creative jewish mom

Simply The Best Chocolate Cake: Quick and Simple

One of the things I love about having a blog is that I can share with you all the good stuff I happen to have learned. And one of the important things I've learned is that every Mom needs to have a good basic cake recipe to pull out of her hat when cake is requested! I usually go for healthy recipes, but this one quite simply is not.....sometimes there is just no replacement for that sinful white flour and white sugar— at least there's no margerine!

I am often asked to bake cakes for community celebrations, and although I wouldn't call myself a master baker by any stretch of the imagination, I always feel confident baking this chocolate cake, because it's quite simply delicious and pretty much no-fail. And you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen. Bake it as a flat cake or better yet, in a decorative pan like a bundt pan, ice it with chocolate/coffee glaze and you've got yourself a winner!

Doba's Basic Chocolate Cake Recipe:

• 2 1/2 cups white flour (I've used up to 1 cup whole wheat with success)
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp  baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

• 5 eggs (you can use 4 if you prefer)
• 1 cup oil (I've used 1/2 cup of oil and the cake was still great)
• 2 cups very warm water
• 2 tsp vanilla

Mix together dry ingredients, and slowly add to bowl wet ingredients. Mix well.
Bake in a large sheet pan (approx 12"x14") at 350 degrees for one hour.

Note: If you use a standard bundt pan you will have some batter left over for a small cake or muffins.

Chocolate Glaze Recipe:
whoops cant' find it! but will get it to you soon!
Find the recipe here.

While glaze is still moist, add some sprinkles or grated coconut! And while you're at it, make a double batch so you'll have some cake in the freezer — always a good thing to have on hand for those unexpected guests!  Even if your house is a mess, quickly defrost the cake (cut with a sharp knife and defrost in the microwave or in the oven) and serve it on a platter with some glasses of hot tea, and a smile. You'll be glad you took my advice!

A Corkboard + Tissue Paper Mural The Kids Can Do Themselves!

Looking for a craft project to keep your kids busy and happy? Here's a really great mural project that they can almost do by themselves. I cut out the pieces, and my youngest children ages 4, 5 1/2 and 7 did the rest (older children will be able to do the entire project).  After they were dry, I arranged the pieces on the cork board and my little artists couldn't believe what they had created! A joyful addition to our home, and a reminder that crafts are a great way to build actual skills as well as self confidence.

You'll Need:

• A corkboard or emtpy wall
• Thin cardboard, I used cereal boxes
• Cardboard tubes
• Tissue paper (or crepe paper, or any colored paper for that matter!)
• White glue
• A concept for your mural (i.e. Jerusalem, our city, our backyard, our house.....)

Show children how to crumple small balls of tissue paper and apply to shape

How To:

1. Draw basic shapes on cardboard and cut out. (Mom will need to do this for younger children)
2. Apply glue to shapes with a brush or finger
3. Add tissue paper to shapes, either small crumpled pieces or flat pieces, or some combination of the two
4. Cover tubes entirely with tissue paper, and cut in half after dry to use as tree trunks
5. Set pieces aside to dry
6. Assemble mural!

Applying flat pieces of tissue paper to glue-coated sha

The idea I've shown you here can be used in so many ways in addition to a mural! Children can decorate both sides of each shape and make a mobile, one could punch a hole at the top of each shape and hang individually as Succah decorations.

Additionally, tissue paper gives the most colorful results, but if you don't happen to have any around the house and would like to do this project anyway, why not try doing collages of different types of paper (or materials) on each shape. Give the children an array of craft materials to glue on (yarn, sticks, stickers, pompoms, etc.) and watch them create mini works of art!

This is the type of project that could keep children busy for hours, though you might want to print the picture of what we've done for inspiration. I think if my kids had known what the results would be, they may have had more energy to do even more. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

Try Moroccan Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) In Red Sauce!

This Moroccan dish is one of those foods that tastes delicious, (comfort food at its best), but just isn't so photogenic. But don't be fooled by looks — this is the number one recipe that guests request after having eaten Shabbat meals in our home! We eat it hot at the night meal and cold together with salads, by day.

One of the important ingrediants— I wouldn't think of cooking chickpeas without these sweet dried peppers!

