Spicy Lentil Sauce Recipe (Vegan)

I'm always looking for new ways to make quick and easy and healthy weekday meals.
And we all know that rice and legumes is the most frugal way to feed a family, almost anywhere in the world!

So with that in mind, and armed with the knowledge that my family doesn't love their foods pre-mixed for them - they prefer to mix it themselves (or not) - I started serving rice bowls.

That is, rice, and things to go on top of the rice. Because this way, everyone can choose how much of each thing they want to mix into their bowl. Or they can choose to eat each thing separately on a plate. And I don't have to spend any more energy thinking about whether this one eats onions but that one doesn't, and that one eats dairy, but this one doesn't...

So this spicy sauce worked really well with long grain brown rice and roasted veggies (yes, I roasted each vegetable in its own pan, to keep the everything "clean"). I filled up my rice bowl with rice and roasted veggies and then ladeled this on top, and it was just right!

So here's my spicy lentil sauce:

1 cup lentils (picked over and rinsed)
3 cups water
lots of sliced or diced garlic
harissa (hot pepper sauce I buy in a can) to taste
tomato paste (I used about 100g)
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
black pepper to taste
salt to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper powder

Cook the lentils with the water and the garlic till soft.
Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing well.
Simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
Serve hot!

picture taken with my junky phone, sorry

Vacations, Shows, and More - Deals for you!

(This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission when you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!) 

Kosherfrugal.com and Janglo have teamed up to bring you some great Groupon deals you don't want to miss!

This fall, you can save BIG with discount vouchers and savings on vacations and entertainment - the links in this post will take you to discount deals for each place listed. Hurry, some deals sell out quickly!

Click here for Restaurant Deals!

Need help getting to the show or workshop? Gett Taxi has vouchers on Groupon right now! Get your 50nis voucher for as low as 5nis! (5nis deal is for new customers ONLY, and the deal for existing customers is sold out.)

Vacation and Spa Day Deals:

Take a break with a long weekend in Athens! 4 nights at a hotel and FLIGHTS are included in this price! Starts at 999nis per person (you must buy 2 deals - the price is per person, with the understanding that 2 people will be sharing a hotel room).

Spa Day for two at the Daniel Hotel (Dead Sea). starts at 299nis!

Stay at the Ramon Inn at Mitzpeh Ramon - deals start at 399nis per night (for 2)! (family packages also available)

Vacation in Eilat, including flights - for 459nis per person (this deal requires you to buy in multiples of 2 - the price is dependent upon having 2 people in a room)!

Vacation Villa that sleeps 8, with plenty of amenities, including a heated pool! For just 1589 per night (for EIGHT people!) In Nof Kinneret. You must call within 48 hrs of purchase to reserve your stay. There are blackout dates.

Vacation at Tze'elim for half off the rack rate! The price per night is for 2 adults, and you can bring 2 children for FREE. Two night stay is required

Workshops and Attractions:

Exclusive Deal: Get 10% off at the Maimonides Puzzle Room in Tiberias. Use code "Kosherfrugal" when you make your reservation! Reservations required. Call 053-530-3018 to reserve your time slot.

Laser Tag Planet in Haifa, 209nis for 4 players! (309nis for 6 players, 409nis for 8 players!) Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations Required.

Bowling in Chutzot Hamifratz - save up to 50%! Call before you go - you must reserve your lane before you show up (same day reservations only).

Oil painting workshop (2 sessions, 4 hrs in total) for just 119nis, in Kiryat Motzkin. Workshops are on Thursday evenings. Reservations required.

Pottery Workshops in Tel Aviv - 3 sessions for 199nis! (Save 50%!) Workshops are on Fridays, reservations required. You can choose to book for one person, two people, or 4 people.

Petting Zoo in Kibbutz Deganya for 21nis per person

Ice Skating at Montfort Lake (Maalot) - deals start at 35nis per person!

Beer Making Workshop in Jerusalem, for just 249nis. Two sessions, totaling 8 hrs.

Psagot Winery Tours, starting at just 24nis per person!

Shows:

Bravo Circus showing in locations throughout the country this December (Chanuka time) - tix are just 49nis with this deal!

Hakuna Matata - showing all over the country, including Bet Shean, Teverya, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, Kibbutz Yifat, Kfar Sava, Tel Aviv, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Airport City, and more! Family tix are 199nis for 4 people!

