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Kosher food is a tradition that goes back to the time of Moses and the Children of Israel. In addition to being a direct command from god, enjoying kosher food is a matter of Jewish identity. Even the act of buying kosher candy and enjoying these tasty morsels -- over conventional candies -- is an act of religious endeavor and a way of connecting with the mandate to be set apart.
Finding kosher gifts does not have to be difficult, if you know what to look for. Enstrom's toffee and candy company, for example, has discovered that offering kosher candy for sale is a way to not only increase their appeal to the Jewish community but also a move that shows inimitable foresight as a business model. With their confections containing dairy products that are certified kosher under Scroll K, they are having a worldwide impact on the way kosher products are bought online.
Consumers opting for kosher gifts like candy filled gift baskets, corporate gifts or even gourmet chocolates that are sent across the country, know that buying kosher eliminates the possibility of offending an observing Jew or worse, leaving him out of experiencing the tasty morsels the rest of the family or office enjoys. Yet did you know that not only Jews keep kosher; there are plenty of others who also look for kosher products?
Kosher food, and by extension kosher candy, is much sought after by vegans, Hindus and Muslims, as well as by those who understand the added inspection processes that render kosher food choices overall safer to eat for anyone suffering from allergies. This of course adds a whole new dimension to the "why" of buying kosher: it shows that the buyer is familiar with the societal trend of recognizing high-quality foods and choosing to extend the courtesy of purchasing them to those who are most likely to enjoy them.
Occasions for ordering kosher food online for gift giving abound; there are all of the major American holidays, Shabbat, a bar or bat mitzvah, a new baby, graduations, anniversaries or simply a little something for Chanukah. Kosher gifts are a perfect way of saying "thank you" or "you're welcome." They do not go out of style, do not offend anyone's sensitivities and - perhaps most importantly - show you as the thoughtful, forward-thinking and highly sensitive gift giver you really are.
With kosher candy or other kosher food gifts, you simply cannot go wrong.
Written by Sylvia Cochran
1. Enstrom's Toffee
If you want to make a big impression this holiday season, go to Enstrom's. With world-renowned toffees, mini-turtles, mint meltaways, truffles and more, its kosher delicacies are sinful and its gift sets are outstanding. Whether customized or personally created, Enstrom's is unique, offering sugar-free toffees, gourmet chocolates and peppermint cookie bark to indulge the senses and lighten the mood.
2. Fancy Fruit & Nut Platter
A fruit and nut platter is an excellent gift choice for any occasion. Creative and colorful, they are often breathtaking artworks, with pecans, peanuts and walnuts weaving in and out of dried pineapple, dates, bananas and more. Succulent and mouthwatering, they can serve as a centerpiece or a snacker and always as a terrific gift.
3. Kosher Wines
Kosher wines, such as Baron Herzog Merlot, Goose Bay Viognier '07 and Zion Tidhar Cabernet Sauvignon are great additions to any gift you give. They give an air of elegance while adding a touch of flavor. So, go on, be bold and add a splash of dark cherry or the smoothness of merlot; if you're lucky the glasses will be out before you leave.
4. Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart is one of the best places to go if you're running late on a kosher gift. They have everything from baby cribs and maternity gowns, to pink/blue reversible blankets, to shirts organically made. Let's face it, they are well stocked, even carrying a Hanes line of organic cotton pajamas, Godiva chocolates, lotion, rugs and more.
5. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jelly Bellys have got to be the quickest of the grab-and-go gifts. They are conveniently located, easy to spot and most people love them. With flavors of chocolate, raspberry, pina colada and even popcorn, Jelly Belly jelly beans have been around since 1869, making kids smile.
6. Kosher Cookbook
One of my favorite gifts for newlyweds and first year college students is a kosher cookbook. Not only will it offer creative ideas on daily menus, it can provide easy but tasty recipes while adhering to religious standard.
7. Avalon Organics
Rest and relaxation is often overlooked in the rush of today's busy activities. Who gets playtime with work, family and bills? Avalon Organics is a phenomenal gift, because its fresh lavender scent clears the mind and relieves stress in seconds, whisking you off to a world all your own as you enjoy their lotion, moisturizer, facial cleanser and toner.
8. Housewarming Party
If someone is about to relocate there are a few must-haves on their list, such as towels, sheets, pot holders and even cleaning products. (Soft Scrub is widely used in kosher cleaning.) Find out what they have and what they will be taking from home and have some fun! Get them a rug, lotions for the bathroom and a blanket to curl up on the couch with.
9. Drink it Up
Another awesome kosher gift includes tea and coffee. This has a wide range of options simply because of people's taste buds. You can make a basket or pick up a few of their favorite teas/coffees if they prefer exquisite brands that you have smelled for years. You also can get Starbucks to create a gift basket - you can even pick out what goes in it if you want to. This has proved to be a great gift for the people addicted to Java Joe, at least now they could drink it in their PJs.
10. Wine Country Gift Baskets
These are some of the best pre-made gift baskets available because they offer a wide selection of treats. Sweet favorites such as Brown & Haley Mocha Rocha, Ghirardelli dark chocolate and milk chocolate with caramel squares, shortbread cookies, biscotti, English toffee, dark chocolate-covered Bavarian pretzels and dreidel vanilla cookies are a few or their tasty options. Multi-grain crackers, nuts, mozzarella cheese swirls, panetini crackers, dijon flat crisps, honey mustard pretzels and Mrs. May's cranberry almond crunch are also available for those in a saltier mood.
Written by J. Henry
Kosher kishka is one of the most popular kosher foods. It's often served during the holidays and at large family gatherings. Here is a favorite recipe for kosher kishka. Remember to buy each item kosher as certified under the kosher organizations.