This chickpea dish is traditionally served together with Moroccan fish but cooked separately. And in my husband's family this is the dish that is eaten on Friday afternoon, instead of the traditional Friday couscous. Though I'm not certain whether this is infact the case, rumour has it that this recipe is unique to the town of Meknes, Morocco (where my husband was born). Any insights readers?

Recipe:

• 500g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight in water with 2tblsp baking soda
• 2 sweet dried peppers (see photo)
• 1/2 fresh red pepper
• 2 heads garlic
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tblsp sweet Moroccan paprika (preferably in oil)
• salt to taste

Cooking Instructions:
Paying attention? Here are the secrets you absolutely must follow in order to get authentic results!

Step 1: THE secret to cooking chickpeas without all the fuss is to soak them overnight in plenty of water and a few tablespoons of baking soda! With this information, your life will never be the same, trust me!  And if you forgot to soak them overnight, no problem, soak them in boiling water and baking soda for a few hours.

Step 2: Rinse beans and check for black spots or possible bug infestation. Remove any questionable beans.

Step 3: In the bottom of the pot place the peeled yet whole garlic teeth, the sliced fresh red pepper, and the dried red pepper, cut into 2" pieces.

Step 4: Place chickpeas in pot. In a glass or small bowl mix together oil,paprika and about 1tsp salt, to form a thick sauce. Gently pour the sauce over the chickpeas, distributing over the entire surface as much as possible.

Step 5: Add water to just to cover beans and bring to a boil. The liquid will foam a bit as seen here, but this is normal! Note: Be careful not to add too much water, you can always add more if you need too.

Step 6: Cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours or until almost allof the liquid has evaporated. Check during cooking to make sure the water level doesn't cook off too fast, if so you may need to add a little more water.
Beans are ready when they are totally soft, and look golden reddish brown. (See top photo) Don't forget about them, overcooking results in brown mush!

Serving suggestions: As a main dish these chickpeas are delicious over a bed of rice or couscous accompanied by crunchy fresh salads and some good hearty bread. Left overs could be used as a pita filling for a satisfying sandwich.

Tips: If your family likes spicy food, use dried spicy peppers, or replace some of the sweet paprika with hot paprika. To liven up the looks of this dish,you can add a handful of fresh coriander to the pot at the end, or use as a garnish.

Enjoy, and if you decide to try a different chickpea recipe, be sure to remember the secret you learned here!

A Topiary-Style Floral Centerpiece Will Beat The Heat!

I am a great fan of gorgeous fresh flowers, and usually not so keen on the artificial ones. But there are times when artificial flowers can really save the day!  Having that creative centerpiece ready and waiting for a last minute gathering can really pull everything together, and in the heat of summer money spent on fresh flowers is usually better spent elsewhere!

And one of the wonderful benefits of artificial flowers is that one can use them in so many interesting ways to create centerpieces and decorations that would be quite difficult with the real thing! Not only that, who ever heard of amaryllis in the summer?

The colorful centerpiece shown above was inspired by my love for the proportions of a topiary, and the idea of creating a floral tree of sorts. I love the results, and tucking the blooms at the base (instead of the traditional moss or rocks) really completes the look.

You'll  Need:

• a flower pot or interesting container
• four stems of artificial amaryllis blooms, in a variety of colors
• floral foam
• floral tape
• hot glue gun

How To:

1. With a large kitchen knife cut floral foam such that it fits very tightly into container.
2. Note: If you are using something light-weight such as a basket, you will probably need to place some weights at the bottom of the basket— something like smallish rocks or a small brick. This will prevent your arrangement from being top heavy and falling over at the wrong time!
3. Examine the proportions of the flower cluster versus the base size and decide which trunk height looks the best (you can always make it shorter later, if need be
4. Using a wire cutter or very sharp scissors or pruning shears, cut the stems to size, allowing for the portion of the stem that will be inserted into the floral foam (that measurement depends on the depth of your container)
5. Arrange stems in a pleasing manner and use hot glue along the length of the stems to attach one to the other, resulting in a single trunk. If one is using flowers with smaller blooms, (you'll need at least ten stems) try arranging the cluster such that the overall shape will have a rounded top as opposed to a flat one, meaning that the stems at the center of the cluster are placed slightly higher than those at the periphery. Is that clear? Hmmm.
6. Using floral tape (available in green, brown, cream...) firmly wrap the entire length of the trunk, starting at the top and hiding the first end by wrapping over it. Floral tape is slightly adhesive, so the layers adhere to one another, resulting in a nice, clean finish.
7. Insert wrapped trunk into foam, secure with hot glue if desired.
8. Cover floral foam at base with blooms that were removed from their stems.
9. Stand back and gasp at the gorgeous and inexpensive centerpiece you've just created!

