THE KOSHER NEXUSA Publication of the Union For Traditional JudaismCopyright 1996-1999 Union for Traditional Judaism Vol. 4, No. 1 Autumn, 1996, Editor in Chief: Rabbi Jeffrey Rappoport, Editor: Andrea L. Herrera
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Reaching the Kosher Nexus
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It has been the best of years; it has been the worst of years. For your editor, this has been an incredible year. When I had a heart attack back in April, I was absolutely verwhelmed by the response from friends all over the world. I suspect that even the Kadosh Baruch Hu must have been impressed with the sheer number of people asking for a Refuah Shlemah for me!
I had by-pass surgery at the end of May. That, too, occasioned all manner of prayers and notes from people all over the world.
I can honestly say that I am the luckiest man in the world. I cannot thank you enough, my loyal readers, for your prayers and good wishes and donations to Tzedakah. Clearly, it all worked. To know that people all over the world are praying for you is an awesome feeling, one that defies description.
I am still recuperating as I write this- it will be yet a while until the doctor frees me from "house arrest." One major accomplishment was getting the doctor to allow me to pick up the Nexus and start the new issue. Hence, here we are!
May we all be blessed with good health in the New Year. May we know how to live our lives without stress, but with fulfillment. May we be privileged to celebrate each Yom Tov with family and friends for many years to come.
And may the Kosher Nexus be there with us for many, many years! Welcome to our fourth year. Shanah Tova U'Metukah! Sh'nizkeh l'Shanim Rabot, Tovot, V'Ni'eemot!
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Here are some really great freebies for you. Here at the Kosher Nexus, we try to be a full-service magazine. Try these fabulous offers.
From those fun folks at Beano, you can get the Free Beano Bulletin! Simply call 1 800 257 8650, and they will send you fun facts about beans, coupons, and product information. Remember: Beano is O-U certified.
Didn't you always think to yourself, "Hmm, I'll bet there are just hundreds of uses for cranberries, and I only know how to make sauce for Thanksgiving." Well, then, here is your chance to get some really wild cranberry recipes. Call Ocean Spray (they are Triangle K for most of their products) at 1 800 662 3263. Ask for their cranberry recipe book.
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Well, it is official. Yes, indeed, Sushi is no longer to be considered just a flash in the pan (so to speak). How do we know? Simple. The New York Times did an article on the new, kosher sushi restaurants that have opened in New York City. And if it's in the Times, then it must be real! Try out these places, and if you don't like them, sosumee!!
FUJI HANA is located at 512 Avenue U in Brooklyn. Their phone number is 718 336 3888.
FULL MOON GARDEN is located at 167-01 Union Turnpike in Queens. Their phone number is 718 380 2828.
HAIKARA GRILL is located at 1016 Second Ave. in Manhattan. Their phone number is 212 355 7000.
All three restaurants recommend reservations. On Motzei Shabbat, Haikara opens two hours after havdallah. The other two open one hour after havdallah.
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EMPIRE Chicken has announced new EXPRESS MEALS. These ready-to-cook meals are all low in fat, with a maximum of three grams of fat, and take just minutes to prepare. Choices include: Chicken Stir Fry, Chicken Fajitas, and Chicken and Pasta. Each large green bag contains a complete meal. The vegetables are from Bodek, so you don't have to worry about checking. Call Empire at 1 800 367 4734 and find out where you can buy these babies! Hmm, those Chicken Fajitas sound mighty good to us!
We found a most amusing caption on a product. The product was Abraham's All Natural Hummos. On the label it said, "Middle Eastern Foods from Middle Eastern New Jersey."
Hashgacha is by the K-W: Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer of the Young Israel of West Hempstead (NY) (Independent). You can reach the rabbi at 516 481 7429.
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From the Allen Wertz brand comes SIMPLY SUGAR FREE. These delicious candies are certified by the Tablet K. The candies include decaffeinated coffee time flavor and chocolate and vanilla caramel nougat swirl. These candies are DAIRY.
The FIFTY 50 company also makes sugar-free hard candies. In addition, they state that they donate 50% of their profits to diabetes research. The candies are O-U certified. We tried the Island Fruit Flavor bag, and it was most delicious. You can reach the company at Fifty 50 Foods, PO Box 89, Mendham, New Jersey, 07945.
From Auburn Farms comes RIGHT SNAX. We tried the SPUDBAKERS Potato Snacks which were 98% fat free. The product is O-UD. Varieties include: Original, Sour Cream and Onion, Mesquite, BBQ, and Fat Free Original. You can reach them at Auburn Farms, Inc., PO Box 348180, Sacramento, CA., 95834.
From Venus Wafers, Inc. comes FAT FREE GARLIC AND HERB Crackers. The hashgacha is by the Circle RC. The taste is great!
Elyon has introduced FRUIT FLAVORED MARSHMALLOWS. Elyon makes the only marshmallows with the O-U. Flavors include: strawberry, grape, and banana. The marshmallows are fat free and pareve. They also make Mallow Munch Bars in six delicious flavors. You can order the product direct from Golden Fluff by calling 1 908 367 5448.
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FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF "Oh, when will it ever stop?" The O-U announced that Steinfeld Gourmet has received hashgacha (O-U pareve) on HONEY JALEPENO GHERKINS. Golly! We'll wait!
