By Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran
Judaism teaches that we are to enjoy the beauty, benefits, and bounty of creation. However, when it comes to overeating, Judaism is clear that too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
By Rabbi Chaim Loike
Clearbrook Farms has been in the business of making the finest fruit-based products for 85 years. At Clearbrook Farms we believe in only using Grade A fruit to make our preserves and fruit butters. Our fruits are grown by small, family-owned farms in the premium growing regions of the United States. Oregon Black Raspberries are one of the smallest and most unique berries grown in the United States. We use Michigan Red Tart Montmorency Cherries and hand-picked Wild Maine Blueberries. These fruits exemplify the types of regional fruits found in Clearbrook Farms preserves. Clearbrook Farms follows a four-generation family tradition of using the highest-quality ingredients combined with time-honored production methods.
By Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz
City Winery in Manhattan, the borough’s first winery in 40 years, includes a kosher wine facility under the supervision of the Orthodox Union. At the same location, separate from the winery, City Winery is also a special events venue with live music and private event space. Billed as “New York’s innovative winery and seated concert venue,” it’s a 21,000 square-foot space filled with an eclectic range of music and wine-related activities, many with Jewish themes.
By Rabbi Eli Gersten
Leaf through any cookbook and you will be convinced that baker’s cheese is crucial for gourmet dining. I have heard it said that a cheesecake made with anything other than baker's cheese is just simply not worth the calories. With its soft, spongy consistency, baker’s cheese fills the gap between rennet cheeses (such as mozzarella and cheddar) and acid set cheeses (such as cottage cheese and cream cheese). As its name implies, it is often the baker’s cheese of choice for creating real cheese fillings for pies and cakes. Although fundamentally an acid set cheese, because baker’s cheese is made with a touch of rennet, it has the proper degree of firmness that gives cheese cake its proper texture. Baker’s cheese lies on the crossroads between acid cheese and rennet cheese, and as we will see, exactly how it is classified will have important ramifications on its kosher status.
By Rabbi Andrew Gordimer
Dear Rabbi:
While visiting the Summer 2009 Fancy Food Show in New York it was indeed impressive to see more OU certified companies than ever before featuring baked goods, chocolates, olive oils from all around the globe, condiments from Turkey, rice from India, tea from Australia and the list goes on. But I did not notice too many exhibits featuring OU certified cheeses, soft or hard cheeses produced in Italy, Spain, Chile... Why is that? Are there special kosher laws for cheeses? Someone told me that it was more difficult to kosher certify cheeses than chocolate chip cookies. Is that true?
Awaiting your response, with thanks.
By Bayla Sheva Brenner
Kosher dining definitely ain’t what it used to be. “Will it be French, prime rib or sushi tonight?” is not a question kosher diners would have ever imagined asking before the last quarter of the twentieth century. Yet, it looks like the growing attraction to the more exotic kosher fare has joined the classic craving for pastrami on rye with a side of pickles.
By Rabbi David Gorelik
People have enjoyed the sweet taste of processed fruit for ages. Jams and jellies were originally produced many centuries ago in Middle Eastern countries where sugar cane grew naturally. The returning crusaders introduced these products to Europe and they became quite popular by the late Middle Ages. When the Spanish arrived in the West Indies in the 16th century, they preserved the fruit using domestic sugar cane. It is interesting to note that the word jelly can be traced to the French word “gelée” which means “to congeal.” Some claim that marmalade was created in 1561 by the physician to Mary, Queen of Scots. He mixed orange and crushed sugar and this product was able to contain her seasickness.
By Rabbi Binyomin Kaplan
Ever cook or bake something only to have it not emerge from the pan in one piece? Imagine this same issue as it confronts a restaurant or commercial bakery, cooking or baking on a large scale. In Los Angeles in 1948, H. Wayne Hanson, the founder of Par-Way Tryson, had just this problem in mind when he invented an oil-based release coating for cooking surfaces. He owned a bakery and was looking for something to substitute for mineral oil, the release agent commonly used at the time. He had a friend who was performing experiments mixing different oils in order to create a blend that could be put on airplane wings to stop ice from forming on them. This gave Mr. Hanson the idea of mixing different oils for baking purposes. His original cake pan oil was a blend of soybean oil, mineral oil, and lecithin, a highly refined soybean oil product. The cake pan oil proved to work so well that eventually Mr. Hanson left the baking business and decided to devote himself to making oil-based products.
By Rabbi Chaim Goldberg
Fredrikstadt, Norway-based Denomega Nutritional Oils is a leading pioneer of premium taste and odor free Omega-3 ingredients and tailor-made solutions. Denomega focuses exclusively on premium Omega-3 and launched the first ever taste and odor-free Omega-3 ingredients for functional foods.
By Rabbi Chaim Goldberg
It is natural for most Americans to associate Norway with clean, pristine waters. Many Norwegians themselves take pride in how well the country controls pollution and preserves its fjords and glaciers. Ferry service connecting two sides of the same major highway is considered a normal form of transportation (though I was captivated by the views along the way!).
Since Jelly Belly Candy Company converted its entire 190 confectionery delights to become OU kosher certified in 2008, the company has seen whole new markets open. “It’s a sweet world,” reports Herman Rowland, Sr., chairman of the board and fourth generation candy man.
By Rabbi Chaim Loike
OCALA, FL – Hero Preserves, a part of Hero/Beech-Nut Nutrition, is introducing a new line of Premium Fruit Spreads that are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, a highly recognized and valued symbol of kosher certification.
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