 We spent our Sunday surrounded by a great group of friends, putting bags together to send the American troops stationed overseas. In thirty pairs of hands, dough made from scratch and fresh fillings, danced and took shape into triangles pockets full of sweetness and dedication. We got creative on the fillings, including Apricots, cherry, poppy seed, chocolate, Nutella and even peanut butter cups!
 With Purim around the corner, we thought what better way to sweeten their days a bit, then a bag filled with candy, a colorful hand written card and freshly baked Hamentashen?!
What are Hamentashen?
Hamentashen are delicious little sugar cookies stuffed with delicious fillings (typically fruit). These sugar cookies are pinched into little triangle “hats” to represent Haman the Agagite. If you’ve heard the term “the whole Megillah,” you know that Haman the Agagite was the man who wanted to rid the ancient Persian empire of the Jews. Haman wore a hat that was in a triangular shape (I once heard them referred to as “Napoleon hats or French hats,” which made me chuckle), which is where we get the name: HAMEN-tashen or the singular hamantash.
How do I make Hamentashens?
And of course a recipe (though as per Jewish cooking laws, there is no one recipe, share yours with us!):
Hamentashen with Yeast Dough
1 package (2-1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/3-cup sugar
1-teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1-cup warm water
1/3-cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
Egg Wash:
1 large egg
1-tablespoon water
Filling
Purchased filling of your choice!
Combine all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together all liquid ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients to the liquid to form a dough. Knead dough for 5 – 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Spray a large mixing bowl with Pam and place dough inside. Spray Pam on dough and cover loosely with a towel until dough doubles in size.
Punch down dough. Divide into thirds on a lightly floured surface. Roll out each piece until it is ¼-inch thick. Cut out 3 -inch rounds. Reroll scraps. Place filling in the center of each dough round. Fold three sides up to form a triangle, leaving some filling exposed in the center.
Place hamentashen 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Cover again and let rise at room temperature until nearly double, about one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush tops of the hamentashen with the egg wash. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Le Concierge SF
Partners for Education
February 23rd @ 111 Minna, 6-9pm
Hello Le Concierge SF fans!
After an amazing six weeks in Brazil, surrounded by family, coconut water, warm sandy beaches and a lot of celebration, I am back in San Francisco as Mrs. Michael Findling and happy to say Le Concierge SF is back and running!
We are already working with new projects, speaking with new clients and pampering once again our regulars. I have to say… it’s good to be back! We are putting together new service packages, hiring new smiles to join our team and it feels good to grow! And what better way to start our events, partnering with Tutorpedia for an evening of inspiring speakers, food and drinks, great raffle prizes and an amazing cause! Join us, won’t you?
Sincerely,
Silvia Oppenheim Findling
Founder
Tutorpedia Foundation Benefit
Come for a conversation on education, stay for the prizes!
On February 23rd our good friend Seth Linden of Tutorpedia & Le Concierge SF are hosting the Tutorpedia Foundation Fundraiser. Money raised at the event provides free tutoring for low-income students in the Bay Area.
There are 100s of reasons to attend this event, here are just a few:
- Speaker Vicki Abeles, Director of Race to Nowhere (http://racetonowhere.com)
- Win an iPad
- Panelist Dennis Littky, co-founder of Big Picture Learning, is also speaking
- Win a Wine Tasting in Napa
- Farb Nivi: founder of Grockit (www.grockit.com), an online test-prep company – picture Facebook meets SAT prep – is the 3rd speaker
- Win sports tickets to either Giants, As or Warriors games
- The event will feature the world famous photographer M. Findling of michaelfindling.com
There will be food, wine, chocolate and more. Admission is $35, which is the cost of providing one hour of free one-on-one tutoring by the Foundation. VIP tickets are $50, which includes admission plus 2 raffle tickets. And if you are a teacher tickets are $20!
Ready to buy your ticket?!?
http://bit.ly/tutor-raiser2011
Tutorpedia’s mission is to provide high-quality, personalized tutoring and related education services. The event will feature a panel conversation focusing on the most effective ways to personalize education for students.
