Apples, pomegranates, and star fruit are big hits for the Rosh Hashanah season. Rosh Hashanah falls out at a great part of the year where many new fruits have come into season.
Apples are typically enjoyed with a healthy dosing of honey on top. It is said over the blessing of ‘boreh pri ha-etz’ and is eaten during the Rosh Hashanah Yom Tov meals.
There are different interpretations as to why we eat apples over any other fruit. One is that the field in which Isaac blessed Jacob with was actually an apple field. Another opinion is that apples were the most readily accessible fruit for the Jewish people and were always in constant abundance.
The history of the apple begins with creation. By eating the apple on the anniversary of the creation of man, it connects us with our past. It reminds man of his imperfections and that he should strive to reach greatness, which is fitting for the days before Yom Kippur.
Along with fruits there are other foods that are customarily eaten such as carrots or fish. The Yiddish word for carrot is “meren”. It also means to increase. This is symbolic for Rosh Hashanah, because we want to increase in our good deeds for the New Year. We eat fish because of the idea of multiplying as a nation.
The second night of Rosh Hashanah is when the new fruit is introduced. Pomegranates and star fruit are some typical Rosh Hashanah new fruits. The new fruits symbolize continuity and prosperity and are a small celebration of human life that we can eat and enjoy some of G-d’s precious gifts.
It is also customary to substitute your regular braided challah for a round challah This references life and that it is an everlasting circle. There is a custom to have a challah braided in the shape of a crown as a symbol of G-d being the King of kings.
Rosh Hashanah falls out this year on September 8th in the evening and continues until nightfall on September 10th. The holiday transitions into the Sabbath on that Friday night.
Rosh Hashanah marks the time when the Jewish people begin saying prayers of repentance for the upcoming Yom Kippur holiday, which falls out 10 days later.
Rosh Hashanah is unlike the typical New Year, where the calendar restarts, but rather falls out on the first of the 7th month of the year. This is because Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the creation, not the calendar. The Jewish calendar restarts on the first of Nissan, which typically falls out around April.
On the Jewish calendar Rosh Hashanah begins on the 1st of Tishrei and continues until nightfall after the 2nd of Tishrei.
The shofar , a ram’s horn is blown at the synagogue to remind the Jewish people that judgment day (Yom Kippur) is on its way. It is way to frighten people to wake up and repent for their sins.
This holiday is for the Jewish people to repent and make better resolutions for the upcoming year. We try to erase our sins in order to help inscribe us in the Book of Life. We ease the judgment process by doing teshuva, tefila and tzedakah.
Teshuva is a form of repentence. During the month of Elul, we begin reciting “selihot” which are prayers that express our regret and remorse for our ill deeds during the year. Tefilah, means prayer. We try to intensify our prayers in order to get ourselves in the mindset for Rosh Hashanah. Tzedakah can be any form of giving charity.
Even though kids are heading back to school soon, summer is still in full swing, which means we can be enjoying weekend pool parties and barbeques well into the next month. Along with necessities like sunscreen, snacks, and cold drinks, consider adding candy leis to the list of must-haves at your next big bash.
Candy leis are the perfect accessory or party favor for summer parties--they're playful, colorful, and are a fraction of the cost of traditional flower leis. Here's what you need to make your own candy leis: Colorful Candy! Candy will be the focus of the lei, so choose candy that tastes great, with an appearance that will really "pop." I'm using Zaza Chewy Fruit Candy and Rainbow Twists, both available from Oh Nuts. There's a great selection of colorful bulk candy on the Oh Nuts website. I think these Fruitomila candies, Laffy Taffys, Sour Balls, and gumballs would also work well.
You will also need cling wrap and curling ribbon.
To make candy leis, start by unrolling a long strip of cling wrap. You'll want at least a yard, but go longer if you're making leis for adults.
Place little clusters of candies an inch apart down the center of the cling wrap. If the candies are very large, just put one, but if they're medium-sized then three or four usually works well--you want the candies to be noticeable, but not so large as to be bulky or uncomfortable.
