Passover Seder | Kosher Recipes and Jewish Table Settings

Tag archive for "Passover Seder"

holiday table settings, parties, shavuot recipes and ideas, shavuot table settings

A Healthy and Gorgeous Shavuot Buffet Lunch by Claudia Bildirici

9 Comments 17 May 2012

Its one thing to be a creative Jewish hostess, but its so amazing to me when talented Jewish women use their strengths to better the community and people in need.

I’m sure you remember Claudia Bildirici’s Bento Box Passover Seder Table, but did I tell you that she is one of the founders of the famous Lottie’s Kitchen in Israel? Learning from their mother’s gracious hospitality and giving nature, Claudia, her sisters Linda Dayan, Susan Menashe, and Nina Cohen helped found Lottie’s Kitchen in memory of their famous mom, Lottie Chalom a’h. Lottie was known for her great cooking and generous hospitality. What better way to memorialize Lottie Chalom than an organization that feeds the families of hospitalized patients in Israel? Read more about Lottie’s Kitchen HERE in The Jewish Press.

Every summer, Claudia and her sisters host the most magnificent Lottie’s Kitchen Day in Deal, N.J. Delicious kosher baked goods for sale, cooking demonstrations, kitchen gadgets for sale, and a delicious lunch that will really make your day one of the most enjoyable of the summer! You will know that I am not kidding when you see these pics from Lottie’s Kitchen 2009. This year, Lottie’s Kitchen will be held at Adele and Jeff Cohen’s home on Elberon Avenue in Deal, New Jersey on July 7, 2011. Save the date! More info to come!

Claudia- thanks for sending in pics of another one of your holiday tables! We want your recipes also!!!! Marlene

“Marlene, first I must thank Josh for the flowers! I added shells to the flowers, being summer has almost started. I made a healthy,light, and parve lunch.

Seitan kebabs recipe from Candle Cafe
Rice tofu wraps with peanut dipping sauce from Susie Fishbein (use tofu instead of chicken)
Mushroom/asparagus/endive
Greek salad

I know you cannot post all pictures. so I guess pick the winning one! HAHA
Also please let your Jewish Hostess readers know that the new Trader Joes in NJ sells amazing pasta! Lemon pepper or basil garlic all OU parve!
They also carry fresh pizza dough whole wheat /pesto and reg for ……get this .99 !!!! Can u believe under a buck?!
Thanks again!!
Claudia”

Rice Tofu Wraps:

(Claudia-PLEASE invite me to your next holiday meal!!!)

Mushroom Asparagus Endive Salad:

Greek Salad:

Syrian Style Pickles:

(love the shells!!!)

A Perfect Lunch Buffet!!

Thanks for sharing, Claudia!!!

A Holiday Table That Connects Holocaust Survival To The Beauty of Shavuot (thejewishhostess.com)
Need Help with Shavuot Cooking? Call These Top Kosher Bakers and Cooks! (thejewishhostess.com)
Shavuot Table Decor by the Sea – Emile and Linda Haddad (thejewishhostess.com)
Shavuot Table Contest!! Win a $200 Gift Certificate to Parci Parla, and $100 to Josh and Co. Florist!!! (thejewishhostess.com)
How To Dress Up Your Shavuot Table With Your Own Unique Style (thejewishhostess.com)

kosher passover recipes,seder table Ideas, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings, rosh hashanah simanim

A Persian Passover Seder at The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica

No Comments 16 April 2012

Thank you Djamilla Cochran of http://www.theroseweddings.com for sharing this elegant Persian seder with Jewish Hostesses from so many different backgrounds. I am continually fascinated by the different Jewish cultures that span the globe.We all share the same Torah, yet throughout thousands of years of peace and persecution, history has allowed us all to survive, and express our individuality as separate Jewish communities. Beautiful! I have enjoyed posting this unique seder, as I hope you will all enjoy reading. Marlene

p.s. get all the newest table setting ideas and easy healthy recipes once a week to your inbox! CLICK HERE!

“This beautiful Passover Seder was styled by Marjaneh from Candybar Couture with lots of help from her mother Guity. Although, Passover is a Jewish Holiday celebrated for thousands of years, this family who is originally from Iran, took a very modern approach to designing the party. The party was held at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. The second floor patio that was covered halfway by a beautiful white tent that was the ideal location to seat more than 70 guests. It is very common for Iranians living in Los Angeles to have a large number of guests at the Seder. They invite friends and lots of extended family. A microphone had to be used for all of the guests to hear the prayers!

The food that is used for the prayers, along with flowers were used as the centerpiece.

They included lettuce, bitter herbs, Matzos, vinegar and Halegh which is the Iranian version of Charoset. The highlight of the nigh is generally Dayenu where it is customary for Iranian Jews to playfully hit each other with the raw scallions. This tradition symbolizes the whips of the slaves in Egypt.”

