The Bar Mitzvah

So after years of planning our family celebrated my son becoming a Bar Mitzvah.  And it was a marvelous event!  I do have to say.  He did a beautiful job chanting the Torah and the Haftorah.  He delivered his dvar (speech) beautifully.  It was a day that we all smiled and felt good.  Years of hard work paid off for him (and us).  The service was beautiful, and our daughter sang Ashrei like a pro. 

And the party was great also - the details really came through to me.

What were the best parts for me?

1.  One of the rabbi's took the four of us into the study before the service, so have a family moment, which included a prayer from her, and then Adam and I said a prayer over Mark.  We stood as a family unit, and we were all smiles.  It was such a moment, that our synagogue builds into the day.  I had no idea how fast the three hour service would fly by, and having that moment was really special for us.

2.  Watching Mark chant a really long aliyah of the Torah.  Watching Mark chant in front of hundreds of people.  Watching him being confident reading, and chanting, and not losing his place.  And in fact, his whole body was at rest at that very moment.  And of course us watching him with an immense sense of price.

3.  Having friends and family come from near and far to share this special moment with us.  Having my cousins from Oregon fly out for their first Bar Mitzvah, meant so much to me and to Mark.  Having them in the row behind us and hearing them throw the candy at Mark when he was done with his part.  And having my Uncle and Aunt from Florida and my cousins from Ohio all be there with us.  Knowing that they were with me growing up, and now having them with me at my son's Bar Mitzvah.  A feeling of being together.  Having my brother, his wife and two kids participate with us, and having my niece sit with us during the service with Naomi.  Having friends there that were at my Bat Mitzvah and Adam's friends that were at his Bar Mitzvah.  Having friends attend that had never attended a Bar Mitzvah. 

4.  Watching my daughter shine while chanting Ashrei.  Another proud moment.

5.  Standing next to my son with my husband as the rabbi delivered a prayer for him in front of everyone.

6.  Our guests feeling welcome at the temple.  Our guests feeling how included we all feel within the shul.

7.  Watching my niece and my daughter plan a sleepover together during the weekend.

8.  Watching at the party, all the details all come together - the flip book, the t shirts for the kids, the food, the color scheme.

9.  Watching my son shine with his friends.

10.  Hearing from congregants that Mark's dvar made a difference to them.

11.  Watching my friends carry Mark in the chair during the Horah, and knowing that he wanted this moment so much.  (And knowing that when I was in the chair, Mark knew I was doing this for him.  I hate that chair.)

12.  Hearing from people who participated in the Candle Lighting how surprised they were to be invited to light a candle.  Mark took this part very seriously and having his friends and family together were so important.

Mark on the chair during the Horah.  Wearing a huge, natural smile.

Mark with his day camp friends.

More posts to come later and of course more photos to come later.

9 days and counting

Nine days to go.  There are a few more details to be done, including our welcome speech for the reception, but I am sure we will have something for Adam to read, while I cry tears of happiness.

Tonight he has another rehearsal at the synagogue.  He is confident that he will do well, and I am confident in his skills.  The synagogue is like his second home.  We have brought him there since he was born, and he feels at home there.

For now, our menus have been picked; the photo montage is complete; the clothes are hanging in our closet waiting for the big day.  Hair appointments have been made.  The centerpieces are complete. 

We are waiting for friends and family to join us from near and far.  All who come will make this day very special.

Nine days and counting.

Seventeen Days and Counting

The event that has been on my mind for 13 years (okay, maybe not all 13) will be in 17 days.  We are in the last details. . . . and I mean the last details, such as:

1.  Place cards - confirming that every body has a table!
2.  Making sure each vendor has a meal for Saturday night.
3.  Making hair appointments
4.  Emailing directions to the museum to local people; and preparing directions for the hotel bags.
5.  Making sure I know all the allergies for each guest. 
6.  Choosing the perfect song for each special guest to light a candle.
7.  Final meal counts!
8.  Suit fitting this weekend for the men.
9.  My dining room can be called the Bar Mitzvah room.  The Bar Mitzvah room holds the kippot for Saturday morning, the socks for Saturday night, the centerpieces for Saturday night, the hospitality bags for the hotel guests and my binder with all Bar Mitzvah related stuff. 

The other thing I am thinking about is the Hora.  I hate that chair.  I know I need to sit on the chair, and smile for the photographer.  But, I hate the chair.  I won't let it mar the event.

In a few weeks I will be posting photos of the event!  And the event will be in the past.  However, in May 2016 we get the date for Naomi's Bat Mitzvah!  Stay tuned!

Stir Fried Portebellos, Carrots and Snow Pieas with Soy Maple Sauce

I heard about  America's Test Kitchen's new cookbook, "The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook" from multiple sources.  I had to order it from the New England Book Fair, and I waited, and it arrived, during Passover!!!!

The first recipe I made from it was amazing!!!!!

GLAZE
3 T maple syrup
2 T mirin
1 T soy sauce

SAUCE
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 T mirin
2 t rice vinegar
2 t corn starch
2 t toasted sesame oil

VEGETABLES
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 t grated fresh ginger
a few flakes of red pepper flakes
3 T oil
2 pounds of portobello mushrooms, sliced  - NOTE - I used 1.5 pounds
8 oz snow peas, strings removed
2 carrots, peeled and cut into two inch long match sticks

GLAZE - whisk all together and keep in a small bowl

SAUCE - place all ingredients in a bowl, and whisk.