All the best, and please take a few moments to let me know what you think!

The Fruit Really Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree (Vine)!

If any of you out there are inspired to start your own blog after having seen mine, my advice to you is don't do it! Keep on living your normal life! Why you ask? Well, when you become a blogger, or at least a dedicated one like me, who only posts original material, suddenly everything in life can be sorted into two piles: 1.) good material for the blog and   2.) I don't think I'll share that with the world. Gone are the good old days of just looking at things for what they are! Alack, alas. Now please don't think I'm complaining, I'm loving every minute of this opportunity to connect with all the amazing people out there in the big, wide, world. Just keep in mind, going global has its price!

That being said, Fridays are very busy around here, and I'm in need of a quick something to post.Yesterday as I was outside watering my container garden my 5 1/2 year old son was returning from a trip to deposit plastic bottles in the nearby recycling cage. As he came up the stairs, suddenly I heard his sweet little voice say very enthusiastically, "Mommy, look what I found!" I'm quite sure my first reaction was a smile together that proud feeling you get when your children repeat back to you things you've taught them.But my second and immediate reaction was, great, thanks for giving me some material for the blog tomorrow!

What did he find that was so interesting? Some baby grapes in the process of maturing on the vine!

It gives me a great feeling of satisfaction to see that my son is starting to share my love for all the wonders of nature. What can I learn from this? When we take time to talk to our children, to share with them our joys as well as sorrows it in turn helps them develop into communicative individuals. When we take the time to teach them about everything we see around us, it helps them to become appreciative and conscientious. Isn't that what you would wish for your own sweet souls? So start talking.

Have a great weekend and a peaceful Shabbat.

Quick Birthday Party Decorations From The Heart!

I have a confession to make. Because of my dedication to you my dear readers, my life happens to be a bit out of control at the moment. Given everything else that's been going on as well, I just wasn't too prepared for the sudden arrival of my daughter's seventh birthday and the necessity to perpetuate the custom of cute and colorful decorations and a cake for the family party. And now that I go by the name "creativejewishmom", well the pressure is almost too much to bear! What was I thinking? I should have called myself ordinaryjewishmom, or even klutzyjewishmom, that sure would have been a much easier line to tow!

Well, it's too late now, so I just have to do my best to try live up to the name I created for myself! And believe me, there's no time for self pity when there's a party to decorate and a cake to make! Here's what I did:

First I put a cheerful vintage tablecloth on the table, then I grabbed the only tissue paper and crepe paper I could find hanging out in my studio, and together with some floral wire, I made four big flowers. I went searching for a vase, and came upon this footed favorite. There also happened to be a block of floral foam sitting in the same cabinet, so I stuck that into the vase and it was a great anchor for the flowers. Nice!

The second task was to make some paper decorations. I took out my box of rubber stamps, a permanent marker, and the last few sheets of colored paper I could find, and got to work. I stamped a pattern on a few sheets, to use as what? I knew I'd find a use for it. I drew some number sevens, a crown and some pieces to make a layered cake. I cut the pieces out and set them aside.

Okay, now for the family tradition of bedecking the chandelier in ribbons! And the paper cut-outs fit so nicely on the door, it even looks planned! Oh how I love creative guidance from above when it's really needed!

Floral Pomander Balls — For DIY Wedding Decorations or Anytime!

Pomander made using a 5" styrofoam ball and roughly 50 blooms.

I always thought that pomanders were oranges decorated with ribbons and cloves, (a nice project for Tu B'Shevat, stick around!) but as it turns out, floral covered spheres such as this one are also referred to as pomanders. Regardless of what they're called, there's something about these balls that is so gorgeous when done with real flowers and whimsically beautiful when done with artificial flowers, as seen above.