Le Concierge SF is a full-service hospitality company offering customized concierge services that is dedicated to providing our clients a wide variety of services thus allowing them more free time to enjoy life. Our mission is to deliver superior professional concierge services in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The holiday shopping season is officially upon us. We have rounded up of the top 10 hottest tech gadgets for all our fans out there (courtesy of Mashable)! Below is the complete gift guide, which we consider to be the essential holiday wish list for any gadget enthusiast. The 10 items in this group represent what we believe are gifts that any gadget fan would be happy to unwrap this holiday season and enjoy well into the new year and beyond.
We’d love to here what’s on your wish list, too, so let us know what you’re hoping to get this holiday (or planning to give) and of course if you are running short on time to do the shopping, wrapping and organizing give us a call!
1. Apple iPad
The fact that you can grab an iPad today, it’s affordable and it’s just straight-up fun to use makes it one of our 10 big gadget picks for the 2010 holiday season.
2. Android Device
Got your eye on a new smartphone for the new year? Here’s why we love our Android devices. Check out our picks for the top Android phone on each of the four major U.S. carriers.
3. Netgear RangeMax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit router
Ready to make the leap from 802.11g to 802.11n? Have no idea what those numbers mean? Get the lowdown on one of our favorite feature-rich Wi-Fi routers: the Netgear RangeMax WNDR3700.
4. Vizio XVT3SV Series TV
Of all the TVs that we’ve seen in 2010, none have stood out as profoundly as those from the Vizio XVT3SV series.
5. Amazon Kindle 3
The 8.5-ounce, 4.8-inch by 7.5-inch device is fast, sleek, light, and almost adorably small. Here’s why we think it should be at the top of your gadget wish list.
6. Apple iPod touch
When it comes down to it, the iPod is still the king of portable media players. Here’s why the iPod touch still deserves a place on your holiday wish list.
7. Roku XDS
Although we own – and are fans of – many of the various connected devices on the market.
8. Nikon D3100
The bottom line: At just $650 with a lens included, we feel there is no better entry-level DSLR option than the Nikon D3100. You just can’t go wrong.
9. HP Envy 14
The HP ENVY 14’s features, combined with its attractive price point, make it a competitive option in the laptop market. That’s why it deserves a place on your holiday wish list.
10. XBox 360 with Kinect
For such a novel activity, gaming is about as polarizing as religion or politics. Yet, for dramatically shifting the user interface paradigm, the Xbox 360 with Kinect stands out as the console to get this holiday season
Shopping for the perfect toy this holiday? We know the search can be overwhelming so Le Concierge SF did the hard work for you—we narrowed down the selection from the best stores on the Web to bring you our top ten toys for every age group from babies to tweens. Our holiday shopping list is filled with toys that are active, educational, creative, safe and above all, fun! And if you need help with shopping for everything and just finding you don’t have the time or energy, let us do it for you!
Skip Hop Hug and Hide Owl Activity Toy
Soon to be their new best friend, this huggable plush Owl from Skip Hop is full of surprises inside. Teach and touch with over 10 developmental activities including a removable squeaker baby owl inside, teething tabs, a peek-a-boo mirror, and plenty of sounds to stimulate baby’s senses. Perfect for crib-time or portable play on the go. For ages 3 months and up.
Chicco Turbo Touch Speed Truck
Rev up playtime with this interactive Turbo Truck from Chicco. With a roof that converts into a 3 foot track, little ones can stage their own races, complete with a green light at the finish line and cheering and applause sound effects when they win! It also comes with a turbo touch car that speeds away with just a touch on top. Use it as a carrier to store up to 5 vehicles and let the races begin.
Sing-a-Ma-Jigs
This year’s runaway hit, these collectible plush will have kids singing along in no time. Choose from 6 different characters, each one with a unique look and song. Squeeze its tummy for three easy modes of play. Hear them “chatter” when speak their secret language, sing a scale and song, or hold a note to sing along with other Sing-a-Ma-Jigs. Stay tuned for other new characters to be released this holiday, and see them all harmonize together in perfect unison.
