white flour, it will work fine too. I really wanted something pourable because it just seemed so much simpler!
Quick Breadsticks (Basic)
3 cups whole wheat flour (sifted)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups water + 1.5 tsp apple cider vinegar
Toppings:
olive oi
crushed garlic or granulated garlic
sesame seeds
coarse salt
anything else you like
Mix together dry ingredients, then make a well in the middle and add wet ingredients. Stir with a large spoon. Combine thoroughly.
The mixture will be batter, not dough.
Pour half the batter onto a lined cookie sheet.
Spread it out with your mixing spoon. Sprinkle the top with olive oil, then top as desired.
Bake at 200 C for about 20 min (but check it because my oven is acting a little funny, it may not be heating up enough!)
Cut and serve. These come out pretty thin and flat, but tasty. If you want them thicker, experiment with making this recipe in just ONE cookie sheet instead of two.
Enjoy!
You can also use this as pizza crust, by the way. Just bake for half the time, then top with your favorite pizza toppings and bake for another 8-10 min.
Let me know if you give it a try!
Monday, May 12, 2014
Banking In Israel - my experiences
Banking in Israel seems to be one of the major things that confounds olim from Western countries. I get banking questions a LOT.
I've banked in Israel at several banks. I've used Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, and Bank Yahav.
By far, the one I have paid the least to hold my money for me is Bank Yahav.
When we first returned to Israel in 2010, we had planned to open a Bank HaDoar account for our sal klitah money to go into. It seemed the most portable and inexpensive option, but I was tired and worn out and I let the merkaz klitah social worker tell me I was wrong. I listened to her and we opened a Bank Hapoalim account upon her insistence (makes me wonder if she was actually getting some sort of kickback from them, but I digress). Which turned into a BIG mistake, since we ended up being charged up and down with all manner of fees, despite being told we'd gotten special olim rates, and we could not change dollars efficiently if need be, and it was in a different city than we'd ended up living in, so it was a REAL pain in the neck.
We found out about Bank Yahav from our then-landlord, opened an account, and went through the half-day arduous, wrist-exhausting ("sign on this line" about a thousand times) process of closing our Bank Hapoalim account. If only I hadn't let the social worker convince me in my post-flight traumatic state that I didn't know what I was talking about! At least if we'd opened a Bank Hadoar account we would have been able to close the account at any post office in the country!
Moral of the story: don't let social workers convince you that all your hard work researching options was futile and THEY know best (and yes, by the way, I'm a social worker so I can complain about other social workers). Oh, and open a bank account at Bank Yahav. Free checking. Almost no fees. Very good service (at least we've had a decent experience with the Tiberias branch).
The one major issue we've encountered is the Bank Yahav website has some technical problems for people using any browser other than IE. In our house, we use Firefox or Chrome, so we've had to learn how to read the banking menus backwards. I've spoken to a nice tech named Josh over at Bank Yahav, who told me the problem really belongs to Bank Hapoalim, since Yahav uses Hapoalim's internet banking interface. See - I told you to stay away from Bank Hapoalim!
But to tell you the truth, it's kind of useful to read Hebrew backwards. Or I will get my kid to make a patch for my computer so I don't have to. If he does, I'll try to get him to publish it somewhere so all of you can have it too!
Check out the list of branches to see where there's one near you! And switch and start to save money on banking!
(This post was not a sponsored post, but if you do go to open an account at Yahav, you are most certainly encouraged to mention my website when they ask who referred you! Thanks!)
Update: Bank Yahav has fixed the backwards Hebrew problem! I first saw this on motsaei shabbat of May 17. Not sure exactly when it was fixed, but it was such a nice surprise to see it back to normal again.
I've banked in Israel at several banks. I've used Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, and Bank Yahav.
By far, the one I have paid the least to hold my money for me is Bank Yahav.
When we first returned to Israel in 2010, we had planned to open a Bank HaDoar account for our sal klitah money to go into. It seemed the most portable and inexpensive option, but I was tired and worn out and I let the merkaz klitah social worker tell me I was wrong. I listened to her and we opened a Bank Hapoalim account upon her insistence (makes me wonder if she was actually getting some sort of kickback from them, but I digress). Which turned into a BIG mistake, since we ended up being charged up and down with all manner of fees, despite being told we'd gotten special olim rates, and we could not change dollars efficiently if need be, and it was in a different city than we'd ended up living in, so it was a REAL pain in the neck.
We found out about Bank Yahav from our then-landlord, opened an account, and went through the half-day arduous, wrist-exhausting ("sign on this line" about a thousand times) process of closing our Bank Hapoalim account. If only I hadn't let the social worker convince me in my post-flight traumatic state that I didn't know what I was talking about! At least if we'd opened a Bank Hadoar account we would have been able to close the account at any post office in the country!Moral of the story: don't let social workers convince you that all your hard work researching options was futile and THEY know best (and yes, by the way, I'm a social worker so I can complain about other social workers). Oh, and open a bank account at Bank Yahav. Free checking. Almost no fees. Very good service (at least we've had a decent experience with the Tiberias branch).
