Just made really good chocolate brownies with Lia. The "secret" ingredient is raw tehina. This is a staple in the average Israeli fridge, not sure how easy it is to find elsewhere. Here's the recipe, it's really easy. Sorry for the grams and celsius dear Americans! Here's how to make chocolate brownies, with a taste of Israel.
Ingredients
100 g 60% dark chocolate
100 g butter
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
Splash of milk
1 tbsp tehina (more if you like it)
1 heaped tsp cocoa
Chocolate chips for decoration.
Method
Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bowl over a saucepan if hot water (bain marie) Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into a medium sized lined tin and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Bake for 18 mins at 180 celcius
Oct 7, 2010
Jun 7, 2010
June 25% Jewish Wedding Gifts Discount!
June is for weddings and I’m experiencing wedding fever in the studio this month!
I know many of you buy my designs as jewish wedding gifts, and as a show of appreciation I’d like to offer you a 25% discount for the next 2 weeks.
In order to receive your discount just write “Wedding Discount” in the comment box that pops up when you follow the Buy Now buttons on my website http://www.lauracowan.com/
To complete my wedding offer I’d like to offer complementary gift wrapping and card.
I’ll also be delighted if you use the discount for any design you have had your eye on for a while for yourself!
Look forward to hearing from you!
Laura
I know many of you buy my designs as jewish wedding gifts, and as a show of appreciation I’d like to offer you a 25% discount for the next 2 weeks.
In order to receive your discount just write “Wedding Discount” in the comment box that pops up when you follow the Buy Now buttons on my website http://www.lauracowan.com/
To complete my wedding offer I’d like to offer complementary gift wrapping and card.
I’ll also be delighted if you use the discount for any design you have had your eye on for a while for yourself!
Look forward to hearing from you!
Laura
 |
| These elegant and original Shabbat Candlesticks make a great Jewish wedding gift for a newly married Jewish couple |
May 2, 2010
Mezuzahs in Space
You may remember that last year the American astronaut Greg Chamitoff took two of my rocket shaped mezuzahs, the Apollo and the Shuttle on a NASA expedition to the International Space Station. Since astronauts only get to travel with a small amount of possessions, I was flattered that 2 were my mezuzahs!
As the mezuzahs travelled to space, the story travelled round the world, appearing in newspapers from New York to Moscow, Israel to France, and of course on the web. I was interviewed on Israeli radio and a news crew from the Israeli/ Russian RTV news team even came and filmed me working in the studio.
I heard from Greg recently and he was kind enough to send me this picture of my Shuttle mezuzah (side view) floating in zero gravity!
What a view!
Here's a closer view of the two mezuzahs
Mar 24, 2010
Pesach Give Away - Win an Image Mezuzah
Pesach Giveaway!
Take part in a lottery to win one of my latest designs - a modern Image Mezuzah.
I created this modern mezuzah range using my private collection of travel photographs and original graphic designs, including:
A stunning Bocas Del Toro seascape
An ancient Thai ceiling painting
An image of a mezuzah scroll
All you have to do is comment below telling me what is your favourite piece of Laura Cowan Judaica and send me an email to info@lauracowan.com (so that I will be able to notify you if you are the winner)
At the end of the week I'll pick all the names out of a hat and announce the winner.
Good luck everyone and Hag Sameach.
Take part in a lottery to win one of my latest designs - a modern Image Mezuzah.
I created this modern mezuzah range using my private collection of travel photographs and original graphic designs, including:
A stunning Bocas Del Toro seascape
An ancient Thai ceiling painting
An image of a mezuzah scroll
All you have to do is comment below telling me what is your favourite piece of Laura Cowan Judaica and send me an email to info@lauracowan.com (so that I will be able to notify you if you are the winner)
At the end of the week I'll pick all the names out of a hat and announce the winner.
Dec 6, 2009
Splash Dreidels - a Hanukkah Dreidels craft project for kids
Splash Dreidels - a Hanukkah craft project for kids.
Not messy, just looks it, appeals to toddlers.
(Also called Jackson Pollack drip technique dreidels for the more sophisticated budding artist)
You’ll need;
A shoe box
Scotch tape
A dreidel (the flat type that looks like a disc with a handle)
Paint – any type as long as it’s runny. The best is gouache or poster paint in a squeezy tube.
Plain Paper
A compass
Small blob of modeling clay (plasticine)
Sharp pencil
Scissors
Glitter (optional)
Lots of newspaper
Sense of humor in case it goes wrong and does get messy (don’t blame me!)
Method
1. Cut a large window in the top of the shoe box lid (about 6 inch by 6 inch - big enough to get a dreidel in and out)
2. Tape the lid on to the bottom part of the box
3. Using a compass, mark out about 10 discs the same size as the dreidel‘s diameter on some plain paper. Mark the centre point too.
