Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Esti Waldman
What Type of Knives Do I Need?
Whether you’re buying a new knife for Rosh Hashanah, or simply gearing up for the cooking marathon ahead, the right knife will come in handy. There is a minhag, found mostly in the Chassidic community, of purchasing a new knife for Rosh Hashanah. It is said to be a segulah for parnassah, so it can only be a good thing! Also, we can all use a new knife once in a while, so why not buy it in time for the biggest cooking marathon of the year?
Stock Your Freezer with Smoothies for School Days
Now you can add a nutritious fruit smoothie to the grab-and-go rotation on hectic school mornings. This school lunch solution was something we came up with back when my daughter was in upper elementary school and lunchtime was about socializing and not so much about eating lunch.
How to Clean Suede Sneakers
This foaming cleaner even got out the stubborn blue dye that bleeds off stonewashed clothing. We’re big fans of washing sneakers in the washing machine. But we also know that most suede sneakers can’t go into a machine. And when my daughter brought home these beige sneakers from camp with blue dye bled all over them, I knew I was in for a challenge. Turns out there’s a fabulous product for cleaning shoes of more delicate materials – including suede.
What Really Works to Take Away the Mosquito Bite Itch
There are so many products that claim to soothe the itching, but what really works? We tested a bunch so you don’t have to. After serving as an all-you-can-eat buffet to some lucky mosquito (or a whole family of them), I was losing my mind from the itching. As much as you can tell yourself not to scratch, when there are so many close together, the itching is so bad it will wake you up throughout the night. I’m also not so good about listening to my smarter self.
A Couple of the Best Makeup Bags
We asked for your favorites and then tested them. Now we have our own favorites at different price points, too. In the past, I was a makeup minimalist. But after hosting and attending a string of simchos in a row, I realized that I felt better about myself at the events where I was wearing professional makeup. Not because I’d spent the money – that didn’t necessarily feel great – but because I didn’t have the makeup and tools at home to create a more dressy look on my own.
Easy Homemade Tomato Jam
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Savory and sweet, this jam is delicious on matzah or sourdough. After having tomato jam at a restaurant a few years ago, I was hooked. And when I came across the recipe for Tomato Jam Salmon in Adeena Sussman’s Shabbat cookbook, it became a family favorite. That recipe calls for some ingredients that we don’t use on Pesach, so I played around with a simpler version that comes together quickly and uses only Pesach-friendly ingredients.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
Probably one of the most frustrating items in a house to clean, your stainless steel fridge CAN be clean and shiny! I know I’m not the only one who has struggled with just the right method to get my stainless appliances shiny and fingerprint-free. I’ve tried products and methods and finally settled on this one that works really well in my kitchen.
Pesach Lemon Wafer Bars
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe They’re refreshing and light, and these Lemon Wafer Bars just might become an annual staple in your home too. Sometimes, it’s ironic how we come to begin making the recipes that have become our staples. These Lemon Bars were originally featured in Passover Made Easy by Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek, and for some reason, even though I’ve used the cookbook often over the years, that recipe never appealed to me and I had never tried them.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe The crunch and flavor are so satisfying that you’ll keep reaching for just one more! This recipe is brought to you thanks to my father. I was over at my parents’ house shmoozing one evening when my father asked if I had ever tried my sister’s biscotti. She had recently made them a batch and he couldn’t stop raving. He said I must get the recipe from her to post on Between Carpools.
Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Super crispy, dairy Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes are easy to prep and irresistibly good. These Parmesan crusted potatoes are addictive in a way that makes them party food. If you could, you’d eat the whole pan by yourself! The little bites of potato are the perfect vehicle for the crispy Parmesan and the flavor is simple enough to be a universal crowd pleaser. Of course, you can jazz them up with some herbs if you want something a little more sophisticated.
Our Ultimate Chanukah Game Roundup
Here it is – the complete list of all our favorite, festive games for Chanukah party fun. Is your Chanukah party coming up? No party is complete without a game or two – and not necessarily a rocking game of dreidel. We’ve been sharing some great options over the years and now we have them all rounded up in one master list. So put out those latkes and sufganiyot – and let’s have some fun! Does your family have any fun activities you like to do on Chanukah? Drop us an email and let us know.
Did You Know You Could Freeze Pomegranate Arils?
by Esti Waldman | November 18, 2025 | 0 comment(s) Pomegranates are delicious – and affordable – in the fall and winter. But you can enjoy them any time. If you shop in Costco, you probably have noticed that after Rosh Hashanah (of course), they sell gorgeous pomegranates by the case. Time it right and the price is beautiful, too. But who needs 6-12 pomegranates all at once? But did you know that you can freeze them?