Ingredients:
1.5 cups of flour
2 cups of matzo meal
8 feet total of kosher beef casings (extra thin)
A pinch of pepper
1.5 cups of melted kosher chicken fat
2 teaspoons of salt
Additional salt
To begin, you need to wash the kosher beef casings and then cut them into pieces of 10 inches. After you cut the casings, tie one end of each piece with baking string. Then you need to turn the casing inside out so that they can be filled. Make sure the string is tight before you turn the casings inside out.
To make the kosher kishka filling, you need to combine all of the other ingredients, aside from the extra salt. After mixing the ingredients, fill each casing carefully. The best way to do so is with a small spoon. You can also put the mix into a plastic bag, twist the top, and cut off a corner in order to squeeze the filling into the casings. The filling shouldn't be packed in tightly, but slightly loose.
Tie the ends of the casings with the same string and cut off the edges on both sides. Begin to boil water. When the water is boiled, place each filled casing in. It's best to do about three at a time. You should boil them for about 15 minutes.
Take out the cooked filled casings and scrape off excess fat and grease.
Boil water with pinches of salt and pepper. Let the water cool down and put the filled casings back in. Let these, all together, simmer for about two and a half hours. Afterwards, remove them from the water and then place them in the refridgerator. One cooled, cut into half inch slices. Then fry in a pan in order to re-heat.
Written by Rachel Krech
No matter what the occasion, buying a last-minute gift is never easy. Finding a perfect gift is hard enough when you have plenty of time, and that last-minute crunch adds pressure and stress to the mix. Since food and wine are universally popular last-minute gifts, the problem is compounded when you are unsure of the recipient's dietary restrictions.
There is a simple way to avoid worrying whether or not your gift of food or drink will be well received, though - by purchasing kosher gifts. Most kosher foods are appropriate for people of any religion, and those who observe kosher dietary laws will be especially touched by your thoughtfulness.
Gift baskets, chocolates and other food items make great gifts, but it's not always easy to find just the right treat for a specific holiday, especially if you wish to purchase kosher products. Kosher retailers like Enstrom's, which specializes in kosher candy and other kosher gifts, are a lifesaver for last-minute shoppers. These retailers have Web sites for quick online ordering and offer overnight shipping - you can get chocolate coins for Hanukah, candy for Purim, nuts for Passover or honey for Rosh Hashanah, all with a few clicks of a mouse.
For those who drink alcohol, kosher wine is a perfect quick gift. Although kosher wine has a reputation for being overly sweet and not always high quality, kosher wines have improved greatly over the years and should no longer be considered second-rate. Luckily for last-minute shoppers, kosher wines are available at most wine stores - just ask the salesperson for some guidance in choosing a wine that your friends or family will enjoy.
If you are certain that you're buying a gift for someone who observes kosher dietary laws, a kosher cookbook makes a terrific gift, which can be purchased online or on a last-minute dash to the bookstore. Even those who don't keep kosher may find a kosher cookbook useful, especially if they are interested in learning about other cultures and cuisines.
Doing all of your holiday gift shopping at the last minute may not be ideal, but it needn't be a chore, either. By choosing kosher gifts, you eliminate at least one source of stress - all that's left to worry about is whether or not you've chosen the right wrapping paper!
Written by Lindsay Woodland
Selecting the proper kosher gift for special holidays is always a great adventure. Whether buying for yourself or honoring the religious beliefs of close friends or relatives, bear in mind it takes a little bit of research to ensure the kosher food gifts are certified; however, the recipient will appreciate the fact that the time and care was taken to select such a special gift. There is a wide variety of kosher food gift items from which to select for the many holidays that adhere to Jewish dietary laws appropriate to the recognized holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukkah, Pesach, Sukkot and many others.
If planning to honor a friend on a specific holiday and presenting a bottle of wine is your preference, do the research to ensure the wine selected has in fact honored the agricultural laws to make kosher wine. Visit Kosher Wine Report to do a little research prior to purchasing the bottle of wine and try to select a wine appropriate to the holiday. For instance, a great recommendation for kosher wine for Rosh Hashanah is Recanati Petit Syrah. Made from a combination of 70 percent petit syrah and 30 percent zinfandel, the delicious wine is an Israeli blend that is a fragrant and spicy red wine. The retail price for a bottle of Recanati Petit Syrah is approximately $16.99.
Shiner Hefeweizen Beer is another excellent gift to give when visiting friends throughout the Jewish holidays, though finding the beer locally may be a challenge. If you plan in advance you may still be able to get your hands on the popular product by ordering kosher products online. Shiner Hefeweizen is brewed in Shiner, Texas, and it doesn't bear the Va'd symbol on the label; however, it is under the supervision of the Va'd in Detroit, Michigan, and it can be found online at Sam's.
Enstrom's makes an incredible almond toffee that meets the certification for kosher dairy products and offers a variety of kosher candy from which to select ideas for gift giving. The selection of kosher candy available includes milk chocolate, dark chocolate, toffee squares and toffee petites. Available in 4- or 5-pound boxes as well as in gift tins, the delicious toffee can be purchased from the official Web site.
If in doubt as to certification when purchasing a kosher food gift item look for the OU seal. When purchasing in a shop, ask the shopkeeper. Another excellent way to stay informed about kosher gift giving particularly as it pertains to food items is to visit the Web site OUkosher.org, which provides a wealth of information regarding kosher certification including newly certified products. Ensure that the kosher gift you give for the holidays is certified and take pride in doing the research to enjoy the act of kosher gift giving.
Written by J. Rica Middlebrooks