The Wizard of Oz, live show in Ramat Gan on Dec. 19, for just 45nis!

"Shakespeare in Love" (in Hebrew) in Tel Aviv Dec. 24 and 25 - Groupon tix are over 50% off list price!

Les Miserables (in Hebrew) in Tel Aviv ! Groupon tix are just 99nis!

Here's a deal for a subscription to shows at HaBimah theater - choose 2 tickets to any of the shows in the next year, 4 tickets to any of the shows in the next year, or 6 tickets to any of the shows in the next year!

Hope you enjoy these deals! Let me know which ones are your favorites!

Kosher Restaurant Deals!

(This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking a link. Thanks in advance for your support!)  

Kosherfrugal.com and Janglo have teamed up to bring you some great Groupon deals and other deals you don't want to miss!

This post focuses exclusively on kosher restaurants and take-out food, so if you're going to splurge, you can now afford to splurge a little more, with discount vouchers and savings. I keep checking for new deals, as I know you've been waiting for some, and this week there are some changes, so check carefully! Be sure to check the Facebook group so you don't miss out!

Also, Janglo Beteavone has a great selection of restaurant coupons. Be sure to check http://shop.beteavone.com for deals you won't find anywhere else! But supplies are extremely limited, so hurry before they're gone.

Make sure you feed your pets too - check out this discount voucher for Anipet. Valid at stores around the country, thru the end of December.

Click here for discounts on vacations and entertainment!

Tel Aviv and Nearby:

Cafe Greg in Namal Tel Aviv (mehadrin) - Get a 40nis voucher for 20nis! Voucher valid thru Dec. 10, 2017. Each person at the table needs their own voucher, except if used for a 2-person breakfast. Reservations required.

Tchuma in Gan Ha'Ir (Tel Aviv) - Meat, Middle Eastern Menu. They say "come hungry!" Choose a deal for 2 for 169nis, or for 4 for 329nis. Limit 1 Groupon per table. Reservations required. Voucher can be redeemed Sun - Thurs, 11am - 10:30pm (free parking after 5pm), and is valid thru Dec. 30, 2017

Gelato Factory in Rishon - starting at 10nis! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase.

Cafe Yafo at Shuk Hapishpushim in Tel Aviv - get your 60nis voucher for just 30nis! Groupon valid thru Dec. 31, 2017, but not during Chanukah. Not valid for takeaway. Up to 2 vouchers can be used per table, and each person must have their own voucher (you cannot use one voucher to order a meal to share, sorry). During breakfast hours, only one voucher per table will be accepted.

Breakfast Buffet at the Rimonim Tower in Ramat Gan - 59nis for 1, or 115nis for 2. Valid for 30 days from date of purchase. Reservations required. Breakfast buffet is open from 7am - 10am, Sun- Fri

Breakfast Buffet at the Leonardo Boutique Hotel in Rechovot - 59nis for 1, or 115nis for 2. Valid until Oct. 30, but not on Fridays. Reservations required. Breakfast buffet is open from 8am - noon, Sun-Thurs

Dinner for 2 at Mifgash HaSteak on Ibn Gvirol in Tel Aviv - for 129nis (128nis if you hurry!). Max 4 people at a table with Groupons. Voucher valid thru Dec 15. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs 6pm-11pm and Sat nights from 1 hr after Shabbat ends until midnight. Reserve your table in advance.

Dinner for 2 at Hilulim (mehadrin) restaurant in Tel Aviv at the border of Holon, for 169nis. Reservations required. Max 5 Groupons per table. Voucher can be used Sun - Thurs, noon - 11pm. Valid until Nov. 10, but not on Rosh Chodesh (blackout dates listed in the deal).

Save 50% at Cafe Paradiso TLV. Can be used Sun-Thurs 9am - 6pm and Fri 9am-11am. Breakfast menu is available till 1pm. Voucher valid thru Oct 30.

Chumus (or Shakshuka) plate at Levinsky 41 in Tel Aviv, 18nis for 1 person, or 34nis for 2. Can be used Sun-Thurs 9am - 6pm and Fri 9am-two hours before Shabbat. Voucher valid thru Dec 15.

