By COLlive reporter
The Avtzon sisters, who serve as Chabad Shluchos in 5 different cities, were trying to think of ways to engage their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic which has been keeping everyone isolated in their homes.
They came up with the idea of welcoming them into their own kitchens.
“6 sisters, across 3 time zones making Shabbos in 1 hour” was the pitch for them all to each present a different dish for Shabbos and demonstrate how it is done in their own kitchen.
Challah was going to be baked by Nene Schmukler of Corpus, Texas, and spinach salad prepared by Runya Wagner who serves at University of Southern California – Los Angeles. Her neighboring sister in Los Angeles, Mushky Yiftach, was going to cook spicy salmon, while her sister Aidella Blesofsky in Springfield, New Jersey, was going to demonstrate how to make potato kugel.
They were to be joined by their sisters from Crown Heights, Hesha Avtzon and Menucha Avtzon , who were going to take charge of preparing dessert – a double frosted marble bundt cake.
They presented it this past Thursday on Zoom. “There were over 100 participants in the live zoom,” one of them COLlive.com, and after we posted it, there were over 600 views in less than a day on different platforms. So many viewers are sending us their dishes and great feedback. Many women are proud first time Kugel makers…”
M.F. commented: “I sat with my kids and we all watched it! We were rolling with laughter! You were all so funny and entertaining! Then we had to start making everything! Of course, we started with the cake! Finally, I had to put the kids to bed, so I will frost it with them tomorrow! Good Shabbos! Hope to look for that rice in stores tomorrow to make it!”
Another, S.L. wrote, “Thanks for letting us be part of your sisterhood.” And D.G. said it was the “first time my kugel came out perfect!”
COLlive.com presents the full video and their recipes.
VIDEO:
RECIPES:
Shabbos Challah / Nene Schmukler – Corpus, Texas
-Recipe for 2 Challahs-
1 Tbsp dry yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
1/3 cup warm water
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 Lbs Flour (High gluten will make your challahs softer but regular works as well)
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 2/3 cup warm water
Mix first 3 ingredients together. Let yeast sit for a few minutes until bubbles form. Add all ingredients besides flour. Mix. Gradually add in flour and mix until dough forms. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Let rise for 1 – 2 hr.
braid + eggwash + add toppings of choice
Second rising 1 hour
bake 350 for 40-45 minutes
Spinach Salad / Runya Wagner – Los Angeles, California
Fresh spinach leaves
Hearts of palm
Scallions
Uncle Bens original Rice – Puffed
(oil for heating rice)
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup vinegar
4 TBL brown sugar
4 TBL Mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper to taste
Rice- heat up oil in a pan very hot and then add rice – let it puff and then drain the oil on a paper towel in a pan / plate
Add to salad
Double Frosted Marble Bundt Cake / Hesha Avtzon and Menucha Avtzon – Brooklyn, NY
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups oil
2 TSP vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups soy or rice milk
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup melted semi-sweet chocolate chips
White glaze
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 tbsp soy or rice milk
Chocolate glaze
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
3 tbsp cocoa
3-4 Tbsp hot water
Preheat oven 350
Combine eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla & mix
Add milk – mix well
Add in dry ingredients
Pour in 2/3 of batter into prepared pan
Add melted chocolate to remaining batter & mix
Drizzle chocolate batter over white batter
Take knife / spatula and swirl to create the marble effect
Take 45- 50 minutes
Let cool 20 minutes and prepare glazes
Drizzle while and chocolate glaze over cake to create a striped effect (using piping / ziplock bags and cutting tip at end is great for this!)
