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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Passover for Dummies?
Does anyone have a good book or website for this?
Not about what Passover is, but how to prepare a seder?
DH broke the news that he expects me to do this this year.
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Posted 3/19/12 6:12 PM  |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
No suggestions off the top of my head, but just had to say that that's a tall order! My sister and/or I have yet to make a seder, and we were born and raised Jewish. I give you a lot of credit for taking this on! 
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| Posted 3/19/12 6:20 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by Jax430
No suggestions off the top of my head, but just had to say that that's a tall order! My sister and/or I have yet to make a seder, and we were born and raised Jewish. I give you a lot of credit for taking this on!
I might have to message you asking for help anyway!
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| Posted 3/19/12 6:32 PM |
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
You can ask me for help.
My mom usually makes matza ball soup, salad (no croutons), brisket (which is the same cut of meat as corned beef but not pickled), potatoes, vege (peas/green beans). People bring fruit and kosher for passover cakes for dessert.
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| Posted 3/19/12 8:47 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
I would have on the table:
a seder plate (egg (burnt shell), cooked chicken leg, parsley, horseradish, celery, radish, salt water, haroset)
matzah plate and cover
cup of wine for elijah
haggadahs for every person
place settings for each person (salad fork, dinner fork, napkin under on left side, dinner plate, salad plate, small dish for wine drippings on left, wine glass, water glass on right, knife, spoon on right, soup spoon at top.
I would go through the seder book, I think it is details what you are supposed to eat.
In order of eating at my house:
salt water and celery (or parsley)
salt water and hard boiled egg
matzah
matzah and bitter herb (radish)
matzah and haroset
matzah ball soup (matzah ball, mandalin, home made egg noodles, carrots, boiled chicken, boiled celery)
home made gifilte fish (with red horseradish optional)
salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, mandarin orange, crasins)
main course (turkey or beef, mashed potatoes, mushrooms and onions, apple sauce, green beans)
dessert afikoman (broken bit of matzah), flour-less chocolate mousse cake, fresh fruit with an almond base, maccoroons, chocolate covered matzah, and some store bought items.
Remember to have kosher for passover wine and some other drinks.
ETA: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
ETA: If it seems like a lot, delegate, if no one is extremely religious, call up Bruces in Great Neck and get their matzah ball soup, and some desserts from them. It will lighten your burden. Also get fruit pre cut and do bag salad. You can but gifilte fish in a jar.
Message edited 3/19/2012 9:06:43 PM.
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| Posted 3/19/12 9:01 PM |
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mikeandjess
LIF Adult
Member since 10/07 2278 total posts
Name:
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
My husband used judaism101 when he made our first seder. I can send you the recipes I use if you're interested
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| Posted 3/19/12 9:52 PM |
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evnme
My little lamb
Member since 8/05 12633 total posts
Name:
aka momma2b
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Most of the Seders I have been to (incl. my family) have been semi-potluck. The host makes the main dish and everyone else brings sides, matzah ball soup, desserts, kosher for Passover wine, kugels, etc.
Depending on your time and cooking comfort level, it's up to u what u want to make in addition to the main dish. Gefilte fish is easy to buy.
I think it's unfair if you are expected to make or supply all the food.
Feel free to fm or fb or email me if you want more suggestions
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| Posted 3/19/12 11:02 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by evnme
Most of the Seders I have been to (incl. my family) have been semi-potluck. The host makes the main dish and everyone else brings sides, matzah ball soup, desserts, kosher for Passover wine, kugels, etc.
Depending on your time and cooking comfort level, it's up to u what u want to make in addition to the main dish. Gefilte fish is easy to buy.
I think it's unfair if you are expected to make or supply all the food.
Feel free to fm or fb or email me if you want more suggestions
ITA
as long as you have a Seder plate with the appropriate foods on it (shank bone, egg, etc), matzo ball soup, gefilta fish (don't forget the horse radish), a cup for Elijah, Kosher wine, brisket, some veggies, etc you'll be fine. Ask family to bring something... dessert or other sides.
Don't forget the Hagaddah's. You can get the usual "Maxwell House" coffee books 
My parents actually ordered and they're personalized. All the grandkids have their name's on it and everyone else is just their last name. Kinda cool
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| Posted 3/20/12 8:35 AM |
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princess99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3944 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by FreeButterfly
You can ask me for help.
My mom usually makes matza ball soup, salad (no croutons), brisket (which is the same cut of meat as corned beef but not pickled), potatoes, vege (peas/green beans). People bring fruit and kosher for passover cakes for dessert.
