the frazzled mother_s guide to pesach

8/12/2019 The Frazzled Mother_s Guide to Pesach

1/24

The razzled Womans Guide to Pesach

Dear Jewish Woman Attempting to Make Pesach,

Whether this is your first time making Pesach, or perhaps your 20 th, I have a secret to share withyou. Pesach is NOT that scary ! (Dont tell Bubby I said that ) For many, the mere mention of the

word Pesach brings up feelings of panic, terror, and cold sweats. Ive personally seen women with thatdeer in headlights glassy stare on their face at the thought of the upcoming holiday.

The truth is, Pesach is not as complicated as people make it sound. To me, it all boils down to onelittle trick. Thats all? Yes, ONE little trick. Its called Planning and Delegating.

I once heard a woman give an interesting lecture on Pesach (and I wish I could give credit but Idont remember her name, if someone knows, perhaps they can tell me). She said that Pesach is like abig project at your company, and you are the CEO. Just as you would not start planning for a bigevent, program or corporate project a few days before its due, so too Pesach needs time to beplanned.

Another brilliant thing she said is that Pesach is ALWAYS the same. This means, that whether Pesachcomes in March or April, its always 4 weeks after Purim. Its never early or late. And its the sameexact holiday, requiring the same amount each year. No surprises. This is great news! It means, onceyou have a system in place, voila the hard part is done!

Thats the planning part.

Next comes the Delegating part. I am a huge believer in delegation. Whether its divvying up jobs foryour kids, having a detailed list for your cleaning lady, or perhaps working out a schedule with your

hubby, there is no need for you to be a martyr. Delegation all the way baby! You should be proud totake control as the CEO and start delegating to your minions.

I have ONE goal with all this planning and organizing.By the time the Seder rolls around, you should be calm, dressed and prepared, not an overwhelmedfrazzled Balaboosta. The holiday should be a wonderful and uplifting time a time to celebrate ourfreedom!

Happy cleaning,Duby Litvin

The List Maker [email protected]

This booklet is dedicated to all my mothers over the years who, withoutknowing, taught me how to make Pesach, not only in an organized manner, but

with joy and pride.

BSD
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/24

Pesach Grand Shopping ListPesach 2014 / 5774

Number of people for Seders:________ Overnight Guests: _______

Average amount of people per meal: ________

Item: Store: Quantity: Notes For Next Year:Example: Eggs Walmart 6 Dozen Not enough. Buy 8 dozen next year

FRUITS / VEGETABLES: ApplesAvocadoesBananasBeetsButternut SquashCabbage **CantaloupeCarrotsClementinesCucumbersEggplantGarlic fresh **Ginger freshGrapefruitHoneydewKiwi

Lemons (for salads)Lemons for juicingMangoesMaror/ HorseradishOnion redOnionsOrangesOranges for juicingParsnip

PearsPeppers (green)Peppers (red)Peppers (yell/orange)PineapplePotatoes (red)Potatoes (white)

BSD


3/24

Romaine LettuceStrawberries **Sweet potatoesTomatoesTurnipZucchini (green)Zucchini (yellow)

DAIRY /REFIRGERATOR:

American CheeseApple JuiceButterCheese sticks

ChreinCottage CheeseCream CheeseEggsFarmer CheeseIce creamLemon JuiceMargarineMilk

Orange JuiceSour CreamYogurt / Leben

DRY GOODS:ChocolateChocolate nosh **CocoaCoffeeGefilte fish (jarred)Honey


4/24

Macaroons **MatzahMatzah Farfel **Matzah Meal **Nuts: groundNuts: whole mixedbag snack

OilPotato StarchSalt (Kosher)SeltzerSpices: Garlic PowderSpices: Onion PowderSpices: PaprikaSpices: PepperSugarTea (assorted flavors)Tomato Sauce / PasteWater

MEAT/CHICKEN/FISH:

Chicken bones (for

soup)Chicken legs/ thighsChopped meatGefilte FishGergels for ZeroahRoast / BrisketSalmonSchnitzelSteak

