GREAT iHerb discount available TODAY!!

This post contains affiliate or referral links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

עברית למטה

iHerb is doing something. It's big. It involves discounts. Lots of them. And they change pretty frequently.

Right now, there's this sitewide sale:  Save when you order from iHerb thru Feb 23th! Get 22% off orders over $22 USD by using THIS LINK (if the codes QEJ101 and TWOSDAY don't load automatically, enter them one at a time into your cart before you checkout for maximum savings): CLICK HERE to go to iHerb 

(Please note the TWOSDAY discount is limited to one discount per customer)

Your order of $60 and up will usually qualify for FREE Global Air Locker shipping, so often adding another item into your order will offset the shipping, and is a great way to save!

Get 20% off Twinings Tea with THIS LINK. If the code doesn't load automatically, be sure to enter codes QEJ101 and TWININGS - one at a time - before you check out.

Don't forget these important, basic principles of shopping online from Israel:

• Keep your order under $75 to avoid paying VAT!!
• Spread out your orders. If you want to buy more than $75 worth of items from one website, and you have the option of splitting your order - DO IT. BUT don't order more than $75 worth on any given day to the same shipping name/address/ID. If you do, customs may combine your orders and charge you. Give it about 3 days between orders. Best to ship to a different name using a different ID for customs, so you can order it all on the same day.
• Always look for the free shipping option - usually it's to a pickup spot.

I was so excited when my order came to $74.98 after the discount was applied, and with free delivery! Talk about maximizing savings while avoiding import taxes! I hope you're just as successful!

Enjoy and happy savings!

יש לכם הזדנמות עכשיו לקבל הנחה על כל האתר של אייהרב! התחילו את הקנייה עם הקישור למטה, שמקודד להעלות לסל שלכם 2 קודים שיתנו לכם ההנחה המקסימלית!

קבלו הנחה של 22% על כל קנייה מעל $22 (ולרוב גם תקבלו משלוח חינם עם גלובל אייר לוקר עם מוסיפים מוצרים כדי שסכום הרכישה

יגיע ל$60)

חיפשתם תה איכותית? קבלו הנחה של 20% ברכישת ממבחר התה של טוויינינגס עם הקישור הזה!

Exciting New EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT Inside!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I am so excited that my friend Rebekah offered me the opportunity to bring you an exclusive discount on her "Painless Pesach" course! 

The course sounds like an AMAZING way to get ready for Pesach while keeping your stress to a minimum! It's a steal at the regular price of $36, but a $5 discount makes it even better! (Find the code below!)

Here's the thing -- it's no secret that if you don’t plan for Pesach, you won’t enjoy it. You’ll arrive at the Seder feeling exhausted, disorganized and guilty about what you didn’t get done. Save yourself the stress by joining Painless Pesach. It’s a 36-day challenge run by a professional organizer who gives daily prompts for decluttering your entire home before the Seder.

Even if you aren’t making Pesach this year, the challenge will still help you curate your best collection of objects and get you well on your journey to organization!

How does it work? The prompts are videos that arrive in your inbox in the morning and take 15-30 minutes per day. There’s also live support via WhatsApp and Facebook, and a workbook so you can track your process. Access to professional help for under $1 a day is unheard of! So don't miss out!

You have a few more weeks to join - the course starts March 6. And if you sign up by February 28th using my link and coupon code KOSHER5, you'll get $5 off!

The challenge covers the entire house: 

• The master bedroom 

• Living room 

• Kids and hobby areas 

• Odds and ends 

• The kitchen 

It sounds amazing!

Click HERE to register, and don't forget to use my exclusive discount code (KOSHER5) for $5 off!

 This way we can all be ready for Pesach without all the stress!

Recipe: Overnight Chicken

this post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This post is long, long overdue!

I've been meaning to post about one of my favorite ways to streamline my Shabbat cooking.

Some of you have heard me say that I'm getting some of the cooking out of the way on Thursday night before I go to sleep by prepping "Overnight Chicken". During really busy times, this is a lifesaver!

I know a lot of people really don't like Crock Pot Chicken, but I really love the convenience of prepping food and letting it cook while I sleep. And the thing I love about overnight chicken the way I do it is its forgiving nature. I can leave it in for 8 hours as planned, or if I need to, take it out after 10 hours! It's better than Crock Pot Chicken.

So here's what I do:

I use a nice big roasting pan. I think it's one of the keys to success with this recipe. The other key to success is the baking paper. Read on and I'll explain the method I use. If you don't have a large roasting pan like this, I recommend setting aside some money to buy one. (You can even find a very affordable one - this one ships to Israeli addresses and currently has a FREE shipping option!)

THE BASIC METHOD:

Place cut up chicken in the pan.

*Season the chicken.

Cover with baking paper.

Cover TIGHTLY with aluminum foil.

Place in oven.

Turn oven on 100 C for 8-10 hours.

After it's cooked for 8-10 hours (and most likely the aroma of your Shabbat chicken is driving everyone in the house crazy), take it out of the oven.

