Easy and Delicious Macaroons for Passover

Passover is fast approaching. Are you ready? Of course your house is clean, and your menus and shopping lists are ready. Or you are almost ready. Maybe you are still deciding what to serve for dessert at your seder, or what to bring for dessert if you are going to a seder at someone else’s house. Before you buy that can of macaroons in the grocery store, try making your own coconut macaroons. They are so delicious and easy that you will be wondering why you ever bought macaroons in the can. Here is the recipe for Chocolate Macaroons from page 51 of California Kosher. I have added some extra instructions for those of you who want coconut macaroons without the chocolate.

Marla

Chocolate Macaroons (Pareve)

One 6 oz package semisweet chocolate chips (pareve)

2 egg whites

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup sugar

One 8 oz package coconut (2 2/3 cups, lightly packed) (I have found that shredded coconut works best)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt chocolate chips in microwave. Cool. Beat egg whites until stiff; gradually add salt and sugar. Beat well after each addition. Fold in melted chocolate. Fold in coconut and vanilla. Drop dough by teaspoonful on ungreased, foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake one pan of cookies at a time. Bake exactly 13 minutes in preheated 325 degree oven. Cool cookies completely before lifting them off the foil. Makes 3-4 dozen.

If you want coconut macaroons without the chocolate, leave it out and change the sugar to ¾ cup and the coconut to 2 1/2 cups. Bake these for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until light brown.

Min's Place

Over the years the Adat Ari El Sisterhood has made thousands of kiddush lunches, cakes and cookies in the dairy kitchen, also known as the Sisterhood Kitchen. However, one special Sisterhood woman has made her mark in the kitchen, Min Leonard. At the Board of Directors Meeting last month Sisterhood honored Min with a tile plaque for her 60 years of volunteerism! The plaque hangs on the wall of the kitchen and reads: "Min's Place...Min Leonard, 60 years of Volunteerism". Sisterhood President, Karen Gale, also expressed our widespread regard for Min, " We hope you know you are a treasure to us". Min continues to spend hours making cakes and offerring Wednesday buffet lunches for our M.I.D. (Multi- Interest Day) students. However, Min is most known around the synagogue for her noodle kugel that is served at many kiddush lunches. Min's has many recipes in California Kosher, including her famous noodle kugel. Let us know your favorite Min recipe.

Congratulations Min!!

Min and Lena

California Kosher

California Kosher was first published in 1991 with recipes submitted by members and friends of Adat Ari El.

All recipes and complete holiday menu suggestions comply with the laws of kashrut regarding the prohibited foods, restrictions on permitted foods, the preparation of meat, and the separation of meat and milk. Each recipe title carries a "Meat", "Dairy" or "Pareve" (neutral) designation to help the reader plan menus that comply with these laws. All recipes have been tripled tested and most are easy to prepare.

California Kosher reflects a merging of cuisines from everywhere in the world that Jews lived, combined with the dazzling variety of fresh foods available in California- while observing the traditional Jewish dietary laws.

Food has always played an important role in Jewish culture, for it is at the center of the Shabbat observance in the home each week and is equally important in celebrating the Jewish holidays.

California Kosher contains the Jewish "culinary classics" that are permanently woven into our collective culture and have been handed down from generation to generation. Whether you are beginning your odyssey into the rich heritage of Jewish cooking or have mastered the classics and want to branch out, this cookbook will serve as an inspiration and guide.

California Kosher is the fourth cookbook we have published; it follows Food for Goodness' Sake (1955), V.J.C.C. Cooks Tour (1959) and Flavored with Love (1973, 1977, 1980, 1987).


Share with us your California Kosher stories.