Stew meatMisc. type FishWhite FishWhole ChickenFlounder Fish


5/24

MATZAH / WINE /GRAPE JUICE

Type: Quantity Store: Notes for Next Year: Shemurah Matzah:Regular WhiteShemurah Matzah:Whole WheatShemurah Matzah:Other (spelt)Machine Matzah **Wine for SederWine for KiddushGrape Juice regularGrape juice low sugar

PAPER GOODS /HOUSE SUPPLIES:

Aluminum Foil (heavyduty)Aluminum Foil(regular)Aluminum tins 9x13Aluminum tins 11x17Aluminum Tins X sizeBody WashBrilloCandlesContact Paper /LinoleumDeodorantDish SoapFridge Liners (fridge,

freezer)Garbage bagsGloves (surgical)Hot cupsMatchesMouthwashMuffin tins (disposable)


6/24

NapkinsPainters TapePaper bowlsPaper Plates largePaper Plates smallPaper towelsPlastic cups

Plastic SilverwarePlastic tableclothRack for SinkShampoo &ConditionerShelf Liner (Cabinets)Sponges Blue, Green,RedTableclothTablecloth(disposable)Tablecloth(underneath pad)TapeTea lightsTissuesToilet PaperToothbrushToothpaste

ToothpicksYartzeit LichtZiploc Bags (large)Ziploc Bags (small)


7/24

KITCHEN APPLIANCES/UTENSILS:

Ed. depending what you need. This list will shrink and change each year you make Pesach becauseyou will need less items each time.

Misc. Items Bedikas Chomatz SetMakeup (new lipsticketc.)VitaminsMedicines

** There are many different customs and stringencies regarding Pesach foods. I chose toinclude a variety of items on my Grand Shopping List to help a variety of people.Foods or items with ** are those that many families wont use. If youre confused, thats ok,we all are! Feel free to ask your LOR, consult The Laws of Pesach a Passover guide by RabbiBlumenkrantz OBM, or if all else fails, just ask your mother in law if you need help.


8/24

Pesach Cleaning Checklist(**customize your Checklist based on your home)

Living Room: Floor Vacuumed / Washed

Bookshelves Dusted Books taken out and dusted Coffee tables / end tables Windows washed (extra) Art work / photographs dusted Lamps dusted Couches moved and vacuumed Armchairs moved and vacuumed Fireplace dusted / washed

Dining Room: Sweep / Wash floors Vacuum and wash chairs

Breakfront/ china cabinet Wash windows (extra) Dust chandelier Bookshelves Dusted Books taken out and dusted

Front Entrance / Hallways: Floors swept / washed / vacuumed Closets Artwork

Master Bedroom: Floor washed / vacuumed Move bed wash underneath Dust dressers / night tables Inside dressers dust Dust ceiling fan Dust mirrors Closet

Kids Bedroom: Floor washed / vacuumed

Dust dressers / night tables Inside dressers Dust lamps Closet Dust bookshelves Toys go through bins

Kids Bedroom 2: Floor washed / vacuumed Dust dressers / night tables Inside dresserts Dust lamps

BSD


9/24

Closet Dust bookshelves Toys go through bins

Kids Bedroom 3: Floor washed / vacuumed Dust dressers / night tables

Inside dressers Dust lamps Closet Dust bookshelves Toys go through bins

Family Room: Floors washed / vacuumed Bookshelves and books Video cabinets Toy Chests Couches and lounge chairs Computer desk Toys

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Basement: Vacuum / wash floors

Laundry Room:

Garage:

Outdoor patios (front / back)

Kitchen: Floor Fridge Freezer Garbage Can Meat stove Milk Stove Meat Oven Milk Oven Table


10/24

Chairs Drawers Countertops Backsplashes Cabinets Pantry Microwaves Ceiling fan / light fixtures Windows

Misc: Cleaning: Computer keyboards and mice Laptops Iphones / smartphones Purses Wallets Coat pockets Car #1 Car #2 School bookbags wedding rings baby strollers


11/24

Cleaning Lady Ideas List**many people have told me that they have cleaning help, but are just not sure what to have them do. Below is

a list of suggested tasks that can be delegated to cleaning help, someone who is not familiar with the laws ofPesach.