Jilla Javaheri, Sahla Sassounian, Sion Javaheri, Moise Aghaipour during the Passover Seder

Persian ceremony of dayenu with scallions that represent the whips upon the Jewish slaves

Persian Rice with Saffron,

Chocolate Marble Sponge Cake with Rice Flour,

Guity Sassounian, Sohrab Sassounian, Marjaneh Etebar and Afshin Etebar

Nassir Ebrahimian, Sophia Ebrahimian and Pegah Ebrahimian

Dahlia Zakhor, Jasmine Zakhor, Rhonda Zakhor, Alex Zakhor

Sean Sassounian, Jasmine Sassounian, Shiva Aghaipour

Mandy Amini and Marjaneh Etebar

List of vendors :

Photography by Djamilla Cochran/theroseweddings.com Djamilla Cochranhttp://www.theroseweddings.com/

The Huntley Hotel http://www.thehuntleyhotel.com/

The Party was styled by Candybar Couture. http://www.candybarcouture.com/

The Desserts were by Madame Dessert. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madame-Dessert/128740397170724

The Catering was by Alfredo Catering. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alfredo-Catering-Inc/352678486239

A Down to Earth Cozy Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)
Claudia’s Bento Box Inspired Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
The Prettiest Modern Passover Seder Plates and Matzo Holders For Your Holiday Table (thejewishhostess.com)
Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)

holiday table settings, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

Passover Holiday Lunch by Elena Kassin

No Comments 10 April 2012

I’m loving Elena’s classic metallic silver and white tablescape. A gorgeous backdrop for a delicious lunch. GREAT job, Elena!! Marlene

Three Fantastic Authentic Passover Tablescapes by Kineret Spector (thejewishhostess.com)
A Down to Earth Cozy Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
The Jewish Woman’s Guide to Maintaining Sanity on Passover (thejewishhostess.com)
Passover Pizza Dough (thejewishhostess.com)
Terri’s Lamb Shanks for Passover (thejewishhostess.com)
Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)

kosher passover recipes,seder table Ideas, kosher recipes

Moroccan Date Charoset “Truffles” with Dates, Raisins, and Walnuts, Rolled in Cinnamon

No Comments 05 March 2012

This modern twist on the traditional Charoset recipe for your Passover Seder,was created by my new friend Jennifer Abadi, author of a wonderful new cookbook, A Fistful of Lentils . Jennifer’s passion for carrying on her family’s Syrian Jewish tradition is evident within the 125 recipes that she shares with us.

Upon reading that Jennifer’s recipes were inspired by her grandmother Fritzie Abadi A’H I realized that Jennifer and I have a connection. Five years ago, I set out to produce a coffee table book documenting the artwork of 200 of our communities artists of which all of the proceeds were donated to Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn.

“Our Art”- A collection of the Artists of the Syrian Jewish Community.

Guess which artist’s work is on the first page? None other than Fritzie Abadi A’H’ herself!

The quote on the page, as told to me 5 years ago by Mrs. Luna Sutton (who recently passed away in her late 90′s and who bought the painting from Fritzie 50 years ago), is,

“When Fritzie Abadi painted these in the 1920′s, it was said that she was inspired by the strong features of the typical Syrian woman that immigrated to America at the time.”

So, you can see that in her own way, Jennifer’s grandma Fritzi was also trying to preserve memories of her heritage!

You should also know that Fritzi’s father Chacham Matloub Abadi was a great Rabbi of the Syrian community in the early 1900′s, but that is another story…..

Hope you enjoyed that little tidbit of info!

Moroccan Charoset “Truffles” with Dates, Raisins, and Walnuts, Rolled in Cinnamon

photograph by April Selditch

“Here they are!! I rolled the Moroccan Charroset Truffles in three flavors: cinnamon, crushed almond and coconut.
They are so delicious! Yep, I tasted one. April. “

½ cup walnuts
1/4 cup slivered almonds
6 large Medjool dates or 10 regular-size dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup dark raisins
1 to 2 tablespoons sweet Passover wine, such as Manischewitz

For Serving:

1 box of matzah sheets or tea size matzahs

Cinnamon (for dusting the outside)

1. Place the walnuts and almonds in the food processor and pulse until coarsely ground, but not into a meal-like consistency (about 30 seconds).

2. Add the dates and raisins and combine in the food processor until a thick paste is formed.

3. Add one tablespoon of the wine at a time until the paste is smooth but not so sticky that you cannot roll it into small balls.