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Leroux now offers Spiced Blackberry Liqueur. Sounds perfect for a languid summer night.
For all you trendies out there, PLANET HOLLYWOOD Vanilla Yogurt is O-UD.
Pappa Joe has been mighty busy out there in the kitchen cooking up batches of sauce. Look for Pappa Joe's Spaghetti Sauce and his Pizzaletto Pizza Sauce. Both are O-U pareve.
This one has such a great name, it has to be a winner! From Block and Barrel, look for NOT SO SUICIDE potato chips.
On the other hand, for those of you who believe that the greatness of a meal is measured by how often your brother, Marvin, has to dry his bald spot, try these on for size: KRUNCHER'S JALAPENO potato chips are O-U pareve. They are also a four-alarm fire in a bag!
UTZ has finally gone with the O-U (not everything, though: check each product.). Now when we hit those warehouse shopping extravaganzas, we can load up, too! Try the Mesquite Potato Chips!
For those of us who have to watch the salt (and who doesn't these days, darling?), Mrs. Dash has been a friend, a lover, a confidant, and a good dining companion. Well, the old dear has just introduced TOMATO BASIL SALT FREE BLEND. As always, the hashgacha is O-U pareve. CAVEAT EMPTOR!!
Shop Rite brand Tuna in Water is marked with only an O-U on the label. It should say O-U Dairy. The tuna contains casein, which is considered dairy.
TWIZZLERS in Canada are NOT kosher certified according to our friends at Hershey's.
The Coca-Cola Company bottles MR. PIPP and RAMBLIN' ROOT BEER. Neither one has any kosher certification.
Regarding Coke: Coca-Cola is under the O-U only when the O-U appears on the label. On the other hand, all Coca-Cola syrup is certified by the O-U. Local bottling companies add sweeteners (usually corn, as it is the cheapest), water, and carbonation. Many rabbis find this acceptable during the year (but NOT for Pesah). Check with your rabbi.
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JLB of Cucamonga, CA., (and we saved the envelope just so we could have the return address!) wrote and asked about Pyroligenous Acid. He wanted to know what it is. Simple, JLB, it is artificial smoke flavor. It needs hashgacha.
TRR of NYC wanted to know if cocoa butter is always milchiqs. No, TRR, cocoa butter is always pareve! Just because it is called a butter doesn't mean that it is dairy. Cocoa butter is always kosher and pareve.
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THE FANCY FOOD SHOW - PART TWO
Once Again, the Kosher Nexus wishes to thank ace reporters Mitch and Leslie Morrison for filing this report:
Desserts were prominently featured at the show, and one of the best was FANNY'S FAT-
FREE BROWNIES AND CHEESECAKE. The brownies come in blondie style and blueberry. The cheesecakes are great, too. Certification is by the Kof -K, and the product is DAIRY.
Chewys Ruguluch are a new O-U Dairy delight. These babies are pure decadence. The ad says, "One bite is worth a thousand words," and, may we add, a thousand calories! These little dainties are not available in many places, so call 1 800 241 3456 to order. Flavors include: chocolate, raspberry (of course), blackberry, cinnamon/walnut, apple/raisin, and peanut butter/chocolate.
How about that old Philly standard, the pretzel? Well, for starters there's HARRY'S
EVERYTHING PRETZEL. These O-U certified pretzels come in all the latest, trendy flavors. Our favorite was the scintillating tomato basil pretzel.
Pretzel specialist, PLOCKY, has three O-U certified flavors: wheat/honey, sea salt, and sourdough.
Looking for some good coffee dunking food? This year, biscotti is hot.
Look for SAN ANSELMO'S Fat Free biscotti. Under the Half Moon K, the super natural line is all organic.
KAREN'S FABULOUS BISCOTTI is another definite snatch-up. These are O-U Dairy, and come in the following flavors: cranberry orange zest, double double chocolate, and chunky chocolate chip.
Look for AUNT GUSSIE'S BISCOTTI. Under the Kof-K, some are pareve and some are dairy. Check each label.
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ALL NATURAL NEW YORK FLATBREADS now offers a fat-free line. Flavors include: roasted garlic, cracked pepper, honey/cinnamon, and garden vegetable. Hashgacha is by the Kof-K.
ZAPP'S GATOR-TATORS out of Canada is certified by the COR. These spicy, crunchy corn chips are most delish!
Also out of Canada is this fine food: MILKKIK DAIRIES INC. This company makes puddings to die for. Even Bill Cosby would smile! Certification is by the MK and the VHK. Try the French Vanilla or the Belgian chocolate. Mmmmmm!
From Cape Town, S. A., comes CERES fresh fruit juices. Kosher only when the Star K appears on the label, the flavors include: Litchi, Apricot, Guava, Mango, Passion Fruit, and Youngberry (indigenous to S. A.). The drink has no preservatives nor any added sugars.
CAFFE D'ORO offers Half Moon K certified cappuccinos. The drink is low fat and low in calories. Flavors include: white chocolate raspberry, hazelnut, macadamia, and eight other flavors as well!
Mitch and Leslie live in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Mitch is a reporter for the Times Leader. Leslie teaches healthy cooking classes, and she is a graduate of the National Gourmet Cooking School. Look for healthy recipes from Leslie in future issues of the Kosher Nexus.
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