4. Cut out the discs.
5. Make a central hole. The best way to do this is to place the hanukkah dreidel on a piece of modeling clay and poke a sharp pencil through it.
6. Place the paper disc over the handle of the dreidel.
7. Put the dreidel in the shoe box.
8. Spin it.
9. Dribble paint onto the hanukkah dreidel while its spinning
10. Experiment with different speeds, colors and paints.
11. If you are using glitter, sprinkle it on while the paint is still wet.
12. Remove the disc and place it (out of the way of little hands) to dry, preferably over night.
13. What to do with the discs – We used them to make a centipede collage. If you are crafty, you can use thicker card and small pencils to make new dreidels. Try using a small marker pen as a handle with the tip pointing down and spin it with the lid off – it make s a lovely pattern on the paper.
Happy Crafty Hanukkah!
Not messy, just looks it, appeals to toddlers.
(Also called Jackson Pollack drip technique dreidels for the more sophisticated budding artist)
You’ll need;
A shoe box
Scotch tape
A dreidel (the flat type that looks like a disc with a handle)
Paint – any type as long as it’s runny. The best is gouache or poster paint in a squeezy tube.
Plain Paper
A compass
Small blob of modeling clay (plasticine)
Sharp pencil
Scissors
Glitter (optional)
Lots of newspaper
Sense of humor in case it goes wrong and does get messy (don’t blame me!)
Method
1. Cut a large window in the top of the shoe box lid (about 6 inch by 6 inch - big enough to get a dreidel in and out)
2. Tape the lid on to the bottom part of the box
3. Using a compass, mark out about 10 discs the same size as the dreidel‘s diameter on some plain paper. Mark the centre point too.
4. Cut out the discs.
5. Make a central hole. The best way to do this is to place the hanukkah dreidel on a piece of modeling clay and poke a sharp pencil through it.
6. Place the paper disc over the handle of the dreidel.
7. Put the dreidel in the shoe box.
8. Spin it.
9. Dribble paint onto the hanukkah dreidel while its spinning
10. Experiment with different speeds, colors and paints.
11. If you are using glitter, sprinkle it on while the paint is still wet.
12. Remove the disc and place it (out of the way of little hands) to dry, preferably over night.
13. What to do with the discs – We used them to make a centipede collage. If you are crafty, you can use thicker card and small pencils to make new dreidels. Try using a small marker pen as a handle with the tip pointing down and spin it with the lid off – it make s a lovely pattern on the paper.
Happy Crafty Hanukkah!
Dec 1, 2009
How I made my Modern Magnetic Hanukkah Menorahs
I’m proud and relieved that I finally got my new Magnetic Menorahs out before Hanukkah. I started designing them way back in January, but there were many stumbling blocks along the way.
Instead of my usual way of working - coming up with a visual concept and translating it into 3D materials that express a Jewish ritual function, my brief was “Design an affordable Judaica product that would succeed in this recession driven economy.”
I wanted to combine simple materials – tubes, steel and magnets.
It was one of those projects that was supposed to be really easy, or so I thought…
The first menorah I designed was a large wave of steel, with candleholders magnetized to the sides. But on testing it got boiling hot, the magnets kept jumping together and the wax melted into a big gloopy mass.
I was using super strong neodymium diametrically magnetized (side attraction) magnets which kept jumping together. So I adapted the menorah design, made two tracks of steel (also attached with magnets) with the candleholders on top, changed the magnets to axially magnetized (vertical attraction) and created the Modern Slide Menorah. The advantage it has over my original hanukkah menorah design, apart from all the practical concerns, is that the magnets glide really beautifully along the tracks.
The next channukah menorah design in the range was to be simple and compact, perfect for travelling. For the Modern Travel Menorah I wanted a steel base with magnetic candleholders. But the supposedly pre-polished bases had to be professionally polished to prevent sharp edges, and then at the request of several of the Judaica gift stores that I work with, I had to source protective stickers to put on the bases to prevent the bases from getting scratched. It should have also been easy, but when test driven, the first 5 samples didn’t stick, they slid around or left sticky snail trails on the menorah base. Roni (my silversmith and production assistant) and I took it in turns to rip out our hair.
Eventually I had a consultation with 2 manufacturing experts and one business advisor (as well as my other trusty advisers – husband and brother), found 3 specialist sticker manufacturers, tested 7 different types of stickers and finally found the right ones for my new menorahs.
I was almost ready to release the two new modern menorah designs, when I looked at my desk and realized that my sample pieces were holding my Post-its, paper clips, pens, stamps and business cards - in fact anything and everything that was on my desk. I thought it would be a perfect gift idea for a Chanukiah that could be in use all year round and so the Modern Transformer Menorah was created.
