Well Fed Network

A little news...

I will now be a contributing writer on the Well Fed Network (www.wellfed.net). The network is a compilation of blogs focused on informed, high quality, food-based content.

I will be contributing to the Edible TV section and Well Fed on the Town. It's a great food blog for the foodie in you.

L'chaim,
~Shoshi





Yolanda Shoshana
The Kosher Soul Gourmet
http://www.koshersoulgourmet.com/

Christmas Eve with Jessie's potatoes

Last night I was invited to Christmas eve dinner at my friend's, Yesenia ("Jessie"), up in Washington Heights . The food was divine! Jessie and her husband worked in the kitchen all day making everything from scratch. This morning I am still stuffed from all that good eating.

That's Jessie, preparing her finger licking potatoes, which have become a holiday tradition for her family. The potatoes were so good that I am on the hunt for the recipe. I found a similar recipe that should be just as tasty....

Potatoes Gratin

(recipe from Gourmet Magazine)

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes

1 1/2 cups coarsely grated Gruyere cheese (about 6 ounces)

1 cup milk, heated just to boiling

1 cup heavy cream, heated just to boiling

Freshly grated nutmeg

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and butter a 3-quart gratin or shallow baking dish. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and cut into thin slices (about 1/8-inch thick). Add potatoes to boiling water and parcook 4 minutes. Drain potatoes well in a colander.

In gratin or baking dish arrange potatoes, overlapping them, in 3 layers, sprinkling first 2 layers each with 1/2 cup Gruyere and salt and peppers to taste.

Heat milk, cream and nutmeg in a small bowl. Season mixture with salt and pepper and pour evenly over potatoes. Sprinkle potatoes with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake 30 minutes, or until top is golden and potatoes are tender

Honey! Cinnamon Popcorn Snack

I would like to share great snack recipe inspired by lifestyle guru, B. Smith.

The ingredients may not be what you would typically put together, but trust..this is an alright and out of sight snack.

Nosh on,
~Shoshi
"The Kosher Soul Gourmet"

Honey! Cinnamon Popcorn Snack

Ingredients:

8 cups popped microwave popcorn
5 cups cereal (can be something like Honey Nut Cheerios or Rice Krispies)
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

24 servings

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350° F. In large bowl, mix popcorn, cereal, walnuts and raisins set aside.

2. In 1-quart saucepan, heat corn syrup, honey, butter and cinnamon to boiling. Remove from heat stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn cereal mixture, then toss until evenly coated.

3. Spread in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool pan on cooling rack, stirring occasionally.

Get to noshing!

Latkes, Chocolate, and Sparkling Wine, oh my!

I was on the go last night when I hit a Chanukah Bordello party, then was off to a champagne and chocolate tasting at Bacchus in Manhattan.

I had heard that Sandi Dubowski knows how to throw a soiree with style, so I was expecting a good 'ole time. The other hosts for the evening were Nancy Schwartzman(shown in pix above), Amichai Lau Lavie, and Matt Wolf.

I brought nutella and mini croissants which are a nice treat for any gathering. This treat can stand alone as a dessert or goes well with other mini desserts.

The theme for the soiree was latkes and bubbly. There was a lot of prosecco in the house. Prosecco and latkes are a delightful match. The rich body of the sparkling wine brings out the flavor ofthe potato making for a savory pairing. At one point, Sandi ran out of the kitchen to take a survey for the type of latke he should make next. Now that is some good entertaining!

There was a woman at the soiree that looked familiar, I couldn't figure out how I knew her. I caught a glance of her on my way out the door and before I knew what I was doing I yelled, *"Lisa Kron". It was indeed her, she came over to say hello and goodbye. It was a groovy way to leave an event, off to the tasting..

The tasting at Bacchus on Broadway and 72nd Street was absolutely horrible. It turned me off so much that I don't even want to go back into store to buy wine. I could go on and on about how horrible it was, but I won’t.

The only breathe of fresh air at the tasting was meeting, Lynne Bernstein, the founder of glasshalfull.com..steller cellar tees. She was way cool and her shirts are FUN. I will be ordering one for myself! (www.glasshalfull.com)

At the end of the night I grabbed a bag for my champagne flute, wished I had stayed at the Chanukah soiree, and then took myself home.

Food and entertaining...I live for this!

Peace, love, & soul,

~Shoshi

Kosher Soul Gourmet

(*Lisa Kron is a performer/writer of solo shows. She wrote 2.5 Minute Ride and Well)

Photos courtesy of Karma Hallmark was was with me on my adventures.

Chanukah Blog Tour!

This blog is normally about food & entertaining, but I had to be a part of this fresh project!

( photo of Amy Guth)

Amy Guth, the writer of the new book Fallen Women had the FABULOUS vision to have a Chanukah blog tour. Therefore, I blog before you..a stop on Amy's Chanukah meme questions tour . Holla!

To get find out more about Amy and the new book http://www.amyguth.com/.

1. Quick! You must turn a plate of latkes into an upscale gourmet delight (as if they aren't already?). What would you add to them to dress them up,flavor and/or garnish them?
I would make yam or sweet potato latkes first of all, not that there is anything wrong with the regular potato. I would add cilantro and chives to them which would give a nice little kick in the taste buds! Garnished with sour cream and fresh chives.

2. What is the dumbest thing you've ever heard anyone say about Chanukah?
"You Jews have your own Christmas, it's called Passover or something like that"

3. What's the best possible use for olive oil?

Your feet! If you have dry crusty feet (be honest with yourself), slather Olive Oil on those hard ashy toes, and it's like magic.