4. Taking approximately one tablespoon at a time, roll the thick paste into 1-inch balls* (if the paste is sticking too much to your hands, try dipping your hands in cold water and then rolling them) and sprinkle the outsides lightly with cinnamon. Store balls in a tightly covered plastic container in refrigerator for up to one week.

5. Dust the outsides of the balls with ground cinnamon. Serve charoset balls at room temperature on a platter, alongside tea matzahs (can also be served as a paste in one or two small dessert bowls, placed at either end of the seder table.)

Yield: Serves 6 to 8 (approximately 1 ½ cups or 24 one-inch balls)

*Note: If you wish to serve the mixture in the more common way of a paste in a bowl, then add a little more wine and warm water to make a bit smoother and softer for spreading.

©Jennifer Felicia Abadi

(Author of: A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes From Grandma Fritzie’s Kitchen)
www.FistfulofLentils.com

The Best Sephardic Charoset Recipe Ever (thejewishhostess.com)
Syrian Kebabs for Passover (thejewishhostess.com)

passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

A Down to Earth Cozy Passover Seder

3 Comments 01 March 2012

Thank you April Yvonne Abrams for sending in your authentic Desert inspired Passover seder pics!!!

“Hi Marlene,

I had lots of fun designing this tent area as part of our seder this year. It was like leaving Egypt all over again!

I just finished making these stunning Huevos Haminados! Mine look just like the ones in your photos. I can’t wait to present them tomorrow night! Thank you for all of your excellent inspirations!
April Yvonne Adams”

holiday table settings, Tu Bishvat Recipes and Table Settings, tu bishvat table settings

Tu Bishvat Exotic Fruit and Flowers Centerpiece by Esther Sassoon In Israel

No Comments 07 February 2012

Esther Sassoon, a fabulous florist and party planner living in Israel, was so gracious to send in her Tu Bishvat centerpiece to all of us Jewish Hostesses living mostly in the USA and Canada. Thank you Esther for bringing us all a little bit closer and warming up our computers during our cold winter months. I’m so glad to see that Jewish women all over the world are not forgetting the unassuming and quiet holiday of Tu Bishvat.

If you happen to live in the beautiful land of Israel, or even if you are just visiting, please contact Esther for all of your floral needs. Click HERE to email.

Happy Tu Bishvat to all! Marlene

“Hi Marlene,

When I think of Tu’ bishvat, I think of fruit!

That’s why I thought to incorporate fruit into this arrangement.

In each square of the pyramid I put in different types of fruits such as kumquats, mini lemons, and green apples in the arrangement.

If you have any more questions I’d be glad to answer.

Esther”

4 Gorgeous Fruit-Filled DIY Tu B’ishvat Centerpieces (thejewishhostess.com)
Tu B’ishvat Coconut Almond Date Truffles (thejewishhostess.com)

holiday table settings, holiday tables, kosher passover recipes,seder table Ideas, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

10 More Fantastic Passover 2012 Seder Table Decor Ideas To Inspire You All Year Round

1 Comment 17 January 2012

Thank you to all of the Jewish Hostessses who took the time to send in their tables. I hope all of my readers enjoy looking at these tablescapes as much as I do. Each one is unique and as beautiful as the hostess behind it. Click here to see the first batch of Passover tables that were posted last week.

May we continue to share in many Jewish holidays together! Marlene

P.S Comment below with your favorites!

p.s. don’t miss the newest table setting ideas and easy healthy recipes once a week to your inbox! CLICK HERE!

1. Lily Pads and Frogs Passover Table Decor By Kineret Spector (check out more of Kineret’s creative tables HERE and HERE!)

“This year we went for a fresh frog-inspired spring theme for our Passover table. Paper lotus flowers on lilly pads are fun place cards. Appetizer plates off center add to the floating lilly pad feel. Round woven place mats down the center of the table make a fun lilly pad kind of runner, with water lilly candle holders and candles adding a glowy ambiance. Finally, wire garden frogs add a little whimsy.

Please like BSG Tablescapes on facebook!

Thanks, Marlene!”

Kineret

2. A Country Seder Table by Lisa Ades-

“My country seder in Massachusets – nothin’ fancy since the green outside from our Japanese garden is all the decoration we need…”

“I wish I had chairs that match but at least we have glasses that match – they were Grandma Ades’s.”

“This is my “centerpiece” – my mom and I went to the nursery down the street where they have the most beautiful pansies…”

“We planted them in this pot that has real moss growing on it. What could be prettier than that?”

“Did you notice my “diamond” napkin fold? I found it on http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/! Ethan made that kippah on the right when he was little – i love the pom pom on it and that all the letters fell off except for HA! Enjoy! Lisa”

3. An Elegant Persian Tablescape at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. Check out the rest of the post HERE.

