BSD

The Frazzled Womans Guide to Pesach

Dear Jewish Woman Attempting to Make Pesach, Whether this is your first time making Pesach, or perhaps your 20th, I have a secret to share with you. 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 that deer 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 one little 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 I dont remember her name, if someone knows, perhaps they can tell me). She said that Pesach is like a big project at your company, and you are the CEO. Just as you would not start planning for a big event, program or corporate project a few days before its due, so too Pesach needs time to be planned. Another brilliant thing she said is that Pesach is ALWAYS the same. This means, that whether Pesach comes in March or April, its always 4 weeks after Purim. Its never early or late. And its the same exact holiday, requiring the same amount each year. No surprises. This is great news! It means, once you 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 for your 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 to take 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 overwhelmed frazzled Balaboosta. The holiday should be a wonderful and uplifting time a time to celebrate our freedom! Happy cleaning,

Duby Litvin

The List Maker 2014 mrsduby@gmail.com This booklet is dedicated to all my mothers over the years who, without knowing, taught me how to make Pesach, not only in an organized manner, but with joy and pride.

Pesach Grand Shopping List

Pesach 2014 / 5774
Number of people for Seders:________ Overnight Guests: _______ Average amount of people per meal: ________

BSD

Example: Eggs

Item:

Walmart

Store:

6 Dozen

Quantity:

Not enough. Buy 8 dozen next year

Notes For Next Year:

FRUITS / VEGETABLES:
Apples Avocadoes Bananas Beets Butternut Squash Cabbage ** Cantaloupe Carrots Clementines Cucumbers Eggplant Garlic fresh ** Ginger fresh Grapefruit Honeydew Kiwi Lemons (for salads) Lemons for juicing Mangoes Maror/ Horseradish Onion red Onions Oranges Oranges for juicing Parsnip Pears Peppers (green) Peppers (red) Peppers (yell/orange) Pineapple Potatoes (red) Potatoes (white)

Romaine Lettuce Strawberries ** Sweet potatoes Tomatoes Turnip Zucchini (green) Zucchini (yellow)

DAIRY / REFIRGERATOR:
American Cheese Apple Juice Butter Cheese sticks Chrein Cottage Cheese Cream Cheese Eggs Farmer Cheese Ice cream Lemon Juice Margarine Milk Orange Juice Sour Cream Yogurt / Leben

DRY GOODS:
Chocolate Chocolate nosh ** Cocoa Coffee Gefilte fish (jarred) Honey

Macaroons ** Matzah Matzah Farfel ** Matzah Meal ** Nuts: ground Nuts: whole mixed bag snack Oil Potato Starch Salt (Kosher) Seltzer Spices: Garlic Powder Spices: Onion Powder Spices: Paprika Spices: Pepper Sugar Tea (assorted flavors) Tomato Sauce / Paste Water

MEAT/CHICKEN/FISH:
Chicken bones (for soup) Chicken legs/ thighs Chopped meat Gefilte Fish Gergels for Zeroah Roast / Brisket Salmon Schnitzel Steak Stew meat Misc. type Fish White Fish Whole Chicken Flounder Fish

Type:

Quantity

MATZAH / WINE / GRAPE JUICE

Store:

Notes for Next Year:

Shemurah Matzah: Regular White Shemurah Matzah: Whole Wheat Shemurah Matzah: Other (spelt) Machine Matzah ** Wine for Seder Wine for Kiddush Grape Juice regular Grape juice low sugar

PAPER GOODS / HOUSE SUPPLIES:

Aluminum Foil (heavy duty) Aluminum Foil (regular) Aluminum tins 9x13 Aluminum tins 11x17 Aluminum Tins X size Body Wash Brillo Candles Contact Paper / Linoleum Deodorant Dish Soap Fridge Liners (fridge, freezer) Garbage bags Gloves (surgical) Hot cups Matches Mouthwash Muffin tins (disposable)

Napkins Painters Tape Paper bowls Paper Plates large Paper Plates small Paper towels Plastic cups Plastic Silverware Plastic tablecloth Rack for Sink Shampoo & Conditioner Shelf Liner (Cabinets) Sponges Blue, Green, Red Tablecloth Tablecloth (disposable) Tablecloth (underneath pad) Tape Tea lights Tissues Toilet Paper Toothbrush Toothpaste Toothpicks Yartzeit Licht Ziploc Bags (large) Ziploc Bags (small)

KITCHEN APPLIANCES/UTENSILS:
Ed. depending what you need. This list will shrink and change each year you make Pesach because you will need less items each time.

Misc. Items
Bedikas Chomatz Set Makeup (new lipstick etc.) Vitamins Medicines

** There are many different customs and stringencies regarding Pesach foods. I chose to include 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 Rabbi Blumenkrantz OBM, or if all else fails, just ask your mother in law if you need help.

