No Free Delivery Options!

Restaurants in Lakewood should have free delivery minimum order.... people would be SO much more inclined to order out. I know I would.

Thank you Kosher Taco for being of the few restaurants to offer that!!!

WAY TOO HOT TO COOK – SUMMER MEALS!

It’s too hot to cook, but we still need to feed our families and ourselves of course. There are lots of fresh fruit and salad options, tuna salad, egg salad, pasta salad. I’ll even sometimes do a pasta & tuna salad, which gives you the protein as well as the carbs for a nice full feeling. Using the stovetop as opposed to the oven offers omelets, and my most recent favorite poached eggs with salt and pepper.  Cheese Sandwiches and pickles are yummy too!

My rice cooker doesn’t cause too much heat, if I make just a cup or so which is more than enough for a brown rice Asian Fusion salad, filling and delish!

Throwing nut into salad and munching on them throughout the day will keep your tummy feel and your energy up.

For the kids, picking up a huge box of freeze pops, and making sure to give them if they spend much time outside will keep them well hydrated. I am usually very careful with sugar for my girls; I don’t give them any sweet drinks, not even juice. But in the summertime or when they are sick I bend the “rules” to keep them hydrated.

They also love fresh fruit, be careful because that can cause diaper and potty overload- literally… not to be too graphic.

There is always the grill option, but no one wants to stand out in the heat so that happens about once in ten days, and we throw everything from veggies like tomatoes, peppers to potatoes with margarine and salt in alumnum foil on our grill.

We are very lucky to live in a town with so many eating options, from Pizza to fine dining.

Get a stack of restaurant menus if you’re trying to keep your budget down, and you’ll know what to expect and be able to budget accordingly.

Oh, and do not forget the wine coolers, Smirnoff Ice Pineapple- stock up, you ARE going to NEED it!

PESACH POSTFREE

There will be no posts, until after Pesach...

I am away.

Til then.

Happy Pesach!

6 Fun or Practical Pesach Buys!

I was browsing through Amazon, looking for some great things for the kids and gifts for in-laws and of course myself. All of the items ship free with Amazon Prime. I thought I would share, based on awesome pricing or items you do not see everywhere... Have an amazing Passover!

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwlakewoodfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001QFBJTE

_____________________________________________________________________

 http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwlakewoodfo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0013TO5OO
 __________________________________________________________________________

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1422613534/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1422613534&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwlakewoodfo-20

_____________________________________________________________________

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwlakewoodfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0026HX2R8

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwlakewoodfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1578190738

_____________________________________________________________________

 http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwlakewoodfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001QF5FXK

_____________________________________________________________________

Next year in Jerusalem, Israel!

Spotlight on The Gingerbread House - The Ultimate 'Candy' Store and then some!

 

 
Walking into The Gingerbread House makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. The walls stretch toward the back, lined with every kosher candy imaginable! 
 

They carry a wide array of nuts, chocolate, dried fruits, grandiose platters, cookies, smoothies & cakes!

Their fruit shakes/slushies are a big hit! With absolutely no corn syrups, or any syrup of any kind, no food coloring and real milk (none of the condensed milk powder). The most popular of their smoothies is their diet cappuccino (as the dieters are after a good thing), but after tasting all the fruit shakes, my personal favorite is Strawberry Yogurt….mmmmmn!

With lots of dried fruit options, they stack beautifully with contrasting colors making a beautiful Shabbos arrangement. I stacked mango, kiwi & roasted red peanuts in three different sized containers, which they wrapped in a beautiful gold bow as a hostess gift last time we stayed on that side of town for shabbos.

They make all of their peanut chew platters that people go ‘nuts’for in-house. You are bound to see one of their platters at almost every Kiddush.

They also have an extensive display of blue and pink masterpiece platters! So you can find that ultimate gift for a boy’s Shalom Zucher or a baby girl’s Kiddush!

When it comes to cakes their dessert cakes are something they take pride in the variety they are able to offer, as they are imported from several locations in New York. They carry Dessert cakes of every kind, sherbert and ice cream included! These specialty cakes start at $18 and up.