4. Blue Suede Seder Trays by Emily Massry

Hey Marlene I'm only sending this because I ran into you in Walmart. I Bought these blue suede boxes for Purim never used them but they came in handy for Passover . I put Haggadah, egg, haroset, and celery in salt water lettuce and a little cup of salt. Thank g-d it was a great Seder! Love ya keep up the great work, Marlene!," Emily M.

5. Color Array of Tableware by Susie Dweck

6. Alexis and Sarah Mizrahi “Spring” into action every year on Passover. Check out their LAST YEAR’S gorgeous crafty seder HERE!.

“Hi Marlene!
Our gourmet popcorn business closed for pesach-so we finally had some free time on our hands! Like always-we suprise our mother with a beautiful table every holiday. This years inspiration was “hag ha’aviv-holiday of the spring. ” A trip to the flower market, & a local nursery-& we were done! We rented a camel table cloth,yellow napkins,& bamboo chairs from Brooklyn Party Rental -Sonny Halawani- Our centerpieces were grass we bought already in those rustic wood crates, glass jars filled with moss, real birch wood, birds, lemons & limes.. For place cards we potted moss in terra cotta pots, & used birch wood scraps (we got it free!) that we ripped in small pieces for the names. Next to that, we placed our home-made leather bound Hagadahs! Our favorite part of the whole table – everyones little shelf with all the symbolic foods. We found these lucite “cabinet organizers” for cents-& we turned them into individual ke’aras! It was soo easy & so much fun! Enjoy!!”
Alexis & Sarah Mizrahi
Don’t forget to call Brooklyn Party Rental: (646) 233-7955
And Crazy Corn – to try one of their 16+ flavors of gourmet popcorn: (718) 613-9558

7.Pretty Greens and Flowers Pesach Tablescape by Jennifer Malka- “my hubby does all the flower arrangements!”

8. ” Hi Marlene…here is a photo that I just took of our seder table. Thank you. Chag Sameach!!” Karen Rubin- Brown

9. A Springtime Pesach Table By Jane Choueka

10. Fabulous Holiday Lunch Table By Carol Chera-

Gorgeous Kim Seybert accessories avaailable at Parci Parla in Brooklyn.

508 Kings Hwy
Brooklyn, NY 11223
Neighborhoods: Gravesend, Midwood

(718) 618-7398

Enjoy the creativity and please comment below with your favorite holiday tables!

p.s. don’t miss the newest table setting ideas and easy healthy recipes once a week to your inbox! CLICK HERE!

Frogs Here, Frogs There- What a Fun Seder Table! by Sara Kasten (thejewishhostess.com)
Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)
Three Fantastic Authentic Passover Tablescapes by Kineret Spector (thejewishhostess.com)
A Persian Passover Seder at The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica (thejewishhostess.com)
13 UNIQUE and GORGEOUS TABLESCAPES FROM PASSOVER 2012 (thejewishhostess.com)
A Seder Table That Could Split The Sea! (thejewishhostess.com)
A Down to Earth Cozy Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
Claudia’s Bento Box Inspired Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

A Seder Table That Could Split The Sea!

11 Comments 14 January 2012

Dear Hostesses, Enjoy this seder table designed by two talented sisters for Passover 2011:

I’m so impressed with Alexis and Sarah Mizrahi. You can not put a price upon the creativity and energy that went into this table. Give these girls a round of applause for a job well done, and after Passover please call Alexis and Sarah for all of your gourmet flavored popcorn orders!!! Marlene

“Hi Marlene,

Our Crazy Corn business was closed for Pesach – so we had a lot of extra time on our hands and wanted to surprise our mother with a beautiful table. We made our own hagadahs out of croc embossed leather we found in the fabric store. We had my father reprint the hagadahs we’ve been using in my family for years and covered them in leather and trimmed them with ornate ribbon and tassles. To top it off we had our names printed on them.

We bought some turquoise fabric, and used it as a tablecloth. We had extra leather and used that as the runner and then added another touch of the turquoise with pleated tulle running down the center - it definitely added to the holiday spirit by giving off the aura of the splitting of the sea. We got 4 tall skinny vases and place them along the tulle. As the centerpiece we put a modern white tall cake plate that we used as the ke’ara (seder plate)

To really tie it all together we found this crazy sequined trimming which we made into napkin rings.

We also found these gorgeous gold croc embossed chargers that took the table over the top.

My mother and all of our guests were wowed and really felt as if they were sitting by a kings table!! We’re thinking about switching our professions! lol

We went around the house and found things that we could put the symbolic foods in to complete the look. We put the celery and salt water in martini glasses, the endives in champagne flutes, bitter herbs in vases and the haroset in dessert cups. The guests found it cute, to be dipping into martini glasses, and pulling endives out of champagne flutes!!

