While traditional Rosh Hashanah meals consist of foods symbolizing sweetness, blessings and abundance, sometimes the idea of hosting friends and family can make the holiday feel stressful instead of sweet. The coordination of guest dietary restrictions, trying never-before-used recipes and grocery shopping can make even the most seasoned hostess feel a little frazzled.
In an effort to replace frazzled with fabulous, our team has compiled the below tried and true tips:
-Stick with tradition:
Brisket, a Rosh Hashanah staple, is a great option for large dinner parties since it can be made in advance in large quantities and reheated the day of. In fact, allowing the meat to sit overnight actually enhances the flavor of the meat and allows for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. For a white meat alternative, try our recipe for Roasted Chicken with Parsnip, Apple and Apricot Ragout.
-Take a cue from Mother Nature:
Using in-season vegetables is a flavor guarantee. Keep it simple by roasting brussel sprouts, diced sweet potato and romanesco for 45 minutes or until tender and golden brown. Top with a pomegrante vinaigrette made with a 2:1 ration of pomegranate juice to olive oil, salt and pepper.
-Create a custom cocktail:
While the sky's the limit in this category, we love playing off some classic Rosh Hashanah flavors and mixing pomegrante juice, honey and a dry bottle of prosecco. Garnish the glass with pomegranate seeds for a festive finish.
-Educate, educate, educate!:
Give your guests something to remember by enlightening them about little known facts about the holiday like why certain foods are eaten or avoided. We were intrigued by the importance of honey in traditional Rosh Hashanah dinners and will be sharing these fun facts with our own dinner guests:
-Did you know...that honey is the only kosher food that comes from a nonkosher animal? Because honey is actually concentrated in the bee hive rather than by the bee it is not considered a product of the bee itself
-Did you know...that the intense variety of flavors and colors of honey is a result of the type of nectar bees collect
-Did you know...there are 100s of honey varietals. Are favorites are Eucalyptus for it's thick texture, Orange Blossom for its fruitiness and Alfalfa for its mildness--pairs perfectly with a strong cheese!