Take a look inside the pan:

(This was 2 chickens, cut up)

*Seasonings:

When I make overnight chicken, I default to one of two flavor profiles. And I'm completely imprecise about it. I just line up my seasonings on the counter and then one by one I shake some out onto the top of all the chicken. Obviously, this means it can vary a bit in flavor from week to week...

Flavor Profile #1: "Spicy Chicken"

For this flavor profile, I use:

Soy Sauce (I use GF soy sauce with no sugar added)

Turmeric

Granulated or Minced Garlic (lots)

Ground Ginger (not a lot)

Black Pepper (coarsely ground)

Smoked Paprika

Hot Pepper (I prefer the Chipotle version of this so it's smoked and hot - you can find it on iHerb - note that this link is my referral link)

You can leave out the soy sauce if you're soy-free, but if you do, it might be worth sprinkling a bit of salt onto the chicken with the other seasonings.

Flavor Profile #2: "Date Honey Chicken"

For this flavor profile, I use:

Granulated or Minced Garlic (don't skimp)

Ground Ginger (don't skimp)

Black Pepper (coarsely ground)

About 1/4 cup silan (Date Honey - I use the kind that is 100% dates)

 

I don't add salt to this one.

I'm sure you can use the same method for any other flavor profile you like -- I'd love to hear your favorites!

Hope you like this recipe. Please leave me note if you make it, and I'd be thrilled if you tag me on social media if you post about it. Thanks!

New iHerb Savings code inside!

This post contains affiliate or referral links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

עברית למטה

iHerb is doing something. It's big. It involves discounts. Lots of them. And they change pretty frequently.

Right now, there's this sitewide sale:  Save when you order from iHerb now thru Feb 15th! Get 14% off orders over $40 USD by using THIS LINK (if the codes QEJ101 and VDAY22 don't load automatically, enter them one at a time into your cart before you checkout for maximum savings):

Your order of $60 and up will usually qualify for FREE Global Air Locker shipping, so often adding another item into your order will offset the shipping, and is a great way to save!

Get 20% off Twinings Tea with THIS LINK. If the code doesn't load automatically, be sure to enter codes QEJ101 and TWININGS - one at a time - before you check out.

Don't forget these important, basic principles of shopping online from Israel:

• Keep your order under $75 to avoid paying VAT!!
• Spread out your orders. If you want to buy more than $75 worth of items from one website, and you have the option of splitting your order - DO IT. BUT don't order more than $75 worth on any given day to the same shipping name/address/ID. If you do, customs may combine your orders and charge you. Give it about 3 days between orders. Best to ship to a different name using a different ID for customs, so you can order it all on the same day.
• Always look for the free shipping option - usually it's to a pickup spot.

I was so excited when my order came to $74.98 after the discount was applied, and with free delivery! Talk about maximizing savings while avoiding import taxes! I hope you're just as successful!

Enjoy and happy savings!

יש לכם הזדנמות עכשיו לקבל הנחה על כל האתר של אייהרב! התחילו את הקנייה עם הקישור למטה, שמקודד להעלות לסל שלכם 2 קודים שיתנו לכם ההנחה המקסימלית!

קבלו הנחה של 14% על כל קנייה מעל $40 (ולרוב גם תקבלו משלוח חינם עם גלובל אייר לוקר עם מוסיפים מוצרים כדי שסכום הרכישה

יגיע ל$60)

חיפשתם תה איכותית? קבלו הנחה של 20% ברכישת ממבחר התה של טוויינינגס עם הקישור הזה!

You asked, so here it is - places to stay when you visit the north!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you! Thanks for your support! 

--- Retrieved from https://www.kosherfrugal.com/ ---

I get asked ALL the time about places to stay when you're visiting the north of Israel. So I'll share some places I know about today!

Please note: If you are Israeli, you will likely be asked to pay for VAT on your stay at check-in if you book using these links - it's not a scam, just be aware!

In Katzrin:

Zimmer Maayan 

Maydele's House (large villa)

I have a more comprehensive list HERE

In Tzfat:

Artist Quarter Guest House 

The Way Inn 

Ruth Rimonim Hotel 

Artist Colony Inn 

Romano Boutique Hotel (has rooms suitable for families)

Myrtle the Turtle Guesthouse

Bayit BaGalil Boutique Hotel 

EretZefat (more on the budget side than some of the others) 

These are a selection of my favorite hotels/zimmers in Tzfat. Hope you find one that works for you!

In the Galil:

Niflaot HaGalil Cabins. This place was AWESOME when we went for a short off-season getaway. Private cabins with great amenities, including private jacuzzis if you want. There's a shared large jacuzzi, sauna, pool, kitchen, outdoor BBQ/picnic area, and lots of trees and green and QUIET. Take advantage of all of it! (We cooked some food in the shared kitchen - double wrapped in the oven - instead of going out to a restaurant)

While you're in Tzfat, make sure to go to the Safed Puzzle Room - Tzfat's one and only escape room experience! Available in Hebrew or English, for groups large AND small. Reservations are required.

Hope you found this post helpful! If yes, don't forget to follow this blog by email (see the sidebar on the right) and like my FB page!