We want everyone to know that its really not hard or expensive to set a table like this. we bought everything from save-a-thon (including the vases $5 each and chargers!!) ok, so the Hagadahs took some time, but everything else was done with ease!!

If this is what we can do to an ordinary table, imagine what we can do with popcorn!?!

email us 4 tips and ideas and of course to order Crazy Corn!

CrazyCornGirls@yahoo.com

Alexis & Sarah Mizrahi”

Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
The Jewish Hostess Post Purim 2011 Party ReCap (thejewishhostess.com)

holiday table settings, kosher passover recipes,seder table Ideas, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

13 UNIQUE and GORGEOUS TABLESCAPES FROM PASSOVER 2012

5 Comments 11 January 2012

Dear Hostesses, Just when I’d thought I’d seen almost every possible tablescape combination on the web, you’ve all blown me away by the original Passover table ideas that you’ve found the time to set, snap, and share with all of us here at The Jewish Hostess. All in all about 20 seder tablescapes were sent in! Here’s the first batch- Thank you all for your sharing your talents and holiday creativity with thousands of Jewish women worldwide who check in on our site for holiday inspiration. And for all of the hostesses who love to browse- PLEASE comment below with your favorites!! We need to pick some winners!!! Enjoy the rest of the holiday. Marlene

p.s. don’t miss the newest table setting ideas and easy healthy recipes once a week to your inbox! CLICK HERE!

1.“Hi Marlene, Happy holidays, I got creative this year!” Terri Harary

2.A Bountiful Passover Table by Rochelle Falack- (note the reading glasses at the head of the table!)

3. A Seder Tablescape that helps feed the less fortunate in Israel- by Miriam Kairey

“This year I have added a special mitzvah to my seder. I purchased place cards from Meir Panim. Each card represents a donation to feed the hungry in Israel. So as we are feasting we can remember our cousins in Israel, some of whom are unfortunately not eating as abundantly. On my table is a chicken dish I just made up.

Crunchy Chicken Cutlets

2lbs. thin boneless chicken breasts
Breading: 8 boards matzoh
4 Tbs dried oregano leaves
2 Tbs. coarse salt
2 Tbs. Paprika
6 eggs

Break up 4 Matzoh boards in the Cuisinart. Add half the other ingredients. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Some of the matzoh will be finely ground and that is ok. Empty crumbs into a bowl and repeat. Bread chicken by dipping into dry crumbs, then eggs, then dry crumbs again. Fry until golden.

Happy Pesach wherever you are!” Miriam

4. Thank You Patti Rotman!

“Our family has made the trek from Toronto to Florida for 23 years to celebrate Passover with special relatives. With so many decades and age ranges represented, our table always combines fun and tradition. From the frogs “jumping” out off each wine glass and a “plague” finger puppet at each place setting, to the cover for shmura matzah, we always celebrate in a joyous, traditional and inclusive fashion. Chag sameach to everyone at the Jewish Hostess” Patti Rotman

5. Springtime White and Garden Greens By Allison Srour

6.“Splitting of the Sea” by Kim Tawil- Gorgeous napkins and flowers in each glass!

7. Claudia does it again! by Claudia Bildirici

“I used a red vinyl fabric bought about 3 yards cost 30.00
This was to represent blood. and cleaned up like a dream even after the
wine was spilled!
The aloe vera plants were to look like the desert….
Under each plate over the charger was a picture of frogs
The masks were ordered from amazon and had the plagues on each. Kids
got a kick out of the adults who wore them during the seder
It was a fun table to be at!

Claudia”

8. Bringing the Outdoors In! by Natalie Greenberg

Hi Marlene-
I was really inspired to create a beautiful seder table this year after viewing all of the ones on your website.
This year we will be so many people that we do not fit in my dining room! So I set up in the living room.
I have green accents in the living room so I used that idea to create a spring seder look.
I rented tables and cloth toppers ( they look like trellises!) from All Affairs, and everything else I own.
The created the place card holders from votive candle holders that I already owned and filled them with
babys breath and then a name card. I will use the leaf platters for all of the greens.
I am so pleased with my look- can’t wait to finish cooking and sit down to enjoy!
Have a very happy holiday- send my love to your family.
Love, Natalie Greenberg

9. A Glamourous Seder Table by Gladys Haddad- Gorgeous as usual, Gladys!

10. Israeli Soldiers Celebrate Pesach -sent in by Margo Sugarman of The Kosher Blogger.

Hi Marlene,

I hope you had a wonderful chag. I saw this on Facebook and I thought of you and had to share it. It’s a picture of some soldiers in the Israeli Navy celebrating their seder in an unusual setting. The table may not be a gorgeous as yours, but it’s certainly unique!

