P assover P alate
Passover Foods for Kids
LINDA MOREL | JE FOOD COLUMNIST
MY GRANDCHILDREN get
excited by the Passover story.

There are good guys — our
ancestors, the Hebrew slaves;
and bad guys — the ancient
Egyptians. There’s a cruel king
called Pharaoh, who refuses
to free the slaves. There’s our
Moses, who says, “Let my
people go.” Next, plagues are
hurled down to punish Pharaoh
for being obstinate.

Finally, there is salvation
when Pharaoh relents and frees
our ancestors. There is plenty
of drama — and lessons to be
learned. This remarkable story fuels
their imaginations. All goes
well at seders until the brisket,
tzimmes and matzah kugels
come to the table.

Like typical American
children, they live on macaroni
Chocolate dipped matzah
Ojimorena / iStock /
Getty Images Plus
and cheese, pasta, chicken
fingers and French fries. They
eat hamburgers, too, but only
inside buns. Loaded with flour,
none of these foods are appro-
priate Passover fare.

As the main course is served,
it crushes me to see disappoint-
ment on their faces. Worse yet,
this is followed by a sudden
dash to the kitchen to scrounge
for foods they will eat: pecans,
apples, raw carrots, even slices
of cheese. None of these nibbles
qualify as a main course.

While the delicacies for
the adults were prepared in
advance, the food children eat
is slapdash. It doesn’t make
them feel special.

Bec ause I’ve been a s
frustrated as my grandchildren,
I’ve created an alternate child-
friendly menu calling for foods
kids like to eat.

For fun, I serve a vegetarian
charcuterie tray, loaded with
child-pleasing fruits and
veggies. Chicken fingers made
with potato starch and oven
fried potatoes are such big
hits, that the adults eat them,
too. At dessert, no one can
resist matzah dipped in choco-
late and tossed with colorful
sprinkles. Passover is as much for
children as it is for adults.

Where would seders be
without children? Who would
answer the Four Questions or
find the afikomen? Call me
a grandmother who spoils
her grandchildren, but when
dinner is served, it’s worth it
to see smiles on their faces as
they relish the foods I’ve made
just for them.

VEGETARIAN CHARCUTERIE
TRAY | PAREVE
Serves 4-6
Strawberries, cut in half
Grapes, red or green
Cucumbers, cut in circles
Carrots, cut in circles
Apples, cut in slices
Clementine sections
Bananas, cut in circles
Cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Walnuts or pecans,
toasted at 350 degrees F,
and cooled
Start with an oblong tray or
platter with these dimensions
or close to them: 13 inches
by 6 inches. Arrange the
foods above, in lines parallel
to the tray’s shorter side. For
eye appeal, arrange foods in
lines of opposing colors. For
See Kids, Page 12
Name: Carlino’s Specialty Foods
Width: 9.25 in
Depth: 5.5 in
Color: Black plus one
Comment: Jewish Exponent Passover
Wishing You a
Joyous Passover
Passover Menu
Now Available In-Store
And Online At:
www.carlinosmarket.com 610.649.4046
2616 E. County Line Rd. Ardmore, PA 19003
128 W. Market St. West Chester, PA 19382
10 MARCH 11, 2021
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