Your Online Kosher Gift Guide

Posts tagged 'holiday gift' | Kosher Gift Giving

The following posts are associated with the tag you have selected. You may subscribe to the RSS feed for this tag to receive future updates relevant to the topic(s) of your interest.

http://www.koshergiftgiving.com/tag/holiday gift.rss

Nov

14

Kosher Recipes

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

5

Why Buy Kosher?

When you're searching for the perfect holiday gift for family and friends this season, gourmet food and candy are always well received. Buying food gifts for people with dietary restrictions is no longer a challenge because specialty items such as kosher food and candy are readily available online! Whether you're celebrating the holidays with family and friends who follow kosher dietary principles or want to enjoy original, authentic and high-quality foods at the holiday table, you'll find hundreds of kosher products and gifts online, ready for delivery to your home or sent as a gift to someone on your holiday gift list.

Buying Kosher Gifts Online
Gourmet food items such as kosher candy, kosher cakes and other sweet treats make excellent gifts during the holiday season, and many vendors now offer national shipping options for easy delivery. Companies such as Enstrom's, a kosher candy and toffee company, offer beautiful gift boxes, gift tins and gift baskets for the holidays and other celebrations. Enstrom's toffee and candy are made with certified kosher dairy products and food is prepared under the supervision of a rabbi. Kosher gifts may also include items such as:

- Chocolate babka
- Kosher brownies
- Rugelach tins
- Kosher wine baskets
- Kosher cheesecake
- Dried fruit and nuts baskets
- Kosher chocolate and cookie assortments

Is It Really Kosher?
Kosher food must meet certain standards to be deemed 'certified' kosher. Since most gifts and food items are processed foods, they are only considered to be kosher if they are prepared in the presence of a rabbi. Companies that sell kosher food online will provide this information in their 'About Us' section or FAQs area to confirm whether their food and gift items truly are kosher.

Kosher meat products must also adhere to certain guidelines. The poultry and meat must have been prepared by people who are trained and qualified to slaughter kosher animals, and the meat may only come from animals that chew cud and those that have cloven hooves. Companies that sell kosher meat products typically explain where their products came from and confirm whether the meat is kosher certified. It's important to remember that only some types of birds for the holiday dinner table are considered to be kosher in the United States; chicken, turkey, goose and duck meat are all acceptable for the kosher holiday table, but birds such as hens, quail and pheasant are not.

When it comes to selecting desserts, only some bakeries across the United States adhere to strict kosher guidelines and make sure that all ingredients are certified kosher. Kosher bakery cakes, cookies and sweets are typically made from scratch and with kosher dairy products. Kosher bakeries may also provide proof of kosher certification that states all products are made under strict rabbinical supervision.

Finding and buying kosher food has become easier than ever with the vast online selection of products, gift items and candy available from hundreds of vendors around the country. Whether you're searching for gourmet candy and toffee for gift giving, or searching for a special cake for the dinner table, you can search online to find a large assortment of gourmet food items from kosher kitchens across the U.S.

Written by Sabah Karimi