Jerusalem and nearby:

Lunch or Dinner for 2 at Pichonka in Nes Harim, starting at 199nis. Reservations required. Groupon must be redeemed by Feb. 20, 2018. Blackout dates apply. Max 5 Groupons per group. You must show the Groupon before you order, and anyone in your party without a Groupon will be required to place an 80 nis (minimum) order.

Breakfast for 2 at Le Moullin Dori in the German Colony (55nis or 65nis) Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase, with reservations. Can be redeemed Sun - Thurs, 9am - 3pm

Desserts from "BaTa" in downtown Jerusalem - deals start at just 13nis! (It is kosher, I checked, even though Groupon doesn't specify that it is). Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase, BUT it says to call ahead!

Shakshuk in Machane Yehuda - 58nis for 2! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Mon - Thurs, 8am - 4:30pm, and Fridays 8am - 1pm

Montefoire (Dairy, Italian) in Yemin Moshe - Starting at 229nis for 2. Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Max 6 Groupons per table. Valid Sun-Thurs, 11am - 9pm and Fridays 11am - 2pm. Reservations required. 

Mehadrin Cheese Platters from Maccabi Gvinot in Givat Shaul (French cheeses), starting at 149nis. Treat yourself to decadence! Groupon valid thru the end of November. You must order your platter one day in advance, and pick up from Givat Shaul.

Workshops (meat cooking/butchery) at Ktzizot - including a "Carnivore's meal" and a glass of wine, for 139nis! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations required. Workshops take place on Mon, Tues, and Thurs, at 6pm and last for 2 hrs.

Takeout for Shabbat/Chag from Ulamei Atzula in Talpiot. Full catered meal for 10 people for 599nis. you must place your order 2 days in advance. Valid thru the end of January

Pescados - (Jerusalem) Lunch for two for just 139nis! Or the Dinner deal for 44% off regular price (your choice of party of 2, or party of 4). 

Buffet Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Jerusalem). 1 for 99nis / 2 for 195nis. Groupon valid Sun - Thurs 6:30pm - 9pm. Not valid on Fridays, Shabbat, Holiday eves, or Holidays.

Breakfast Buffet at the Shani Hotel (center of town) - for 49nis (1 person) or 97nis (2 people). Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase.

Get half off at Ta'im B'Kerem. Sun - Wed, 4pm - 9pm or Thursday 4pm -8pm. Reservations required. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase.

Haifa and North:

Pizza from Siciliano in Kiryat Chaim for half off! There are a few different vouchers available - a 50nis voucher for 25nis (valid for the whole menu), OR 29nis for a "family size" pizza with a topping, OR  49.90 for a "family meal" deal (pizza plus topping, plus 2 garlic breads plus greek salad). Groupon valid thru Feb. 20th. Not valid for delivery orders.

Japan! Japan! in Kiryat Ata, for 50% off! Groupon valid thru Dec. 3. Can be redeemed Sun- Thurs, 11am - 7pm, and Fridays 11am - 3pm

Takeout food for Shabbat from Pataio Catering in Tirat HaCarmel - get a 100nis voucher for just 50nis! 

Breakfast Buffet Deals at the Colony Hotel in Haifa - 49nis for 1, 95nis for 2, or 180nis for 4.

Breakfast Buffet at the Leonardo Hotel in Haifa - 79nis for 1/149nis for 2. Valid thru Dec. 31. Can be used Sun-Thurs, 7-10am. Not valid on holidays or erev chag

Sinta Bar (Kiryat Ata) at Kenyon Shaar Hatzafon, Burger meal for 2, for 76nis. Includes 2 burgers, one order of fries, and 2 drinks. Voucher valid for 60 days from date of purchase, and call in advance.

Shela Restaurant (Kiryat Motzkin), for 79nis per couple. Limit 2 vouchers per table. Voucher valid for 90 days from date of purchase, with advance reservations.

Sweet Dream Ice Cream Shop in Lev Hamifratz (Cinemall) for half price! Valid for 90 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs till 9:30am - 9:30pm, Fridays 9am - 2pm, and Sat night from half and hour after Shabbat until 10:30pm 

Two Felafels with French Fries at Olam HaOchel, (or two omelet pitot with french fries) for just 19nis! Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs till 9am - 5pm, Fridays 8am - 3pm

50% off at Ta'im L'Chulam in Haifa!

Olam Ha'Ochel in Haifa (meat restaurant, with tons of salads for the table) for just 35nis per person (69nis for 2!). Groupon valid for 90 days from date of purchase, and only from 8am - 5:30pm (Sun-Thurs) or 8am - 4pm Fridays. limit 8 people with Groupons per table. 

