A Traditional Passover Treat: Matzo Brei

It is a busy holiday week for many, with Passover beginning at sundown this evening, and Good Friday and Easter Sunday on the horizon. These holidays coincide with the beginning of spring, with much anticipation, symbolism and unique rituals. And as my friend Barbara and I have been discussing on our walks, there are many similarities between these different holidays.

Today's recipe for matzo brei is a personal Passover favorite. As a child, my grandmother and mother often prepared matzo brei. It was not reserved specifically for the Passover holiday, but enjoyed year round. My kids especially enjoy my mother's crispy recipe. We are convinced that her electric frying pan is the key to the crispness. Regardless, we never met a matzo brei that we didn't enjoy. It's also the perfect way to use up any leftover matzo when the holiday nears its end. For those who may not be familiar, matzo brei is sort of a cross between French toast and an omelet, substituting broken pieces of matzo for the slices of bread.

A number of years ago, an article in The New York Times alerted us to the best restaurants for matzo brei in NYC. Only in New York! One of the top recommendations was the Edison Cafe, also known as the Polish Tea Room. Located in the heart of the theatre district in Manhattan, this restaurant is rich with history and stuck in a delightful time warp. The Edison was a family favorite, yet we had never tried their matzo brei. So, off we went. There is no question that it deserves the kudos. It is not only delicious, but the presentation is impressive!

The difference between the Edison's matzo brei and the more traditional recipe has to do with the fact that the Edison serves it as a solid pancake. The more traditional recipe scrambles the eggs and matzo mixture in a pan until crisp. So began my hunt to find a recipe duplicating the Edison’s delicacy. Martha Stewart provides a few matzo brei recipes on her site. This particular recipe is quite comparable to the one at the Edison Cafe. Give it a try. It's easy to make and delicious.

Incidentally, matzo brei can be served savory with salt, pepper, onions and similar additions, or sweet, enjoyed with a sprinkling of sugar, honey or syrup.

Let me know if you try making this recipe and any personal favorite ways for serving this holiday dish.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Seder, a happy Passover, and joyful Easter!




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Countdown to Spring Break with another $1 Bus Fare

Another bus company has sprouted with affordable travel as its mantra. You may remember my mentioning the $1 bus trips on Megabus and Bolt Bus. See my posting on December 11, 2008 for details: Bus Travel for as Low as $1.

Now, TripperBus has jumped on the band wagon offering fares as low as $1, $5 and $10, and as high as $25. It's the same concept as BoltBus and MegaBus, the early bird catches the worm on the best deals.

TripperBus offers travel between New York City and Arlington, VA or Bethesda, MD. While the $1 fares may be hard to come by for spring break, some low fares should still exist. Take a look.

Both DC and NYC, two of my prior hometowns, offer an abundance of opportunities any time of the year, but they are particularly beautiful in the spring!

Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
other than the actual blog or a subscription to the blog,
you can find additional postings from Mom Knows Best at:
http://bloggermomknowsbest.blogspot.com/
where you will also find a link enabling you to subscribe directly to the blog.
Thanks. Mom

Bus Travel for as Low as $1

It is hard to resist traveling when the bus fare can be as little as $1. That is cheaper than riding the subway or bus in most cities and towns.

Both Bolt Bus and Megabus offer fares for the incredibly low price of $1. As with most travel, the earlier you book a trip, the greater the likelihood of finding the lower fare. Bolt offers a minimum of one $1 fare on each bus ride. With that kind of fare, it can be worth booking a trip even if you are not 100% certain that you will be able to travel on that date. While refunds are not possible, losing the dollar plus the nominal processing fee may be worth the risk.

Bolt’s buses are “brand spankin’ new”, equipped with Wi-Fi hot spots, offer greater legroom, and power plug-ins. Not a bad way to travel. The buses operate on the east coast: Boston, New York City, Philly, and DC.

Megabus offers more expanded inter city travel in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.


It is worth looking at both sites. Consider taking that trip you have always desired, or visiting that long lost relative or friend.

Dining at a Discount

It's exam time and you hardly have time to cook for yourself, much less grocery shop. Consider checking out the website Restaurant.com for dining gift certificates at a reduced price.

Personally, I was skeptical when I first read about the site. What was the catch? Why would they sell me a gift certificate for $10 that provided me with $25 off my check? There's no catch; it truly works and it's honorable. Restaurants are hopeful that you will take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a discounted meal, and return time and again, while also recommending them to others. It’s a marketing strategy.

So here’s how it works: Enter your zip code and find restaurants in your area. Purchase $25 gift certificates for $10, and/or $10 gift certificates for $3. Be certain to follow all the restrictions relative to the restaurant you choose, including the minimum food purchase, hours and days of use, etc. The information is clearly presented, but you must be attentive to the limitations. The restaurant menus and prices are also provided, making it easier to choose a restaurant within your budget. Print the certificate and you’re on your way. Be sure that you provide your waiter with the certificate prior to ordering. Restaurant.com is also helpful when you are planning a vacation and want to cut back on your dining costs. Heading to Puerto Rico, New York City, Boston, San Francisco or "Small Town USA"? Check it out.

I regularly receive emails from Restaurant.com notifying me of ongoing specials. Frequently you can order gift certificates for 70 and 80% off. Instead of purchasing the $25 gift certificates for $10, I've purchased them for as little as $2 (80% off) and $3 (70% off). By purchasing a few certificates during these promotional periods, I have enjoyed using them myself, or have given them as gifts to my kids who attend college in the Boston area. While the certificates do have expiration dates, some states have laws governing these expiration dates, like CT, where I reside, where gift certificates are not allowed to expire.

Presently Restaurant.com is offering a promotion on their site called "Feed It Forward". Between now and Christmas, you can give 3 free $10 gift certificates, each day, to friends and family. What do you have to lose? Read about it on their home page. I've been enjoying passing the freebies along.