Pesach Cleaning Checklist

Living Room:

BSD

(**customize your Checklist based on your home)

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

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

Dining Room:
Sweep / Wash floors Vacuum and wash chairs Breakfront/ china cabinet Wash windows (extra) Dust chandelier Bookshelves Dusted Books taken out and dusted

Kids Bedroom:
Floor washed / vacuumed Dust dressers / night tables Inside dressers Dust lamps Closet Dust bookshelves Toys go through bins

Kids Bedroom #2: Front Entrance / Hallways:

Floors swept / washed / vacuumed Closets Artwork Floor washed / vacuumed Dust dressers / night tables Inside dresserts Dust lamps

Closet Dust bookshelves Toys go through bins

Bathroom #1 Bathroom #2 Basement: Kids Bedroom #3:

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

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

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

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 of Pesach.

BSD

All Floors Vacuumed / Swept / Washed:

Living room / Dining Room / Family rooms / Bedrooms

Art work dusted

Furniture:
Another advantage of cleaning with a cleaning person, is that you can move furniture (such as a bed / night table) while she washed / vacuums underneath. It saves time and energy and gets the job done!

All baseboards dusted and washed:

Living rooms / Dining Rooms / Bedrooms / hallways

Toys in Playroom
Washed / organized

Bathrooms:
All bathrooms should be done by the cleaning lady

All Windows:
Windows is NOT a Pesach cleaning must, but is nice for to have them done for the holidays. Windowsills are OFTEN a place for dropped crumbs these should be dusted / vacuumed out.

Closets:
Closets I find to be a bit difficult. Coat pockets need to be done by you (or other family member), and depending on how messy the closet it, it might be easier for a family member to take care of it. However, closet floors (vacuumed) can be done by the cleaning person.

Basic Dusting:
Basic dusting of Shelves, cabinets and drawers can be done by a cleaning lady. Duby likes to do these with the cleaning lady while she cleans, Duby makes sure its Pesach cleaned as well. Books / trinkets are washed and moved properly. Books flipped through etc. Breakfront (China cabinets) can be washed / polished by a cleaning lady

Kitchen: Review with Shmully Kitchen items

Floor Fridge Table Countertops Stove top Stove hood Microwave Cabinets

Hallways / Entrances:
Swept and washed

Hooray for a clean house!!

** 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.

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 5774

Tuesday
March 18 / 16 Adar 2

BSD

Sunday
March 16 / 14 Adar 2 Purim !

Monday
March 17 / 15 Adar 2 Shushan Purim

Wednesday
March 19 / 17 Adar 2

Thursday
March 20 / 18 Adar 2

Friday
March 21 / 19 Adar 2

Shabbos
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 2 Parshas HaChodesh

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

Suggested Items for Countdown:

Take clothes to cleaners / Pick up cleaners 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

** 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.

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 5774 2 weeks to go !!!!

Tuesday
April 1 / 1 Nissan Rosh Chodesh Nissan

BSD

Sunday
March 30 / 28 Adar 2

Monday
March 31 / 29 Adar 2

Wednesday
April 2 / 2 Nissan

Thursday
April 3 / 3 Nissan

Friday
April 4 / 4 Nissan

Shabbos
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 Nissan Yud Aleph Nissan

April 12 / 12 Nissan Shabbat HaGadol

Youre doing a great job !

** 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 the family and other things needing to be done over Yom Tov.

Countdown to Pesach 2014 / 5774 Pesach Is Here! Officially a Chomatz Free Zone
Tuesday
April 15 / 15 Nissan Yom Tov Day 1 nd 2 Seder

BSD

Sunday
April 13 / 13 Nissan Bidekas Chomatz

Monday
April 14 / 14 Nissan Erev Pesach First Seder

Wednesday
April 16 / 16 Nissan Yom Tov Day 2

Thursday
April 17 / 17 Nissan Chol Hamoed 1

Friday
April 18 / 18 Nissan Chol Hamoed 2

Shabbos
April 19 / 19 Nissan Shabbat Chol Hamoed

April 20 / 20 Nissan Chol Hamoed 4

April 21 / 21 Nissan Shvii Shel Pesach

April 22 / 22 Nissan Acharon Shel Pesach

April 23 / 23 Nissan Isru Chag ** Go through your original lists & mark notes for next year. **E-mail Duby with questions & feedback on her lists so she can improve for next year!
mrsduby@gmail.com

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!

