I

have a really pretty set of wine glasses in a soft, forest-colored glass that I picked up at the dollar store once. As I put 12 of them (too few, unfortunately) into my cart, I remember thinking, No one in this store realizes how pretty these are.

I have a pang of regret every time one of those $1 glasses break, not because of their cost, of course, but rather because the more that break, the less of a set I have, and the less I can use it when setting a beautiful Shabbos or Yom Tov table. Dear dollar store, please stock those glasses again.

At the same time, I’m struck by my own ridiculous sentimentality toward something that is so inexpensive. The newlywed version of me laughs at those glasses. The intrinsically valuable and high quality tableware I got as a kallah is over a decade out of style, but it epitomizes Shabbos to me, despite the trendier options.

These days, it’s relatively affordable to “upgrade.” I mean, a $12 set of glasses! The trends change so quickly, and it’s so enticing to get something new that feels fresh and up-to-date. And in the land of overwhelmed superwomen, it’s so easy to click on a few links and have one less thing to think about. But sometimes I think that the affordability and accessibility of it all might be perpetuating a never-ending superficiality that can be hard to resist.

It’s with this appreciation that I asked Esther to bring us a best-of-both-worlds compromise — items for a table that are easily sourced online, yet at the same time are beautiful and tasteful, not just trendy. But ultimately, be your own compass in this storm. If the only purpose this table serves for you is that it’s something beautiful to look at, that’s great too.

CHANIE NAYMAN
Food Editor, Family Table

Tip

I love making pavlovas for Pesach — since it’s one of the very few desserts that we eat! I top them with lemon curd, berries, etc. My favorite topping is passion fruit. (You can email recipes@mishpacha.com for the pavlova or lemon curd recipes.)

Safe Slicing

Whenever your fingers are in close proximity to a knife — for example, if slicing an avocado in your hand — place a towel over your hand and then grasp the avocado. This will eliminate the risk of cuts.

Potato-Eye Alert

Eyes on potatoes can sometimes contain glycoalkaloids, which are potentially toxic. Here’s a hack: You can remove them using the little triangle shape on the side of a vegetable peeler!

Note

We received wonderful feedback on our recent Tastes Like Shabbos column about Rebbetzin Shulamit Bitton-Blau. To read more about this amazing woman, see From Djerba to Jerusalem: The Extraordinary Story of Rebbetzin Shulamit Bitton-Blau, by Libby Lazewnik (published by ArtScroll).

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 735)