Sushi Dinner for two at Frangelico in Akko, for 88nis. Valid thru Nov 30. Note: the dinner deal has a set menu, you cannot ask for variations. Voucher can be redeemed Sun - Thurs, 11:30am - 9:30pm, Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm, or Sat. night from an hour after Shabbat ends until 10:30pm

Breakfast for 2 at the Ramada Resort, Hadera, for 139nis. Valid thru Oct 30. There are blackout dates (cannot be used during Sukkot, or Fri-Sat, and more). Reservations required.

South:

Lunch at "Space" in Moshav Amonim - 139nis for 1, 279nis for 2, or 549nis for 4. Voucher valid thru Jan. 31, 2018. Check for blackout dates, and reservations required. Generally valid Sun-Thurs noon - 5:30pm or Fridays noon - 2pm. Anyone in your party without a Groupon voucher will be required to order 100nis minimum from the menu, and children under 10 will be required to order a 40nis children's meal. According to the info posted, you can use their gardens (and pool, maybe) before and after your meal.

Pizza HaGesher in Be'er Sheva (Mehadrin) - Get an XL pie for just 29nis! Sun - Thurs, 11am - 8pm, and Fridays 11am - 4pm. Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase

HaMeksikani in Ashkelon, for just 25nis per person! Groupon valid thru Oct. 30, Sun-Thurs, 3pm - 10pm. Delivery is not available with the Groupon

Ola Chef's Restaurant in Eilat, for 129nis per person, or 255nis for two. Reservations required. Not valid on Holidays or Erev Chag. Groupon valid for 2 months from date of purchase.

Ribs in Ashkelon - Dinner for 2, valid Sun - Thurs, noon - 7pm, starting at 99nis, or get a 400nis voucher for 195nis valid at more times. Looks like you should reserve your table in advance. Not valid on Holidays.

Have you joined Groupon Israel's Best Deals on Facebook? Join us there and you'll find out about awesome deals every day! 

Subsidized Eye Exams and Glasses in the Galil!

Residents of the Galil, here's another chance to get a really affordable glasses.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 and Thursday, November 30, 2017, you'll have a chance to get subsidized glasses (and eye exams if needed), this time in Shlomi.  Please bring your glasses if you just need new glasses with the same prescription as your old ones, OR if you have a written script for your new prescription, bring that in order to save time. You'll be able to get a pair of glasses (standard frames + standard lenses!) for just 100 shekels! Specialty lenses are subsidized on a different scale (multifocals, for example, will cost 600nis and transition lenses for most prescriptions will cost 300nis - still a really awesome deal! My high index lenses cost an extra 200nis, the cost varies by exactly what you need), and some frames are a bit more expensive, but still affordable. Subsidies are available - ask the person in charge if you cannot afford the 100 shekel fee.

The event will take place at the Merkaz L'Kashish in Shlomi, in the Ben Gurion Neighborhood, from noon - 6pm on Wednesday and 10am -4pm on Thursday. There will also be a craft sale to benefit Merkaz L'Kashish at those times.

Please note: Glasses are not made on the spot. You will receive a text message when they are ready to be picked up, at the same place where you order them.

Hope this helps some of you out there! There's been a lot of discussion about the cost of glasses lately.

Be sure not to miss out on more ways to save money - find me on Facebook! 

I'm sure there will be similar programs in other towns - please let me know if you know of any!


P.S. I am not affiliated with the organizations sponsoring this or any similar events. I was not compensated to post this information. I received a press release, and have passed this information on as a public service. 

Recent Food Recalls

Here are some of the recent food recalls you should know about:

Eggs

Brand: Beitzei Meshek Avivi'im (Spring Farm Eggs)
Size: Medium
Dates: They say sell by 14/12, and in the fridge until 14/12

The eggs SHOULD have a sell by date of 14/11. If they were purchased unrefrigerated after Nov 14, they are not safe to eat!

If you have questions about this recall, call the company at 050-727-5754


Smoked Salmon

Brand: Delidag
Barcode: 7290008340618
Size: 100g packages
Production Date: 30.10.2017
Expiration Date: 30.11.2017

This product is being recalled because tests show that samples were contaminated with listeria.