VEGETABLES  - Combine garlic, ginger, pepper and 1 t oil in a small bowl.  Heat 1 T oil in skillet over high heat.  Add mushrooms and cook without stirring for 3 minutes.  Stir.  Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes.  Add glaze and cook over medium high heat, stirring, until glaze is thickened, 1-2 minutes.  Transfer to bowl.

Wipe skillet clean carefully.  Add 2 t oil and place over high heat.  Add snow peas and carrots and cook 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Add mushrooms.  Whisk sauce, and then add to skillet.  Cook for 1-2 minutes.  Transfer to platter and serve over rice.

My Grandma's Birthday Cake

I loved my grandma.  I loved sleeping at her house, and I loved spending time with her and my grandfather.  My grandfather was a joker.  As a child, when I slept at their house, more times than not, he would short sheet my bed, which I thought was hilarious!  Sometimes I got the fly spoon and sometimes my brother did.  Nothing beat the time, when I was three, and I told my grandmother that there was a "B" in my soup (that she had made just for me).  She was horrified.  She came running and I showed her my "B" and she was relieved it was not a "bee."

There are many lasting memories of my grandparents, but one that I get to share with my family is her Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting.  Grandma kept kosher which meant no dairy desserts after a meat dinner.  So, for birthday celebrations her cake was dairy free, but delicious!  I share with you her recipe, which is now passed to the fourth generation.

CAKE
1 stick parve margarine (can use butter if desired)
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 can of Hershey's syrup (16 oz)
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350.  Prepare two nine inch round cake pans (lined with wax paper and covered with Pam with flour).  Cream margarine and sugar.  Add eggs.  Add chocolate syrup and vanilla.  Add flour and baking powder.  Mix, and then pour into the two nine inch round pans.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Cool in pan for 5 min, then cool on wire racks.

ICING
1/4 parve margarine
1 T flour
4 T cocoa
2 1/2 c powdered sugar
4 T hot coffee
1 tsp vanilla

Cream margarine.  Add in flour, cocoa and vanilla.  Blend in sugar and coffee, alternating, but ending with sugar.  Beat until light and fluffy.

Preparation - more

Ahhhhh, the weekend.  Most people have tim to relax and do errands and be social.

Saturday - 9 AM - met with invitation supply person.  Picked out placecards for Bar Mitzvah.

Saturday 10 AM - visit Five Below, to buy 40 pairs of socks for the DJ to give out.

Saturday 10:15 AM - visit Christmas Tree Shop and get some food needed for the food pantry baskets.  Have to be careful since many items expire in a month!  Also pick up five out of twenty silver frames.

Saturday 10:45 AM - get to Natick Mall.  My plan to acquire outfit for the morning service of the Bar Mitzvah is to visit my favorite stores, White House Black Market, Macy's, Ann Taylor, Lord and Taylor, J. Jill, Talbots and Chico's.  Find two great dresses that fit at White House Black Market.  Purchase them, black shoes and two shrugs. 

Macy's - Find nothing.  The suits are all pastel colors and patterned.  Not me.  Nothing in the petite area to try on and test.  Go to make up counter.  Try to learn the newest technique in make up.  Purchase new make up to use and test before May 30. 

California Pizza Kitchen - Naomi and I take a lunch break

American Girl - Naomi has some gift cards to spend.  This store is the busiest of all stores so far.  The employees are amazing, and make each customer feel special and unique.  Naomi purchases Grace, Doll of the Year.  Now, I have to carry the bag with the box, while Naomi carries Grace. 

Learning Express- Naomi and I stop in so she can show me what a Shopkin is.

J. Jill - Not one salesperson helps me even though I have an armful of stuff to try on.  The bottoms fit really well, and the tops are way to big.  No one helps me (there are three staff people and only one other customer).  Leave with nothing.

Ann Taylor - like a few things but nothing as much as White House Black Market.

Talbots - I like one dress, but the store doesn't have my size.

Chico's - nothing for Bar Mitzvah, but get a pair of shorts and some shirts.

Leave the mall, and drive to the BARN.  Purchase Naomi new sneakers, sandals, flip flops and crocs.

Go home and crash, and wait for the credit card company to call me that there is a fraud alert, since I never go to the mall.

Sunday - go to Brookline to purchase prayer shawl for Mark.   Then go to Costco for more food for the food pantry.

Seder Time is Almost Here

I am hosting 11 for the first night of Passover.  The menu has been designed.

We are having:

Date Charoset (recipe from my mother in law, Leslie)
Traditional Charoset (the traditional Hebrew School recipe)
Vegetarian Chopped Liver (from the New York Times Passover Cookbook) - first time trying it!
Knishes from the Butcherie - meat and vegetarian
Gefilte fish and horseradish - store bought
Chicken Soup with Matzah Balls (Mady's recipe from the Temple Emanuel Cookbook!)
Carrot Consume (from the New York Times Passover Cookbook)
Mushroom Lasagne - Eric's secret recipe
Chicken with BBQ Sauce - Carol's secret recipe
Fingerling potatoes
Tzimmes - mom's recipe
Cauliflower - from Kosher by Design for Passover

And then

Fruit

and

Dessert, including FLAN!

And my table. . . . . white table cloth, grandma's crystal, grandma's silver, grandma's China and our Seder plate from when we got married.  And the matzo holders that Naomi and I made last year.  The kiddush cup from Adam's grandfather.  All these objects are on the table, and remind us of the past, and then I hear my kids reading from the Hagaddah, and I know another generation will have memories from the Seder table.

Even though my grandparent's are long gone, their love is still here.