All Floors Vacuumed Swept Washed:- Living room / Dining Room / Family

rooms / Bedrooms

All baseboards dusted and washed:- Living rooms / Dining Rooms /

Bedrooms / hallways

Toys in Playroom- Washed / organized

All Windows:

- Windows is NOT a Pesach cleaningmust, but is nice for to have themdone for the holidays. Windowsills areOFTEN a place for dropped crumbs these should be dusted / vacuumedout.

Basic Dusting:- Basic dusting of Shelves, cabinets and

drawers can be done by a cleaninglady.

- Duby likes to do these with thecleaning lady while she cleans, Dubymakes sure its Pesach cleaned as well.Books / trinkets are washed andmoved properly. Books flippedthrough etc.

- Breakfront (China cabinets) can bewashed / polished by a cleaning lady

Hallways Entrances:- Swept and washed

- Art work dusted

Furniture:- Another advantage of cleaning with a

cleaning person, is that you can movefurniture (such as a bed / night table)while she washed / vacuumsunderneath. It saves time and energyand gets the job done!

Bathrooms:- All bathrooms should be done by the

cleaning lady

Closets:- Closets I find to be a bit difficult. Coat

pockets need to be done by you (orother family member), and dependingon how messy the closet it, it might beeasier for a family member to takecare of it. However, closet floors(vacuumed) can be done by thecleaning person.

Kitchen: Review with Shmully Kitchen items- Floor -- Fridge- Table- Countertops- Stove top- Stove hood- Microwave- Cabinets

Hooray for a clean house!!

BSD


12/24

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 5774** use this chart to help keep you organized in the weeks before Pesach. Mark down all errands, cleaning tasks and things needing to be done.

This will ensure nothing will be forgotten about. Beneath the chart Ive included my suggestions of things to include.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday ShabbosMarch 16 / 14 Adar 2

PurimMarch 17 / 15 Adar 2

Shushan Purim March 18 / 16 Adar 2 March 19 / 17 Adar 2 March 20 / 18 Adar 2 March 21 / 19 Adar 2 March 22 / 20 Adar 2

Parshas Parah

March 23 / 21 Adar 2 March 24 / 22 Adar 2 March 25 / 23 Adar 2 March 26 / 24 Adar 2 March 27 / 25 Adar 2 March 28 / 26 Adar 2 March 29 / 27 Adar 2Parshas HaChodesh

Suggested Items for Countdown:- Deadlines for: rooms being Pesach

cleaned- Deadlines for: Closets / Drawers /

Bookshelves Pesach cleaned- Clean out purses / coats / computers- Car wash / cleaned- Shopping paper goods / dry goods /

perishables- Kasher kitchen / change over to Pesach- Work on menu

- Take clothes to cleaners / Pick upcleaners

- Wash Sheitel- Get Nails done / Eyebrows- Kasher Becher / kasher other items- Wash all linen / towels- Wash Pesach tablecloths and towels- Sell Chomatz- Haircuts- Try on clothes see what fits

- Shopping for new clothes / shoes /Tights / Pantyhose

- Hats brushed and cleaned- Deliver Shmurah Matzah to people who

need- Order items from New York if out of

town- Toivel new items- Polish silver / Leichter- Invite and confirm guests


13/24

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 57742 weeks to go !!!!