So when I saw a deal on really cheap artificial flowers, I scooped them up for this project, not realizing that I'd need at least 50 for a 5" diameter ball! Lucky for me there were still some left when I went back. Pomanders made with all one type of flower are the most elegant, but if you're looking for something a little more lively and playful, you can try making them with a mix of colors and flower types. And if you use a combination of large and small flowers, you may be able to get away with using fewer.

Pomander made using a roughly 4"styrofoam ball and about 30 blooms.

Pomanders are often used as wedding decorations, topped with gorgeous satin ribbon loops and hung from chairs, and a miniature one would be just adorable as an accessory for flower girls! In the home, they can also be a nice decorative touch in a bedroom, or hang a few together in a corner that needs some attention! 

Even a few pomanders scattered on a table, together with some candles, could be beautiful and dramatic, or why not place some in a large bowl when you're in need of a centerpiece? The nice thing about making something from artificial flowers is you can pack it away and always have it on hand when you need it!So while you're at it, make a whole bunch in different sizes, you'll find lots of ways to use them for your next occasion or everyday!

Supplies:

• styrofoam balls
• hot glue gun
• artificial flowers
• craft wire
• something long and sharp (a metal skewer, coat hanger etc.)
• satin ribbon (optional)

How To:

1. Using your long sharp object, make two holes running through the entire ball, about 1/4" apart.
2. Thread a piece of wire through one hole, and then down the other, leaving a loop.Twist the two ends of the wire together securely and trim excess.
3. Remove artificial flowers from their stems and attach to ball with hot glue. Depending on the look you are going for, glue the flowers closely together or more loosely arranged, but be sure no part of the ball is showing.
4. Be sure not to cover your wire loop, you'll need this for hanging!
5. If you'll be hanging your ball, attach ribbon to the loop. A beautiful large bow, together with a loop from satin ribbon can be quite elegant for wedding decor. Consider using wired ribbon for a bow that will maintain it's shape.
6. There are many ways to hang the balls from the ceiling (or a tree for outdoor entertaining!), either with clear fishing line or with a string of beads,  crystals, or even fake pearls spaced out along the string. A group of balls hung at different heights looks fabulous, try it!

When your friends ask you about these wonderful pomanders, you can casually and modestly say "oh I made them... " And on the inside be proud of yourself for taking the time to do something to nurture your creative soul!

Elegant and Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches!

I don't know about you, but just because a creative mom like me doesn't have time for fancy desserts, (and tries to keep food for my family on the healthy side) doesn't mean that I don't want to finish a festive (Shabbos) meal with something a little special! I am always looking for quick ways to make beautiful yet simple desserts that taste good too.

The good news, for me, is that my family is quite happy to be served non-dairy ice cream with a cookie or a few sprinkles, but when I know there will be guests I like to honor them with something a bit more. And while you may think that ice cream sandwiches are kid's food, I think you'll have to agree that the combination of the chocolate biscuit and the brown and white sprinkles makes such an elegant presentation that no one will turn this one down! I can promise you! And anyway, who doesn't enjoy feeling like a kid again, once in awhile?

Ingredients:
chocolate tea biscuits
ice cream
brown and white sprinkle mix (or coconut, mini chocolate chips etc.)

Assembly:
The first few times that I made these I allowed the ice cream to soften and then applied a large spoonful to each biscuit, adding another on top and then cleaning up the edges. This was a bit messy and time consuming! It recently occurred to me that the best way would be to quite simply cut the ice cream into pieces and sandwich it between two biscuits! Today I finally had the opportunity to try out my idea, and I'm really happy to report, it worked like a dream! Lucky you!

1. Using a knife and a spatula, remove a block of ice cream from the container. 
   
2. Cut large slices of ice cream to a thickness of roughly 3/4" or less, and then cut these slices down to individual pieces exactly the size of your biscuits.
3. Sandwich the ice cream pieces between two biscuits and freeze.
4. After you have finished the whole batch, make sure the ice cream is hard before proceeding.
5. Pour sprinkles into a bowl and lightly dip each side of the ice cream sandwich into the sprinkles.
6. Stack in a closed container and hide in the deepest recesses of your freezer!