The one major issue we've encountered is the Bank Yahav website has some technical problems for people using any browser other than IE. In our house, we use Firefox or Chrome, so we've had to learn how to read the banking menus backwards. I've spoken to a nice tech named Josh over at Bank Yahav, who told me the problem really belongs to Bank Hapoalim, since Yahav uses Hapoalim's internet banking interface. See - I told you to stay away from Bank Hapoalim!
But to tell you the truth, it's kind of useful to read Hebrew backwards. Or I will get my kid to make a patch for my computer so I don't have to. If he does, I'll try to get him to publish it somewhere so all of you can have it too!
Check out the list of branches to see where there's one near you! And switch and start to save money on banking!
(This post was not a sponsored post, but if you do go to open an account at Yahav, you are most certainly encouraged to mention my website when they ask who referred you! Thanks!)
Update: Bank Yahav has fixed the backwards Hebrew problem! I first saw this on motsaei shabbat of May 17. Not sure exactly when it was fixed, but it was such a nice surprise to see it back to normal again.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Healthifying my Pasta nights
Pasta has been my go-to solution to the constant "what should we have for supper" that comes up when there's hardly any time to think or prepare food.
Way back when, we bought the cheapest white pasta we could find (think Stop & Shop pasta on sale for the now unheard of 5 boxes for $1!! I still remember lugging that pasta home from the supermarket every time that sale came up, a young wife and mother and full time student just trying to stay afloat and keep everyone fed...) Now, we live in Israel, where even cheap white pasta is not so cheap, and we've long since moved on to whole wheat pastas. We've taste tested a lot of whole wheat pastas, focusing on finding the best one among the affordable options. In America, I tended to buy the Whole Foods brand pastas (stocked up when they were on sale) and one or two shapes from Target, but WF was far better. Now, we've tried lots of kinds here in Israel, the cheapest being the Taaman brand, but it's not so good. So now, I buy mine from Nizat HaDuvdevan for about 6.50 shekels for a 500g bag (roughly 1 lb), which is not bad for a relatively high quality pasta (and it's organic even though I didn't need it be).
In the past, I'd opted to make my own sauce using tomato paste or crushed tomatoes and spices over buying prepared sauce (although in America, I'd buy good sauces on sale and with coupons. I still miss that convenience). Lately I've decided to kick the sauce up a notch. It can be made in advance and stored in the fridge to be heated as necessary. Mine never sits in the fridge more than a few days, so I can't say how long it lasts, but I'd freeze it if I wasn't using in the next 3 days.
Homemade chunky tomato sauce
olive oil
cut vegetables - whatever you have that you have or what you think will work: onions, celery, peppers, eggplant, summer squash (kishuim), tomatoes, mushrooms, etc
tomato paste or crushed tomatoes (packaged or homemade)
water
fresh or dried basil (fresh is best!)
chopped garlic (fresh is best!)
seasonings to taste - salt, black pepper, and any others you want to add like oregano or rosemary or thyme...
Heat olive oil is a large sauce pot. Add vegetables and stir till they are soft and fragrant. Add garlic and continue stirring for a few minutes. Add tomato paste/crushed tomatoes, water, fresh basil and seasonings, and stir well. Continue to stir occasionally while you bring it all to a boil, then lower the flame and simmer for a while. Serve over pasta and garnish with your favorite cheese if you like.
I will admit that this has not come without objections from my family. They prefer when I don't do anything "funny" to their food, but I figured they'd get used to it and eventually come to appreciate it.
This was the first week that only one child objected to all the vegetables in the pasta, so that is major progress, in my opinion!
I serve this supper with a make-your own salad, as well.
What's your go-to quick, sort of healthy supper?
Way back when, we bought the cheapest white pasta we could find (think Stop & Shop pasta on sale for the now unheard of 5 boxes for $1!! I still remember lugging that pasta home from the supermarket every time that sale came up, a young wife and mother and full time student just trying to stay afloat and keep everyone fed...) Now, we live in Israel, where even cheap white pasta is not so cheap, and we've long since moved on to whole wheat pastas. We've taste tested a lot of whole wheat pastas, focusing on finding the best one among the affordable options. In America, I tended to buy the Whole Foods brand pastas (stocked up when they were on sale) and one or two shapes from Target, but WF was far better. Now, we've tried lots of kinds here in Israel, the cheapest being the Taaman brand, but it's not so good. So now, I buy mine from Nizat HaDuvdevan for about 6.50 shekels for a 500g bag (roughly 1 lb), which is not bad for a relatively high quality pasta (and it's organic even though I didn't need it be).
In the past, I'd opted to make my own sauce using tomato paste or crushed tomatoes and spices over buying prepared sauce (although in America, I'd buy good sauces on sale and with coupons. I still miss that convenience). Lately I've decided to kick the sauce up a notch. It can be made in advance and stored in the fridge to be heated as necessary. Mine never sits in the fridge more than a few days, so I can't say how long it lasts, but I'd freeze it if I wasn't using in the next 3 days.