** use this chart to help keep you organized in the weeks before Pesach. Mark down all errands, cleaning tasks and things needing to be done.This will ensure nothing will be forgotten about. Beneath the chart Ive included my suggestions of things to include.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday ShabbosMarch 30 / 28 Adar 2 March 31 / 29 Adar 2 April 1 / 1 Nissan

Rosh Chodesh NissanApril 2 / 2 Nissan April 3 / 3 Nissan April 4 / 4 Nissan April 5 / 5 Nissan

April 6 / 6 Nissan April 7 / 7 Nissan April 8 / 8 Nissan April 9 / 9 Nissan April 10 / 10 Nissan April 11 / 11 NissanYud leph Nissan

April 12 / 12 NissShabbat HaGad

Youre doing a great job !


14/24

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 5774Pesach Is Here! Officially a Chomatz Free Zone

** I included the actual days of Yom Tov on the Countdown chart. Use this page to mark down names of your guests, outings planned with thefamily and other things needing to be done over Yom Tov.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday ShabbosApril 13 / 13 NissanBidekas Chomatz

April 14 / 14 NissanErev PesachFirst Seder

April 15 / 15 NissanYom Tov Day 12nd Seder

April 16 / 16 NissanYom Tov Day 2

April 17 / 17 NissanChol Hamoed 1


April 19 / 19 NissShabbat Chol Ham


April 21 / 21 NissanShvii Shel Pesach

April 22 / 22 NissanAcharon Shel Pesach

April 23 / 23 NissanIsru Chag

** Go through youroriginal lists & marknotes for next year.

**E-mail Duby withquestions & feedbackon her lists so she canimprove for next [email protected]

April 24 / 24 Nissan April 25 / 25 Nissan April 26 / 26 Nissan

Another successful Pesach with the family! Congratulate yourself on a job well done!


15/24

Food Items To be Made Frozen Before Pesach:(mark on Countdown Calendar)

Food Item Delegated Person Finished By CompletedExample: 3 Brownies Daughter April 1 2 finished so far

Suggested Items to be made in advance Cakes / brownies / desserts / ice creams Gefilte Fish patties Meatballs Kugels

Soups Breaded Eggplant Chicken / Roasts / Briskets Dips

BSD


16/24

Food Ideas for Pesach:Updated: Pesach 2014

**use this list each year to help you create your menus. Add to it when you find new recipes each year!

Fish:Baked Gefilte Fish RollBaked SalmonBoiled G-Fish

Breaded TilapiaFish PattiesFlounder fried (with egg/potato starch)Poached SalmonSalmon pattiesWhite Fish

Salads Appetizers Dips:BabaganushBeet SaladCarrot SaladCole SlawCucumber SaladEgg SaladFresh SaladFruit SaladGuacamoleMock Chopped LiverPotato SaladRoasted Potato SaladWaldorf Salad

Soup

Chicken SoupMushroom SoupOnion SoupPotato SoupVeggie soup pureeZucchini Soup

Main Dishes:Beef stewBreaded schnitzel / Chicken FingersBrisketCheese BlintzesChicken roastedChicken SaladCitrus ChickenEggplant ParmesanHamburgersMeat Loaf

MeatballsPoached Chicken with PestoPotted ChickenRoast

Stuffed CabbageStuffed Chicken BreastWine Chicken

Side Dishes:Apple KugelBeetsButternut squash pieCabbage and onionsCottage cheese latkesDoughless potato knishesEggplant RatatouilleFried EggplantKishkeMashed Potatoes with onionsOnion KugelPotato KugelPotato LatkesPotato wedgesRoasted Sweet PotatoesRoasted VegetablesRosemary baby red potatoesSpaghetti Squash

Steamed carrotsStir Fry (Zuchinni Tomato, Onion)Sweet Potato kugel (regular / fruity)TzimmisVegetable QuicheZuchinni / squash muffinsZuchinni KugelZuchinni Latkes

Cake And DessertsApple CrispBanana CakeBrowniesChocolate Nut CakeFruit SaladIce Cream different flavorsSponge Cake

B


17/24


18/24

Pesach Menu Template 2014 / 57742 nd Half of Pesach

ridayApri l 18 / Chol Hamoed 2

Shabbos Apri l 19 / Sh abbos ChMd

Sunday Apri l 20 / Chol Hamoed 4

Monday Apri l 21 / Y T Day 7

Tuesday Apri l 22 / Y T Day 8

Lunch:

