Rosh Hashanah is a time to gather around the table with family and friends, enjoy a beautiful Yom Tov meal, and welcome a sweet new year together. Your table doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to look special. With a few simple ingredients and Rosh Hashanah favorites like apples, pomegranates, honey, and fresh greenery, you can create beautiful centerpieces that make your table feel festive and inviting

Here are eight simple and beautiful ideas to inspire your Rosh Hashanah table this year!

🍎 1. Apple & Greenery Centerpiece

For a simple and elegant look, fill a beautiful bowl or low basket with fresh apples and add sprigs of greenery around them. Choose red, green, or golden apples depending on the colors of your table.

The best part? It’s incredibly easy to put together and can double as a delicious part of your Yom Tov meal!

🍎 2. Apples in a Glass Vase

For a clean and modern centerpiece, fill a large clear glass vase with beautiful apples. You can use one color of apples for a simple look or mix red, green, and yellow apples for a pop of color.

Add a few branches or flowers around the vase to give the arrangement some extra height and dimension.

❤️ 4. Pomegranate & Apple Display

Pomegranates and apples make a beautiful combination for a Rosh Hashanah table. Place whole pomegranates and apples together in a large decorative bowl or arrange them along a long tray.

Add eucalyptus or other greenery between the fruit to create a fuller, more elegant display.

🌿 5. Fresh Herb Centerpiece

You don’t need flowers to create a beautiful centerpiece! Fresh herbs such as rosemary, mint, or basil can create a simple, natural arrangement.

Place the herbs in small glass jars or bottles and arrange them down the center of the table. Add apples or pomegranates around the jars for a festive Rosh Hashanah touch.

🌸 6. Simple Rosh Hashanah Floral Arrangement

If you prefer a more traditional centerpiece, you can’t go wrong with flowers. Choose soft, seasonal flowers in colors that complement your table and arrange them in a simple vase.

For a Rosh Hashanah twist, add a few apples, pomegranates, or sprigs of greenery around the base of the vase.

🍎 8. A Sweet Edible Centerpiece

Why not make your centerpiece something your guests can enjoy? Arrange apple slices, honey, pomegranates, and other fruit on a beautiful platter.

You can even create small apple “bowls” filled with honey or another sweet treat. It’s a beautiful centerpiece that can go straight from the table to dessert!

Thank you to kasheribbean.com for these ideas!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

• ⅓ cup (70g) granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup (70g) light brown sugar, firmly packed

• 1 large egg yolk

• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup granulated sugar, for rolling

• ⅓ cup (105g) raspberry jelly

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Alternatively, use a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the granulated and brown sugars, then beat while gradually increasing the speed to medium-high. Continue mixing for about 30–60 seconds, until well combined.
3. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, and beat until fully incorporated.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and salt.
5. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until the dough is fully combined.
6. Scoop the dough into 1-tablespoon portions and roll each portion into a smooth, round ball. Be sure there are no cracks or seams in the dough, as this will help prevent the thumbprints from cracking. Roll each ball in granulated sugar, then place them on a wax-paper-lined plate or small baking sheet.
7. Using your thumb or the rounded back of a teaspoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each cookie.
8. Transfer the cookies to the freezer and chill for 30 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
10. Arrange the chilled cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for approximately 11 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
11. Allow the cookies to cool slightly, then place about 1 teaspoon of raspberry jelly into the center of each thumbprint.
12. Add a small piece of Fiber 1 to the top of the jam.
13. Shape a small piece of fondant into a leaf and place it beside the “stem” to complete the decoration.

Thank you to estherodesign.com for this recipe!

Perfect lunches for the back to school season!

LUNCH BOX 1

One of the easiest lunch ideas is a turkey wrap filled with fresh veggies, paired with grapes and mini muffins—either homemade or store-bought! This simple meal gives your child protein and nutrients, with a little sweet treat to enjoy too.

LUNCH BOX 2

Breaded chicken is always a winner! Pair it with rice for a filling meal, and sneak in some veggies for an extra boost of nutrients. For a savory snack on the side, hummus and crackers are always a healthy favorite!

LUNCH BOX 3

The perfect carb-filled yet balanced meal! These yummy pesto noodles are paired with mini pizzas and fresh sliced apples for a delicious mix of energy, nutrients, and natural sweetness. So easy and so yummy!