 

This is a ‘candy’ store unlike any other, it’s whimsy and variety put it in a category of its own! Maybe I will start out with a JUMBO lollypop and take it from there!

Pesach – I just love it!

Pesach is one of my most favorite holidays. It is not so much the preparation, or the cleaning ;-), but the feeling you get as the holiday actually ushers in. The house is spotless, that deliciously cozy feeling from working hard combined with a Seder decked out in luxury; is when the feeling of excitement  really kicks in.

For Pesach, we go to my in-laws and the Seder is truly a time for a seriously great time. Masks and finger puppets for the ten machos (whether or not there are children present), and those little green frogs that when you push down their backs, they spring three feet across the table!

They are always generous in having guests that may be less familiar with the holiday, which rudely enough allows for much amusement. After a couple of glasses of wine, it becomes more than difficult to contain that amusement!

This year, with 2.5 triplets, I have unsuccessfully been attempting to teach them the ‘Mah Nishtana.’Still trying!

I pray for all of us all, to be removed from the slavery of this exile and the slavery of our desires and temptations to sin and may we celebrate next year in Jerusalem!

Spotlight on Pizza Place @ Westgate: Unforgettable Dining Experience

As I write this review I am still savoring the taste and experience of “Pizza Place”. Walking into Pizza Place in juxtaposition with any Pizza Shop, it is an unanticipated treat. Its name may be misleading to some because it is far more than a pizza place. It’s a beautiful italian restaurant with much more than just delectable Pizza.

From its gorgeous oak counter partition, to vintage style wall sconces, it offers an upscale luxurious restaurant feel.  The adjacent room will transport you further, with its deep cherry wood tables and chairs, beautiful tiles, soft light spotlights; you will be engulfed by its ambiance.  

 I had the privilege of tasting a wonderful array of their fabulous dishes.

Their cream of mushroom soup is divine. The tomato & brown rice soup’s sweet and tangy flavors will hit your palette with a soft kick.

My absolute favorite pizza in this entire town, is their white pizza with pesto drizzled over it. Their Sicilian pizza with pesto sauce will have you dreaming for more! Pizza Place should be nominated for their mozzarella sticks. Lightly breaded filled with 100% mozzarella cheese their soft crunchiness as you bite into one, you’ll watch as the cheese stretches a mile and smile, feeling you have just tasted a small piece of heaven.

There are several great fish options, with outrageously low prices ($13 and below) and in-house grill. Order the Salmon Teriyaki seared and scored in that crisscross that can only be achieved by a professional grill chef. I had mine with a side of broccoli and mashed potatoes.  The mashed potatoes had a smother and creamy flavor.

Upon inquiring about how they achieved this taste, I was told, they are made from Yukon potatoes with heavy cream and butter. Their entire menu consists of food and desserts that are made from fresh, real ingredients; all cooked, baked & grilled in-house.

The real highlight of my tasting experience was when the eggplant parmesan arrived. It came out on lovely china with a side of spaghetti in a marinara sauce. The eggplant was layered perfectly with a moist, fresh, saporous breaded coating on each thin eggplant fillet. Using real parmesan, mozzarella cheese and homemade sauce allowed them to create this most unforgettable dish.

Making their very own desserts is not something you will see often in the restaurant business. Most restaurants bring their desserts from other locations. Pizza Place does not only make their own desserts, they excel at doing so. From their Zeppoli (Italian Doughnut) to their thick and wicked tasting cheesecake, it was too good I was forced to eat it down to the very last bite!

The adjacent room is beautifully adorned to allow for sheva brochos and other high-end catered events. For catered events, the tables are set with linens and china to achieve that luxurious effect.

Tuesday nights are special at Pizza Place, upon booking a reservation, your child can make his/her very own pizza. For just $5.75 your child will receive cheese, sauce and dough and is welcome to use their own imaginations to play pizza chef for the evening!

Pizza Place offers so many options at such unbelievable prices. Eating here once will keep you coming back for more.

I know I’ll be back real soon!