All of the above, but I thought peas/green beans are a no no for passover unless you were Sephardic- just make sure.
I have the book Jewish cooking for dummies, there might be a Passover section in it. Also, I would go with paper products to eat on, depending how religious you are, you would not use everyday plates for a seder. Feel free to FM mail me, and ask away. I have never hosted a seder, but have done one with my family- we usually have:
Chicken soup w/ matzoh balls
gefilte fish
Green salad
Turkey or brisket- more economical to have a turkey if feeding a lot of people
potato kugel
stewed fruit
Matzoh
veggies
sometimes stuffed derma
and passover desserts
Kosher for passover wine
Again, feel free to FM 
Message edited 3/20/2012 8:53:07 AM.
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| Posted 3/20/12 8:51 AM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by Jax430
No suggestions off the top of my head, but just had to say that that's a tall order! My sister and/or I have yet to make a seder, and we were born and raised Jewish. I give you a lot of credit for taking this on!
I might have to message you asking for help anyway!
Anytime! The ladies gave you lots of good info about the basics. When I get a chance, I will see if I can find any good websites for you.
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:00 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
THANK YOU!
It's going to be relatively low key this year. I think just us and our moms? I guess I'd have to invite his sister and my sister as well? We have no dining room set so it will be interesting.
One wrench in this is that I'm a vegetarian, so we might do a dairy seder.
At any rate, I am NOT going to be making brisket.
I've got to find a vegetarian recipe for matzah ball soup. A good recipe for haroset.
What do I need to buy for bitter herbs, etc? Is there a vegan alternative to the lamb bone?
I think DH's family always uses cucumber to dip in the salt. Is that normal? It's all the little details. I ordered this interfaith haggadah i found online. I don't know where to get the regular ones.
ALSO I should mention I live in a neighborhood with realtively few Jewish people (let's just say you would always know our house during Hanukkah. it was the only one with a window menorah for at least a mile in any direction...and the only one with a christmas tree and a menorah i've ever seen). So, no haggadahs in the grocery store AFAIK
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:04 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
What is stuffed derma?
I'm the baker of the family, so I already know a few good Kosher for Passover desserts. We also have a kosher wine we like since we bring it every year. No manichewitz for us! (I know a lot of people love it, but I don't like it at all).
We're not very religious. Passover is the ONE time DH every eats kosher. I could use paper plates, but I don't think we have any problem using our normal plates. We're not going to clean the hametz out of the house either. In DH's family they just hid it in a high closet (lol), but we're not going to do anything like that.
It's low key. It MAY even be just the two of us. So what i really need to figure out is what are the absolute basics.
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:07 AM |
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
My ex MIL made tsimmis (sp) one year - it was a vege casserole. I wasn't fond of it but I don't like the veges she used.
Tzimmes Recipes
Message edited 3/20/2012 9:09:14 AM.
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:08 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by FreeButterfly
My ex MIL made tsimmis (sp) one year - it was a vege casserole. I wasn't fond of it but I don't like the veges she used.
Tzimmes Recipes
I was SO excited one Rosh Hashana. I had read you're supposed to make Tsimmes so I made it for DH. He came home like "WTH is this?" He had no idea what it was, had never eaten it before and he HATES cooked carrots. Something I hadn't really realized by that point. Ooops!
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:10 AM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by JenniferEver
What is stuffed derma?
Ummm...something that you are definitely not going to want to have as a vegetarian. It's also called kishka.
From Wikipedia: Kishke also known as stuffed derma, is a Jewish dish traditionally made from beef intestine (casing) stuffed with flour or matzo meal, schmaltz and spices. In modern cooking, edible synthetic casings often replace the beef intestine.
(Schmaltz is chicken fat).
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:11 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by Jax430
Posted by JenniferEver
What is stuffed derma?
Ummm...something that you are definitely not going to want to have as a vegetarian. It's also called kishka.
From Wikipedia: Kishke also known as stuffed derma, is a Jewish dish traditionally made from beef intestine (casing) stuffed with flour or matzo meal, schmaltz and spices. In modern cooking, edible synthetic casings often replace the beef intestine.
(Schmaltz is chicken fat).
No thanks!
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:13 AM |
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princess99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3944 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
I believe the instant chicken broth by Oseem is not made with real chicken. You can use that for your soup. Did not know you were a vegetarian. maybe google Passover recipes for a vegetarian?