Chag sameach ve’kasher, Margo

11.Passover Table By Connie Billie- Thank you Connie! Love the blues, and loving the wine carafes!

12. Sarah Beyda’s Passover Table Setting- Cool silverware setup!

13. As Sweet As It Gets!-

“Dear Marlene,

Hag Sameach! I enjoy following your blog-

We had a fun seder for 24 relatives and friends. My husband made the seder fun for the many kids at the table as well as the adults. There were hand motions for the order of the seder, role-playing, lots of questions and festive singing. For karpas we like to do a fun vegetable dish so that people do not wait to eat until too long. This year, for karpas I served a roasted eggplant and tomato napoleons with pesto. It was delish! At dinner we enjoyed brisket, apricot chicken, quinoa salad, roasted veggies, and sweet potato. For dessert, we had my signature Pavlova, an apple cake, and a chocolate mousse cake from my aunt. All had a delightful time. Thanks, Oksana V. Bella www.assweetasitgets.com

p.s. don’t miss the newest table setting ideas and easy healthy recipes once a week to your inbox! CLICK HERE!

Three Fantastic Authentic Passover Tablescapes by Kineret Spector (thejewishhostess.com)
Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)
A Down to Earth Cozy Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
Claudia’s Bento Box Inspired Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
A Seder Table That Could Split The Sea! (thejewishhostess.com)
The Jewish Woman’s Guide to Maintaining Sanity on Passover (thejewishhostess.com)
A Persian Passover Seder at The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million!

9 Comments 09 January 2012

Sarah Mamiye is widely known among family and friends for her elegant flair for entertaining. If you are lucky enough to be invited to her home for a marjan game, Shabbat dinner or any Jewish Holiday, you are bound to be amazed by her stunning table. Not only is her table beautiful, but Sarah showed true “hachnasat orchim”(the mitzvah of welcoming guests) when I had to cancel a Passover trip at the last minute one year, and she jumped to the rescue and invited my entire family to join her family for the Seder. (I wish I took pictures!!!)

Enjoy this sneak peek into a memorable evening, and remember, you don’t have to go all out with your holiday budget to have it look like you did!! Marlene

“Hi Marlene,

My Passover 2011 table setting inspiration started when I found the green vases at Home Goods. I knew I wanted cherry blossoms…..but with all the cleaning and cooking, I had no time to go to the flower market. Thanks to Shirley Barnathan, my centerpieces came out beautiful! Next I ran to Amazing Savings where I bought the gold chargers and plastic gold dot plates. On my way out I saw the adorable plastic mini cups and thought they would be perfect for the berachot. Between Home Goods and Amazing Savings I was able to change the look of my table without spending a fortune.
Happy holidays! Sarah”

Allison’s Breathtaking Seder Table (thejewishhostess.com)
Sparkling Blue Table Decor for Your Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
A Fabulous Bold Passover Table Setting- Remembering the 10 Plagues (thejewishhostess.com)
Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
The Prettiest Modern Passover Seder Plates and Matzo Holders For Your Holiday Table (thejewishhostess.com)
The Jewish Hostess Post Purim 2011 Party ReCap (thejewishhostess.com)
A Seder Table That Could Split The Sea! (thejewishhostess.com)
Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
The Jewish Woman’s Guide to Maintaining Sanity on Passover (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, holiday table settings, shavuot table settings

Shavuot Table Contest!! Win a $200 Gift Certificate to Parci Parla, and $100 to Josh and Co. Florist!!!

7 Comments 01 June 2011

Since so many of you sent in such gorgeous seder table pics for our Passover Seder Table Contest, (CLICK HERE ), I decided see what all of my Jewish Hostesses have up their sleeves for Shavuot. Whether you dig up some tabletop surprises in Target and Home Goods, or use your finest delicate china dinner plates, I REALLY WANT TO SEE YOUR SHAVUOT TABLES!! Just be creative and have fun! Its my goal for us all to be able to take a peek into each other’s dining rooms to gain inspiration and learn from each other’s individual talents!!!.

Click HERE for SOME GREAT CENTERPIECE IDEAS!!!

On a similar note, I’d like to bring up the concept of “Hiddur Mitzvah”. Simply put, when we are faced with a simple mitzvah of putting out a holiday table for our family, one in which many berachot are said, and in which holiday memories will be embedded in our children’s minds for years to come, the concept of beautifying that mitzvah is a huge one. You’ve probably made the good deed of “Hiddur Mitzvah” without even realizing it. Beautiful sterling kiddush cups, stunning menorahs and shabbat candles are a prime example.

(Read more about “Hiddur Mitzvah” HERE)

Lets beautify our tables this Shavuot and share in our individuality- send in your Shavuot table pics to marlene(AT)thejewishhostess.com (use an @).

