The Pesach countdown has begun. And while we’d love to hit 'pause' on the rest of life to focus entirely on cleaning, that button remains as elusive as The Child Who Cleans Without Being Asked. Three meals a day still have to happen, and unless your family is truly one-of-a-kind, they aren't exactly eager to start eating lady fingers just yet.
First of all, start by looking at the chometz you already have in your house. You might be surprised by how much you have. In our house, we delegate one shelf in the pantry for all chometz items. That might include some cookies, a box of lasagna, Duncan Hines, soup mix with flour, cheerios and stale pretzels leftover from the Shabbos party. Every house has its own unique chometz pile that usually ends up fueling the bonfire on Erev Pesach.
Instead of letting it sit there (or adding to it), get creative! Crush and use the pretzels and cereals to coat your fish or schnitzel. Breadcrumbs are a great addition to tuna salads and pasta bakes. Use the orzo as a side instead of rice. When deciding what to make for dinner, glance at your chometz shelf for inspiration.
Don't forget to look in your fridge and freezer- some surprises are sauces that have flour or malt flavor, and Kani. My freezer will often have puffed pastry or spring roll dough all the way in the back. Now is their time to shine- move all the chametz to the front so it is easily accessible.
Once you use up your chometz, think before buying more. What makes the least crumbs? What's easy to make in a house that is neither here nor there? Growing up, we always had a makeshift kitchen in the dining room since that room was the easiest to clean. We brought out a folding table, lined it with silver foil, and put out all our appliances. Toaster oven, microwave, Betty Crocker, hot water urn, and a little plug-in burner. All the chometz went out there, too. Recently, my mother added a mini fridge under the table after one grandchild put the milk back in the Kosher for Pesach fridge without wiping down the bottle (again!).
Here are a few dinner ideas that help keep the crumbs to a minimum:
-Rice can be cooked in a disposable pan in the oven to avoid dishes, and can be served with chicken or meat cooked in the Pesach kitchen while still avoiding the potato burnout
-Pasta is fast cooking and makes no crumbs, and many recipes can be made in the oven, like lasagna. Focus on dishes that are a one-pot recipe.
-Wraps instead of bread for all sandwiches keep crumbs at bay
-Think Kitniyos. While it might not make it into the main Seder dishes - unless you’re Sephardic, in which case you’re likely too busy checking rice to read this - Kitniyos doesn't carry the same 'Chometz anxiety.' Many cereals fall into this category, as well as rice cakes and protein bars, and leftovers can simply be put away rather than burned. Plus, if a few sneaky crumbs find their way into the couch cushions, there’s no need to panic, making this the ultimate stress-free snack.
Simple & Easy Pesach Food
Pesach is arguably the toughest Yom Tov for mastering snacks and breakfast. While dinner is often the easy (or easier) part, the real challenge lies in those long stretches in between—whether you’re watching the oven timer at home or standing at the back of a two-hour line for The World’s Tallest Rollercoaster. You might want a game plan beyond the standard hard-boiled egg or piece of matzah to stave off the cries of hunger from the children (and adults).
For those who don't eat anything
-Potato Chips
Peel your potato, then peel it into thin chips. Toss with salt and fry. Experiment with other root vegetables!