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:20 AM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by JenniferEver
I've got to find a vegetarian recipe for matzah ball soup. A good recipe for haroset.
What do I need to buy for bitter herbs, etc? Is there a vegan alternative to the lamb bone?
I think DH's family always uses cucumber to dip in the salt. Is that normal? It's all the little details. I ordered this interfaith haggadah i found online. I don't know where to get the regular ones.
Haroset is really just chopped apples, walnuts, and wine. My sister and I just chop the apples and nuts up with a hand chopper, and don't make it into a paste. It's one of my favorite Passover things.
For bitter herbs, traditionally, you get horseradish. My mother just spoons the stuff from the Gold's jar onto the spot on the Seder plate. Dh's aunt has the fresh stuff.
Traditionally, parsley is dipped into the salt water for the "karpas". A lot of people add egg with saltwater to this part of the seder or the beginning of the meal as well. My family serves hardboiled eggs and we add salt water to them. DH's family serves chopped egg salad salt water sandwiches on matzah.
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:22 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by princess99
I believe the instant chicken broth by Oseem is not made with real chicken. You can use that for your soup. Did not know you were a vegetarian. maybe google Passover recipes for a vegetarian?
I am going to do this. I've done it in the past, and believe it not, there isn't much.
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:28 AM |
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princess99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3944 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
How about vegetarian stuffed peppers or cabbage? I think my Kosher butcher sells veg stuffed cabbage- Not traditional, but you can use matzo meal as one of the fillers instead of rice or bread crumbs, make a sweet and sour sauce..... maybe get a dark chocolate seder plate? Just trying to think outside of the box .
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:33 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by princess99
How about vegetarian stuffed peppers or cabbage? I think my Kosher butcher sells veg stuffed cabbage- Not traditional, but you can use matzo meal as one of the fillers instead of rice or bread crumbs, make a sweet and sour sauce..... maybe get a dark chocolate seder plate? Just trying to think outside of the box .
I love the stuffed pepper idea!!! Thank you!
dark chocolate seder plate?
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| Posted 3/20/12 9:38 AM |
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by LSP2005
I would have on the table:
a seder plate (egg (burnt shell), cooked chicken leg, parsley, horseradish, celery, radish, salt water, haroset)
matzah plate and cover
cup of wine for elijah
haggadahs for every person
place settings for each person (salad fork, dinner fork, napkin under on left side, dinner plate, salad plate, small dish for wine drippings on left, wine glass, water glass on right, knife, spoon on right, soup spoon at top.
I would go through the seder book, I think it is details what you are supposed to eat.
In order of eating at my house:
salt water and celery (or parsley)
salt water and hard boiled egg
matzah
matzah and bitter herb (radish)
matzah and haroset
matzah ball soup (matzah ball, mandalin, home made egg noodles, carrots, boiled chicken, boiled celery)
home made gifilte fish (with red horseradish optional)
salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, mandarin orange, crasins)
main course (turkey or beef, mashed potatoes, mushrooms and onions, apple sauce, green beans)
dessert afikoman (broken bit of matzah), flour-less chocolate mousse cake, fresh fruit with an almond base, maccoroons, chocolate covered matzah, and some store bought items.
Remember to have kosher for passover wine and some other drinks.
ETA: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
ETA: If it seems like a lot, delegate, if no one is extremely religious, call up Bruces in Great Neck and get their matzah ball soup, and some desserts from them. It will lighten your burden. Also get fruit pre cut and do bag salad. You can but gifilte fish in a jar.
This is very, very similar to what we do. You need haggaddahs and most of them basically walk you through how to set up the table and the order of the food/blessings/songs/traditions.
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| Posted 3/20/12 10:09 AM |
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princess99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3944 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Sometimes they sell them in the Passover section of the supermarket or go to the chocolate store and get the mold and make it yourself.
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| Posted 3/20/12 10:11 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
Posted by princess99
Sometimes they sell them in the Passover section of the supermarket or go to the chocolate store and get the mold and make it yourself.
You actually put the stuff on chocolate? I have never seen that!
We have a beautiful Lenox Seder plate we're dying to use.
Do I need a...sorry I have no idea what the word is..matzoh keeper? I guess I can order one.
OHHHH..does the Haggadah tell you how to set the table???
That's what I need. And a shopping list.
I might have to go to Forest Hills or 5 towns or something though.
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| Posted 3/20/12 10:14 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Passover for Dummies?
LSP your menu sounds really yummy.
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| Posted 3/20/12 10:15 AM |
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