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The following posts were made in November 2008. You may subscribe to the RSS feed for this archive if you would like to take your time reading through our posts.
http://www.koshergiftgiving.com/archive/11-2008.rssNov
17
Rushing last minute to find that special kosher gift for a friend or loved one? Gift baskets make great last-minute options. All you need is a basket and a group of kosher items that go together. It's a good idea to personalize the gift to the person you're giving it to. One way to do this is to take a general idea and then throw in something that the recipient enjoys. For instance, if you are doing a last-minute gift basket with a kosher chocolate theme and you know the recipient likes to eat chocolate during movies, throw in a pair of movie tickets as well. The great thing about a last-minute gift basket is that the ideas are endless and they can be compiled quickly.
Kosher Toffee and Chocolate Gift Basket
Almond toffee and chocolate are the perfect complementary gift basket confections. A mixture of different types of chocolates and toffee is a good idea. This way, the gift recipient will not tire of the treat. Chocolates and toffee are an easy gift to create at the last minute. To be sure you are purchasing kosher confections, always check the label. Enstrom's is a great company that makes both toffee and chocolate. All of of their confections are certified kosher under the Scroll K / Vaad Hakashrus of Denver. For a last-minute option, Enstrom's accepts orders 24 hours a day on their Web site and offers a variety of shipping options that include two-day and even next-day service.
Kosher Gourmet Gift Basket
Another great last-minute gift basket is one that contains assorted gourmet foods. Some suggestions include wine, crackers, cheese, salami, olives, oranges, apples and pecans. Just as with the confections, remember to make sure all items are kosher. KosherWineReport.com is a great place to learn about kosher wines and cheeses. This way your selection, even at the last minute, can be an informed one.
Kosher Bath Care Gift Basket
Many people enjoy gifts they can use in the bath. Kosher bath salts and oils are one idea. Others may include kosher shampoo, conditioner and soaps. Kosher lotions, body spray and candles are also good for last-minute kosher gift baskets. Raffia is great on the inside of the basket for holding these small items in place, as well as creating a decorative look.
Written by Momie Tullottes
Nov
14
Holiday gift giving is always tricky, especially when you're unsure of the giftee's religion, customs or dietary restrictions. However, there is one easy way to be sure to please everyone - kosher foods. Now, before you start thinking "ugh, who wants to celebrate with matzo brei," think again. Kosher recipes aren't all about matzo. In fact, many kosher products are tastier than their non-kosher equivalents, simply because kosher foods are held to a higher standard of cleanliness and quality in their manufacturing process.
Chocolate is a popular gift for any holiday, but kosher candy may be difficult to find. Also, those who are watching their carbs or their waistline may not be able to partake of sweets. Luckily, online kosher food retailers like Enstrom.com are now carrying both traditional and sugar-free versions of their luscious toffee and other chocolates, all of which are certified kosher. These kosher chocolates make a great gift on their own, or they can be used in kosher holiday baking. Here are a couple of kosher recipes that are sure to please those who keep kosher - and those who don't will never know the difference!
Chocolate Toffee Truffle Cookies
These cookies make a delicious gift any time of year. This recipe can easily be made kosher for Passover by omitting the baking powder (results in a slightly flatter cookie) and subbing potato starch and matzo meal for the flour.
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/3 c. butter
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. sugar
Three eggs
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. flour
2 T. cocoa powder
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
6 oz. Enstrom's toffee, coarsely chopped
Melt unsweetened chocolate, butter and chocolate chips in microwave or small saucepan, stir to combine and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Beat sugar and eggs; stir in vanilla and melted chocolate mixture. Add the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt, and stir well to form a soft dough. Add the toffee chunks and mix well. Chill dough for at least three hours. Roll cold dough into 1-inch balls. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until puffed and lightly set. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for three to four minutes before removing to a rack to cool completely.
Low-Carb Coffee Toffee Cheesecake
Dairy is traditional at Shavuot, making this cheesecake the perfect dessert for your Shavuot feast (or any other holiday).
2 1/2 lbs. cream cheese, at room temperature
Artificial sweetener equal to 1 1/4 c. sugar (approximately 36 packets of Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda)
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. heavy cream or half and half
1/4 t. vanilla extract
Five eggs
Two egg yolks
1 T. instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 T. cream
10 oz. Enstrom's sugar-free toffee, coarsely chopped
Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan. Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until completely smooth, then add sweetener, sour cream, heavy cream and vanilla and beat well to combine. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Measure 2 cups of the cheese mixture in a small bowl and stir in the dissolved instant espresso. Add half of the toffee to the plain cheese mixture. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place a pan of water inside. Pour the toffee-cheese mixture into the springform pan. Place small dollops of the coffee flavored cheese mixture on top, then drag a toothpick or skewer through the two batters to create an attractive swirled pattern. Bake in a 450 oven for 10-12 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees and continue baking for one hour or until the edges of the cake are set but the center is still slightly jiggly. Allow to cool completely on a rack, then decorate with remaining toffee and refrigerate until cold. Serve chilled.