Consumers who have purchased this product are instructed NOT to eat it. To arrange for a refund, please call Delidag customer service at 1-800-504-050

Please help get the word out! Share this post with anyone who might have bought these products.

10 shekel movie tickets!

The 10 shekel movie deal is back!

Thursday, November 30, 2017 is "Movie Time" - and you'll be able to see ANY movie currently playing in theaters for just 10 shekels per ticket (14 shekels for 3D movies)! (ALL shows, all times!)

Please keep in mind that movies get sold out quickly, so you'll want to buy your ticket in advance, if possible.

Find participating theaters (most theaters in the country) here:


Yes Planet www.yesplanet.co.il
Globus (*2235) - https://globusmax.co.il/
Rav Chen www.rav-hen.co.il
Lev (*5155) - http://www.lev.co.il/ 
Cinema City 1-700-70-22-55 - http://www.cinema-city.co.il/

Tech Deals for you!

This post contains afilliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may get paid. Thanks for your support.

Here are some really awesome deals I'm sure you don't want to miss!!

The Fire 7 tablet is just $29.99 right now, making it one of the most affordable tablets!

You may also want to check out this 2-pack of Kids' Edition Fire 7 tablets - get 2 of them with the no questions asked warranty, for $129.99!

Factory Certified (Refurbished) mini-laptops, with touchscreen! These Dell Inspiron computers are under 1500 nis!

16 triple-blade Gillette razors, for 99nis plus 15 for Boxit delivery (I love Boxit, it's so convenient)!

A Galaxy S7 Edge for about 1900nis (certified refurbished)! I have a close family member who has this phone, and every single day, I am just a wee bit jealous...

More deals coming soon...

Black Friday Sale at Wordery!

this post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may get paid. Thanks for your support!

If you love books, and love FREE worldwide shipping, and love sales, it's all coming together for you right now!

Wordery's Black Friday Sale is live NOW!

Here's the deal: buy one book, save 15% off all other books! Just use code BOOKWEEKEND at checkout!

15% discount is applied to the second book and any additional books. The most expensive book in your cart will count as the "first book".

This sale ends Nov, 27, at 11:59pm GMT

Sale - modest clothing at Kosher Casual

this post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive compensation. Thank you in advance for your support.

I just discovered that Kosher Casual has gotten in on the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale craze!

Get 10% off and free shipping to most countries on everything in stock! Click here to start shopping! No code is needed.

Kosher Casual sells great modestly style basics (and more) for reasonable prices! If you  haven't gotten to know them yet, this is the PERFECT time to check them out!

Extra iHerb Discount!

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money!


It's back! The good folks at iHerb keep giving us amazing deals with extra coupon codes! And I've promised to share them whenever I hear about them, so none of you will miss out on the extra savings!

Right now, thru November 30th, at 10am PST, anyone who uses my referral code at iHerb (you can use it even if you're not a new customer, don't worry!) will get 10% off your order! Just make sure to put code QEJ101 into your cart if it doesn't show up automatically!


This is the time to stock up on items that rarely go on sale!

Be sure to stock up on other products that are on sale while you can! You can save on shipping, too. Shipping fees go down a lot when you buy items that are marked "shipping savers", and also when your purchase totals $40 or more. Sometimes, you luck out and you can even get free or very low cost shipping! I've paid as little as $2 for shipping sometimes.

Click here to Shop at iHerb and automatically add the code to your cart!


Not sure if shopping at iHerb makes sense?

I shop there pretty often, as you may already know. I find it makes life easier for me - not only do they make it easy to find some "hard to find" products my family needs (like fragrance free shower products), but I save a significant amount of money on things like vitamins and probiotics. So many products are definitely less expensive at iHerb than at my local stores, and shipping is VERY affordable as I mentioned above.

Here are some of the things I like to buy at iHerb:

Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or fudge)

Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel and iHerb is a great way to save!)

Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality than teas I can find for an affordable price!)

Vitamin D (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive)

Probiotics are far less expensive from iHerb than any I've found in Israel, and they don't weigh much! Many of these are "shipping savers" - so they'll lower your shipping costs for the whole order if you add them in!

EO shower gel (we like this kid friendly all-in-one shower product that doesn't irritate our skin!)

Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying")

Witch Hazel (it's really not easy to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - some people like the alcohol in it, but if you don't, they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products)

Coffee Filters (unbleached) - I can find the #4 size locally, but I use the #2 size, and it's so easy to order it, rather than running around town!

