Kosher Cooking 101

Combining milk and meat? Your kosher family might not be all smiles.

You know how it is when you start babysitting for a new family. It can make you a little nervous, even if you're an old pro at taking care of little ones. But did you ever think you would have to worry about using the right spoons?

It's not unusual for babysitters to be hired to babysit for a kosher family without a Jewish background. In this scenario, it's best to hit the books briefly to give yourself a course in Kosher Cooking 101. So how can you best prepare? It's simple! Read this article, ask the family for a tour of their house and kitchen, check with them before preparing meals for a while to make sure you've got the hang of it, and you're all set.

THE "WHAT" AND "WHY" OF KOSHER

The Hebrew word kosher means "fit," and the kosher laws define what foods that are fit for consumption and how they can be prepared and served. These laws are outlined in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy which are books of the Torah, the Jewish book of law.

More than any other observance, being kosher is a distinguishing quality of Jewish identity. There are many speculations as to why the kosher laws were put in place, but it is certain that they have several advantages such as health, the humane treatment of animals and serving to unify communities across the globe.

Kosher eating habits are taken very seriously by kosher families. It is not uncommon for kosher families to shop only at kosher delis, shops and cafes, where specialized Rabbis remain on staff at all times to supervise the preparation and serving of food.

On a more direct level, people of the Jewish faith choose to keep kosher is because this practice "was commanded by the Creator of the body and soul and the kosher way of life should then be observed." To someone of the Jewish faith, even the act of eating provides a connection to God.

KOSHER RULES AND STRUCTURE

The system of kosher eating can seem intricate but there are some basic rules that are easy to remember that will give you an understanding what will be expected before you arrive. First, kosher foods are divided into three categories:

• Meat, which includes the meat or bones of mammals and birds, soups or gravies made with them, and any food containing even a small quantity of them.
• Dairy, which includes the milk of any animal, all milk products made with it such as cream, butter or cheese, and any food containing even a small quantity of dairy.
• Pareve foods are neither "meat" nor "dairy." Fish and eggs are pareve, as are all fruits, vegetables and grains. Pareve foods can be mixed with and eaten together with either meat or dairy.

These three categories of food may only interact in certain ways. Meat and milk are never combined and may not be cooked or eaten together. Certain fruits, vegetables and grains must be checked for the presence of small insects and larvae, and eggs must be checked to be sure they are free of blood spots as consumption of the blood of mammals is strictly forbidden in the Torah.

KOSHER KITCHEN TOUR

The kitchen in a Jewish household must be kosher as well, which means that all cooking utensils and food preparation surfaces are used exclusively for kosher food, and that separate stoves, pots and pans, cutlery, utensils, dishes, and counter surfaces are used for meat and dairy. Many kosher kitchens will have separate pareve utensils as well. Make sure to ask which plates, spoons, serving dishes, and more are used for meat vs. dairy especially, as this is a huge consideration.

CLEANSING RITUALS

Cleansing rituals are observed between servings. After eating dairy and before eating meat, the kosher observer must eat something pareve. Then, they must rinse their mouth, or take a drink and wash their hands. Some also follow the custom of a waiting period after eating dairy of a half-hour or an hour before consuming meat. After eating certain hard cheeses, a six-hour waiting period is required before eating meat. After eating meat, there is a full six-hour waiting period that must be kept before eating any dairy. Hands are washed before eating bread and there may also be a blessing that is recited before and after eating.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE FAMILY

Make sure you ask exactly what the parents would like their children to eat. Food items in the home will already be kosher, and prepackaged foods will be labeled with kosher symbols. To eliminate any confusion or accidental slip-ups in preparation, you should know what meal they would like for you to make, how to prepare the different ingredients, where to find the proper utensils and plates for each ingredient in addition to areas where they would like for you to prepare each of them.

Don't hesitate to ask a parent to write down specific information you will need or even to label the different spaces where specific meat, dairy and pareve utensils are located. If you're nervous, you can even ask them to lay out the plates, cups and spoons that you will need the first few meals. If they know you are new at kosher feeding, they should not mind. (When in doubt, you can also use paper plates and plastic utensils interchangeably; just be sure never to mix foods.)

If you are not required to prepare a meal, make sure you ask where snacks may be found. Or, you can ask the parents to place appropriate snacks out for you so that you don't have to guess when the kids ask for a little something to eat. Also, be sure to check with the family on any other specific rules that they would like for you to follow. Some families may not follow every single rule and others still may have a stricter view of how to follow the kosher laws.

This concludes Kosher Cooking 101! If you're feeling really daring, you can move on to kissing the mezuzah, chair dancing, singing "If I Were a Rich Man" and all that schmultz. Good luck.