The whole process (which I had to fit in with running the rest of my Jewish gifts business as usual) took almost a year, and I was worried I wouldn’t get the pieces out in time for Hannukah 2009. But by what must have been my own personal miracle of Hannukah, all the technical problems were resolved 2 weeks ago, and I’ve been blessed with a great response, even selling out and having to quickly restock after the first week. Happy Chanukah!
P.S. I’ve made commenting on this page easier and there’s no need to give your email address, so I’d love to hear from you! Click here to see the new Chanukah menorah designs!
Instead of my usual way of working - coming up with a visual concept and translating it into 3D materials that express a Jewish ritual function, my brief was “Design an affordable Judaica product that would succeed in this recession driven economy.”
I wanted to combine simple materials – tubes, steel and magnets.
It was one of those projects that was supposed to be really easy, or so I thought…
The first menorah I designed was a large wave of steel, with candleholders magnetized to the sides. But on testing it got boiling hot, the magnets kept jumping together and the wax melted into a big gloopy mass.
I was using super strong neodymium diametrically magnetized (side attraction) magnets which kept jumping together. So I adapted the menorah design, made two tracks of steel (also attached with magnets) with the candleholders on top, changed the magnets to axially magnetized (vertical attraction) and created the Modern Slide Menorah. The advantage it has over my original hanukkah menorah design, apart from all the practical concerns, is that the magnets glide really beautifully along the tracks.
The next channukah menorah design in the range was to be simple and compact, perfect for travelling. For the Modern Travel Menorah I wanted a steel base with magnetic candleholders. But the supposedly pre-polished bases had to be professionally polished to prevent sharp edges, and then at the request of several of the Judaica gift stores that I work with, I had to source protective stickers to put on the bases to prevent the bases from getting scratched. It should have also been easy, but when test driven, the first 5 samples didn’t stick, they slid around or left sticky snail trails on the menorah base. Roni (my silversmith and production assistant) and I took it in turns to rip out our hair.
Eventually I had a consultation with 2 manufacturing experts and one business advisor (as well as my other trusty advisers – husband and brother), found 3 specialist sticker manufacturers, tested 7 different types of stickers and finally found the right ones for my new menorahs.
I was almost ready to release the two new modern menorah designs, when I looked at my desk and realized that my sample pieces were holding my Post-its, paper clips, pens, stamps and business cards - in fact anything and everything that was on my desk. I thought it would be a perfect gift idea for a Chanukiah that could be in use all year round and so the Modern Transformer Menorah was created.
The whole process (which I had to fit in with running the rest of my Jewish gifts business as usual) took almost a year, and I was worried I wouldn’t get the pieces out in time for Hannukah 2009. But by what must have been my own personal miracle of Hannukah, all the technical problems were resolved 2 weeks ago, and I’ve been blessed with a great response, even selling out and having to quickly restock after the first week. Happy Chanukah!
P.S. I’ve made commenting on this page easier and there’s no need to give your email address, so I’d love to hear from you! Click here to see the new Chanukah menorah designs!
Sep 16, 2009
Looking back at the year - תשס"ט
Things I am grateful for ;
Knowing what I want
I feel blessed that I know what I want and that I love to create, so much that it can make me laugh out loud, dance for joy or hug my staff.
My kids
Fortunate to have two funny, smart, silly, driving me crazy half the time, loving, healthy children (that now let me sleep at night, hurrah!)
My new staff
Kandi, my office manager and Roni, my silversmith have taken all the pressure off my work, so I am able to dedicate my time to my favourite parts - design, creation and contact with clients. So if you are in the Neve Tsedek neighbourhood come in and say hello!
My iphone
If you have one then I don’t need to describe the joy. If you don’t, go and get one!
My business advisor - Haim
Haim has the answer to every question I ask. Sometimes a direct answer, sometimes spiritual and sometimes he makes me find the answer, but there is always an answer. It’s like therapy.
My family
I am lucky to have a close and supportive family –husband, brothers, mum as well as great in laws, whom always have my back.
Things I wish I could have changed
Mobile phone bill
In the thousands, after foolishly surfing the internet abroad on my iphone
Waiting at home…
…. for my husband Mickey to return from the war in Gaza
Recession
Like the whole business world, the Judaica field has slowed down this year, so I have been forced to change my design strategies to create less expensive products (Hannukah Menorahs and Mezuzot that should be ready in a couple of weeks)
Wish
Gilad Shalit could be at home with his family for Rosh Hashanah
Here’s to a happy, healthy, creative and inspiring תש"ע
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)