Paper Jamz Musical Instruments
Anybody can achieve their dreams of being a rock star with these amazingly lightweight Paper Jamz instruments. Strum along to pop hits, try your hand at the drums, and don’t forget your amp to take your sound to the next level. Each instrument comes with three songs, and four different modes of play. Using simple touch technology, you can play along with your favorite songs and start your own band. It’s great for young music lovers and wannabe rock gods alike.
R/C Spy Video Trakr
R/C toys are usually more popular with guys, but this tricked-out spy car is sure to impress any Tween. Watch a live video feed on the remote monitor as the Trakr snakes its away around the house. Equipped with Night Vision and a sound recorder, it really is a spy’s best ally. You can also program a path for it to follow and upload any of the video you take straight to your computer. All the snooping little brothers of the world will rejoice.
Lomography Spinner 360 Camera
Teens love to be creative and retro style cameras have been huge this year. Old fashioned film cameras meets 21st Century tech with this Spinner Camera by Lomography. Simply pull the cord and watch the magic happen when the camera spins around to get a full 360 degree view. And pictures come out 4 times longer than a normal landscape shot. It’s great for making your own poster prints or capturing those road trip memories. The possibilities are endless.
Our good friends at Vanessa Gade Jewelry are having a "Virtual" Holiday Sale! This Weekend 30-40% off!! The team at Le Concierge SF received a beautiful note from Vanessa and wanted to share with our fans and readers. Also check out the amazing, hand-made, piece that was created for founder Silvia Oppenheim last year:
Vanessa Gade Jewelry Designs
Recently, I’ve have receiving numerous inquiries about my annual holiday party and sale, along with my trunk show schedule this season.
Its hard to believe it is already that time of year and looking back 2010 has been very blessed for me on a professional level. I’ve continued expanding my line and my current retail locations, and I’m grateful for the incredible press coverage in Daily Candy, the SF chronicle and several international publications, along with a trip to feature my jewelry with the MTV music awards (complete with an amusing encounter with cast of jersey shore, funny stories!). But on a personal level it has been one of the most difficult. As my mama bravely battles cancer I have decided to temporarily move up to Washington state to be with her and care for her full time.
That being said I wanted to come up with a way to continue the tradition of my annual holiday sale. It began as celebration with friends and has since grown to be my most popular event of the year and a perfect opportunity to thank my special customers by offering an exclusive discount that I couldn’t give at my retail locations or trunk shows.
So this season, since I am not physically present in San Francisco, I have decided to do a "virtual" Holiday sale.
This weekend (starting Friday) I’ll be hosting an online "virtual" Holiday sale offering VG jewelry gift cards at 30-40% off, good toward any piece in my collection!
- Gift card amounts below $150 will be 30% off, anything over will be discounted 40%! You purchase a $50 gift card and pay only $35 or a $150 gift card and pay only $105! The best part is the recipient only sees the full amount, so only you know you got such a great deal!
- They will arrive elegantly wrapped in my signature VG jewelry gift box, with your choice of red or silver satin ribbon.
- The cards can be redeemed toward a piece on my website or any custom order, as well as my full collection of hoop earrings ( $28- $65), and you have a whole year to use them, so stock up now for valentines day, birthdays and anniversaries! They are also good for use at a future trunk show.
All you need to do is respond to this email by midnight on Sunday (12/12) with the number of cards you wish to purchase, their amounts, and your choice of ribbon color (red or silver). You will then receive a paypal invoice reflecting the discounted price and your gift cards will arrive ready to give!
Wishing you the Happiest Holidays and all the best in 2011!
Vanessa
If you have any questions please contact me VanessaGade@gmail.com
www.VanessaGade.com
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Top Toys for Babies (0-11 months old)
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Top Toys for Pre-schoolers (3-5 years)
Top Toys for Grade-schoolers (6-9 years)
Top Toys for Tweens (10-12 years)
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