Yom Kippur 101: (Because let’s face it, even if you went to Jewish school your whole life, a mini paragraph crash course is never taken for granted)
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, when we are closest to Hashem (G‑d) and in touch with our Neshama (soul). Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” For nearly 26 hours we don’t eat or drink and we don’t wear leather footwear. It is custom to spend the day in Shul (synagogue) and pray for forgiveness and build or rebuild our relationship with G-d.
Tips for a successful and meaningful fast:
1. Try to cut out caffeine three days before.
2. Hydrate yourself for three days leading up to the fast with water and Gatorade.
3. Eat power foods that will stay in your system longest; barley, fruits, potatoes, chicken and pasta.
4. Don’t over eat! I know it’s a panicky-before-the-fast temptation but don’t do it – it will backfire!
5. Eat watermelon for dessert!
Chicken barley soup
This soup has so much flavor because you brown the chicken and vegetables first. But it is still a quick recipe because the barley only takes 30 minutes to cook! Make sure the skin on your chicken is minimal so your soup doesn't come out too oily.
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Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 chicken bottoms bones in and skin on
- 2 red onions cut in half
- 8 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger cut into one large chunk
- 2 carrots peeled, cut in half
- 2 tomatoes cut in half
- 1/2 butternut squash peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala spice blend
- 2 tablespoons salt pink Himalayan
- 2 stalks lemongrass cut in half (optional)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped, stems included (optional)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil finely chopped
- 1/2 cup barley
Directions:
- Prepare a large pot on high heat. Add the olive oil and get hot. Add the chicken and let brown for 8 minutes, mixing periodically.
- Add the onions, garlic, ginger, carrots and tomatoes. Mix and let cook 5 more minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (including the barley) and 5 cups of water. Cook on medium-high for at least 1 hour but up to 3 hours.
- Remove chicken bones, lemongrass stalks and chunk of ginger if you would like.
- Serve hot with toasted bread. Salt to taste.
Notes & Tips:
Feel free to add or subtract your own vegetables like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, celery and zucchini. My favorite part of this soup is that everything is in big pieces so prep is very quick.
Orange leek whole roasted chicken
I love whole chicken because the white meat is SO juicy and doesn't dry out. You can play around with the ingredients of what you love or have in your home - just be generous with the spices and keep the cooking technique the same for the juiciest whole roasted chicken you have ever had.
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Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken
- 2 oranges sliced
- 2 leeks sliced, white parts only
- 1/2 chili pepper sliced
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 cup white wine
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons salt pink Himalayan
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper. Add the oranges, leeks, chili pepper and rosemary to the bottom of the pan as a bed for the chicken.
- Place chicken in pan and sprinkle and rub with the rest of the ingredients so it is evenly coated.
- Cover and place in oven for 1 hour.
- Turn oven up to 425°F and uncover the chicken. Roast for 20 more minutes.
Notes & Tips:
There are so many advantages to make a chicken whole! It tastes better, it's cheaper, it reheats better! Don't be worried about carving it, watch a video online and you will be set. You can even just let it fall apart! Save the carcass and use it for chicken stock!
Hasselback potatoes
Be really careful when you cut these to not cut your thumb off! Tuck that thumb in and watch my knife skills video again. Feel free to get creative with these and add fresh garlic and your favorite fresh herbs (dill, parsley, rosemary or basil are my top choices).
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Ingredients:
- 4 potatoes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon zaatar spice blend (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt pink himalayan
- 3 sprigs Fresh thyme stems removed
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Slice a very thin piece of the potato off horizontally, so that the potato has a flat surface to rest on. Slice the potato vertically, almost finishing the slice but not quite.
- Add the olive oil, garlic powder, za'atar and salt and rub in well into the creases.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until crispy and golden.
- Add fresh thyme and serve.
Kale salad
If you are a cilantro hater, make this anyways and just leave out the cilantro! If you are a cilantro lover, you don't even need to remove the cilantro from its stems, just roughly chop it at the top part and embrace the stems!
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Ingredients:
- 1 sweet potato large, cut into thin wedges
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt pink Himalayan
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 ounces kale cut into bite size pieces
- 1 mango cut into cubes, or craisons
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper. Place sweet potatoes, onions, garlic powder, curry powder, ½ teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons olive oil and mix well. Place in oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until golden on the outside and the sweet potatoes are soft on the inside
- In a large bowl whisk together the rest of the olive oil, vinegar, honey and salt. Add the kale and mix with your hands until the kale gets softer, about 1 minute.
- Add mangoes, almonds, sweet potatoes, onions and cilantro. Mix well. Serve warm or room temperature.
Notes & Tips:
If mangoes are not in season, feel free to substitute them with papayas, oranges, persimmons, red delicious apples or just leave them out! The crunchy onions add such a nice deep flavor to this dish but feel free to add a protein to it and make it more filling (grilled tofu, smoked turkey, pulled chicken, sliced steak)
Have a question about these recipes? Need a substitution for an ingredient? Chef Zissie is here to answer!
Simply use the comments box at the bottom of this page or click the button below. Please try and ask on Sunday to ensure you get your answer on time!