Written by Lindsay Woodland
Nov
11
Every year companies invest in corporate gifts to give to both their employees and their customers. Corporate gifts typically are either promotional items like mugs with the company logo or food-themed corporate gift baskets containing candies, beverage mixes and sometimes even cheese samplers. While these gifts are great for showing your appreciation to your employees or your customers, you need to make sure the quality of your gift doesn't degrade its intended meaning. One way to ensure the quality of the food items in your corporate gift baskets is to select kosher gifts.
What Does Kosher Mean?
Kosher, in simplest terms, is a food grading system that is designed for segregating foods that are deemed "proper or acceptable," according to the rules set out in the Bible from foods that are prohibited. In order to be certified as kosher, the food items need to meet a rather exhaustive list of rules about the ingredients in the food item and how the food was prepared.
Ingredients that are non-kosher include things like reptile meat, shellfish, insects, pork, eagle meat, rabbit meat, owl meat, sturgeon and catfish. In order for other sources of meat to be certified as kosher they need to have been slaughtered appropriately, which usually means that they were slaughtered in a humane manner. Finally, in order to be considered kosher, the food items can't mix meat and dairy at any stage of their preparation or consumption. For example, a corn chip can be considered non-kosher even though it is made from corn if the manufacturer used animal fat to fry the chips. While the rules for kosher items are complicated, all you have to do is look for certified kosher items, which will be marked with either an OU, Start-K or Start-D on the label, to place in your gift baskets.
Ideas for Kosher Gifts
Kosher gifts solve several corporate gift giving problems. First of all, it ensures that all of your customers or employees will be able to enjoy the holiday gift baskets that you send out. Secondly, it ensures that the items in your corporate gift baskets are high-quality food items.
There are numerous themes that your gourmet baskets for corporate gifts can have. Your first option is to put together corporate gift baskets that have a sweet theme. When shopping for items to put into your sweet kosher gift baskets you can save time by shopping from food manufacturer's who specialize in kosher foods. Enstrom's, for example, is a great kosher sweets manufacturer that produces a great line of kosher-certified sweets, including almond toffees. These sweets not only make a great addition to a sweets-themed gift basket, but they also work well in coffee-themed baskets.
If you are interested in a larger thank you gift then consider putting together gourmet baskets for corporate gifts that contain either gourmet kosher meats or gourmet kosher cheeses and crackers. In order to be considered kosher gifts you can't create a meat and cheese basket. Keep this in mind when selecting your items. For example, to build a kosher meat basket select items like brisket, non-pork sausages, turkey jerkey and non-dairy dipping sauces like mustard or BBQ sauce. For your cheese baskets you can include a sampling of different hard and soft cheeses, a selection of crackers, a cutting block and a cheese cutter or spreader.
Written by Eisla Sebastian
Nov
9
Jewish holiday traditions in regards to gift giving are different from those associated with Christian holidays. For example, while Christians like to give gifts to all the important people in their lives during the Christmas holiday, Jews generally only give Hanukah gifts to their own children. This is not to say that people of the Jewish faith don't enjoy gift giving. In fact, they excel in the spirit of generosity. However, they focus their gift giving efforts on a spring holiday known as Purim, as opposed to their winter holiday of Hanukah.
Contemporary Jewish Holiday Gift Giving
In the United States the melting pot effect has evolved the way that many American Jews celebrate their holidays, especially in regards to gift giving. For example, many Jewish families who are headed by a couple of mixed faiths or have friends who are Christian exchange Christmas gifts. Business owners who are Jewish have also started to give their customers and employees, who many be Jewish, Christian or another religion, holiday gifts as a way to say thank you for their business or service.
Kosher Giving During the Holidays
Kosher gifts are attractive to both people of the Jewish faith as well as to people of other faiths. Kosher is a Jewish term that refers to religious laws for food items. The basic rules of being kosher require that meat come from specific "clean" sources, that it is slaughtered properly and that it is not manufactured, processed or served with dairy products. When you are selecting a kosher gift to give to someone this year or next, make sure you keep the rules for being kosher in mind. However, if you are unsure what items are kosher and what items are not, just look for an "OU" symbol on the label of the item you are buying; this means that it has been certified as kosher.
