Husband was in grocery yesterday and found six whole chickens in the meat case, so I told him to bring one home. It’s in the freezer and I’m relieved we will at least have soup for the seders. I’ve also decided not to be picky about eggs - always get Eggland but now will take what we can get.
Having a test run with Zoom with my cousin and my mom later today for Passover. My cousin’s H’s Xoom as room for 100 people. Don’t think will be close to that - probably more like 50ish.
She is going to mail copies of her Haggadah to all who participate.
Our seders are normally quite unruly with people arguing over which parts to do and which to skip, forgetting to do a part we all like so having to go back, etc., so this might be quite the experience.
I think we need “recipes for 5 people or less” . That’s our state guideline for groups. Our annual dinners for this time of year (Easter and Passover) have been cancelled in person.
For Zoom seders, remember that the person initiating the meeting has the power to mute all attendees and unmute individual participants to allow them to talk ;). I’m running Zoom meetings twice a week with a dozen friends, and the people who dominate in person get togethers are even harder to control in a virtual meeting. I have to break in to make sure everyone gets a chance to talk. Can’t imagine 50! The seder leader may have to set some ground rules!
You haven’t met my family!
No one dominates - we just all talk over one another.
We’ve been doing these seders my whole life and it’s always the same…chaos. Plus, every host uses their preferred Haggadah - which adds to the confusion as people search for their favorite parts - which are slightly different in every Haggadah.
Maybe since we won’t all be in the same room together it will be easier to get through the service.
5 of us were on Zoom last night. People still talked over each other. I could see a moderator calling on people who raised their hand. Unfortunately I don’t see that working with Emilybee’s. Family. ( nor mine)
It will just be the two of us at the table with our son joining virtually. My husband is the one who always talks over others but we’re used to the rhythm of our little seders so it should go smoothly.
The advantage of the mass family virtual seder vs in person is that the leader can just forge ahead as desired. Others can keep talking but the seder will carry on over them.
Thanks Marilyn for getting me thinking about Passover. So nice to finally think about something other than this crisis!!
rickel1 I would really love it if you could share your brisket recipe. I have only made brisket once (having grown up with turkey for first Seder and silver tip roast beef for second Seder). When I made brisket last year I didn’t know how to make gravy so I bought it from my kosher store nearby. Since we are not going out I would love to make gravy as well
I did one run to the butcher about a week ago and have two briskets in my freezer. I think I will try to make one this week since my family is getting so tired of chicken. I have been able to get groceries delivered but we keep kosher and haven’t been able to get meal delivered.
I am trying to use Passover as motivation to be more positive and develop and interest in cooking which I have never been good at!
@RonnieGirl - I’m not one of the brisket makers but plenty of the other posters are. You could search this old thread for “brisket” and likely find some recipes: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21403820#Comment_21403820
My husband just sent this to me - AN OPEN LETTER TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI ASKING FOR PASSOVER SEDER ADVICE:
We ate our brisket last week! It was delicious. Made in the instant pot…really really easy!
@Marilyn LOL That letter is hilarious!
My recipe for brisket. Embarrassingly easy but outstanding nonetheless. I always cook it the day before I want to serve it.
Line a large roasting pan with foil and place brisket on the foil. Slice enough onions to cover the whole brisket. If you want carrots and/or mushrooms, add them around the perimeter of onions. Empty a large bottle of (kosher for Passover) ketchup over all of the onions. Wrap up the foil and cover with more to make sure its all sealed up.
Bake at 300 for 1 hour and 15 min per pound. When done, take from oven and open foil to help cool. Place the whole pan in fridge overnight. The next day, skim fat from gravy (so much easier to do when cold), remove brisket and slice. Lay slices back in gravy and cover with foil. One hour before serving, place pan in 325 oven. It turns out perfect every time.
It’s our Seder and Thanksgiving go to.
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So we did the Zoom test. It was just me, my mom and my cousin (who was the leader/moderator.) We talked over each other a few times. But it was still all good. My cousin said she mute offenders at the Seder.
Loved the letter.,
Thanks so much for the recipe VaNcBorder! The letter to Dr. Fauci was so funny. It brightened my night and I shared it with friends and family. I will check out the linked thread tomorrow. I remember I got some great ideas from it last year
Will probably have a WhatsApp video seder with S2, who is seven time zones east. We usually go to my BIL’s in Bayonne, but that doesn’t work this year, esp with two 85+ yo FILs who have traditionally attended. They’re not leaving their apartment/AL.
We use the Nach Waxman brisket recipe from the Silver Palate cookbooks. Reliable and a winner. Will make my usual Mediterranean crustless quiche, which works great for any meal. Big pot of chicken soup this year, low sodium. Those three should carry us through.
My husband wants to make leg of lamb; he has such faith that Whole Foods will have it. We shall see.
We used to make chicken main courses using ingredients picked up during spring break trips: figs from California, oranges from Florida, peaches and pecans driving through Georgia, etc. We also always dipped ourselves in salt water, but now the beaches are closed.
Everyone thinks their brisket recipe is the best but mine really is. 
But, it takes two days to make. It’s from a 40ish year old Temple cookbook one of my Aunts gave to all the girls in the family.
https://lanaunderpressure.com/2019/08/12/instant-pot-atlanta-brisket/
Here is my instant pot brisket recipe. Do not add the 1/2 cup of water! Other than that…just do it.