Take the far edge of the cling wrap and fold it in half so that the candy is encased in the middle of the cling wrap.
Now take the outer edge and fold it back into the center, so you have a double layer of cling wrap around the candy.
At this point I like to pinch between the candy clusters to seal the cling wrap together. It's not entirely necessary, but I think it makes it easier to keep everything in place and to keep the candy clusters together in the candy lei.
Cut the curling ribbon in strips about 6-8 inches long.
Tie the curling ribbon in a double knot in between each cluster of candy in the candy lei, then curl it with scissors. Make sure you also tie the ends tightly.
Bring the two ends of the candy lei together, and tie them tightly with a double knot, curling that ribbon as well.
Your candy lei is now finished! You can also leave it untied and make a candy garland to string across walls or tables. Candy leis and candy garlands make awesome party favors and decorations for summer picnics, pool parties, barbecues, and graduation parties. Ready to make your own candy lei? Start by browsing the Oh Nuts candy selection.
If you're planning a wedding, or another large celebration, chances are you're trying to strike a balance between having all the perfect touches and keeping costs down. Weddings can be extremely expensive, and it's often difficult to find room in a budget for favors for the guests to take home. If you've been looking for a beautiful, inexpensive way to thank your guests for coming to your wedding, consider making your own Jordan almond wedding favors. Jordan almonds, covered with a glossy sugar shell, are a very traditional wedding favor and are symbolic of the sweet life the bride and groom will share together. I'll show you how to assemble these favors to create beautiful paper cones filled with Jordan almonds, all for less than $1.25 per favor.
To make these wedding favors, you will need:
Craft paper. I found this beautiful paper in the scrapbooking section of a local crafts store for 99 cents a page. The beauty of using scrapbooking paper is that it's a heavier weight, so the favors are more sturdy and substantial, and there are a huge variety of patterns and colors available. Choose something that goes with your theme!
Decorative touches, like stickers, small flowers, ribbons, or decals with your initials. I'll be using small pearl fasteners from the bridal section of the crafts store.
Common office supplies: a ruler, a pencil, scissors, and heavy-duty glue. Especially if your paper is patterned or oddly textured, you will need a stronger glue than your typical glue stick.
And most importantly, Jordan almonds! I'm using the pastel Jordan almonds selection from Oh Nuts. These are some of the best I've tried. They come in really pretty subtle pastel colors, they're fresh, they're huge, and they're only $5.99/lb.
Start by measuring your paper. My craft paper was 12" by 12", and I measured off 8.5" from one corner of the paper. Draw a straight diagonal line from the top corner to your 8.5" mark at the bottom.
Cut your triangle out. You'll have enough leftover paper to make a second triangle later. You now have a triangle with one leg measuring 12" and one leg measuring 8.5". Note that this triangle makes a large-sized paper cone (about 5" long) so if you want smaller cones, you'll need to experiment and find a triangle size that works for you.
To start folding the cone, hold the paper with the pattern side down, and the point of the triangle facing inward toward you. Keeping your thumb in the middle of the paper, fold the short end inward, forming a cone shape.
Take the long side and wrap it around the cone, bringing it all the way around to the front.
You now have a cone shape, but you probably also have a large hole in the tip, which isn't very attractive. You'll need to adjust the fit of the cone in order to make that hole smaller. You can do this by wiggling the outer layer--the long leg of the triangle--around, adjusting the angle in order to shrink the hole at the bottom of the cone. You want the hole at the tip of the cone to be so small as to be invisible.
We want to give our cone some stability, so take the "tail" of the outer wrap layer--that longer triangle leg that you just finished adjusting--and cover it with glue. Fold it to the inside of the cone and press firmly so that it sticks and you can hold the cone without worrying about it falling apart.
Now it's time for the fun part! Fill the cone with Jordan almonds, leaving some space so that you can fold the top over and seal the cones. For my cones, I used about ¼ cup (1.5 ounces) of Almonds per cone.
