Apple and Honey Muffins (milk-free)

Apples and honey are eaten on the Jewish New Year to symbolize the hope for a Sweet New Year. These muffins are very easy to make.

APPLE AND HONEY MUFFINS

1 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons oil

1/4 cup honey

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup raisins

dash of salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray or use aluminum foil muffin holders. In a large bowl, combine applesauce, egg, oil and honey. Gently stir in all other ingredients, just enough to moisten. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until brown. Makes 12 to 15 muffins.

Easy Hamburger Casserole

This is another easy recipe and it's for a one dish meal. It just calls for simple ingredients. You may own a pan that will go from the top of the stove and can be used in the oven, too. That would make this a one pan recipe.

Easy Hamburger Casserole
(Serves 4)

• 1 pound hamburger


• 2 tablespoons oil


• 1/2 onion, chopped


• 1 stalk celery, sliced


• 1/3 cup rice


• 2 tablespoons barley


• 1 small can mushrooms, drained, or 3 or 4 fresh mushrooms, sliced


• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables


• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes (or some fresh parsley)


• 1/2 teaspoon Mrs Dash


• 1/4 teaspoon oregano


• 1/4 teaspoon cumin


• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder


• 2 teaspoons soup powder or a bouillon cube

Brown the onion, celery, and hamburger in oil. Add the mushrooms. When browned, mix together all ingredients and spread in a casserole. Cover with water. Put cover on pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour, or until meat and rice are done.

Jewish American Heritage Month

Did you know that May 2011 is Jewish American Heritage Month? President Obama will be hosting a reception on May 17, 2001. I wasn't invited to the reception, though. sigh. However, I salute all the Jewish American artists, writers, health care workers, scientists, musicians, Rabbis, teachers, lawyers, politicians, and on and on. There are so many Jewish people who have contributed to making our country aspire to greatness. "Justice, justice shall you pursue."

Spinach and Carrot Kugel

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  Spinach and Carrot Kugel
  
  2 tablespoons oil
  1 or 2 stalks celery, diced
  1 small or 1/2 large onion, diced
  14 or 15 ounce can sliced carrots, drained
  10 ounce package chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  1 tablespoon chopped parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  3 eggs, beaten
  salt and pepper to taste
  1/4 teaspoon marjoram
  1/2 cup matzo meal (or cracker crumbs)
  
  
  
  
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray with non-stick spray an 8 by 8 inch pan. Saute onion and celery in the oil until onion starts to brown. Allow to cool. Combine all ingredients and spread in the pan. Bake about 45 minutes, until top starts to brown. Serve warm or cold.
  

Orange Carrots recipe

ORANGE CARROTS
(Parve)
• 6 carrots, diced
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• dash of pepper
• 2 teaspoons potato starch
Dice carrots and place in a pan barely covered with water. Add other ingredients except potato starch and bring to a boil. Cover pan, lower heat and simmer about 20 minutes, until tender. Remove cover and turn heat to medium and allow liquid to boil down for about 5 minutes. Watch closely so that fluid does not boil away. Mix the potato starch with about a tablespoon of cold water, and stir gradually into carrots. Stir until gravy thickens. Serve hot. Serves four

Passover Apple Pie

I wish I had a photo of this pie, but it got eaten up at the first Seder. My daughter and I were discussing what kind of dessert to make for the Seder, and my son-in-law asked if we could make an apple pie. Making a Passover apple pie is not the equivalent of mountain climbing, so I managed to put one together.
First thing you need is to find a good pie pan. We had a 10 inch aluminum disposable one. And you need some apples--we had 3 large Fuji apples. I you would like to make a pear pie or other recipe, be my guest!

PASSOVER PIE CRUST
2 matzos, crumbled
1 tablespoon oil or margarine
1/4 cup matzo meal
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons sugar
dash of salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Smash matzos and soak in a colander with cold water for about 3 minutes. Squeeze dry. Heat oil in a pan and add matzo. Heat and stir until matzo seems dry. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. You will now have a depressing looking mass in the pan, but don't give up! Dump it into the pie pan and pat the mixture over the surface and sides.

APPLE PIE
3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
slice of lemon, squeezed
1 or 2 tablespoons of matzo meal (flour if it's not Passover)
dash of cinnamon
1 tablespoon margarine
Combine ingredients and spread in pan lined with pastry

Apple Pie Topping
2 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons brown or white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup matzo meal (flour if it's not Passover)
Mix ingredients for topping together with your fingers and flip it on top of the apple pie.

Bake in a 425 degree preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until golden brown and apples are tender. Cool on a rack and serve warm or cold.

Banana or Apple Passover Kugel

Banana or Apple Passover Kugel
(parve)

2 cups farfel
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine
1 banana or 1 large apple, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 by 8 inch pan. Put farfel in a colander or strainer and pour cold water over it to moisten. Drain well. Mix all ingredients together and spread in the pan. Bake 1/2 hour. Serve hot or cold.