4. Settle it once and for all. Latkes or hammentaschen? Which to you prefer? What about pitting the winner of that contest against sufganiyot?
Hands down latkes. Hammentaschen scares me because so many people make BAD hammentaschen. Oy vey, it's hard to think about it...

I would eat both, latkes and sufganiyot, as a way to support diversity in the Jewish community and my never ending appetite. But if have to pick, just one, it would be sufganiyot. For me sugar always trumps fried.

5. What's the best way to mix up a game of dreidel?
A little bit of Manischewitz, a room full of naked hot peeps, it would be on baby! What happens with the dreidel stays with the dreidel.

6. My novel, Three Fallen Women, shockingly enough, is about the three women. Which three women would you like to have over this year for latkes and why?
Oprah- I would love to see her gobbling a plate of sweet potato latkes and sour cream. Imagine that for the cover of O Magazine

Martha Stewart- not only would Martha probably make the latkes, but she would make a big meal and then clean the kitchen. Now that is a very...good thing

Nicole Ritchie- At least I would know that she has eaten something for the day

7. Other than Three Fallen Women (har har), what book do you think would make a great Chanukah gift this year? What book would you like to receive as a gift this year?

How This Night is Different by Elisa Albert would be a great Chanukah gift.

I happen to already have How This Night is Different, so I would like to receive any book by the Barefoot Contessa. The book would be wonderful for food research and of course the mouth watering photos.

8. What bloggers didn't participate in Chanukah Blog Tour 5767 and you think should have? Leah Koenig, (http://www.goodshmeats.blogspot.com), Hadassah Gross, Sandi Dubowski, Alexandra Jacoby, Myla Fraser of Rabbi's Daughter's.

Happy Chanukah!

Happy Chanukah! Are you enjoying latkes and sour cream, along with other various fried things?

It's a early Sunday morning..I am working on my Kosher Soul Gourmet website (www.koshersoulgourmet.com). It's a simple basic website, till I do the launch of a site with a little more bling bling. Websites can be so frustrating!

Eat on,
Shoshi



Yolanda Shoshana
The Kosher Soul Gourmet

Shoshi's Sweet Potato Latkes

This Chanukah, stir it up and add a little soul to your celebration by making sweet potato latkes. Trust me, make these latkes and people be looking for them every year (maybe even year round). Holla!

Shoshi’s Sweet Potato Latkes

1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated
2 scallions, finely chopped
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (or matzoh meal)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten1 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional, this will add an extra kick)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Stir together potatoes, scallions, flour (matzoh meal), eggs, salt, cinnamon, and pepper.

Heat oil in a deep 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 4, spoon 1/8 cup potato mixture per latke into oil and flatten to 3-inch diameter with a slotted spatula. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Transfer latkes with spatula to paper towels to drain.

Serve with sour cream or yogurt.

Makes about 26 pancakes.

L'chaim,

~Yolanda Shoshana, "Kosher Soul Gourmet"

Chocolate Marshmallow Deluxe Bars

KOSHER COOKIE SWAP

A great cookies recipe that would be a delicious addition to a cookie swap!

L'chaim,

~Shoshi, Kosher Soul Gourmet

Chocolate Marshmallow Deluxe Cookies Bars

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon McCormick’svanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• TOPPING:
• 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 cup Skippy creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa; add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts if desired. Spread in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over cake; return to oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a knife dipped in water, spread the melted marshmallows evenly over cake. Cool. For topping, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and well blended. Remove from heat; stir in cereal. Spread over bars immediately. Chill.

Original recipe yield: 36 Servings

Kosher Cookie Swap!

With Chanukah only a few days way, here is a great fun idea to do during the holiday. Have a good ‘ole impromptu kosher cookie swap. Most people make up their own rules for cookie swaps, but here is a guideline you might like to follow:

If you are organizing the cookie swap, you will probably end up as the host for this event. Make sure that you have a table big enough to hold the plates of cookies that your guests will be bringing. Most of the guests may be planning on taking the cookies home, so you'll want to serve some refreshments. Something light to nosh on will do the trick.

Send out an evite (www.evite.com) or make calls to let people know when and where the cookie swap will take place. Tell everyone that they must make homemade cookies, let them know about how many cookies to make. You might also want to tell your guests to bring copies of the recipes for the cookies that they make. Along with the cookies, your guests can swap their recipes. Get some tins or plastic containers for the guests to put cookies to take home. You are on your way to having a delicious event

If you can't get the cookie swap together by Chanukah, this is a great event during anytime of the year.

Peace, love, & kosher,
~Shoshi
Kosher Soul Gourmet

Tasty Tea

Lipton tea has been around since the 1890's. I recently found a wonderful tea in the Lipton line: the green tea with orange, passion fruit and jasmine. This tea tingles the palette and is also a great source for antioxidants.

You can take one tea bag, add hot water and a touch of honey. Then you have yourself a great hot drink.

If you want to do something a little more fun with this tasty tea, make it into an iced tea!

Take 4 tea bags ( 5 for a bolder taste), add 3 cups cold water, sugar (to your liking or no sugar at all). Top it off with a passion fruit garnish.

This tea is perfect for a dinner party, Shabbat table, or for a nice fresher after a long hard day at work!


-Yolanda Shoshana
Kosher Soul Gourmet