Spread a thick layer of glue on the top of your envelope, and firmly press it down on the cone to seal it. Finish off the cones with whatever decorative elements you'd like--stickers work beautifully (and provide an extra level of sealing strength), or ribbons, or buttons, or anything that fits with your wedding.
These Jordan almonds wedding favors look so beautiful, no one will guess how easy and cheap they are to make. The cost breakdown for these particular favors are:
Paper: 99 cents/page, two triangles per page: 50 cents
Pearl fasteners: 40 pearls for $5: 12 cents
Almonds: $5.99/lb, 1.5 oz per favor, so over 10 favors per lb: 60 cents
TOTAL: $1.22 per favor
The cost is great, but the bigger bonus is getting completely customized wedding favors that look gorgeous, perfectly fit your colors and theme, and, most importantly, will make your guests realize how much you value and appreciate their support at your wedding.
There is never a bad time to send a camp care package. At any point during a child’s camp experience, a care package is a perfect gift. Whether you want to send one just because, or you are sending one for a certain reason, it will always be received with a smile.
Arriving at Camp
If it is your child’s first time at summer camp, the arrival process can be difficult. With so many strangers to face and not knowing your way around, you little one can feel lost and alone. Having a camp care package delivered to your child upon their arrival is a great way to loosen their tension.
If this is a repeat trip for your child it can still be somewhat daunting. Sending a camp care package with a little note reminding them of how much fun they had last trip, will certainly help spark their excitement.
Reward an Achievement
During summer camp, there are many opportunities for children to earn achievements and special praise. When our children do something wonderful, we immediately want to show them how proud we are. When your child is away it is hard to accomplish this. Sending a camp care package can give them the message of our pride. It can give them all the encouragement they should receive for whatever it is they have accomplished.
Making Friends
Making new friends at camp is essential to enjoying the time spent there. Some people easily make friends while others can have a more difficult time at it. Party camp care packages are the perfect solution.
Not only will your child feel proud to throw their own party for their camp mates, but it will also help them with the confidence they need to mingle. Campers will definitely be thankful for the goodies and good memories.
Feeling Home Sick
Maybe you received a letter or a phone call from your child and they are home sick. The distance between a child and their friends and family can be a difficult thing to swallow. This is a great time to show your child that you are always with them. Receiving camp care packages with lots of candy will take their mind off the distance between you as well as re-spark some excitement during their trip.
If other campers are feeling home sick you can help them too. By sending a party camp package to your child they can be sure to help others feel more welcome and enjoy their camping experience. You will benefit in knowing you helped your child help someone else.
Getting Involved
Not being able to be involved with your child during their trip can be hard for parents. Sending a camp care package can make everyone feel as though you are with them and that you are an involved parent. Knowing that you care enough to send a care package will let your child see your involvement. Nothing is more rewarding than that
Summer camp is a time for kids to enjoy new experiences, meet new friends, and learn new things. Let’s face it, not all kids love going to camp, but they should. Here is a way for all parents to spruce up your children’s time at camp.
Special Camp Care Packages
Camp care packages are the perfect way to show your child just how much you miss them while they are away. They provide fun and unique touches to make any kid’s trip to camp worth the time away from home. These packages come in many different styles and with a variety of candy nuts and chocolates to stuff in them. At Oh Nuts! the possibilities are endless.
Why Parents Choose Oh Nuts!
Oh Nuts! takes pride in knowing they carry a wide array of packages. They want to make sure their company satisfies the needs and tastes of all campers everywhere. Parents can have confidence that they have sent the perfect camp care package when ordering from Oh Nuts!
Party Packages
Oh Nuts! carries many different styles of camp care packages. Not only can the packages be ordered to be gender specific, they can also be ordered to satisfy many campers. You can order individual packages, or packages that offer party surprises. Let your campers share the excitement of a care package with their cabin mates. It will make their time away at camp even more memorable.
Individual Packages
Individual camp care packages can let parents be a little more personal about their choices. What child wouldn’t be thrilled with a care package that includes all of their favorite snacks and goodies? And it’s not just about edible items. There are a variety of toys, camping items, cameras, backpacks, organizers, and much more. No matter what your campers needs are, you can find it at Oh Nuts!.