Friday Night Meal:

Lunch Meal:

Shalosh Seudos:

Lunch:

Night Meal:

Lunch Meal:

Night Meal:

Lunch Meal:


19/24

Last Minute Bidekas Chomatz Checklist:

To Do Person in Charge CompletedPut away all food items in kitchen (ie.Cereal boxes)

Tape up cabinets not usingCover up alcohol in breakfrontCover food in other rooms(basements/storage rooms)Cover shelf with cookbooksThrow out toothbrushes /put out newEmpty Lint from dryerEmpty vacuum cleaner bagEmpty garbage / clean garbage canPut away Chomatz / shot glasses in DRPut away tea boxes from DRCover / put away Challah boards, Challahknives, Challah coversPut away Chomatz soaps and medicinesCover kitchen and DR tables with Pesachtablecloths

Smile! Youre Almost there!

BSD


20/24

Erev Pesach Checklist

To Do Delegated person CompletedBoil eggs for SederBroil Zeroah

Shred MarorMake CharosesWash Romaine, dry, wrap upBoil potatoes for KarpasSalt WaterSet TablePut up hot water urnTurn off lights in FridgeEiruv Tavshilin (if needed)Set oven / StoveTake a nap!!!Manicure for the lady folk Put wine/ Grape juice in the fridge

Phew! You made it!

BSD


21/24

First Time Making Pesach? No Problem**A common question I get is from someone who is about to make Pesach for the very first time and

doesnt know what she will need for her Pesach kitchen. My suggestion is to start slow. It can be alittle overwhelming and draining on your bank account if you try to buy an ENTIRE Kitchen for Pesach

in your first year. It helps if you build up slowly each year, adding new appliances, dishes etc, andbefore you know it, youll be a seasoned Pesach maker . Below is a simple list of the bone basics tohelp you get started in your Pesach kitchen. You can definitely get by on a lot less to make Pesach, so

feel free to customize your list based on your needs and holiday plans.

Item Quantity StoreChicken ScissorsCutting boards (at least 2)Dish towelsDrinking GlassesFood processorFood storage containersFrying pans meat (large andsmall)Hand mixer (for making cakes)Immersion blender (blendedsoups)Juice squeezerKnives for dairyKnives for meatMeasuring spoons and cupsMixing bowls setNut cracker

Oven mitts / pot holdersPeelers (at least 2)Pitchers for water / juicePot for eggs (large)Salad spoonsServing bowlsServing plattersServing spoons / forksSet of dishes for dairy(yes, you CAN use paper, the

world will not come to an end)Set of dishes for meatSet of pots for dairy (**Dubysuggests starting out with onelarge frying pan for dairy andone pot unless you know youlike to cook a lot of dairy)


22/24

Set of pots for meatSilverware for dairySilverware for meatSoup ladle (2 if need for dairy)Spatula for meat and dairyTea kettle or hot water urnWashing cup

Items For Your Seder Table:

Item Quantity StoreAfikoman BagBowl for Salt waterHagaddahsKiddush CupsKos Shel EliyahuPillows Seder plates / Kaarah

Hahaha! Youre doing a great job! Dont forget to breathe


23/24

Notes For Next Year** use this to jot down reminders to yourself for the following year. For example:

a. Note to self: kids under 10 should use regular glasses and not expensive stemware for Seder.b. Note to self: buy new stemware set

Dont Forget to Buy for Next Year Notes to My Future Self

Another successful Pesach with the family!

Congratulate yourself on a job well done!


24/24

I hope you found this booklet to be helpful.I have no doubt that there are mistakes scattered throughout the

pages. I would like to hear your feedback please let me know if youfound any spelling mistakes, omissions of items, suggestions for

changes or any additions. I greatly appreciate it!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Kosher & Freilichin Pesach!

Duby Litvin

Louisville, [email protected]

the frazzled mother_s guide to pesach

Documents