Of course if you're a baker, you could bake your own crispy oatmeal cookies and make sandwiches from those, (yummm) or try this idea with any variety of cookies and ice cream. Graham crackers and tofutti would be great too!

For a very festive, more child-like variation, use regular biscuits with multi-colored sprinkles. Infact, for a birthday party one could even make a tower of these sandwiches, top them with a few birthday flags (see the Birthday category of this blog) and voila! Definatly a party pleaser and oh so simple. Thats the kind of thing that makes my day! And I'm so very happy to share it with you.

Note: We ate the sandwiches in the photo for a treat after dinner. When I was putting my four year old to bed memories of their deliciousness were still floating in his head. He said " They were so yummy, Mommy, why you did it?" I'm not sure what he meant exactly, but I won't be able to resist making this treat for him again soon!

Recycling Crafts: Rolled Paper Beads and Necklaces!

This wonderful project that many of us remember from our childhoods is brought to you as a result of the thoughtfulness of my kind friend Chava BenTzion. She was doing this project with her sweet son Yosef, and thought to take photos in case I'd want to use them on the blog! Isn't that a truly nice gesture? I was really touched. Infact, I would be happy to be the recipient of more kind gestures like this! If anyone has high quality photos of craft projects you've done, send them on over and maybe you'll be a star on creativejewishmom.com!

Chava Said:
I first discovered these beads when I was younger, and I was so fascinated by the results as well as how fun they are to make! I rediscovered them again today while flipping through old magazines looking for pictures to cut out for my son's collage. I happily showed him this technique from my own childhood.

Supplies:

• glossy printed pages, grouped according to color theme  (multicolored, earth tones, black and white print)
• white glue
• something smooth to roll the bead around — the handle of a paintbrush (these are nice because the taper of the handle makes the beads easier to slide off) dowels, pencils or pens, broomsticks?
• scissors
• varnish — spray or water based brush-on acrylic (optional)
• glass or wooden beads (optional)

Step By Step How-To:

Step 1: Cut an elongated triangle out of catalog or magazine paper. (the base of the triangle will determine the length of the bead, the longer the triangle, the chubbier the bead) Rough proportions for this triangle are 2" base and 7" length. Experiment with different sizes to obtain a result you are happy with.

Step 2: Smear a bit of the glue on the inside of the triangle as shown.  If you apply glue along the entire length it will be hard to slide the bead off the stick after rolling.

Step 3: Starting at the wide end, roll the triangle around your stick of choice.

Step 4: For best results roll carefully such that when the bead is entirely rolled, the end point of the triangle will lie at the center point. (see picture)

Step 5: Carefully slide bead off the stick. If you rolled your bead too tight at the rolling step, you will discover it at this time, as your bead will be stuck! (If this is the case roll more loosely with the others...)

Step 6: Set beads aside to dry on a glue-free surface, such as a clean plate, and be careful to keep them separated or they may stick together as they dry. When dry, beads can be sprayed with a coat of gloss varnish for extra protection and shine. Water based acrylic varnish can be brushed on— a less hazardous and healthier option but more work!

Step 7: When the glue is dry, beads can be strung on a variety of materials— dental floss, yarn, kite string, fishing line or wire. You might want to string heavier glass or wooden beads in between the paper beads to give the necklace a more satisfying weight, and allowing the necklace to lie nicely on the proud wearer!

Step 8: Enjoy! And remember beads are not just for girls! They can be used for a wide variety of projects other than necklaces. Why not make a whole bunch of big ones to string for Succah decorations?

Thanks again to Chava, and for those of you considering making a submission, don't worry about the cropping of the photos or the level of writing of any basic instructions —I will in any case need to work with the photos and the words to make them consistent with the tone of the blog. All the best! Happy beading.

 

 

Delicious Home Baked Pita Bread (whole wheat!)

Ever wonder how to go about baking your own Pita bread? No? Yes? That's right, you can easily buy them at the store, but the ones I bake at home don't compare to anything I could buy, not even close.....Now that I have discovered how to do it myself, I quite simply can't live without this delicious alternative to sliced bread. Pitas are amazing pockets for the sandwich filling of your choice, and unlike bread can really hold a nice assortment of salads and dressings. And when you  keep a stash frozen in your freezer, you can have a nice fresh Pita at a moment's notice.