Pricing for Camp Care Packages
Pricing for care packages at Oh Nuts! is very reasonable. With so much variety, they are able to offer you packages for just about any price range. From prices ranging anywhere from under $7 and up, all parents can reap the rewarding benefits of sending their child a care package.
What Are the Benefits of Sending Care Packages?
There are many benefits associated with sending care packages. One of the most important rewards is your child’s smile. Know that you have brought happiness to your child is something all parents benefit from.
Another benefit is the pride you get knowing you sent them a quality gift because you chose Oh Nuts!. Oh Nuts! has been in business for 18 years. They have nearly perfected their stock of quality, fun gifts to send to your kids. Parents will never have to question if they have made the right choice.
These packages will also open up the possibility for children to make even more friends. When other children see how special you know your child is, others will want to share in their good fortune. What a great way to get kids talking and socializing with new faces.
Berlin, Germany - Eating pistachios daily may reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to a US study cited by the German Lung Foundation.
The nuts are a rich source of gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E and, as such, an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances thought to protect cells from damage that can be caused by molecules known as free radicals. This protection could help prevent cancer from developing, the foundation said.
It pointed out, however, that pistachios had a high fat content and eating large quantities of them could cause weight gain.
The foundation cited a recent study conducted at Texas Woman's University - Houston Centre. Half of the study's participants were given 68 grams of pistachios daily for four weeks in addition to their normal diet. Afterwards, the level of gamma-tocopherol in their bodies was
found to be significantly higher than that of the control group.
There is no need to fear a vitamin E overdose, the foundation noted. It said that vitamin E, in contrast to other fat-soluble vitamins, was not stored in the body's fatty tissue, but was quickly excreted by the liver and kidneys.
Passover 2010 this year falls out on March 30, 2010. The holiday will begin nightfall on Monday, March 29th will be the passover 2010 first seder. Passover will last a total of eight days outside the land of Israel, and will end on April 6th.
Passover begins early this year, so it is best to start preparing as soon as possible. If you are staying home and cooking Passover foods by yourself, there are a variety of ingredients already available for your cooking use.
Purim has now ended. It is time to prepare for Passover 2010. Start cleaning up your home, and turning over your kitchen into a kosher-for-Passover cooking station.
Hamantaschen are fairly easy to make. It’s like making cookies but in a different shape and with slightly different steps. You may prefer to use your own cookie dough recipe instead of following a brand new recipe. You may also opt to buy pre-made cookie dough and make your Hamantaschen after rolling out the prepared dough. Whichever you choose, you are bound to end up with delicious Hamantaschen cookies.
There are pretty easy Hamantaschen recipes and there are more complicated ones. The level of complexity can be measured by the ingredients that may be tedious to prepare or by ingredients that wouldn’t necessarily be in your own pantry (for example: lemon zest or agave nectar).
An easy fruit Hamantaschen recipe can take about 30 minutes to make including baking time.
Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup orange juice
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly and fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter to form a stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim or a drinking glass. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of preserves into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.
3.Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
A more complicated recipe can take up to an hour with the preparation of the filling.
Filling
20 ounces pitted prunes (2 packages)
12 ounces dried apricots (2 packages)
6 ounces dried peaches (1 package)
10 ounces raisins (1 package)
1 orange (thin skinned or peeled)
1 apple
6 ounces apricot jam (1/2 a small jar or to taste)
1 dash lemon juice
Dough
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup oil
1/2 lemon, juice and zest of
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-5 cups flour (sifted)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch baking soda
Directions
1 For the filling, simply chop all the ingredients fine in your food processor and mix well.
2 For the dough, cream sugar and eggs.
3 Add oil and mix until it turns pale yellow and is no longer shiny.
4 Mix in lemon and vanilla.
5 In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
6 Slowly add dry ingredients to wet. When it becomes difficult to mix, add more flour and knead.
7 Preheat oven to 375°F.
8 To assemble cookies, roll out dough (in batches) to desired thickness (maybe a little thinner than 1/4") and cut into circles of desired size (can use cookie cutter, inverted glass, etc). Put a dollop of filling in the center of each cookie and fold up into a triangular shape, pinching the corners and leaving the center open so that the filling peeks out.
