I always think that the first week after the clocks change in the fall is a shock to us every year. But it’s one thing when Tuesday at 5:30pm looks like midnight, and it’s quite another when you have to fit all of your Friday cooking in before 4:30.

 

The first early Shabbat catches us all off guard, no matter how hard we try to wrap our heads around it. So we need to get creative to ace Shabbat prep. I find the best way to handle it is to work backwards and start thinking now.

 

Pro Tip: Combining two dishes like chicken and rice into one pan kills two birds with one stone.

Check out my tips for last-minute desserts below!

Happy cooking!

Chanie

 

Spicy Gefilte Fish Balls by Rabbi Hanoch Hecht

Gefilte fish is great, but spicy gefilte fish is even better. You’ll love this totally flavorful, healthy and spicy twist on the classic Shabbos staple. 

 

Creamy Red Lentil and Butternut Squash Soup by Sina Mizrahi

This soup is really, really good. So good, you’d sell your birthright to get it. If you’d like to make something inspired by the parsha, red lentils are the soup of choice to make for Parshat Toldot!

 

“Paella” by Shushy Turin

No better way to save time than a main and side all in one! Juicy chicken, hearty seasoned rice and chorizo make this dish a filling one-pan meal that will be a family favorite and made over and over again!

 

Cauliflower Fried “Rice” by Naomi Nachman

Feel free to switch up the vegetables and use your favorites in place of those used here. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken or meat. You can also omit the chicken or meat for a parve side dish.

 

Broccoli 2 Ways by Elky Friedman

Broccoli’s health benefits include vitamin K, C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber. And it’s also delicious in this combo salad! Use both the florets and the shredded stalks to toss together this perfectly seasoned salad.

 

Cookie Dough Truffles by Chayie Schlisselfeld

This bite-size treat is as good as it looks- frozen cookie dough balls dipped in chocolate! Make them tonight and freeze them, then pop them out for an extra-special Shabbos treat.

 

Chanie’s Favorite Last-Minute Dessert Tips:

 

1. Always have crumbs from an apple crisp recipe in the freezer (Tip: make this tonight!) so you can quickly chop five apples on Thursday and bake it together on Friday.
2. Make lemon curd, and then serve with fresh fruit and your favorite store-bought cookies!
3. Make your favorite cookie bar recipe straight in the 9×13 pan. I throw in my favorite chocolate chip stick or brownie recipe ingredients, mix it in the pan, and then bake!