Recipe:

2 kilos whole wheat flour
3 Tblsp dry yeast
2 Tblsp silan (date syrup) or honey
2 Tblsp olive/canola oil
2 Tblsp salt
4  1/2-6 cups water (depending on type of flour— organic whole wheat flour requires much more water)

To Make The Dough:

Step 1:
Combine one kilo of flour with entire quantity of warm water, silan and yeast. If using a mixer add water and then flour. If mixing by hand add water to flour. Allow runny dough mixture to stand for about 20-30 minutes such that the mixture rises, doubling in size.
Step 2:
Add remaining kilo of flour, salt and oil. Mix until a nice moist, but not too sticky dough is formed. Put the dough in a plastic garbage bag, seal the bag and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
(Don't forget to perform the amazing mitzvah of taking challah)

Forming The Already Risen Dough and Baking:

Step 1: Divide the dough into approximately 26 balls, and dip each ball in flour to coat. Allow balls to rest approximately 10 minutes.

Step 2: Roll out balls using a rolling pin. Start rolling and alternate turning dough and rolling to obtain a round shape, and an even thickness. You don't want the pitas to be either too thick or thin, examine this photo for an approxiate guide.  Pat around the edges of the circle to obtain a more perfect shape. If you will be baking one pita at a time, as described here, roll out about 10 or so of the balls and proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Plug in the top of your electric pita pot (saluf pot) and place the bottom portion of the pot on a low flame. (More information about pot at end of post)

Step 4: Brush olive oil on top of pita and sprinkle with zatar (optional) When coil of pan is hot, carefully place pita into center of pot, and close the lid.

Step 5: After approximately 1 min 20sec, lift lid to check status of pita. If the pita top is lightly browned, carefully remove from pan and place on dry towel. Some pitas may need another 10-15 seconds— if so close lid and check again shortly. While baking, if pita is the right thickness it will blow up like a balloon!

Step 6: While each individual pita is baking, alternate rolling out additional pita balls and brushing on a light coat of olive oil (optional) To get the timing right may take some practice, but it's worth the effort.
And if you burn a pita or two in the process, well that's part of the game! While you are baking the pitas don't plan to do anything but that, or it is simply too nerve wracking as well as dangerous, given the extremely hot open coil in the top of the pan!

Step 7: Allow pitas to cool completely, and those that will not be eaten the same day should be wrapped tightly and frozen to preserve freshness.

For Baking Pitas In The Oven—Here are two alternatives from friends in the know:

A.My French/Algerian neighbor who is an experienced baker came up with this alternative, which I have not yet tried myself but will at the soonest possible moment this week (hopefully)

1. Turn oven on grill setting
2. Cover oven tray or rack with baking paper and place as many pitas as you can on tray
3. Insert tray into heated oven on level closest to grill element
4. After approximately 1 minute check pitas, and if lightly browned turn over and bake on second side for another minute or so. Remove from rack onto dry towel and continue with next batch.

Note: Depending on the proximity of your rack to the exposed coil, the pita can rise and touch the coil, but my neighbor says this doesn't happen too often. So to be on the safe side, make slightly smaller pitas than I suggested, say 28 for 2 kilos, if using this oven baking technique.

B. My friend Keter who is neither French nor Algerian, but surely knows how to cook up a storm for the truck loads of guests that visit, read this post and gave her input as follows:

"I used to bake them in a turbo oven and the best result was to heat the oven up as high as possible, while putting a few rolled out pitas on the tray - then quickly putting the tray on the lowest rack in the oven allowing the pita to get the most amount of heat at one time. sThey puff up beautifully without needing to be flipped. Good luck! Any method is definitely worth it!!!"

About The Pita Pot:
I am sorry to report that the specific technique I describe here may only be applicable to residents of countries that use 220V, as the pot described may not be available in the United States in a 120V version. (I did a search on google and only saw pots like mine for sale.) The cost of the pot that I use is 60NIS in the souk, without the cord. When purchased in a housewares store the price should be around 80-85NIS. The cord costs an additional 20NIS. 

Bon Appetit! I wish you all the very best if you decide to try this, and please ask your questions in the comments section below so that everyone can benefit!