Amazon Deals with FREE shipping to Israel

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you! Thanks for your support! 

Amazon continues to add products to the list of things that ship to Israel for FREE! I know some people prefer to buy local, but sometimes the markup is too high. That's where free shipping from abroad comes in, and with Amazon, you'll always know UP FRONT if you have to pay any extra fees. That is THE BEST.

Every day, Amazon offers a whole bunch of "Deals of the Day". Today a number of them ship free to Israel!

High Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheet sets - these are sized for American size Queen, King, or California King mattresses - and all are under $70 for the 4 pc set: up to 43% off!

PILOT 18-pack pens for 20% off the regular price! I know it sounds silly, but any time I go to buy pens locally I get reminded how overpriced these can be.

Vinyl Decorative tile stickers are 15% off. This is a pack of 10!

Period Undies for teens, 6-pack are 15% off! At this price, you're going to want to give them a try and report back. (These are girls' sizes, not women's sizes)

These weighted blankets are 15% off, but due to their weight, they don't ship free to Israel, so be sure to note shipping costs to your location.

Just remember - avoid VAT and other import fees by staying below the $75 tax threshold! If you do go over, you will see exactly what you'll pay in taxes at checkout. I only do this if I'm actually buying a product that costs more than $75. Otherwise, I place separate orders that each total under $75.

If you're in the USA and buying a gift for someone in Israel, please follow those guidelines, too - or be prepared to prepay all taxes and fees. You'll see them before you checkout, so don't worry about surprises. You will need to enter the recipient's ID number at checkout too, so the package can clear customs.

Hope you found this helpful! If yes, be sure to find me on social media, and share this post, too!

New Electricity Rates - Time to Revisit our Electricity Usage!

The Israel Electric Company recently announced a rate hike. So I figured it might be time to revisit the question of "how do I lower my electric bill?"

I hope you'll find this post helpful.

One of the best ways to lower our electricity consumption is AWARENESS.

Pay attention to the electricity used throughout the day in your house, and find ways to reduce it - that's the only way to save money if you aren't installing solar panels...

This goes beyond lights that we leave on - the best way to control your costs is to know what's driving your electric bill up, and find ways to reduce your usage. This is why it's good to have an idea of what each electrical appliance we own costs to run.

But how can we know?

It's not so hard - the cost is determined by the appliance's KW usage and how long it runs!

I asked my tech guy 😉 to make a calculator a number of years ago -- it's designed to help everyone get an idea of how much different appliances cost to run. I've posted it before, but now I'm reposting it with an update to reflect the current cost of electricity. VAT is included (so if you're in Eilat, this calculator will overestimate your bill).

This calculator was updated to reflect the current rate (effective February 1, 2022)

Here's how to use the calculator:

Simply choose which appliance you want to calculate, choose how long you'll be running it, and then the app (below) will tell you how much this particular appliance is costing you to run! 

This app is specifically designed using the IEC's current tariffs for residential customers, including VAT (this is for people who pay the same rate 24 hrs/day). 

(NOTE: On February 1, 2022, the IEC adjusted home electricity rates. The current cost of electricity is approx 54 ag per kWh including VAT.) If the IEC rates change, we will do our best to update this app!

So bookmark this page, and be sure to share it with anyone in Israel who might find this information useful!

Please let me know what you think!

Electrical Appliance Cost Calculator:

Choose an appliance and note its "usage unit" in parantheses after it. Choose how many units you would be using it for (for example, a fridge has "day" for its usage unit, a dryer has "1 load" for its usage unit, and a hair dryer has "10 minutes" for its usage unit - these are listed next to the appliance name), then click "calculate my cost" to find out how much that appliance costs you to run for the amount of time you usually use it!
 
If your appliance doesn't appear on this list, you can find its kilowatt rating on it somewhere. Multiply kw/H by number of hours used, and then multiply that by the current price for a kilowatt of electricity (approx. 0.54 nis) to find out how much it costs you to run it!

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Select an appliance: Frost-free refrigerator (day) Frost-free freezer (day) Dishwasher (cycle) Oven (normal kitchen use) Microwave oven (2 min) Toaster oven (15 min) Shabbat platta (26h Shabbat) Space heater (1h) Wall unit (heater / a/c) (1h) Under-floor heating (1h) Washing machine (4-5 kg machine) (1 load) Dryer (4.5-5 kg machine) (1 load) Boiler (Electric Dud) (1h) TV (1h) Stereo system (1h) Vacuum cleaner (10min) Hair dryer (10min) Electric sheets (1h) Electric kettle (1 use) Electric burner (50min) Food processor (15min) Computer (10h) Iron - on high (45min) Fan (1h)

Number of usage units:

---

Range: 0.00 ₪ — 0.00 ₪ (depends on your model)

---

I'd love to hear if you found this handy webapp useful. Will it help you change any of your habits? Personally, this helped me realize that since we'd be boiling our kettle multiple times per day, we were really using more electricity than needed. Now we know it's best to fill the thermos after we boil a full kettle in the morning.

What changes are you making?