9 Bake cookies for about 15 minutes until they are beginning to brown. I've always greased the cookie sheet very lightly with non-stick spray, but I don't know that you need to.
It may be worth it to try a more hands on recipe if you are trying to impress company or to get an even more delicious version of your favorite Purim snack!
Chocolate Hamantaschen http://www.jewishfood-list.com/recipes/cookie/hamant/hamantaschchoc01.html are special for the successfulness of their rich filling. Any ordinary cookie dough will work well with any luscious chocolate center.
Caramel Pecan Filling:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 cups toasted chopped pecans
7 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk or nondairy creamer
1/4 cup honey
Chocolate Filling:
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk or whipping cream or coffee
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
Hamantaschen:
3 cups flour
1/2 cup finely ground almonds
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
3 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 egg
1 egg white
Make Caramel Pecan Filling:
Bring sugar and water to boil in heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring with wooden spoon until sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat and add pecans, butter and milk. Return to heat, stirring constantly, and simmer until thick, about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in honey. Transfer to oven-proof glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
Make Chocolate Filling:
Combine cocoa, sugar, milk and walnuts in bowl and blend thoroughly.
Hamentaschen:
Combine flour, almonds, baking powder, salt and sugar. Blend in butter with electric mixer until mixture resembles very fine crumbs.
Blend water and cocoa in small bowl and beat in egg. Add to flour mixture and beat until mixture begins to form dough. Do not over-mix. Transfer to floured board and knead into ball. Chill 30 minutes for easier handling.
Divide into 6-7 portions. Flatten each with palm of hands and roll out 1/4" thick. Cut into 3-1/2" rounds with scalloped cookie cutter.
Place 1 teaspoon Caramel Pecan Filling or Chocolate Filling in center of each round. Fold edges of dough toward center to form triangle, leaving bit of filling visible in center. Pinch edges to seal. Place on lightly greased, foil-lined baking sheet and brush with egg white.
Bake at 350°F until firm, about 20 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool.
When making your very own Hamantaschen from scratch, you need to remember to prepare the dough thick enough so that it will hold the glob of filling on top without breaking. Also when you are pinching the ends of the circle of cookie dough to form a triangle, remember to press down firmly and securely to ensure that none of the corners will loosen while baking.
There are different types of Hamantaschen you can make. Instead of using natural preserves, try icing to create the look and feel of a Hamantaschen cookie. Whichever way you choose to make your Hamantaschen, it is sure to be a hit! With all the recipes available to select from you are bound to finish with a wide variety of delicious Hamantaschen cookies.
Hamantaschen are delicious little triangular cookies that are eaten on Purim. They are the most popular Purim snack. They are most often filled with raspberry, apricot, chocolate, or poppy seed fillings. There are many other variations available as well.
The fruit filled Hamantaschen are the most widely seen Hamantaschen around. They are made with apricot and raspberry preserves or jam for filling. The Hamantaschen’s crispy cookie balances nicely with the soft and chewy center from the filling.
The chocolate filled Hamantaschen are usually the most requested flavor. Everyone loves to enjoy these Hamantaschen especially when they are warm. The gooey chocolate with the crunchy cookie are a delicious combo. These tend to be the most decadent flavor available, so these may be eaten up the fastest!
Other common Hamantaschen available are the prune Hamantaschen and poppy seed Hamantaschen kinds. They may not be the most obvious flavors for a dessert but they definitely succeed in providing a tasty treat. It is even a great excuse to enjoy a dessert for a nutritional supplement.
No matter which flavor Hamantaschen you choose to enjoy on Purim, you really can’t go wrong. You can bake them up and give them out as part of your Mishloach Manot or simply buy them wherever they are sold.