First Prize: will receive an amazing $200 gift certificate to: Parci Parla Home Accessories

Parci Parla: Home Accessories, Table Top, Kim Seybert, Exclusive Ralph Lauren Tabletop, Exclusive Allesi Tabletop, Decorative Pillows and Vases, Trays, Personalized decorating service for your home.

Two locations:

1-4904 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 (718) 686 – 6858

2-508 Kings Hwy # 10,Brooklyn, NY 11223

Second Prize: $75 to Josh and Co. Florist.

1965 McDonald Avenue Between Kings Highway and Quentin Road. Call (917)-520 6446

Third Prize: $50 to Josh and Co. Florist

I love this photo decorated by Irene Kassin and Rachel Benun of Parci Parla at

DECOR BY THE SHORE in Deal, NJ.:

Some of Parci Parla’s tablesettings:

Josh and Co. Florist:

Brand New Loation! 1965 McDonald Avenue Between Kings Highway and Quentin Road. Check out some of his gorgeous creations:

Crispy Homemade Apple Chips (thejewishhostess.com)
How to Make Summery Napkins and Coasters for Your Shavuot Table (thejewishhostess.com)
Why Don’t We Take This Outside? (thejewishhostess.com)
Your Fruit Plate- How to Slice a Mango (thejewishhostess.com)
Making Knaffe Shredded Wheat Dairy Dessert With Grandma Abadi (thejewishhostess.com)
A Shavuot Blintz Souffle and a Chance to Win Sammy Spider’s First Shavuot (thejewishhostess.com)
Need Help with Shavuot Cooking? Call These Top Kosher Bakers and Cooks! (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, kosher recipes, parties, rosh hashanah table setting ideas

How to Transform Holiday Centerpiece Snapshots Into Art

4 Comments 31 May 2011

Did you ever wish you could capture all of those gorgeous memories of your centerpieces during holidays past? Consider photographing them using interesting camera angles. Besides having a tangible visual reference that you can refer to, you may surprise yourself and create a work of art worthy to be enlarged and printed on plexi-glassto be hung on your walls.

During Passover, I hired Bettie Esses to create my flower arrangements. They were absolutely gorgeous and a few days later, I took the opportunity to practice my photography skills on these organic floral spring centerpieces.

Below are the centerpieces that were in the center of each square table. Simple trapezoid vases held orchid buds resting on a bed of colored rocks and stones. In trapezoid vase # 1, I arranged them in a row and photographed the vases in an angle to practice an interesting depth of field using a small aperture. For point and shoot users, the portrait setting may help create a similar affect of gradual blurring in the background. I photographed trapezoid vase # 2 from above using a small aperture. Again, point and shoot cameras on the portrait setting may give you that blurring effect.

Trapezoid vase photo #1 (above)

Trapezoid vase photo #2

Cylinder photo # 3 is a simple photograph of what the two main centerpieces on my dining room table looked like. Each two foot long cylinder vase held a lone orchid stem completely immersed in water. I took the photograph up a notch by standing on a chair to capture the circular shape of the mouth of the vase for an interesting perspective (cylinder photo # 2). Cylinder photo # 1 shows a closer perspective of the buds inside the vases.

Cylinder photo # 1 (above)

Simply shifting your position and photographing your centerpieces from different perspectives may wow you with an image your certainly proud of . Plus, don’t forget to play with your camera settings (like portrait setting or smaller apertures) for added interest.

Cylinder vase photo #2

(above) Cylinder Phot0 # 3

Gladys Hedaya loves to capture the extraordinary details in the everyday, awesome vacations, and special moments, through writing, photography and digital coffee table book creations.

Gladys graduated NYU and majored in English with a minor in fiction writing.
She taught scrapbook lessons for about four years and creates premium coffee table books and family legacy books.

Gladys currently contributes to the crafting section of the Alphabet Kids monthly newsletter.

Photos were taken with a Canon 5D Mark II, SLR camera, and 50 mm 1.4 lens.

10 Simple Spring Centerpiece Ideas for an Impressive Passover Seder (thejewishhostess.com)
A Seder Table That Could Split The Sea! (thejewishhostess.com)
Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

Announcing the Winners of The Jewish Hostess Seder Table Contest!!!

4 Comments 06 May 2011

I just want to start off this post with a huge THANK YOU to all of the Jewish Hostesses that sent in pictures of their Passover holiday tables. I can’t describe to all of you how excited I get whenever I get a recipe, an email of encouragement, and especially when you share a bit of your holiday with me and all of the Jewish Women all over the world.

Take a peek at all of the gorgeous Passover Table submission Pics! Click HERE!