Homemade chunky tomato sauce
olive oil
cut vegetables - whatever you have that you have or what you think will work: onions, celery, peppers, eggplant, summer squash (kishuim), tomatoes, mushrooms, etc
tomato paste or crushed tomatoes (packaged or homemade)
water
fresh or dried basil (fresh is best!)
chopped garlic (fresh is best!)
seasonings to taste - salt, black pepper, and any others you want to add like oregano or rosemary or thyme...
Heat olive oil is a large sauce pot. Add vegetables and stir till they are soft and fragrant. Add garlic and continue stirring for a few minutes. Add tomato paste/crushed tomatoes, water, fresh basil and seasonings, and stir well. Continue to stir occasionally while you bring it all to a boil, then lower the flame and simmer for a while. Serve over pasta and garnish with your favorite cheese if you like.
I will admit that this has not come without objections from my family. They prefer when I don't do anything "funny" to their food, but I figured they'd get used to it and eventually come to appreciate it.
This was the first week that only one child objected to all the vegetables in the pasta, so that is major progress, in my opinion!
I serve this supper with a make-your own salad, as well.
What's your go-to quick, sort of healthy supper?
Physician's Formula on sale at iherb
Usually, I talk about food or other kitchen type products I order from iherb.
You see, iherb has made my life so much easier since making aliyah. I can't actually afford to order very much from them, but I DO order some select items. Most months I spend $20 or so on an iherb order, including the $4 shipping charge for a 4 lb order (I try to get as close to 4 lbs as possible, and usually end up ordering between 3.96lbs and 4lbs).
Today, though, makeup wearers out there can rejoice!
Right now,
Physician's Formula products are ALL 20% off right now!
No coupon code is necessary, but if you've never ordered from iherb and you click thru my link, you'll find another great discount pre-loaded into your cart!
Sale ends May 14, at 10 am Pacific Time, so get it while you can. Some products may already be temporarily out of stock...
You see, iherb has made my life so much easier since making aliyah. I can't actually afford to order very much from them, but I DO order some select items. Most months I spend $20 or so on an iherb order, including the $4 shipping charge for a 4 lb order (I try to get as close to 4 lbs as possible, and usually end up ordering between 3.96lbs and 4lbs).
Today, though, makeup wearers out there can rejoice!
Right now,
Physician's Formula products are ALL 20% off right now!
No coupon code is necessary, but if you've never ordered from iherb and you click thru my link, you'll find another great discount pre-loaded into your cart!
Sale ends May 14, at 10 am Pacific Time, so get it while you can. Some products may already be temporarily out of stock...
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Shabbat!
Wow, these weeks just keep flying by!I have no idea how it is already Thursday night. Or how I will muster up the energy to cook.
But, setting that aside, here's the plan:
Challot from the freezer
Split pea soup (I have a bag of split peas to use up!) (at night)
Black Bean Cholent at lunchSpicy Roast Chicken
Potato Kugel
Roasted Peppers, Summer Squash and Garlic
Salad - lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil
Apple Kugel or Apple Crisp
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Seudah Shlishit: Challah and spreads, grapefruit, banana muffins
And that's the plan. Now, I might just go to sleep, I'm so tired.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Weekday Suppers
Recently I've gotten into a cooking rut. Either it's too hot or I got busy or something came up and I just haven't planned ahead or I haven't done the shopping... (Do you ever just get into a rut like that?) And we've been eating a lot of pasta.
Too much pasta.
So, we had a little family meeting so we could come up with a supper plan for the next 2 weeks (then my mother in law is gracing us with a short visit and I promise it will be a little too crazy around here!).
And without further ado, here's the plan:
Wednesday: Mushroom Barley crock pot stew and fresh rolls with butter/cream cheese, carrot, cucumber and celery sticks with hummus and other dips
Thursday: Pita Pizzas, salad
(Shabbat is a separate post, skipping to Sunday!)
Sunday: Shabbat leftovers
Monday: Pasta of some sort, salad
Tuesday: Felafel!
Wednesday: Omelettes for the egg eaters, fish for the non egg eaters, baked potatoes, salad
Thursday: pitta pizzas, salad
(Shabbat is a separate post)
Sunday: Shabbat leftovers
Monday: Rice, Stir fried veggies, ??
Tuesday: Sloppy Sams with fresh rolls, carrot, cucumber, and celery sticks
And that takes us right up to my mother in law's visit. We'll probably have a really different routine while she's here!
How's your meal planning going?
Monday, May 5, 2014
Maadanei Miki Hummus Recall
"Maadanei Miki" and The Ministry of Health announced a recall of the following product, due to possible listeria contamination:
Hummus 800g expiration dates 7/5/14 and 28/5/14
The affected products are being removed from store shelves.
Consumers who have purchased this product are advised NOT to eat it. Please contact Maadanei Miki to arrange a refund or replacement: Tel: 1-700-50-5540 or email: services@mikideli.co.il
Be sure to find me on Facebook and stay up to date about recalls, deals, and other important things!
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