Schmoozin' With Shoshi

I have been producing and hosting my own talk show in Manhattan for well over 2 1/2 years now called Schoomzin' with Shoshi that has been about women's news, celebrity gossip, and events. My live shows begin again Monday, 29th..after the upcoming show I will be changing my show format to focus it on food and lifestyle! I am looking to have guests on to dish about food, wine, food products, etc. I will give you more details when the time gets nearer...It should be a fun & delicious time.

On another note, if you are in the New York City area (or Jersey City/Hoboken area) and would like to host on of my upcoming culinary speakeasies in your home, drop me a line. Basically, I come cook a 3 to 4 course meal, invite peeps who pay a small fee (your meal is fee), then I clean it all up..It's a fun filled soiree, people leave full, happy, and schmoozed out...

Till next time,

~Shoshi, The Kosher Soul Gourmet

S'mores

I have been doing research for my upcoming column "Nosh" which will be a food column devoted to snacks. There are so many delicious snack ideas that I look forward to sharing...

One of my favorite snacks is S'mores, a quick, easy, and simply delicious snack. This is also a great nosh to put out at a soiree at home.

Nosh on,

~Shoshi, The KSG

S'mores

8 regular size graham crackers, broken in 1/2
2 dark chocolate bars, broken into squares
8 big handmade marshmallows or about 4-5 mini marshmallows

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Lay 1/2 of the graham crackers on a cookie sheet. Top with dark chocolate pieces to cover.
Use kitchen scissors or a knife to cut the marshmallows in 1/2 horizontally.

Bake until the marshmallows are golden brown, which should be about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the remaining graham crackers, pressing down slightly to make a sandwich. Serve immediately. Eat slowly and savor the flavor.

Recipe Resources

If you want to kick up your cooking a notch and try some new dishes there are two FABULOUS resources online that you should know about Chow (www.chow.com) and Recipezaar (www.recipezaar.com). Chow is a fun, hip site that any foodie will love, while Recipezaar has recipes from around the world.

Nosh on,
Shoshi
The Kosher Soul Gourmet


Yolanda Shoshana
The Kosher Soul Gourmet
www.koshersoulgourmet.com

Challah to make you holla!

Like me, many people use bread machines to save a bit of time in making homemade bread. If you have been thinking of getting a bread machine, all I can say is JUST DO IT! It is a wonderful addition to any kitchen.

I found a great recipe for challah made in the bread machine. This challah is not braided like traditional challah, but it is definitely scrumptious. If you would like to make it like traditional challah, take the same ingredients and use the dough cycle. When the dough is ready, you can take the dough out of the machine, shaped it like traditional challah, and bake it in the oven.

~Shoshi

The Kosher Soul Gourmet

Bread Machine Challah
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 cups all-purpose bread flour
1-1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. active dry yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine in order specified by machine manufacturer. When cycle is done, remove and allow to cool 30-35 minutes.

Bread

During the holiday season, I ate everything and anything in sight. Reality has set in. I have to get myself back in shape and back to a healthy diet. It is s resolution that is high on every one's list.

My main weakness is carbohydrates. I could live on bread and bread alone. One way that I am going to get my bread box in order is to make my own bread. I use to make my own bread all the time, but now I am a typical busy New Yorker.

Baking bread is actually pretty easy. Also making your own bread can be healthier for you and a way to save on your grocery bill. There are a many healthy bread recipes online and in cookbooks, so you should be able to make your favorite breads at home!

If you are traumatized at the thought of kneading dough, knowing how to mix the yeast with the flour, etc, get yourself a bread maker. A bread maker can simply get the dough ready and you can finish the bread yourself in the oven or the bread maker can take care of the whole bread making process for you. Be on the look out for bread makers that also make pizza dough and jam. What a bonus!

I recently went to Target in the "Boogie Down" (aka The Bronx) and purchased a bread maker. When I am to busy to make bread by hand, I will throw some ingredients in the machine. Wham, bam, thank you mam..fresh bread will be in the house.

Nosh on,
~Shoshi
"The Kosher Soul Gourmet"