LUNCH BOX 4

Scrambled eggs in a whole wheat pita make a protein-packed, healthier lunch that kids love! 🥚🥙 Add diced cucumber for extra nutrients and a crunchy side of pretzels for a snack they’ll enjoy. A simple, balanced, and kid-friendly meal!

LUNCH BOX 5

This is the picky eater edition!  Baked chicken nuggets with simple mashed potatoes are always an easy kid-friendly favorite. To make the meal a little more balanced and nutritious, add their favorite fruit on the side! A simple meal that picky eaters will love

Enjoy!

Need a simple, family-style dinner that everyone can gather around and enjoy? Try these delicious Family-Style Cheesy Nachos! They’re easy to make, perfect for sharing, and a fun way to bring everyone together at the table.

INGREDIENTS:

– 1 bag of tortilla chips

– 1 7 oz brick cheddar cheese

– 1 can black beans

– 1 can of corn

– 1 jar of salsa

– 2 avocados diced

– fresh parsley or cilantro chopped

– 2 limes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Spread tortilla chips on baking sheets. Grate your cheese directly on the chips spreading them all over.

3. Sprinkle your corn and black beans all over your chips.

4. Grate more cheese over the corn and beans as well.

5. Bake for five minutes.

6. When finished, top with salsa and your chopped avocado, parsley or cilantro.

7. Squeeze your fresh lime over everything. Enjoy!

Thank you to kosher.com for this recipe!

Sensory activities are even more fun when the whole family joins in! Gather your children for this fun and educational word-building sensory bin that encourages hands-on learning, creativity, and quality family time!

MATERIALS:

1. One bin

2. Sensory filler item-can be rice, cotton balls, orbeez, sand…

3. Cut out paper letters or magnetic letters

4. Printable family cards

Print PDF here

DIRECTIONS:

1. Take your bin, fill it with your sensory filler, family cards, and letters.

2. Go through with your children each family member card, explains each member and comparing it to your own family.

3. Instruct your children to find a family member card from the sensory bin, and spell out the family member with their letters.

For example: they find the “mom” card and with their letters they spell out “mom”.

Thank you to www.fantasticfunandlearning.com for this idea!

Exciting family-friendly things to do with kids!

BUBBLE PLANET

Bubble Planet has sold over 1 million tickets and impressed fans of bubbles in Milan, Brussels, London, and L.A. Now, it’s finally popping up just outside the city this June! The entire family will have the opportunity to explore 10 mesmerizing themed rooms, interacting with every kind of bubble imaginable, from soapy suds to the smoke variety. This popular experience is fun for all, and if you have little ones under 4, they get to go for free! Grab tickets! 

PLAY STREET MUSEUM

Bring your kid to the brand new Play Street Museum on the UWS, an interactive children’s museum and indoor play area purposefully designed to encourage independence, exploration, and creativity! Kids can have all kinds of “real world” play experiences like give their friends a check up at the doctor’s office, care for the animals at the pet shop, or prepare to save the day at the fire station! It’s sure to stimulate their brains in a super fun way. Plan your visit to the brand new museum here!

PICKLEBALL

NYC’s favorite pickleball destination, CityPickle, just launched their brand new kids programming…complete with birthday party options and summer camp dates! Now available are two hour birthday events complete with food and on-court play, as well as a slew of summer camp sessions ranging from four weeks in the summer. Learn more about children’s offerings at CityPickle here.

FARM DAY

Carl’s Farm is an adorable destination filled with family fun! With a petting zoo, animal feeding, barrel train rides, pumpkin picking, and so much more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this summer. Pack a lunch and make a day of it with a relaxing picnic!

WIGGLE ROOM

Wiggle Room is an adorable play area and sensory gym in Toms River where kids can explore, play, and get all their energy out! With a sensory gym, a beautiful street-inspired play area, and a pretend food court filled with opportunities for imaginative play, there’s so much fun for kids to enjoy!

Jackson Spray Park

Looking for a fun summer outing for the kids? Head over to Jackson Spray Park in Jackson, NJ! Kids can cool off and splash around in the spray park, complete with sprinklers and water features, then enjoy even more outdoor fun with open fields, a skate park, and playgrounds nearby. Best of all, it’s FREE and packed with activities for a fun-filled summer day!

