Passover Chocolate Chip Cookies

Passover is the “big one” in our family.  My mom and I start early (even before Purim) talking about who to invite, if we need to include something new in the seder, and, most importantly, what food we will be serving.  We go back and forth trying to figure out how many guests will attend each night. (I think at last count this year is 18 and 16, but it changes daily.) My mom starts cooking early. Really early. She kashers a corner of the kitchen and gets to work baking, making brisket, roasting chickens, so that when Passover finally arrives, we’ll have space to cook all the stuff that can’t be made ahead of time.  It’s about the food, but it’s also being together as a family making sure that our traditions carry-on.

One of our family’s (and guests’) favorite traditions is serving potato kugel during the third step of the seder, karpas. Many families use a piece of green onion and dip it into salt water after reciting the blessing. Then, we take it to the next level – snack time. The potato kugel recipe is not written down but passed from generation to generation. I can tell you this much, lots of eggs, potatoes, oil and more salt and pepper than you think you need. Then bake till crispy on top and creamy in the middle.

A more recent tradition is that my family and I move into my parents’ house in the Detroit suburbs for all of Passover. Three generations under one roof, cooking, eating, and hanging out is the best gift we could give our family, but it’s a lot of work.  My mom and I prepare three meals a day and snacks for the whole week. Organization and planning are key. I’ve made the meal plan, will be shopping in both Chicago and Detroit, and will spend a ton of time in the kitchen.

Passover chocolate chip cookies is one of the best snacks we prepare. Now I know what you’re thinking, they can’t be good.  But take it from me (and I love to cookies), they are good, so good, in fact, that my mom has been known to bake a batch even when it’s not Passover.  Try them and let me know what you think!

And, if anyone wants to see this year’s meal plan for all of Passover, just email me.  We are always happy to share.