Spicy Salmon / Mushky Yiftach – Los Angeles, California
Side of salmon
2 red bell peppers
2 green bell peppers
4 tomatoes
2 carrots
2 bunches of cilantro
6-7 cloves of garlic
Jalapeno (if want spicier)
1 can tomato sauce
Oil, water, salt, black pepper, paprika
Red pepper flakes
Heat up oil in pan on High fire
Cut peppers into bell shape slices
Cut tomatoes and carrots into slices
Place half of them layered into pan
Add salmon
Layer the remaining peppers, tomatoes and carrots
Add in garlic and cilantro (jalapeno)
In a separate bowl, mix sauce and spices
Pour over the salmon
Cook on high fire 15 minutes
Low fire – 30 minutes
Alternative: place all in pan and bake covered on 350 for 45 minutes – 1 hr
Potato Kugel / Aidella Blesofsky – Springfield, NY
8 potatoes
1 large onion
1 cup oil
6 eggs
2 TSP salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 550
In food processor, use ‘S’ Blade and combine all ingredients besides the potatoes
Switch to the grating/kugel blade
Grate the potatoes and add to your mixture
Mix well
Bake 550 25 – 30 minutes
Lower to 400 for an additional 1 hour
Since I grew up, every time I would stay in Crown Heights I would be invited by the Avtzon family (their parents), what a Zechus they have and Dugma Chaya it is. Today their kids continue this wonderful tradition trough Shlichus as well as their son Moishy and Devorah Leah (ch) who’s home is always open warmly with guests and family. Go Avtzons
AG
My facebook feed is full of Sisters doing Shabbat..so many shluchos are doing it now- great idea!
every Shucha is doing this now! Some even are doing with husbands
I watched Thrusday and loved it! Can’t wait for this weeks show! Keeps my kdis entertained!
What incredible achdus! Im so impressed.
Thank you Avtzan sisters
nice
This is a delightful and wonderful way to connect and learn important skills. It’s heartwarming to see young women teach homemaking ideas. Practical and inspiring!
Thank you, Avtzon sisters!!
Smart, funny, talented
And amazing all around!
Love you!!
– your lucky friend
I’ve had two Avtzon girls teach my daughters _ they can make anything fun!
One of The best Morahs ever! The apples didn’t fall far from the tree. Shira taught me and my daughter. We both loved her and her classes!
Shira- continued nachas from your beautiful family.
Yehudis Leiter
This is my first time writing a review! You ladies are magnificent and bring so much love, light and energy to the world. Keep on doing what you are doing.
nicest person around
From a Sara Schnerer student 🙂
I feel part of the fam!
Such beautiful ladies. So lively. Love it. Can’t wait for more.
I used to babysit this fam in seminary years. All the credit to these confident, happy, beautiful, funloving girls go to their Mom, Shira!
Such a fun and entertaining show to watch . I enjoyed every minute ! Especially loved the potatoe kugel scene … got a lot of new tricks from that one !
Loved it!! Such a fun and entertaining show. I enjoyed every minute!! I got a lot of great new recipes!
Please make another one! Way to go Avtzon sisters!!
really great guys !!!
Enjoyed the segment very much
Looking forward to seeing the next installment
Your proud aunt from Toronto
Go runyah your cooking is awesome
The recipes seem delicious! One point, however.
According to The Spice and Spirit Cookbook, one doesn’t take challah when the flour is less than 2 lb. 11 oz (1230 grams), one separates without a bracha for 2 lb 11 oz to 3 lb. 11 oz. (1666 grams) and one separates with a bracha when using more than 3 lbs. 11 oz of flour (about 12 cups of flour).
In the video she put the 2 lb dough in a bowl on the side, and brought another bowl that had 5 lbs rising and made a Bracha on that.
Great idea and great attitude too. You can make anything fun if you have the joie de vivre these ladies have. It wasn’t the recipes that kept me watching, it was the warm, happy aveerah. Learned more from that than from the actual recipes. Aidleh, loved your joke about needing to be cut out of the doorway after this pandemic ends.Shared it with others in your name and it made us laugh. May this pandemic end NOW with the sound of THE great shofar. p.s. whichever sibling commented on her sister’s ‘organization’ shouldn’t have done so. That sister gets her… Read more »