The effort and creativity that went into these seder tables are a true inspiration to all Klal Yisrael. You should know that we have many young and newly married Jewish women reading this blog, and many have told me that though they haven’t made their first seder yet, but they have been inspired by all of YOU. Whether you used your finest china, a bento box as a seder plate, or even gorgeous plastic plates from Amazing Savings, it was really about the unique HOLIDAY MEMORIES that you have created, and will be remembered and re-told for generations to come.

The unique and gorgeous Seder Table pics that you have sent in are as unique as the beautiful Jewish Hostess behind them.

Originally Josh the florist decided to give $100 worth of flowers to ONE winner…. but we looked at all the submissions and I said, “Josh, how can we just choose ONE, so many were great...” so he agreed to 4 prizes, (which I think was very nice of him- don’t you think?)

Visit Josh and Co. Florist at their brand new location in Brooklyn, at 1965 McDonald Avenue Between Kings Highway and Quentin Road.

Judged by originality, creativity, most Facebook “likes”, most comments and emails sent to me as votes, the winners are:

With the MOST FACEBOOK “LIKES” and the most original idea for a seder plate:

Winner #1:

to receive a $100 gift certificate to JOSH AND CO. FLOWERS:

CLAUDIA BILDIRICI !!!!!!

Truly “out of the box” seder plate!

check out her seder table HERE

Winner #2 :

$50. worth of flowers from Josh and co. to:

Alexis and Sarah Mizrahi who set up their whole seder table as a surpise for their mother!

Check out A Seder Table That Could Split the Sea! Click HERE

Winner #3:

$50. Worth of Flowers from Josh and Co.

Thank you Sarah Mamiye for sending in your elegant seder!

Her table that looks like a million! shh… don’t tell anyone that the dishes were from Amazing Savings and vases are from Home Goods!!!!

Click HERE to check it out!!!

Winner #4:

$35 worth of flowers from Josh and Co.

An elegant seder that really gave her family the experience of coming out of Egypt!

Smoke (Victoria bought a smoke machine on Halloween and saved it for her Passover seder!) frogs, and a gorgeous table.

Check out Victoria Arnold’s seder HERE. Thank You Victoria for sending in your seder pics!!!

Winner # 5-

A Jewish Hostess Apron for April Yvonne Adams! Her gorgeous Passover eggs inspired so many

readers!!! they almost look fake !!! check out her authentic “leaving the desert seder” HERE.

An Elegant Seder That Brings Back Memories of Generations Past (thejewishhostess.com)
Who Wants to Win $100 Worth of Shabbat or Holiday Spring Flowers? (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

A Fabulous Elegant Seder by Marilyn Harary

No Comments 30 April 2011

If you thought that Passover was over, then think again! The photos are still coming in, please enjoy Marilyn Harary’s timeless seder! Thank you for sharing your holiday with us, Marilyn!

“Hi Marlene ,
It was so much prettier but I didn’t get any close ups I seated 16 comfortably I had two cloths white with buttercup yellow with matouk linens napkins and place mats. Gorgous flowers, and Baruch hashem a good time was had by all.
We’ll talk menu one day !! Marilyn”

Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)
The Secret Trick to Boiling Gorgeous Eggs for an Elegant Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
Who Wants to Win A Gorgeous Seder Plate for Passover? (thejewishhostess.com)
Seder in Style (thejewishhostess.com)

passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

An Elegant Seder That Brings Back Memories of Generations Past

4 Comments 20 April 2011

Thank you Victoria for a look into your symbolic Passover seder! A family holiday is even more special when heirlooms from our grandmothers are used on the table. Extra touches like smoke (you HAVE to tell Jewish Hostess readers how you DID that! You must have picked that up at science fair!) and frogs must have really added to the authenticity of how it felt for our ancestors leaving Egypt. Your table looks beautiful! Marlene

“Hi Marlene, The cut crystal decanter is my husband’s great grandmother’s Passover wine decanter (hand carried from Ukraine). The smoke is for the death of the firstborn plague. Notice there are frogs all over the the matzo cover. Victoria Arnold”

Sarah’s Passover Seder- How to Make Your Table Look Like a Million! (thejewishhostess.com)
Susan’s Modern Glass and Floral Passover Seder Plate (thejewishhostess.com)
Simply the Best Passover Pancakes (thejewishhostess.com)

at home, passover seder tables, Passover Table Settings

A Fabulous Bold Passover Table Setting- Remembering the 10 Plagues

1 Comment 18 April 2011

Thank you Kim Dabah for this stunning Seder table inspiration!

Succulent red roses, napkins and plates, inspire our holiday theme to remind us of “Makat Dam”- the plague of blood filling the Nile River as a punishment to king Pharoh of Egypt for not allowing the Jewish slaves to leave Egypt in freedom. What creativity! Keep sending in your Seder Pics to WIN $100. worth of Spring flowers!