Esther O Design

An elegant topping can take your cheesecake from simple to stunning. Try these ideas for a cheesecake that's a feast for the eyes.

Peanut chews have become a Kiddush and dessert favorite for “sweet tooth’s” of all ages. Though this recipe is great with a classic Pareve chocolate, In honor of Shavuos I figured why not give this yummy treat a milchigs “upgrade”? Either way you make it, you’ll have many happy “chewers” this Yom Tov.   

I love flowers so naturally I love Shvuos decor!

It’s one of those special times that we allow ourselves to splurge on extra flowers that we do not usually treat ourselves to. Adding extra touches on top of that, like a pretty and interesting vases gives the Yom Tov table a unique touch.

I have combed through lots of vases available on Amazon. Here are some of my favorites.

Take a break from the typical starter at your next party.

Fill these adorable mini tacos with your favorite pulled beef recipe.

Place the taco in a Lime Stand to complete the Mexican Presentation.

Making Challah Baking a  focal point of this simcha gives the Bas Mitzvah girl the opportunity to do the Mitzvah of Hafrashas challah for the very first time in her life in the presence of  her close family and friends . To "top" it off everyone can braid and spice their own challah, choosing from the whole array of seeds and spices. Teaching the girls a new way to brade can be part of the activity. Send home baked challah in beautiful labeled box.

Of all Simchas, a  Bas Mitzvah celebration is the least defined. As a result, each individual family celebrates this milestone in its own unique way. As there is little in the way of protocol, many families tend to follow the example set by their community. Whether that involves a large affair or one that is celebrated by close family ,the sky's the limit to the many ideas that can be adapted for this occasion.

Here is a sampling of ideas for a Bas Mitzvah Party. As I've said in the past, this is not an “all or none” presentation; there’s something here for every taste and budget. Plan ahead and look to make the preparation itself  a fun family project in the days (and weeks) leading up to the party.  

With a couple of simple steps you can create eye-catching striped sorbet cups. You’ll find that not only are the results a conversation piece, but each step fun and intriguing as you add each layer one by one. When purchasing the shot glasses, stick with something simple. The simpler the glass, the more dramatic the dessert will look. (You can use plastic as well.)

I adapted this recipe from a peanut cluster recipe a couple of years ago.

It has been a Pesach favorite in my house ever since.

The Pesach Seder is a culmination of many things....weeks of cleaning, hours of cooking, more hours of shopping, days of having the kids home and bored.

But it's also the anniversary of our nationhood.  It's the commemoration of our redemption from the seemingly endless exile of Egypt.  And even if we are dropping with exhaustion, we get a second wind when the Seder begins.  I attribute this yearly phenomenon to the sparkle in the children's eyes, the memories of all the sedorim of our youth, and the desire to create new memories that our children will cherish as they grow,.

This is a fantastic recipe with 2 delicious parts. I have used the London broil recipe served as a main dish and many a time, the salad without the meat.The combination of everything together makes for an outstanding salad.This recipe works well served in a large salad bowl and also great as a first course.