ADA Accessible Playground

Located in Bloomfield, New Jersey, this amazing ADA-accessible playground is a wonderful place for children of all abilities to play and explore! Known for its wheelchair-accessible swing, it offers an inclusive space where children with special needs and their families can enjoy a fun day out—completely FREE! The whole family can enjoy the newly built playground, featuring slides, swings, monkey bars, and so much more. It’s a beautiful place where everyone can play, have fun, and make memories together!

This is the perfect way to snack not only by the pool, but in the pool! ☀️💦

While everyone is hanging out and soaking up the sunshine, create this adorable floating snack tray and let it drift right alongside the fun. Packed with fresh fruit, snacks, and treats, it’s the ultimate summer poolside (or pool-floating!) setup. 

Ingredients:

• Pineapple boat filled with pineapple, strawberries & blueberries
• Caramel sauce, fruit yogurt dip & ranch dip
• Watermelon slices
• Red & green grapes
• Cantaloupe
• Broccoli florets
• Carrot chips
• Salami & provolone roll-ups
• Cheddar cheese cubes
• Cherries
• Cheese crackers
• Pretzel crisps
• Sun Chips
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Peeled clementines

Directions:

Line a tray with parchment paper and place the fruit-filled pineapple boat in the center. Arrange the dips in small bowls around the tray, then add the watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, meats, cheeses, crackers, pretzels, and chips. Fill any empty spaces with cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and clementines. Serve and enjoy! 🍍🍉☀️💦

These patriotic ice cream sandwiches are the perfect sweet treat for a hot summer day! They’re a fun and festive way to celebrate the Fourth of July while cooling off with a delicious red, white, and blue dessert.

Ingredients

• Chocolate chip cookies (homemade or store-bought)
• Vanilla ice cream
• Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions

1. Pour the sprinkles into a shallow bowl.
2. Let the vanilla ice cream soften slightly for easier scooping.
3. Place a generous scoop of ice cream on the flat side of one cookie.
4. Top with a second cookie, flat side down, and gently press to form a sandwich.
5. Smooth the edges with a small spatula if needed.
6. Roll the exposed ice cream edges in the red, white, and blue sprinkles.
7. Wrap each ice cream sandwich individually in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Tip: Make these ahead of time and keep them in the freezer for an easy, festive Fourth of July treat!

Thank you to belleofthekitchen.com

Sensory slime is a great item to bring along to Fourth of July celebrations. It can help keep children with special needs calm, engaged, and positively stimulated during busy moments!

Fourth of July Sensory Slime Recipe 🇺🇸

Ingredients

• 5 oz white school glue
• Liquid starch (approximately ¼ cup, adjust as needed)
• Food coloring (red or pink, blue, yellow, and green)
• Optional: Glitter

Supplies

• 4 cups (one for each color)
• Craft sticks or spoons for mixing
• Airtight container for storage

Instructions

1. Pour 5 oz of white school glue into a cup.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of water, a few drops of food coloring, and optional glitter. Mix well.
3. Slowly stir in about ¼ cup of liquid starch until the slime begins to pull away from the sides of the cup.
4. Remove the slime and knead it with your hands until smooth.
5. If the slime feels too sticky, add 1 teaspoon of liquid starch at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
6. Repeat the process three more times to create the remaining colors.
7. Gently braid or twist the four colors together for a festive Fourth of July slime!

Storage

Store your slime in a sealed, airtight container to keep it fresh for future play.

Note: This recipe uses liquid starch only as the activator.

Thank you to mom dot.com for this slime tutorial!

With matcha trending and frozen yogurt becoming everyone’s favorite summer treat, this delicious dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Combining refreshing flavors with a cool and creamy texture, it’s the perfect way to beat the summer heat.

This sweet frozen treat is easy to make, fun to enjoy, and guaranteed to leave everyone wanting more. Whether served as an afternoon snack or a special dessert, it’s the perfect cold indulgence for a warm summer day.

Ingredients:

– 2 cups of greek yogurt

– 2 large bananas

-2.5 teaspoon of Matcha

-1/3 cup almond milk

-1 tablespoon of maple syrup

-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a blender, add greek yogurt, bananas, matcha, maple syrup, and vanilla.

2. Blend it on high until it becomes a smooth creamy consistency. (Tip: pulse it a few times, stop the blender and mix with a spoon and then pulse it again to help the blender mix everything together.)

3. Spoon the mix into a container and let it freeze for an hour until the froyo becomes firm enough to hold its shape.

4. Top with toppings of your choice!

Thank you to mindymatcha.com.au for this recipe!