Brown Rice Pasta (only when they're on sale, great for people who don't eat wheat! The local equivalent is more expensive unless there's an amazing sale)

Grapefruit Seed Extract (similar product, 1/4 of the size, cost more than twice as much at my health food store, and many people are convinced this keeps colds away,!)

Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners) - for a fraction of the price here in Israel! Yes, they are real and natural (and not an MLM)!

Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child)

Calendula Cream (so soothing and wonderful for eczema!) Sadly, this has been out of stock lately, and we're looking for an alternative.

Aquaphor Ointment - impossible to buy locally! (lately this has been out of stock at iherb, but you can ask to be notified when it's available)

I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice.

If you haven't ordered from iHerb, now is the perfect time to check it out!
And please let me know what your favorite deals are!

Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you are ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations!

My Not too Expensive (I hope) Thanksgiving Shabbat Menu

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you for your support!

It's November,the rains have begun (but it's not yet cold in the house), and the leaves are even changing color on a few of the trees around here, so we're fondly thinking of autumn in America...

Even in Israel, lots of Americans like to celebrate Thanksgiving, but, since we don't have a day off, most of us do "Thanksgiving Dinner" for Shabbat. 

(This also makes a lot of sense for budget conscious people - who needs a big celebratory dinner on Thursday right before Shabbat, anyhow?)

So, that's what we're doing - Thanksgiving themed Shabbat. I opted not to make a whole turkey this year, as we're not hosting a very big crowd. If you are roasting a whole turkey, I hope you found a roasting pan! If you don't have one, consider buying this one for next time you need to roast a turkey! It should fit in a standard Israeli oven, but it's a great size for a turkey!

Here's my menu plan:

Spelt Challah

Orange Vegetable Soup

Turkey Wings and Turkey Breast 

Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce (I bought some, as it was easier for me this year than it normally is. Though I considered buying this product when I wasn't sure what to do... another time!)

Potato Kugel for all my die-hard potato kugel fans

Roasted Yellow Zucchini (I couldn't resist when I saw them!)

Spicy Sweet Potatoes

That should be enough, and we probably won't need dessert, but I have fruit for dessert if anyone insists on it!

Shabbat lunch will be whatever is leftover - there are sure to be plenty of leftovers!

If you love Thanksgiving, too, please share your Israeli-American Thanksgiving menu in the comments! I'd love to hear what you're doing!

Food Recalls!

Today, the Ministry of Health announced a recall of the following products:

Brand: TelFrost
Product: Corn Kernels
Package Size: 800g and 1 kg
Expiration Date: 12/09/19, 1/10/19, 23/10/19, 31/10/19

Brand: TelFrost
Product: Leket Ha'Onah (Seasonal Vegetable Mix)
Package Size: 800g
Expiration Date: 16/08/19, 25/09/19

Brand: TelFrost
Product: Garden Peas
Package Size: 800g
Expiration Date: 17/10/19

Brand: TelFrost
Product: Okra ("Bamiya")
Package Size: 800g
Expiration Date: 13/09/19

These products are being recalled because batch tests showed that they may be contaminated with Listeria.

The products are being recalled, and consumers are instructed NOT to eat them.

If you have purchased these products, please call the company at 02-651-9099 for further instructions.

iHerb Specials and Extra Savings!

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money!

It's back! The good folks at iHerb keep giving us amazing deals with extra coupon codes! And I've promised to share them whenever I hear about them, so none of you will miss out on the extra savings!

Right now you can get 15% off NOW Foods brand products - the entire line that iHerb carries! Be sure to use code SUPERNOW to get the extra discount, if it doesn't automatically load in your cart.

Take advantage of this offer before it ends on Monday, November 20th, at 10am Pacific Time.

Be sure to stock up on other products that are on sale while you can!

As always, anyone who shops using a referral code will also get 5% off your purchase. Just make sure to put code QEJ101 into your cart if it doesn't show up automatically!

Click here to Shop at iHerb and automatically add the code to your cart!


Not sure if shopping at iHerb makes sense?

I shop there pretty often, as you may already know. I find it makes life easier for me - not only do they make it easy to find some "hard to find" products my family needs (like fragrance free shower products), but I save a significant amount of money on things like vitamins and probiotics. So many products are definitely less expensive at iHerb than at my local stores, and shipping is VERY affordable as I mentioned above.

