Start the Year Right! Rosh Hashanah Menu Template 2024
Don’t panic over the three-day Yom Tov! Use this Rosh Hashanah menu template to get everything in writing!
When we hear “three-day Yom Tov,” we all panic — but I promise you don’t need to! Yes, it’s long and overwhelming and I can’t help you take care of the kids for three days or take a shower, but I CAN help you with your menu and cooking! Start with filling out my Rosh Hashanah menu template, and once you’re done with that, here are a few tips to make the planning and cooking process go much more smoothly:
Get My Pesach Cookbook: No, that’s not a mistake — I’m not mixing up chagim! So many of the incredible recipes that I make all year, especially for Yom Tov, are from My Pesach Kitchen! Lots of dips, meats, fish, sides, poultry… I can just sit here going through the whole book!
Repeat Dishes: I used to think the only thing that could be repeated on a menu was challah, and even for that I would use multiple toppings. That’s ridiculous! Make the same thing twice, even three times if your family loves it!
Keep It Simple: You don’t need a thousand sides, six types of chicken, four meats…For years I did this, but I had so much left over. I always marveled that I brought more food back into the kitchen than I actually served! The first time I only served one protein at a meal, I held my breath the entire time waiting for the complaints… and there were none!
Prep In Advance: Even if you are not the type of person to have your entire menu cooked six weeks before Rosh Hashanah, as you are cooking these next few weeks, every time you make something you know you will also use for Yom Tov, double it! It’s easy to double an apple crisp or a dip and freeze it. (And yes, most dips freeze very well, even chummus. I make a big batch and separate it into small containers to take out of the freezer as needed.)
Buy Takeout: Gasp! I said it! The lady who brings you all the homemade recipes! But it’s true. Nothing will happen if you buy some store-bought dips, or even challah. In fact, I once did a food crawl and now I know which stores in town have the best challah, so when I can’t make my own, I can actually enjoy my bakery challah. Also, instead of making yourself crazy baking a lot of desserts, you can buy some cookies and brownies instead.
Get Help: Whatever that means to you. It may mean having your girls make the desserts, even if they won’t be as fancy or as perfect as you hoped. Also, if you’re able to get some extra cleaning help or put your children in an extended afternoon program so you can cook more, that can be very helpful.
Whatever you do, I wish you much hatzlachah with all your cooking! As always, feel free to reach out with any cooking questions!
