I was that mom. When my boys were little I refused to get an
x-box, Nintendo, Sega, or any other game system. I was the “mean” mom who wouldn’t let her boys
win an Olympic gold medal for sitting on the couch and exercising only their
thumbs. They didn’t like it. Fast
forward a few years. Nintendo came out
with the Wii system where you theoretically have to get up and actually
interact with the games. After much cajoling from all the kids we agreed to get
a Wii for our house. We figured (surprisingly
correctly) that when the weather was crummy outside and the kids were looking
for something to do with their friends they could play Wii tennis, or bowling,
or basketball. Fun right? One of the concessions that we made to one of
our older boys was to get a single “non-exercise” based Wii game, Mario Kart,
that he could play with his friends when they came over. For the un-Wii-initiated, in Mario Kart you
have fun, sort of outrageous characters (Funky Kong) , that drive fun, sort of
outrageous cars/carts/motorcycles (can you say Piranha Prowler?!!) and race
against 11 other players along fun, nearly always outrageous race tracks. Along the way players can pick up all kinds
of crazy “weapons” to thwart the other players, like banana peels, vision
obstructing ink, tortoise shells, bombs, and player shrinking lightning bolts –
just to name a few. There are also obstacles along the race path – wacky
characters, cows, ghosts, and big character smushing things. It’s essential to stay on the road the whole
time because if you lose control of your car, you end off careening into an
endless abyss yelling “noooooooooooooooooooooo” – until the an imaginary game character
gently places you back onto the track (usually in 12th place of
course) and you continue on trying to finish the race – hopefully not in last
place! It turns out that I am terrible
at Mario Kart. I love playing
(shame on me, right?) but I always seem to be running into the obstacles,
getting hit by another player’s ink, bombs, or shrinking lightning, and just
when I’m actually in first place I end up flying off into the endless abyss
yelling “noooooooooooooooooooooo” and in last place again. The best part – no matter how many times you
crash or fall into the abyss you never die, you just come back to the game to
try again. I have even practiced by
myself a few times (don’t tell my kids – I’ll be the source of endless
ridicule) and when I do I sometimes manage to come in first place – but when “real-life”
comes into play, i.e playing against actual opponents I’m lucky if I don’t come
in last.
The last time I was playing Mario
Kart I had an epiphany. My life
is Mario Kart. I feel like I’m
constantly racing with all kinds of crazy obstacles constantly being thrown in
my path. And just when I feel like I’m
getting ahead and things are going according to plan, something happens and I’m
flying off into an endless abyss yelling “noooooooooooooooooooooo”!!! I’m secretly planning and “practicing” hoping
that the next time I’m faced with a challenge I’ll be better equipped to handle
it, but more often than not - “noooooooooooooooooooooo”!!! This week B”H, I’ve been gently placed back
on the track, hopefully not too far behind to continue with my life’s race.
 |
| How can you resist this salad?!!!! |
One of my current challenges is
getting to Minyan 3 times a day (ok, it’s really two you can theoretically
combine Mincha and Maariv together). I
find it’s kind of like the Mario Kart banana peel. You’re zooming along your day, actually
accomplishing something, and then “woa!” got to stop and go to minyan!! As there aren’t a whole lot of women saying
kaddish in general, in a sad way it’s kind of nice when I have another woman
with me at minyan saying kaddish. I
think it’s something that guys who say kaddish almost take for granted – they are
surrounded by their peers, gaining support and strength from the “chevrah”. So when my friend Leyla, who is saying
kaddish for her Mother, comes to my shul and davens with me, it’s a real
comfort. There is strength and a sense
of connection in two voices saying kaddish versus just one. The added bonus is there is a friend to shmooz
with between Mincha and Maariv (not counting dear husband!). Recently Leyla was in Shul and was mentioning
how she had been so busy that she threw together a super quick dinner of salad
with grilled chicken. She was short a
bunch of ingredients for dressing so she grabbed a bottle of strawberry syrup,
added some vinegar and poured it on the salad – and it was awesome!! The syrup added the sweetness and flavor to
the dressing – no additional sugar needed.
Thanks Leyla – guess what we had for our salad this past week because of
your genius??!! Grilled Chicken and
Raspberry Syrup Vinaigrette Salad!!
I had some grilled chicken breasts left over from last Shabbat, found
some super-delicious-in-season avocados at the mega fruit store, and had a
gorgeous variety of mini heirloom tomatoes freshly picked from the Optimistic Garden. Into the salad with some cut romaine they
went. I grabbed the bottle of raspberry syrup
(that everyone has in their pantry but never knows what to do with), added some
wonderful balsamic vinegar for additional “depth”, a little olive oil and had
an awesome salad – just like Leyla said!
After the salad was completely gone from the serving bowl, sweet son
actually said “Mom, don’t you need more pictures of this salad?” Confused I
said “Huh?” “Well duh, the salad was amazing and I’m trying to get you to make
another one!!” I love it when
things work out!! I’m back on the track,
and maybe, just maybe I won’t come in last….at least this week!!
 |
| Optimistic Garden Tomatoes!!! |
Grilled Chicken and Raspberry
Syrup Vinaigrette Salad
- 16 oz
romaine lettuce, cut into bite size pieces
- 2 small
avocadoes, diced
- 1 cup
cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2
barbecued chicken breasts, shredded into bite size pieces
- 2
tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2
tablespoons raspberry syrup
- 2
tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon
black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon
salt
Place the romaine lettuce,
avocadoes, chicken, and grape tomatoes in a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.
In a small bowl or measuring cup,
combine the balsamic vinegar, raspberry syrup, and extra virgin olive oil. Stir to combine.
Sprinkle the pepper and salt over
the salad, then pour the dressing over the salad. Lightly toss to evenly coat the salad. Serve to your hungry family!
All the fresh, gorgeous, delicious ingredients!
Pretty and healthy too!
Just make the dressing in a small bowl...
Delicious!!!
(and super easy to make!)
Bonus:
Dried mint from the Optimistic Garden!
Kosher
Everyday is dedicated to the memory of my father
Dr.
Theodore Saltzberg - Tuvia Ben Nachum Z”L
May
his memory be for a blessing - Yihi zichro baruch.
Look for additional information about Edible Experience
Kosher Everyday at www.koshereveryday.com,
aish.com, Mishpacha Magazine’s Kosher Inspired Magazine,
The Chicago Tribune Syndication,
or on Facebook at Edible
Experience by Sharon
These recipes are for sole, personal use of visitors to Sharon
Matten -Edible Experience Kosher Everyday. Edible Experience Kosher
Everyday recipes are for your enjoyment but are not to be posted or reprinted
without express permission from Sharon Matten. Thank you!!
Congratulations!
KosherEveryday is one of the finalists for
the
2011 CBS Most Valuable Blogger Awards!!
Congrats on the nomination!
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