Tuesday, April 18, 2017

"Osher Ad" and.. . Kugel for Sabbath


'Osher Ad' (in english, meaning 'eternal happiness') is a chain of supermarkets with branches in some 15 locations which targets especially the large orthodox families needing quantity buying. The products are kosher, and there's even a tiny synagogue at the back of the store. 

The motto of the chain  is "no tricks, no gimmicks" (that is, no coupons, no 1+1, no deals etc..).  To show their understanding and emphaty for the budget- conscious customers with big families, they even posted advice signs  such as Don't buy more than you need, Don't bring the children when food shopping (truth is I don't see these signs any longer). That's good advice, of course, but hard  to put into practice.




Once a week, usually on Thursday, I do my shopping at the 'Osher Ad' store which is closest to my hometown. I like it for its big size, great variety, clean space, low prices. What I do not like is the fact that one has to stand in line at the checkout counter for quite a long time; there is no express line.



I usually go to 'Osher Ad' late in the day, so chances are their apple kugel- my favorite product- is sold out.
Kugel is a  dish made of egg noodles and baked in a square pan. It's the most elevated traditional Sabbath food on the table.The cinnamon apple noodle kugel is "devastating", and as one might guess, it's not a low-calorie dessert. If it's there , I just have to buy it. I'm hooked. (The potato kugel or any of the other kugel versions is of no interest to me).

45 comments:

  1. The photos remind me of our big chain of Walmarts and I hate to stand forever in those long lines, but oh my, the deals. I'm interested in learning more about the cinnamon apple noodle kugel. My husband, half Lithuanian misses potato kugel from his childhood so much (I never liked it.) Perhaps he would go for this kind of kugel. The man has Jewish roots, Duta. He took a class in Hebrew and excelled, years back. Said he remembers words growing up around his grandparents who lived with them. People are interesting!

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    1. There are lots of kugel recipes on the internet. You just type your wish: apple noodles kugel, potato noodles kugel etc.. The sweet kugels are the more popular ones.
      Your husband sounds quite a guy!

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  2. Sounds like a supermarket I would be happy to shop in. Never heard of kugal, so I am off on an internet search to have a look at what it is made of!

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    1. The basis of kugel is noodles. All the other ingredients vary according to preferrence.The sweet type has cinnamon and raisins added, the savory type is spiced with salt and pepper.

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  3. Hello Duta, standing in a long checkout line is not a lot of fun but I interest myself in what others have bought and that sometimes prompts me on things I may have forgotten ha ha.
    The supermarket seems to have good intentions with its motto etc.
    There is overwhelming advertising in our Supermarkets and often annoying music... I do sound picky and hard to please, but otherwise they're ok!
    The apple cinnamon kugle does sound delicious, and it's obviously popular!
    Cheers now and thank you for your post.

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    1. No music here.It would distract the buyers.No advertising of products either except its motto of 'no tricks, no gimmicks'

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  4. Hello to you Duta! Now we know where you are on Thursdays night... hahaha...
    I loved reading your story. I find it very interesting how you have detailed everything. I find the supermarket advices excellent and their motto superb. Now I'm intrigued by the apple kugel. Never heard of kugel, once you could post a large picture to show to us. That said, I will search in the internet to have a look at what it is made of! You know what? I too also do my grocery shopping on Thursday because the stores close late on Thursdays, so on Saturday I take care of myself... Have a great day!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words. I'm trying to watch my weight so I won't bake kugel or any other calorie rich dish at home. So, no picture, but there are plenty of pictures on the web. It's made up of noodles as the basis and usually baked in a square pan. There are several versions of it, and pictures according to version.

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    2. Duta! Apple Kugel looks like Apple Strudel a German dessert made with apples, cinnamon, raisins... I love this dessert :)
      I hope you will find your ideal weight, allow yourself little pleasures from time to time.

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    3. Indeed,both kugel and strudel have the same german origin. The difference between the two lies in the basis; kugel is based on noodles, strudel on dough. Anyway, one can't go wrong with whateve is made with apples; it's always delicious.

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  5. hmmm i am curious what a kugel is, i have to search it also! but sounds interesting. also...to not take kids grocery shopping, haha! but i actually enjoy bringing my son!

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    1. The majority of customers at this particular chain of supermarkets are religious families with many kids. Even if the parent(s) come(s) with only 1-2 kids and the kids are well behaved (no screaming and running around), still shopping with them is not a smooth experience. The kids usually demand treats (candies, chocolate, chewing gum), they grab things and sometimes drop them, they want to sit in the shopping cart and be carried around etc...So you see...

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  6. I guess this chain of stores is ok if there's no coupons, no deals as long as their prices are low. Sounds like a no-nonsense kind of place, which is trustworthy and solid. The apple dessert sounds scrumptious. I wish you could get it any time you visited the store. The only thing I wouldn't like is the long lines. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. Yes, prices are low compared to other supermarkets. Lines are longer (the shopping carts are bigger) ,but it depends on what day and time of the day it is.

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  7. We have something similar here in Greece called Lidl; it's a German, discount supermarket chain. And like your Osher Ad, the deals are great and the line ups long!