Kosher Ideas for Holiday Gifts
Nearly everyone enjoys a food gift, and because of this many businesses and people decide to give food gift baskets. If you are interested in kosher giving you will need to pay attention to what items are included in your baskets. First of all make sure dairy and meat items are not mixed in a single basket. For example, you can put together a kosher dairy gift basket with items like kosher cheese spreads, kosher certified dairy candies (like the ones produced by Enstrom's) and kosher dairy beverage mixes.
If you want a hardier gift basket, then put together meat baskets or soup baskets. For example, a kosher chili-making gift basket makes a great gift. These baskets tend to include a pot for making chili, a seasoning mix, beans and serving bowls. To ensure this gift basket is appropriate for a kosher gift you need to make sure that the meat that is included is kosher, or simply remove the non-kosher meat from the basket and replace it with a can of certified kosher chili meat.
While kosher holiday gifts of any type will be appreciated, the top kosher gifts will come from the heart and be backed up by your sincere appreciation or love.
References
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/kosher
http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm
Stritof, Sheri and Stritof Bob. (2008). "Observing the winter holidays as a Jewish-Christian interfaith couple."
Written by JB Robbins
Nov
6
Holidays, birthdays and special occasions are cause for the perfect gift. Kosher gift giving offers unique challenges and opportunities for people to seek out and support industries that take kosher preparations seriously and make them a part of their business plan. In addition, many companies voluntarily seek out the approval of Orthodox Union Kosher when marketing their products. Kosher gift giving allows you to meet the specific needs of the recipient, as well as support sellers who acknowledge and value kosher practices.
1.Enstrom's Customizable Toffee Gift Boxes
Enstrom's toffee and candy, which are certified kosher diary products, are a delicious and upscale choice for holiday or corporate gift giving. Their customizable gift boxes can be purchased in larger quantities, and messages can be printed on sleeves that cover the boxes. Kosher toffee with a twist, Enstrom's toffee is a great choice for kosher gift giving.
2. Abarbanel Kosher Wines
Abarbanel Kosher wines make the perfect gift during the holiday season. The wine selection is large, offering white, red and sparkling varieties from around the world. Place one of each in a gift basket for a holiday hostess.
3. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly jelly beans have been certified as kosher by the OU (Orthodox Union) as well. Jelly Belly jelly beans are the perfect kosher gift idea, as the snacks can be packaged in re-sealable tubs, as business gifts or in machines and dispensers.
4. Jolly Time Popcorn
Jolly Time popcorn is a great choice for kosher gift giving. Like Jelly Belly, their products are certified as kosher by the OU. While popcorn might not seem like much of a gift, consider creating a movie night gift package, complete with DVDs, popcorn and a bottle of kosher wine.
5. Welcome Baby Gift Basket
Consider putting together a gift basket for a new arrival, complete with the things mom and dad might really appreciate--food and milk! Healthy Times and Nature's One are both certified as kosher, and their product lines would make a great addition to a kosher gift basket.
6. Welcome Home Supplies
If you want to help a family member or friend celebrate a new home with a kosher gift twist, consider filling a gift basket with kosher certified cleaning supplies. The Soft Scrub product line is a great kosher gift choice and can help set up a new home's kitchen with things homeowners can definitely use and need.
7. Water and Vitamin Drinks
Got a college student headed out the door? SoNu Beverages are a great choice to stock a kosher student's dorm room refrigerator. These water- and vitamin-filled drinks are not only kosher, but they're organic, too!
8. For the Tea and Coffee Drinker
A gift basket filled with tea and coffee is a great choice for a kosher recipient. New Line organic teas and the Buck's County Coffee Company are both great choices for kosher gift giving.
9. Funky Chunky Gourmet Snacks
Looking for impressive packaging, as well as the kosher gift itself? Try Funky Chunky's gourmet snacks, certified as kosher foods. They offer everything from popcorn and pretzels to caramel corn - all in classy gift packaging, too.
10. Halloween Treat Packages
Looking to fill a bag with Halloween treats for a kosher recipient? Dum Dum lollipops are a great choice, as are Jelly Belly jelly beans. These are readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores, so they make a great choice for a last-minute kosher children's gift package.
Kosher gift giving allows you to meet the specific needs of the recipient, as well as support sellers who acknowledge and value kosher practices. Dress up a simple gift with great packaging offered by several companies, and you'll have a gift that's not only kosher but impressive to look at, too.
Additional Resources:
Orthodox Union Kosher; http://oukosher.org
Written by Kelly Herdrich
