Cookbooks and Parties

This post is really two posts in one.

CHANUKAH PARTY
I have been to my fair share of Hanukah parties.  Last night I attended the BEST one, that I have ever been to, thanks to TEMPLE EMANUEL in Newton, MA.  The latkes were good (my kids even agreed) and plentiful (in years past, not so plentiful).  The set up was roomy for 700+ people.  Then, we got down to the ruach.  The kids choir and the adults choir, and then THE FOUNTAINHEADS all the way from the land of MILK AND HONEY - ISRAEL!

The children, 100+, were dancing.  There was RUACH.  There was lots of RUACH.  We were celebrating being Jewish, and the kids were singing and dancing, and whooping it up.  It was wonderful.  So glad that I was there to witness my kids, and other kids, dancing like they were dancing to THE BEATLES!  It was wonderful.  The FOUNTAINHEADS really enjoyed themselves too!

COOKBOOKS
I have recently added to my collection:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Everyday-English-Great-Flavor/dp/084873484X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324473569&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Life-Ancient-Persian-Ceremonies/dp/193382347X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324473534&sr=1-1

and

soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Roses-Heavenly-Cakes-Rose-Beranbaum/dp/0471781738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324473555&sr=1-1

Kitchen Redesign

Do you know anyone like this?

http://www.nedesignbuild.com/blog/newton-home-gets-smart-remodel/

DELIVERY

http://www.templeemanuel.com/Sisterhood_Cookbook

So, the cookbook is about to be delivered to Esther's door tomorrow afternoon.  I am so excited.  I have goosebumps.  Esther and I have worked on this project for almost three years.  Once we get them, we are going to SELL SELL SELL.

You can click the above link to order a cookbook.

You can pick up a copy on SUNDAY DEC 11 at Temple Emanuel in NEWTON, MA from 9 AM to 1 PM.

We accept cash and checks (payable to Temple Emanuel Sisterhood).

I can't wait to feel the pages.  Turn the pages.  Watch others discover the wonerful recipes.

The Jews of Uganda

Usually my blog is about the food I cook, or about my family. Today’s blog is about a talk I went to last night about the Abayudaya, the Ugandan Jewish Village. How this village became Jewish is amazing, and the current rabbi of the village, is amazing. Last night we heard the music of the synagogue from the congregants. We saw videos of the villagers. We learned about their history. We learned that most of them are subsistence farmers, and earn $1 a day. There is no running water in the village and no electricity. But, they are dedicated conservative Jews. They observe kashrut. They observe Shabbat. They know Hebrew. They love Israel. They need our help. They need our help to send their children, to college in Uganda. They have educated their own children to become teachers, principals, doctors, lawyers, engineers, tour guides, plumbers, etc. But college in Uganda is $4,800 a year. However, they cannot afford it. However, there is a way for you to help. Please contact Cindy Paisner at 617-630-1011 if you are willing to donate to the Higher Education Fund.


http://www.shalomboston.com/language/he-IL/Calendar/EventCalendar/ModuleID/566/ItemID/4418/mctl/EventDetails.aspx?selecteddate=03/04/2011

Last night’s talk made me think that my current worries, are my own worries, but yet there are bigger worries in the world. I don’t worry where my clean water will come from. I don’t worry that I don’t have the money for my co-payment for my child to see the doctor. I worry about the insurance claim being denied, but I don’t worry about my access to see the doctor. I am glad that I took the time out of my busy day to learn many new things; but also to be aware of more global concerns.

Dinner Spinach Orchiette

So, besides being very busy with Thanksgiving, and then Chanukah and the release of the cookbook, we are starting the process of a small addition.  So in case you think I have been missing .. . .

Just wanted to share with you a recipe:

 

2 bunches (about 12 oz. each) spinach, rinsed well and drained

 

12 ounces dry orecchiette or ruote (wheel-shaped pasta)

 

1/3 cup olive oil

 

6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

 

1/4 c. sundried tomato

 

Salt

  

Directions

Remove and discard spinach stems; chop leaves coarsely and set aside.
In a 6- to 8-quart pan, cook orecchiette in 4 quarts boiling water just until tender to bite (12 to 15 minutes); or cook according to package directions.  Just before pasta is done, stir in spinach.
Cook, uncovered, stirring to distribute spinach, just until water returns to a full boil.
Drain pasta and spinach.

While pasta is cooking, heat oil in a wide frying pan over medium heat.
Stir in garlic and sun dried tomatoes.  Cook, uncovered, until garlic turns opaque (about 2 minutes).
Add pasta and spinach to pan; mix lightly, using 2 spoons.  Season with salt.

Thanksgiving - Menu Planning

This is the second time that I am hosting Thanksgiving, and I am really excited.  I have been thinking about the menu and the different components for a while now.  We are hosting some friends also, so this will be very exciting. 

So, first we will start off with hot dogs in a blanket and some tomato-pepper dip.  The dip is the one from the Persian Bride cookbook, which I really like.  It is really easy and dairy free and meat free.

Then we move to knishes from the Butcherie, two kinds of cranberry sauce (cranberry orange sauce that my mom will make, and then the canned jelly stuff for me), homemade bread, pickles and olives.

Then we get down to TURKEY!  I love turkey.  My mom will be bringing the turkey.  I haven't made one myself yet, and Adam doesn't like the smell of it.  Although one of these years he is going to get used to it.  I will be making Adam a curry tofu dish, which is really easy (and much less expensive than the wild mushroom casserole that I made last year).  We will also have sweet potatoes with marshmallows, because I totally love it (sooo not gourmet, but who cares).  Then my mom will make a chestnut stuffing, and I will make a vegetarian stuffing.  And I am also going to have peas.  Maybe another vegetable.

Then, my favorite part - dessert.  We will have fruit, chocolate pie (Mae's recipe from the 1970s that my kids love, love, love), maple cream pie, pumpkin pie (because Naomi is insisting on trying one piece) and candied cranberry chocolate tart.

Time to start my grocery list.

Full Day Kindergarten

It is hard to believe that Newton Public Schools does not offer full day kindergarten. Somehow, our model is that kindergartens attend school until 12:30 every day in September. Starting in October, the kids are divided in half (Team A and Team B). Team A attends kindergarten on Mondays and Wednesdays until 3 PM and Team B attends school on Thursdays and Fridays until 3 PM. Of course the entire Newton Elementary School system is released early on Tuesdays (which is great so teachers can work together, and learn together); and again on 7 Thursdays (not so great).

While some of Newton's officials think that this is a great model, I do not. First, logistically, it is a nightmare, especially for households that having only working parents. Second, and more importantly, we are short changing our children. Study after study say that our early learning years are very important, and even more important for children who have difficulties learning. We need to invest in our youngest learners. By allowing our children more classroom time, we are giving them the support in reading, writing and math. For those who need specialists, the specialists are there, and can offer more support.

Of course this takes money, but if we don't invest in our future, who will? Today's kindergarten students will be tomorrow's leaders, and will be taking care of the world and the older generation. Give them the most that we can offer.

If you live in Newton, write to the school committee, and ask for their SUPPORT FOR FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN.