Monthly Archives: November 2010

Real Weddings | Boardman, OH

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

It’s the age-old story of “when it’s right, you’ll know.” Rob and Becky both attended the same high school and were friends with the same people, but weren’t in each others’ circles. But a little twist of fate brought them together and they became close through mutual friends.

Sometime between their reacquaintance and their wedding day, there was a proposal and the wedding planning madness began.

Becky and Rob planned a simple, traditional Jewish wedding. The bridal party matched, carrying over Becky’s terra cotta theme, while white accented the rest of the wedding theme. The rabbi asked Becky and Rob to write paragraphs describing each other and told them to leave the paragraphs as a surprise for the wedding day and incorporate them in his sermon. This is a personal touch that many rabbis like to include in their ceremonies and we encourage you to do some pre-wedding soul searching and air it out under the chuppah. It’s an emotional moment to hear the words out loud and leaves a long-lasting impression.

Mazel tov, Becky and Rob!

Ceremony Venue – Congregation Rodef Sholom
Reception Venue – The Embassy
Photographer – Lisa Nikole Photography
Ketubah – MP Artworks
Jeweler – Komara Jewelers
Bakery – Sweets by Sue
Transportation – FAB Limo

boardman-ohio-real-jewish-wedding

Dressing Up Your Table

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

As a bride, you make many decisions. Most of them thinking about details for the wedding day. But registry items are for after the wedding! And during this Thanksgiving week, it’s a given that food, food, and more food will be on the brain. So why not think about how you’re going to serve your food? We want to share some pieces with you that will dress up your table for future Thanksgivings, leaving you thankful you have them in your collection.

Side dishes never looked lovelier in the Inside Out Bowls from Anthropologie. The Atom Art Bowls are perfect for dessert. We’re thinkin’ ice cream. Mmmm.

dressing-up-your-table

Also from Anthropologie, pieces from the Verdant Acres collection allows you to add a splash of color to your table! The watercolor-like colors and floral designs add a vintage and delicate feel to your table’s feast. Not too casual, not too formal. Juuuuust right.

dressing-up-your-table

In the mood for less color, more simple? You can still serve in style. Anthropologie carries the Fleur de Lys Dinnerware collection and it is delicious even without food on top! The pieces have a certain femininity without being too girly, and the unique shapes and details add personality to your run-of-the-mill white china. This variation on that theme is welcome and purty!

dressing-up-your-table

It’s common knowledge that Bloomingdale’s is known for classy sophistication, so if you are going for a more traditional look on your table, we think Villeroy & Boch’s White Lace series fits the bill precisely! With a black and white color scheme, a simple pattern, and classic figures, this dinnerware will allow the feast you serve to really shine in the spotlight.

dressing-up-your-table

But your loot from Bloomies can still have modern lines and colors! While the folks behind the Big Brown Bag know how to keep timeless traditions alive, they also sell funky tableware with a grown-up twist. Drinking wine? Add some bold colors and drink it in glass bulbs. The William Yeoward Country Fanny Goblets add the right amount of shades to your spread. Mix and match or go with a theme. Either way, your guests will ask you to keep pouring!

dressing-up-your-table

Macy’s won’t let you serve food with your bare hands, so they have these whimsical serving pieces! Simply Designz Serveware features 2 glass-beaded servers and we think they’re so unique! Light colors adorn the pieces and you have options to match your whole table. Here, we spotlight clear and amethyst. And if you accidentally drop some salad from the bowl to your plate, at least you did it in style.

dressing-up-your-table

Any way you slice it, you’re sure to have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday this year and for years to come. All you need is love… and food, and family, and friends! Enjoy your feast and the way you serve it. And after you digest and you find yourself hungry again, think about what you’d like to add to your registry so that you have items you and your partner can love as you grow old together. Who knows? You could be serving your grandchildren on these very dishes!

Friday Favorites | Matzo Stuffed Turkey?!

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Alison in Friday Favorites, Jewish Recipes

Gobble gobble gobble! That means, “It’s almost Thanksgiving!” in Turkey Talk. The Yentas want to wish you a wonderful, happy holiday. We hope you get a whole week off to eat, spend time with family, relax, eat, see some movies, cook, and did we say eat?

So, while we’re thinking about eating, we thought we’d share a really fun Jewish recipe that can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving feast: Herby Matzo Stuffing! Yum. It’s like a 2-for-1 holiday meal.

Matzo Stuffing:
2-3 matzos, broken into small pieces (we know you have some left over in the cupboards from Passover)
1/2 cup chicken soup, stock, or water, heated
2 tbsp chicken fat or vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
3-4 tbsp chopped mixed fresh herbs
1 egg, lightly beaten

Put the matzos into a large bowl and pour over the soup. Leave to stand until absorbed. Heat the fat or oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the onion and celery and cook for 5 minutes, or until soft and golden. Cool slightly and stir into the matzo mixture. Cool, then stir in the herbs and egg. Spoon the stuffing into the cavity of your turkey before cooking!

matzo-stuffing

Enjoy your Thanksgiving week! Check in for some good reading — we are contributing regular posts and features. No rest for the Yentas and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Real Weddings | Lake Placid, NY

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Andy and Lynnie met way back in 2002 when Lynnie was visiting in Ithaca, NY for the summer while trying out for the US Olympic Rowing Team. She didn’t make the team, but was was lucky to meet the love of her life, Andy, that summer. Life kept them apart for many years, and they even lost touch due to changes in phone numbers and lost emails. Lynnie then moved from the East Coast out to Utah to begin medical school , and it was not until 2006 that she reconnected with Andy when he was on a business trip in Salt Lake City.

From then on they were inseparable. It made no difference that Lynnie lived in Salt Lake City (and still does!) and Andy lived in Ithaca (and still does). They got engaged in 2009, and started planning a wedding for October of 2010 in the only place in the world that they call their “joint home” — the Adirondacks. Andy and Lynnie had an interfaith (though mostly Jewish) wedding and even though there was six inches of snow the day before they tied the knot, every guest still made it to town safely (even though there were a few delays) to celebrate with them.

Mazel tov, Lynnie and Andy!

Venue – Lake Placid Club
Coordination – Juniper Events
Photographer – Cyndi and Andy Klose
Catering – Lake Placid Club
Rabbi – Rabbi L. Aryeh Alpern
Floral Design – Trillium Floral
Entertainment – Elite Sounds Entertainment
Wedding Cake – Lake George Baking Company
Ketubah – MP Artworks
Bridal Gown – Penelope’s, Salt Lake City

lake-placid-ny-real-jewish-wedding

Nom Nom Your Nuptials

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

If you’re throwing a proper Jewish wedding, that means, essentially, your guests will be well-fed! Between the appetizers, your dinner choices, the dessert bar and wedding cake, your people aren’t going home hungry. After all, it’s what Jews do best: eat and/or feed.

So what’s one more item in your wedding Food Fest?

These days, if you choose to offer a wedding favor for guests to take home at the end of the night, it’s best to stay away from the tchotchkes and go straight for the food. There are many items you can personalize for your own wedding day that your friends and family will react with a genuine “Oh, that’s nice” and then chomp away.

Chocolate + Apples = Mmmmmm
I mean, it’s practically two food groups taken care of in one bite (dairy and fruits… no??). These Chocolate Monogrammed Favor Apples are made from Granny Smiths dipped in your choice of chocolate (dark, milk, or white), and finished off with your brand new monogram. You don’t even have to bother with wrapping and decorating because they’ll come freshly packaged with sealed off with a bow. Talk about full service! We like the chocolate concept because it really continues the look of a formal affair that might have a black and white or brown and cream color scheme. We can see these apples adding to the classy look of a tablescape.

The Fortune Is Theirs
Even if you don’t plan on serving kung pao chicken as your main entree, you can still send off your guests with good fortune and gratitude with adorable, gourmet fortune cookies! The Custom Wedding Fortune Cookies offer you three options for dipped flavors and add a splash of color with sprinkles! You can even include your own fortune paper inside the cookie just like you get at your regular, neighborhood Chinese nosh spot. You can order your slips of paper to include a message, your names, and your wedding date: “Thank you for joining us on our special day! Love, Barbie and Ken 10/10/10” Get creative! Your guests will love the delicious taste and then adore the surprise message inside. We envision these fortune cookies scattered around your reception space in cute Chinese take-out boxes upon exit. You could also double up and customize the take-out boxes with each guest’s name and table number for the seating arrangements. Have fun with this one!

These Cookies Ain’t Rookies
Is there a meaningful family recipe for the best damn cookies you’ve ever tasted? Is there a concoction that’s been in your family a long time that you want to share with your guests? Do you have a Martha-wannabe in your family who can bake up a storm? Make cookies (or any other goodie) that has a special place in your heart… and belly. Bag ’em up and tie on a small card naming and describing the treat. Some grandmas make the best mandelbread so you could ask Bubbie to whip up more than a few batches, put them in a cute box, and label it, “Grandma Rose’s Mandelbread.” Or, maybe your aunt has a killer recipe for macaroons that you can wrap up and tag, “Aunt Sheryl’s Macaroons of Love.” Go deep into your family cookbooks and find a recipe that you love and prepare them in advance so your guests can take home a little bit of the guests of honor with them as they remember your wonderful wedding.

wedding-day-cookie-favors

The Candy BuffYAY
No one can say boo to a candy buff-yay, er, buffet. You can set up a table in your reception space with canisters filled with candy and provide personalized bags that guests can fill. The candy you choose can be a variety of flavors in your wedding colors or you might choose sweets that are special to you and your partner. If the two of you have a thing for peanut M&Ms and Red Vines, by all means, include them in your buffet. This is a fun and interactive way that your guests can take a piece of your wedding day home with them… if it even makes it that far. They’ll probably end up nibbling it all up on the car ride home. But that’s okay. They’ll finish the night with sweet dreams.

wedding-day-candy-buffet

Thank You, Honey!
Place settings at guests’ tables can’t get any sweeter when they’re adorned with little jars of clover honey. Following a theme such as “Sweeter Than Honey” or “Meant To Bee,” you can personalize your jars with your names and date. Honey is a thoughtful and practical favor as guests can take it home and use it in cooking and baking, lasting more than just a few bites like other sweets. You can choose from several different phrases and designs and your guests will leave your wedding, buzzing with joy!