Hide Those Tangled Wires Behind Your Furniture
Do you have an outlet behind your bed or nightstand that needs to power too many wires? Not enough room for all of that? Let’s get it organized! It’s great when you have an outlet right behind your nightstand and you can plug in your lamp and alarm clock. But what if that lamp has a bulky adapter? And maybe you want to charge your phone there, too. Adding a noise machine? How are we getting that jumble of wires neatly out of sight?
Avoid Clogged Shower Drains with These Square Hair Catchers
Conventional round drains are not really a problem, but if you have a square center drain, you probably struggle with hair clogs. There is a solution! When you build a new tiled shower these days, the automatic assumption is going to be that you want a square center drain. They’re more current and arguably, more aesthetically pleasing. And then you start using the shower and you realize you have no way to avoid the hair washing down the drain and clogging it up.
Chocolate Chip Brioche Buns for Brunch
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe This buttery and chocolatey roll is the perfect addition to a special brunch–in the Sukkah or anytime of year. One day this summer, I was chatting with my sister and she told me that she had just baked something worth making just for the smell alone. I happened to be in her neighborhood, so I popped in to see what the fuss was about. She wasn’t wrong. Her house smelled like the most delicious bakery.
You Subscribe and Save What?
We know about paper towels and diapers, but what are some of the less common items on your subscription list? Let’s back up a moment. What is Subscribe and Save? If you have Prime from Amazon, you probably know that if you have a standing “subscription” order of an item, you save 5% on each delivery of that item. These orders can be set for the frequency of delivery you prefer, from one month to a year, and can be adjusted every month before your delivery date.
How to Clean Quartz Countertops
We’re not stone professionals, but we can tell you how we keep our quartz counters clean and shining. Are you one of the many readers who has reached out to us asking for the best way to clean quartz countertops? We’ve got you covered! Disclaimer – we are not stone pros. We just know what’s been working for us for years of using white quartz countertops. First – quartz countertops are very hardy. Don’t be too afraid of them, but do take care of them properly.
LEGO To Go, Please!
Have a kid who can play with LEGO for hours? Now you can pack it up for some travel time entertainment. There are some kids who can play with LEGO endlessly. The ones who need just a handful or two of bricks and their imagination can create all sorts of building ideas. And while we generally enjoy having this kind of quiet play at home, there are times when we need some low-key busy time on the road.
Our Favorite Quince Picks
They don’t have a fancy designer label, but the quality and design are high end. Editor’s Note: Since the time that we first published our Quince favorites, there’s been lots more items with great quality and value added to the line-up. We updated this post to bring more top picks your way. Do you enjoy high quality clothes and home items but don’t feel like paying for someone’s signature? Designer items are generally made with better quality materials and workmanship than mass market items.
Your Favorite Liquid Makeup or Sunscreen But Easier to Use
by Esti Waldman | July 05, 2025 | 0 comment(s) Now you can carry around your liquid makeup for easy application on the go – with no dirty fingers. You know you should be reapplying your sunscreen throughout the day if you’ll be out in the sun. Or maybe you just want a fresh swipe of some tinted moisturizer. But those bottles are not really what you want to be carrying in your purse unless you’re Savta Simcha.
How to Handwash Your Laundry
Whether at camp, on vacation, or at home, sometimes you just need to wash one item of clothing. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. With our kids heading off to camp and some summer travel plans, we figured this is a good time to share some basic instructions on how to wash an item or two in the sink when necessary. While this might not work for tough dirt and stains, it can definitely get that swimsuit or sports bra fresh for another use before laundry day.
French Butter Cookies for Shavuos
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe This classic cookie is so simple but so good. And, no, you can’t replace the butter. Did you ever have a classic butter cookie? Unassuming, not fancy – but that rich butter flavor is the perfect complement to your morning coffee. They’re more popular in cafes in Israel than they are here in the US and I like to buy a container or two to bring home whenever I go. We get used to making our baked goods pareve to keep things simple. But on Shavuos, we go all in on the dairy.
This Product Will Easily Remove Mildew from Your Siding
Keep that grime under control with this spray! If you have vinyl siding on your house, chances are you have some mildew. Black or green, it’s just a natural part of existing in the outdoor world. If you have a lot of it, or if it goes up really high on the walls, you’ll probably need to call a professional cleaning service to deal with it once in a while, but this product you can get on amazon will take care of smaller areas with very little effort.
The Easiest Way to Make Matzah Pizza
by Esti Waldman | April 09, 2025 | 0 comment(s) Jump to Recipe Print Recipe No more soggy matzah pizza this Pesach! We love matzah pizza in our house. (I think I do more than the kids!) It’s such a simple chol hamoed meal without too much work. In the past, we used marinara sauce. But the Pesach versions tend to be more watery than the all-year-round version so I’d have to run it through a strainer and it still wasn’t great.
