March Madness is here! Are you ready to get crazy?

The next four weeks will have you running through all of your emotions in short succession: screaming, laughing, and crying.

It’s all part of the process of determining who will be the next NCAA basketball champions. And if you are going to make it through the championship game, you’ll need to provide fuel for your viewing party guests.

The best way to do that is to have a fantastic line-up — of treats! Doing this will keep everyone energized, focused, and sharp throughout the game.

Here are our picks for five easy-to-make snacks that everyone will love. You’ll have a big win with these refreshments, even if your team loses.Read More…

It’s no secret we love food. We love to cook it, eat it, and share it. To celebrate the vast Catering by Michaels repertoire, we want to take an opportunity to share some of those items which have become perennial favorites with clients and the entire Catering by Michaels family alike.

Today, we take a look at the humble and oh-so-delicious Parmesan Artichoke Dip.

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This year, Rosh Hashanah, which translates to “head [of] the year,” starts on the evening of September 29th and ends on the evening of October 1st.

It is a two-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the creation of the world and the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that ends in the Yom Kippur holiday. These two holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) are the highest holidays in the Jewish religion.

Aside from ushering in the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year in the Jewish calendar. Because Jewish texts vary, some celebrate the holiday in a single day, while others celebrate for two days. Work is prohibited, and people spend much of the holiday attending synagogue.

However, unlike the raucous New Year’s celebrations celebrated at the end of the calendar year, Rosh Hashanah is more subdued as it is a contemplative holiday.

Rosh Hashanah Traditions

The Rosh Hashanah holiday reflects both happiness and humility.

After the temple services are over, many people celebrate by opting to wear new or special clothing, and by having a festive meal rich in symbolism and tradition. The meal typically begins with the ceremonial lighting of two candles and features food which represents positive wishes for the new year.

Typical Food in a Rosh Hashanah Spread

Some of the items you can expect to see on a typical Rosh Hashanah spread include:

• Apple and honey. One of the most popular Rosh Hashanah customs involves eating apples dipped in honey, usually after saying a special prayer. It is believed that apples have healing properties, while honey signifies the hope that the new year will be sweet.
• Round challah. During Jewish holidays, there is always challah (traditional braided bread) present. On Rosh Hashanah, challah is baked in a circular shape to symbolize the crown of God or the cyclical nature of life.

If you’re planning to attend temple all day, you don’t want to be concerned meal preparations for your own Rosh Hashanah spread. So, why not opt to have a delicious holiday spread delivered straight to your door?

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On February 3, 2019, people all over the United States will gather together to cheer on their favorite team (and scream at the competition!).

The Super Bowl is somewhat of a sacred day for most Americans, with delicious food as a major focus of the festivities.

If you’ve been charged with acting as a Super Bowl party host, this guide will help you to throw an awesome party that won’t soon be forgotten.

Keep Things Interesting (And Fun!): Off And On The Field

Super Bowl commercials have a reputation for being the very best of the year and those who don’t consider themselves as sports fans are thankful to have many fun ads to watch, interspersed throughout the game. To spark up some competition, guests can rate commercials and make predictions about them before the game.

Alternatively, if you’re hosting a Super Bowl party for die-hard sports fans, print out trivia questions and pass them out for your guests to fill out.

Another fun way to keep people excited for all 5+ hours of the big game is football squares. You can either make your own or print out a pre-made template. Hang it up and let everyone initial the squares they want to buy. Put everyone’s money in a pool and award winners at the end of the game.

Score Fan Fare With Awesome Food

Having delicious food probably seems like a no-brainer, but the finer details can slip through the cracks at the last minute.

Let’s take the slider for example. It’s a staple, but instead of just offering cheeseburger sliders, kick things up a notch. Give your guests something to cheer about with a selection of extraordinary miniature sandwiches.

Bring out a selection of Pulled Chipotle Chicken Sliders, Grilled Portobello Mushroom sliders (for your vegetarian friends), and Vietnamese Pork Bahn Mi sliders.

We assure you, these little delights are always a touchdown with party guests.

Buffalo chicken dip is always a good idea, but consider upgrading to the next level with Buffalo Chicken Monkey Bread. Just imagine sinking your teeth into this knotted bread dipped in blue cheese, jalapeño peppers, and green onions.

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The holiday of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the holiest day of the year, when Jewish people come together, fasting and praying as one.

If Rosh Hashanah is about celebrating the arrival of the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur symbolizes the cleansing of the previous year’s sins. The majority of the day is spent in Synagogue as many use the opportunity to reflect on their individual and collective actions over the past year, and their hope for the coming year.

It is believed that on this day, a person’s fate for the upcoming year is sealed, therefore, the entire day is spent fasting and praying for forgiveness and a good new year.

On Yom Kippur, observers abstain from eating, working, wearing leather, perfumes, and acts of intimacy. This is a sacred occasion and an opportunity to clean the slate, reset all systems, and start again smoothly.

First We Fast

This year, the holiday begins at sundown on September 18. When the sun goes down, and Yom Kippur starts, so does the act of fasting. Those observing will commence their 25-hour fast until nightfall on September 19. During this time all forms of sustenance are prohibited — even water.

The Jewish tradition of fasting stems from verses in the Torah, which state that fasting on Yom Kippur is a necessary component of the day. Fasting is believed to be a vehicle for reflecting and repenting for your sins.

Those who are too feeble, sick, or young to safely fast are not required to do so. However, healthy females from the age of 12 and males from the age of 13 must fast as part of the tradition. Throughout the fasting period, the focus moves from physical needs to engaging in repentance and prayer in the synagogue.

The 5 Prayers of Yom Kippur

Even though there is no food to be had on Yom Kippur, observers still dress the table with a festive cloth and light candles before the onset of the holy day. Two blessings are said to send thanks for enabling those of the faith to reach the new year.

Yom Kippur is a special occasion for children, who observe it by lighting candles, changing shoes, and finding new prayers to learn and recite.

On an ordinary day, there are three daily prayers: Maariv (evening prayer), Shacharit (morning prayer) and Minchah (afternoon prayer). On Shabbat and holidays, a fourth prayer is added. Yom Kippur, however, is the only day of the year when a fifth prayer is introduced. Ne’ilah, the closing prayer, is said as the sun sets in the west as this special day comes to a close.

Now We Fast

After the sun sets and the holiday of Yom Kippur comes to a close, the tradition of breaking the fast begins. And this is where we come in!

During the Rosh Hashanah meal, there are strict rules about what kosher food can be eaten after fasting. Yom Kippur is much different. In general, people often eat gentler, less spicy dishes. After fasting, the stomach is much more sensitive to rich, spicy food.

The typical assortment of foods includes fruits and veggies, lox and bagels, white albacore tuna salad, cakes, and baked casseroles.

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