    Enjoy your cinnamon apple noodle kugel!

    Poppy

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    1. I'm familiar with the name. When I visited Heraklion area in Crete, I wanted to shop at Lidl, but as I recall it was somewhere out of town and I gave up.

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  8. I would love to taste that Apple Kugel. You make it sound so good. What a good name for a supermarket lol Eternal happiness. Who doesn't want that. I like the approach of the supermarket regarding No coupons and the like. These are all just tricks to buy

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    1. Yeah, I must agree with you: the name is good, the motto is good, the kugel is good.
      Last year, the owners have opened an american version of their supermarket in Brooklyn. I suppose it's quite popular there.

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  9. Cinnamon apple kugel sounds enticing. I think I might be hooked on it, too.

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    1. Hi Janie,
      It is. This kugel could be a delicious companion to you on your trails in the desert.

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  10. Sounds like a great place to shop minus the wait lines. I love Kugel, haven't had it in a long time though because as you said, very high in calories. I love reading about the places in your world. Happy weekend Duta.

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    1. Prices are good, so this makes the wait lines easier 'to swallow'. As in a lot of things, "one can't have it all".

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  11. I remember I used to like grocery shopping a long time ago, but now I don't enjoy it as much. But if I am going to shop I do enjoy a nice clean store and if everyone would leave the kiddies at home that would be great!

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    1. Nowadays, many order their groceries online. As we advance in age, shopping loses its charm; long lines and noisy kids do affect the shopping experience.

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    2. I agree! Plus it's so exhausting to unload and reload your groceries and then to come home and unload them from your car into you home and then put them away!

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    3. Exactly.I can tell you it doesn't get easier.

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  12. It sure sounds good. I'm a huge baker. Yesterday, I made chocolate/molasses spice cookies. I dread grocery shopping. But I suppose we are pretty lucky to have so much abundance at our fingertips. Thanks for your clever comment about digesting the view this week. Loved it.

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    1. Chocolate/molasses spice cookies - sounds great! I'm glad you're a great baker; baking, like cooking, is such a creative activity!

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  13. I love baking and will try apple krugel. banana pancakes sound appealing, also. Thanks for the tip.

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    1. I found the bannana pancake recipe in a blog. I'm always on the lookout for simple and low-calorie recipes.

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  14. Oh my gosh, Duta! I love kugel and haven't eaten it in years since my friend's mother last made it and she did it perfectly usually with apples and cinnamon and lemon also with raisins, I think. I've been tempted many times to try baking it and will be looking at recipes for it. Thanks for the reminder!
    I hate to grocery shop when there are long lines, fortunately that seldom happens here and they're opening more express lanes now. Have a wonderful week!

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    1. Express lanes - that's good; makes the buying experience more smooth.
      Glad my post has reminded you of your mom's friend kugel.

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  15. This is so interesting to see your grocery stores. the noodles sound good.

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    1. Grocery stores are usually interesting places, not only for the variety of items on sale but also for the variety of people that one sees here. In this store, for instance, there are many orthodox buyers clothed in their black suits and hat; their wives with covered heads and long dresses.

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  16. Replies
    1. You mean the kugel? Yummy, indeed. It's usually sold out quickly.

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  17. This is interesting! My husband shops in the morning to avoid the tourists in high season!

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    1. In the early morning hours - yes, it's certainly less crowded.

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  18. Eternal Happiness! What a great name for a supermarket!! Apple Kugel sounds great, I may try it for the Shabbat! Blessings and Shalom from Japan!!
    PS I am a friend of `Travelling Bug` and came here to visit thru her blog. Nice to meet you.

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    1. Welcome to my little blog!
      Your name- Shayndel - sounds lovely; it's a jewish name, isn't it?
      Apple kugel or potato kugel are a great Sabbath dish.

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  19. Thank you Duta. Yes, it is a Jewish name.
    Your name sounds lovely too. I never heard it before.
    I will search a recipe for the Apple kugel. There is no supermarket to find it in where we live!!

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    1. PS I made the kugel!! Thank you! It was good. Hope you don`t mind that I linked to you and to this post!
      When you have a chance, please stop by for a slice:) The post got a little long, I still may edit it a , but the slice of Kugel should still be there at the end of the post!

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    2. You are fast. I'm glad you've enjoyed it.
      Thanks for the invitation. I'll certainly stop by at your post and kugel.

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    3. Hi Duta! I hope all is well! Funny thing, I had a dream that you posted a post about Apple Matzah!! I hadn`t remembered anything about this post when i had the dream but after recalled it and now is fun to see its the first time we met.

      Have you every heard of Apple Matzah?? It sounded good from the dream, so I have just ordered matzah and will see if I can try making something like Apple Matzah Kugel!!

      Blessings and Shavu`a Tov!!

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    4. Never heard of apple matza. In fact, I was never fond of matza until last year when I discovered that wet matza can be a delight that goes well with drinking coffee. So, this year, after Pesach was over, I rushed to Osher Ad store to buy more matza , so that I have for coffee . It's sure better than some sweet cookie.

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