The All-American Memorial Day Buffet 2013

25 memorable dishes for Memorial Day celebrations. Many are great for take-alongs or picnics; all work well for entertaining friends or family at indoor or outdoor buffets. Do let us know which ones you try! And, share your favorite buffet recipes with us.

Starters
Green Olive Dip
Guacamole Autentico
Eggplant Caviar with Pita Chips
3 Layer Tex-Mex Dip
Parve Ranch Dipping Sauce with fresh cut veggies

Mains
Mustard Ginger BBQ Wings
BBQ Chicken
BBQ Sauce and BBQ Rub
BBQ Boneless Ribs
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
KosherEye Signature Cole Slaw
Up a Notch Baked Beans
Wickles Potato Salad

Desserts
All American Apple Pie or Peach Crumb Pie
Ice Cream Pie
Marlee's Secret Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cashew Bars
4 ingredient Ice Cream
Bourbon Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

Drinks and Spririts
Lemonade Iced Tea
Honey Mint Spritzer
Salute to America Martini
Singapore Sling
Sangria
Holiday Punch

Zoku

Papergoods.com

KosherEye has made a new discovery and what a find it is! We try to follow up on suggestions from our readers, and so when a KosherEye friend recommended Papergoods.com we checked it out. We found a huge online store of disposables, paper and plastic goods for entertaining, everyday use, Shabbos and special occasions. In fact, we were so impressed that we contacted the company

Zojirushi Virtuoso Bread Maker

Selecting a Breadmaker can be confusing

By Guest Columnist Chef Rachel Willen

Freezer to Microwave to Oven to Table

We look at the Emile Henry bakeware and ovenware line as providing heirloom quality pieces for our kitchens. They are culinary accessories that although sometimes pricey, can last a lifetime and beyond. If a bride adds these to her gift registry, she can be confident that she will not have to purchase replacement pieces for a very long time. The company too is confident in the quality of its products and offers a 10-year warranty.

Our newest Emile Henry culinary wonder is the roasting/lasagna dish we have been testing. It is versatile, and our "go to" ovenware casserole dish for baking or roasting family sized entrees, sides or desserts. This rectangular baking dish is durable, functional and stylish. It multitasks...going directly from freezer to oven, to table, and then into the sink for a hand washing or into the dishwasher. And, due to the hard glaze, cutting and slicing in the dish is possible without the worry of damage or scratches. It is also resistant to chipping. Whew!

We tried our recipes in a large 16.7" x 11"

By Robin Saul - Finalist

When I read about the Manischewitz Cook-off I just couldn't resist entering. I was researching ways to gather funding for my daughter's education, and a $25,000 grand prize (cash and Maytag appliances) would surely help. I really did not think that I would become a finalist but, I do have a knack for creating original recipes that appeal to family and friends- a talent I do not take for granted. I created my original recipe inspired by a picture I had seen of a Panini that was so thin it looked like matzo, not bread. I added mushrooms, mango and balsamic flavors as the sandwich filler.

The contest rules encouraged simple, simple, simple

Two Messy Thumbs Up!

When cooking, we use it all

An Artisan Winery

We are longtime fans of Israel's Recanati Winery, which offers very fine, highly rated reserve selections as well as several satisfying simpler table wines. The Recanati Winery was founded in 2000 by a group of wine lovers led by Lenny Recanati. Their goal was to create a new winery for the production of quality Israeli wines at reasonable consumer prices.

Two of our favorites are Yasmin white and Yasmin red; both appealing selections to keep on hand because they are terrific table wines at value prices. Added to our suggestions are several mid?priced exceptional wines as well as a few in the luxury category. What better time for a wine splurge than at the Seder table? Whichever of these kosher for Passover wines you choose, we hope that you sip your four glasses surrounded by family and friends.

Organic, Kosher for Passover Oil & Vinegar

At Kosherfest 2012 we found a wonderful selection of  oils and vinegars by De La Rosa Real Foods. What a treat ? their products are from Italy and are OU certified kosher and kosher for Passover. Founded 28 years ago by Rabbi Asher Devere Girshberg, the company focused  predominantly on Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Balsamic Vinegar. Two years ago  they saw the need and opportunity to expand their product line and in January 2013 introduced several new organic products.  From Yehudith Girshberg, " The objective of the company is to enhance and promote principles of environmental responsibilities... We want to help to educate people to eat healthier products. Our goal is to make AFFORDABLE Organic Products - or at least natural products - available to the marketplace,  including the neglected kosher marketplace."

The Oils:
Olive oil is a fat obtained from the olive, the fruit of the olive tree (fruit of Olea europaea; family Oleaceae), which is  native to the Mediterranean basin countries. Olive oil is considered by many to be one of the healthy oils. Italy is the second largest country in both production and consumption of olive oil. The De La Rosa Oils are imported from Italy and have  no GMO or additives are added.