Here are some of the things I like to buy at iHerb:

Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or fudge)

Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel and iHerb is a great way to save!)

Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality than teas I can find for an affordable price!)

Vitamin D (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive)

Probiotics are far less expensive from iHerb than any I've found in Israel, and they don't weigh much! Many of these are "shipping savers" - so they'll lower your shipping costs for the whole order if you add them in!

EO shower gel (we like this kid friendly all-in-one shower product that doesn't irritate our skin!)

Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying")

Witch Hazel (it's really not easy to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - some people like the alcohol in it, but if you don't, they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products)

Coffee Filters (unbleached) - I can find the #4 size locally, but I use the #2 size, and it's so easy to order it, rather than running around town!

Brown Rice Pasta (only when they're on sale, great for people who don't eat wheat! The local equivalent is more expensive unless there's an amazing sale)

Grapefruit Seed Extract (similar product, 1/4 of the size, cost more than twice as much at my health food store, and many people are convinced this keeps colds away,!)

Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners) - for a fraction of the price here in Israel! Yes, they are real and natural (and not an MLM)!

Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child)

Calendula Cream (so soothing and wonderful for eczema!) Sadly, this has been out of stock lately, and we're looking for an alternative.

Aquaphor Ointment - impossible to buy locally! (lately this has been out of stock at iherb, but you can ask to be notified when it's available)

I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice.

If you haven't ordered from iHerb, now is the perfect time to check it out!
And please let me know what your favorite deals are!

Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you are ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations!

Orlah Fruits - Update for Kislev

This post is a follow up to the Kashrut for New Olim post. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out -- there's important information there! 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES in Israel

Unlike in other parts of the world, in Israel, fruits and vegetables are NOT automatically "kosher" - here we need to make sure that they are not "orlah" fruits (harvested during a tree's first 3 yrs, with other rules applying to year 4) and that trumot and ma'asrot have been taken (from both fruits and vegetables). 

If you shop at a market that doesn't have an ishur kashrut (kosher certification) on their produce, you'll need to investigate these issues further, if you are interested in adhering to the halachot of the Land of Israel OR if you regularly host people who assume the food in your home is kosher! I must say that it's important to familarize yourself with these special halachot, as they are part of keeping kosher in Israel! (If you say you keep Kosher in Israel, everyone assumes that you have taken care of these issues; and if you don't, then you may be unwittingly putting someone in a situation they don't want to be in!) 

It's definitely possible to take trumot and maasrot on your own (I do it often), so vegetables are easiest to buy without a teudah, as that is all you need to do (and very often, it would be without a bracha). Some of the fruits on the market may be ok to purchase even from a non-certified establishment and just take trumot and maasrot, because of the extremely low percentage of orlah fruits being sold, but those lists change frequently, so you'll constantly need to stay up-to-date.

Other fruits can be a problem, because of a high possibility that they are orlah (from the first 3 yrs after the tree was planted). I have recently begun to post a monthly update on my website, with a list of the fruits where the percentage of orlah fruits on the open market is greater than 0.5%, so should only be bought from a reputable source that does not sell orlah fruits (i.e. a place with a teudah) that should really help everyone avoid the orlah problem:

ORLAH Update for Kislev 5778

Fruits to AVOID buying without a teudah:

• Avocado - Ettinger variety, Haas variety 
• Blueberries
• Lemon
• Lemon-lime
• Papaya
• Prickly Pear (Sabra Fruit)
• Starfruit
• Passionfruit
• Clementines - Rishon variety, Hadas Variety, and another obscure variety - sorry I don't actually know it's name!! -- this actually represents the vast majority of the varieties being sold besides the "Or" variety.

Please be sure to speak with your personal Halachic Authority about purchasing fruit in Israel without a teudah. Not everyone holds by the 0.5% threshold. This information is just for informational purposes and is not a halachic psak! Even if you follow a psak that relies on the 0.5% threshold, you still must take trumot and maasrot on all produce grown in Israel (or be sure it has been taken), in order to fulfill your halachic obligations.

Also, this list does not apply to fruit grown by an individual. If your friend has a fruit tree, you'll need to find out how old it is! 

I hope you find this helpful! Please follow my Facebook page and don't miss out on updates and other posts!

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