Pump Soap Dispensers Will Upgrade Your Counters
Spruce up your kitchen sink or the shower niche with sleek bottles that match your decor. Let’s start by saying that this is extra. Definitely not a need. But if little aesthetic upgrades bring you joy, it might be a great idea for you. Change out one bottle or every bottle in your house – it’s up to you! Leah recently mentioned how she was constantly annoyed by the bright green bottle of Palmolive that sits near her kitchen sink.
The Best Storage Bin for Garbage Bags
by Esti Waldman | February 21, 2025 | 0 comment(s) This one fits the bigger roll from Costco! Back in 2019, we shared this storage idea for garbage bags from Ida Levy. For many years, this bin has worked really well for many of you. In my laundry room, I have a bin like this in an upper cabinet and it’s great. But in my kitchen, I keep my garbage bags under my sink, so I didn’t find it practical for two reasons.
Kitchen Tools in Kosher Colors
Who knew that big brands sometimes make keeping a kosher kitchen easier with utensils in many colors? For quite a few years, I’ve been using this microplane on the dairy side of my kitchen. Besides for zesting lemons, I love the microplane for shaving a fluffy pile of parmesan. And every time I needed to zest a lemon or grate some ginger for a fleishig dish, I’d get annoyed about my subpar zester.
Declutter Your Camera Roll One Date at a Time
by Esti Waldman | January 31, 2025 | 0 comment(s) Want to cut down on the thousands of images clogging up your phone? This method helps you do it quickly and painlessly. Years and years, thousands and thousands – how do you go through your full camera roll and eliminate all the junk? The answer we came up with is one date at a time. Not day, date. Once a day, go into your camera roll and search for the current date (month and day).
Indoor Family Fun In and Around Central NJ
Rainy or cold? If you want to have fun indoors in the greater Lakewood area, here’s our master list of things to do with kids. The kids are home and you want to have some fun together out of the house, but perhaps the weather is just not so inviting.
Get Your Small Appliance Cords Under Control
They get tangled and caught up in each other – but we have a solution! Whether you have 3 or 10 small appliances, chances are you have dangling wires. They get messy, tangled – and sometimes caught in the back of the drawer. While some of them include a built-in piece around which to wrap the cord, not all do. (Kitchen Aid mixers do not…) Leah’s mother has this thing she does. When she discovers a good little organizing “thingie”, she’ll make sure to take it along with her to share with her kids.
Our Favorite Quince Picks
They don’t have a fancy designer label, but the quality and design are high end. Editor’s Note: Since the time that we first published our Quince favorites, there’s been lots more items with great quality and value added to the line-up. We updated this post to bring more top picks your way. Do you enjoy high quality clothes and home items but don’t feel like paying for someone’s signature? Designer items are generally made with better quality materials and workmanship than mass market items.
Add This Classic Pickle Dip to your Shabbos Meal
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe If you love pickles, you probably love a good pickle dip, too! Bring on the pickles! No, really. Any type of pickle – I’m your girl. You know the pickle plate at pretty much every simcha? I call dibs first. Half sour, full sour, dill, garlic, spicy – all good! And this isn’t even my first post here about pickles – check out the pickles we love to make for Pesach or any other time of year.
Frequent Flier Tips - Between Carpools
Having international family means we've traveled a lot. With and without our kids. So now we're sharing some frequent traveler tips that might work for you, too. The first thing we'll say is don't unpack. Before you think we live out of suitcases, what we mean is don't unpack the things you need to take along on every trip. You should have a dedicated bag of toiletries - and refill that after a trip, not before - and never have to remember all the little things you'd need to fill it up.
On the Road? Games to Play While Driving Somewhere Far Away
Keep the "Are We There Yet?" refrains away with these games you can play while on the road. The ABC game Every player must find each consecutive letter of the alphabet on a sign along the way. To make it a little easier, you can allow license plates to be included as well. PDQ (based onthis card game) Finish The Phrase This game works in states where the license plate format includes a string of three letters.
What to Wear for Your Fall (& Winter) Running
Don't know how to suit up for running as the weather gets colder? Here's your guide to running gear. This is the best time of year to be a runner. It's not too hot, not too cold-it's Goldilocks perfect. And there are no seasonal allergies like the ones that keep me indoors in the spring. My obsession with fall foliage makes it even sweeter. But as the weather gets cooler, the importance of dressing right for the temps becomes more relevant.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Esti
Contact Esti, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack