The Perfect Kitchen Shower Gift

It's shower time and that means trying to find the right gift for the couple who are big on cooking and entertaining> Do you go for the classic ?Or the practical? Something fun or long lasting?

Most couples do have a registry but most of the lsited items are usually picked up by the bridal party or the parents.What are some practical gifts for the couple? You can never go wrong with an air fryer. There are several different types, from the smaller ones to the larger ones that you can even bake cakes in. Power Air Fryers, which Target sells, are the best brand They last a long time and cna hold up to many washings. You could also consider giving the Dash brand one which is much smaller and is perfect for two people. Both Target and Kohl's sell them Another gift that is very practical is an immersion blender. This is  a must especially for those duos who love to make soups and sauces.Kitchen Aid is a good brand and makes for  creamy textures in both soups and sauces. It;'s also great for purees. Crock pots and Instapots are also good gifts to give. These are perfect for couples who work long hours and need a hot meal to come home to. Go with the Classic brand for this. They last a long time and are perfect for cooking up small batches of chili and tomato sauce.

The other way to go is classic and fancy.There is a great site called. Replacements.com that have many vintage sets.Here you can find classic Mikasa and Waterford. They also have very beautiful Christmas sets in a variety of patterns. A twelve piece set called Santa Company can be bought for as low as $59.99.There is also The Night Before Christmas for $69,95 which is a lovely , cheery set that cna be for years. Replacements.com also has beautiful sterling silver flatware sets too. There also also stainless steel sets and various other knives and servers.Try the site for crystal sets too.An elegant gift is a crystal cake stand which definitely be used for holidays and special occasions a brandy decanter is another special and winderfukl gift that will add a touch of class to any home bar. A classic and vintage gift is a hand embroidered tablecloth and napkins. Decades ago this was a cherished and treasured gifts many young's brides prized. You can still find them on Etsy. Embroider it yourself if you';re handy with a needle and thread.If not look to Etsy for beautifully wrought patterns starting at$88. 90.

It's up to you s to what to give at a bridal shower. You can go for practical. You could also try for a classic timeless gift too. It;s your choice and what appeals to you.

The Fluidity Of A Seder.

 Passover starts this Monday, April 22nd and with it comes centuries of recipes and traditions. However like any holiday meal it can be modernized to suit a family's ever changing and growing tastes. It's a perfect marriage for the new and the old.

Regular contributor Joan Nathan wrote about this in Wednesday's New York Times Food section. Passover simply started as a Spring feast>it is thousands of years old with the first one being out lined in the Book Of Exodus. Then the Israelites ate Maror, or what is now known as arugula.This represented the bitterness of enslavement>It;s now dipped in salty water to symbolizes the tears shed during this time. There is also a hard boiled egg, burned in the oven or with a match to symbolizes birth and rebirth. A roasted lamb or beef shank bone and later chicken leg and  roasted beets for vegans and vegetarians symbolize the sacrifuce .Haroseth , gefilte fish , chicken souls and matzoh brittle came later with the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. Ms. Nathan adds her own spin on the meal, with her Polish mother-in-law's take on gelfilte fish, basically fish dumplings made with whitefish, pike and carp. She took the original recipe and reduced the cooking time from two and a half hours to just twenty minutes. Yet a new generation is not into this so she has subbed in a terrine made with salmon or halibut or a white fish salad served on top of matzoh.  She includes this recipe along with one for  brisket and a chocolate hazelnut Schaum torte taken from her son's Danish in-laws

Her family's German influence is there too.She had alwasy ened her seder with her father's chrenslach or a matzog fritter he had while growing up in Germany. There was also another of his favorites a kiss or a Schaum torte. It simply a large meringue with strawberries on top to symbolize Spring. The recipe was carefully written out in German and was made for centuries.It dis get a update thanks to her daughter-in-law's family and with it a new spin.It 's filled with bitter chocolate to cut the sweetness and roasted hazelnuts.What was once was a tradition with a Danish family has now made it to Ms.Nathan's sder where it is a staple.Has her brisket recipe changed this much as well? It's stil cooked with herbs such as thyme and rosemary and made even more flavorful with the addition of crushed or diced tomatoes and red wine.There are also the traditional carrots and celery added as well. Again it;s a versatile piece of meat. For a different spin try smoking it or even barbecuing on the grill. The same goes for her whitefish salad. It can be an original recipe made with mayo, onions and chopped celery. Add dill if you want to or not.

Passover holds traditon but those changed with each generation. Recipes are added. They're improved. It all leads up to a flavorful meal that every generation can enjoy.