BSD

Food Items To be Made / Frozen Before Pesach:

(mark on Countdown Calendar)

Food Item: Example: 3 Brownies

Delegated Person:

Daughter

Finished By: April 1

Completed: 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

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 Roll Baked Salmon Boiled G-Fish Breaded Tilapia Fish Patties Flounder fried (with egg/potato starch) Poached Salmon Salmon patties White Fish Salads / Appetizers / Dips: Babaganush Beet Salad Carrot Salad Cole Slaw Cucumber Salad Egg Salad Fresh Salad Fruit Salad Guacamole Mock Chopped Liver Potato Salad Roasted Potato Salad Waldorf Salad Soup Chicken Soup Mushroom Soup Onion Soup Potato Soup Veggie soup puree Zucchini Soup Main Dishes: Beef stew Breaded schnitzel / Chicken Fingers Brisket Cheese Blintzes Chicken roasted Chicken Salad Citrus Chicken Eggplant Parmesan Hamburgers Meat Loaf Meatballs Poached Chicken with Pesto Potted Chicken Roast Stuffed Cabbage Stuffed Chicken Breast Wine Chicken Side Dishes: Apple Kugel Beets Butternut squash pie Cabbage and onions Cottage cheese latkes Doughless potato knishes Eggplant Ratatouille Fried Eggplant Kishke Mashed Potatoes with onions Onion Kugel Potato Kugel Potato Latkes Potato wedges Roasted Sweet Potatoes Roasted Vegetables Rosemary baby red potatoes Spaghetti Squash Steamed carrots Stir Fry (Zuchinni Tomato, Onion) Sweet Potato kugel (regular / fruity) Tzimmis Vegetable Quiche Zuchinni / squash muffins Zuchinni Kugel Zuchinni Latkes Cake And Desserts Apple Crisp Banana Cake Brownies Chocolate Nut Cake Fruit Salad Ice Cream different flavors Sponge Cake

Food Ideas for Pesach:

Pesach Menu Template 2014 / 5774

1st Half of Pesach

BSD

Sunday
April 13 / Bidekas Chomatz

Monday
April 14 / Erev Yom Tov

Tuesday
April 15 / YT Day 1

Wednesday
April 16 / YT Day 2

Thursday
April 17 / Chol Hamoed 1

Lunch:

Lunch:
**foods not on seder plate

Lunch Meal:

Lunch Meal:

Lunch:

Supper:

Seder 1:

Seder 2:

Supper:

Pesach Menu Template 2014 / 5774

2nd Half of Pesach

Friday
Lunch:

Shabbos
Lunch Meal:

Sunday
Lunch:

Monday
April 21 / YT Day 7

Tuesday
April 22 / YT Day 8

April 18 / Chol Hamoed 2 April 19 / Shabbos ChMd April 20 / Chol Hamoed 4

Lunch Meal:

Lunch Meal:

Friday Night Meal:

Shalosh Seudos:

Night Meal:

Night Meal:

BSD

Last Minute / Bidekas Chomatz Checklist:

To Do:
Put away all food items in kitchen (ie. Cereal boxes) Tape up cabinets not using Cover up alcohol in breakfront Cover food in other rooms (basements/storage rooms) Cover shelf with cookbooks Throw out toothbrushes /put out new Empty Lint from dryer Empty vacuum cleaner bag Empty garbage / clean garbage can Put away Chomatz / shot glasses in DR Put away tea boxes from DR Cover / put away Challah boards, Challah knives, Challah covers Put away Chomatz soaps and medicines Cover kitchen and DR tables with Pesach tablecloths

Person in Charge:

Completed:

Smile! Youre Almost there!

BSD

Erev Pesach Checklist:

To Do:
Boil eggs for Seder Broil Zeroah Shred Maror Make Charoses Wash Romaine, dry, wrap up Boil potatoes for Karpas Salt Water Set Table Put up hot water urn Turn off lights in Fridge Eiruv Tavshilin (if needed) Set oven / Stove Take a nap!!! Manicure for the lady folk Put wine/ Grape juice in the fridge

Delegated person:

Completed:

Phew! You made it!

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 a little 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, and before you know it, youll be a seasoned Pesach maker . Below is a simple list of the bone basics to help 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:
Chicken Scissors Cutting boards (at least 2) Dish towels Drinking Glasses Food processor Food storage containers Frying pans meat (large and small) Hand mixer (for making cakes) Immersion blender (blended soups) Juice squeezer Knives for dairy Knives for meat Measuring spoons and cups Mixing bowls set Nut cracker Oven mitts / pot holders Peelers (at least 2) Pitchers for water / juice Pot for eggs (large) Salad spoons Serving bowls Serving platters Serving spoons / forks Set of dishes for dairy (yes, you CAN use paper, the world will not come to an end) Set of dishes for meat Set of pots for dairy (**Duby suggests starting out with one large frying pan for dairy and one pot unless you know you like to cook a lot of dairy)

Quantity:

Store:

Set of pots for meat Silverware for dairy Silverware for meat Soup ladle (2 if need for dairy) Spatula for meat and dairy Tea kettle or hot water urn Washing cup

Items For Your Seder Table:

Item:
Afikoman Bag Bowl for Salt water Hagaddahs Kiddush Cups Kos Shel Eliyahu Pillows Seder plates / Kaarah

Quantity:

Store:

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

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!


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 you found 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, Kentucky MrsDuby@gmail.com