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The Philippines Has Its Good Friday Ritual Nailed Down

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:30:45 -0700

While President Obama broke new ground by hosting a White House Passover seder dinner for staffers and family, Catholics in the Philippines were carrying on a long standing Holy Week tradition.

For Good Friday, dozens of devotees were nailed to crosses, and many more had their backs whipped to atone for their sins. The Catholic Church officially frowns on the ritual, but that doesn't stop the worshipers, who go as far as driving nails into their hands.

Tourists from all over the world travel to the ceremonies, and business-savvy locals sell souvenirs and bottled water to spectators. Hopefully, they have some pain medicine to sell to those being crucified.

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6 Unusual Uses For Matzo Crackers

YumSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:50:02 -0700

Now that Passover's in full force, many of you have put aside bread, bagels, and burgers in favor of the unofficial carb of Passover seder, matzo. And although there are few things better than matzo brei and sweet butter spread thin on matzo sheets, perhaps you're in need of more creative uses for the unleavened bread. Check out some of our favorite unusual uses when you read on.

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Delilicious: Passover-Friendly Choco-Toffee Matzoh

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:00:36 -0700

Though some parents do not require their kids to keep Passover's dietary laws, the holiday's central food item - matzoh - is something that can be enjoyed by any tot comfortable eating solid foods. As a replacement for bread, or chametz, matzoh is transformed into many forms throughout the holiday - from matzoh balls (dumplings in soup), and farfel (stuffing) to matzoh brei (omelette) and desserts. In an effort to transform a sheet of matzoh into a sweet Passover snack, a friend and her baker-in-training got to work on some choco-toffee matzoh that allowed him to use his preschool creativity when adding toppings to the scrumptious treat.
To see how to make this kid-friendly recipe, read more.

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Adapted from Marcy Goldman's BetterBaking.com
Ingredients:
4 to 5 pieces of matzoh
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toppings, as desired (we used marshmallows, sprinkles and dried apricots)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
Place the matzoh in one layer on the baking sheet
In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, continue to cook for three minutes, still stirring, until thickened and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove from heat and pour over the matzoh, spreading an even layer with a heat-proof spatula.
Put the pan in the oven, then immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn.
After 15 minutes, the toffee should have bubbled up and turned a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the pan.
Let sit for five minutes, then spread the now-melted chocolate evenly with a spatula.
Add your favorite toppings while the chocolate is still melted.
Let cool completely, then break into smaller pieces and store in an airtight container.

Brisket Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:30:24 -0700

Tonight, Passover begins at sundown. At a loss about what to make that's still kosher for the holiday? You can never go wrong with brisket, a timeless classic and crucial component of Jewish holiday cooking. If you're looking for a simple, straightforward basic, opt for a recipe that slow-cooks the beef in the oven with minimal attention. If you're more experienced, spring for an elaborate rendition that's served with dried fruits and vegetables in a rich red wine reduction. To see both recipes, read more.

Beginner Brisket
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 well-trimmed beef brisket (3 1/2 pounds)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/3 cup light-brown sugar
1 small onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rub beef with salt, pepper, ginger, and allspice. In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, onion, garlic, and 1/2 cup water.
Spoon half of the sauce into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Place brisket in dish, and spoon remaining sauce over the top. Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or a double layer of regular foil.
Bake until brisket is falling-apart tender, about 3 hours. Remove brisket from dish. Skim any fat from the surface of the sauce.
Transfer sauce to a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes to reduce slightly. Slice brisket against the grain; serve with sauce.

Serves 8.

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Expert Brisket
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

2 1/2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-pound flat-cut (first-cut) brisket, well-trimmed
2 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
24 whole dried apricots, divided
10 garlic cloves, peeled
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 Turkish bay leaves
2 cups dry red wine
1 tablespoon matzo cake meal
Chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Stir first 8 ingredients in small bowl. Arrange brisket in large roasting pan; spread spice mixture evenly over both sides. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat broiler. Uncover brisket. Broil until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Turn brisket fat side up in pan.
Set oven temperature to 325°F. Sprinkle leeks, onion, 12 apricots, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves around brisket. Pour wine over. Cover pan with heavy-duty foil and bake brisket until tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Uncover; cool 1 1/2 hours.
Transfer brisket to work surface. Pour juices into large measuring cup. Spoon off fat, reserving 1 tablespoon. Thinly slice brisket across grain on slight diagonal; overlap slices in 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 cup degreased pan juices over brisket; cover with foil. Stir reserved 1 tablespoon fat and matzo cake meal in medium saucepan over medium heat 3 minutes. Add remaining degreased pan juices; add remaining 12 apricots. Simmer until sauce thickens and boils, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (To make up to 2 days ahead, cover brisket and sauce separately and chill.) Rewarm covered brisket in 350°F oven 30 minutes or 45 minutes if chilled. Rewarm sauce over low heat.
Sprinkle brisket with cilantro and serve with sauce.

Serves 8.

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Name That Dish!

partysugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:15:07 -0700

If she really is penning a Jewish cookbook, model Kate Moss might want to include a recipe for the classic Passover dish pictured below. Do you know what it's called?

Pet Food That's Kosher For Passover

PetSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:15:35 -0700

Passover starts at sundown tomorrow, which means no more chametz, or food with grains inside. Now many pet foods include such things, and if you're wanting to share this holiday with a pet, here are some items for doggies and kitties.

KosherPets offers freeze-dried raw beef patties for canines or felines with added vitamins and minerals and no artificial flavors or colors. These table-quality foods are much easier than cooking up the meat each day and can be served with water or broth – using a provided meal plan based on an animal's weight. For something a lil simpler, try chopped liver, a grain-free canned dog food option instead. Have you ever shared traditions like this one – or maybe a bit o' brisket – with a furry friend? Share in the comments below.

Healthy Recipe: Almond Lemon Macaroons

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Last year I shared my Coconut Almond Macaroons, one of my favorite traditional cookies for Passover. If you're worried about the saturated fat being too high, or you're just not a fan of coconut, this Almond Lemon variation is a crunchy alternative. These macaroons are made with ground almonds so they're full of protein and healthy fat.

To see my recipe read more.

Almond Macaroons for Passover or Anytime
Recipe from an old friend

Ingredients

2 cups unblanched almonds
1/2 cup Sucanat or sugar
1 tsp almond extract (omit if observing Passover)
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp grated fresh lemon rind
3 egg whites

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grind the almonds in a food processor.
Mix in the Sucanat, almond extract, salt, and lemon rind. Then stir in the egg whites. The dough will be thick, like wet sand.

Use a spoon to place one inch balls on a greased pan.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until dry and lightly brown on top.

Yield: Makes 24 cookies

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Keeping Tots Occupied at the Passover Table

LilSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Depending on how religious your family is, Passover Seders can either run from 30 minutes to well over two hours, not including the festive meal. While you might have been happy to spread your four glasses of wine over a two hour reading of the Haggadah prior to your tots, now you need to find a way to occupy your lil one throughout the service.

In addition to bringing your dining out standbys - like books and wiki sticks, consider some holiday-related activities next week. A quick online search brings up tons of free coloring pages that can easily be printed out and brought to the table. Non-messy craft activities, like the foam Seder plate kit ($4) pictured here, includes pieces for all of the items on the Seder plate, in addition to glue and decorations. There are also a number of plague-related finger puppets and masks that should keep your kids entertained until you reach the four questions portion of the Seder.

Come Party With Me: Passover - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:15:10 -0700

Passover revolves around a traditional ceremony at a dining table, so take the time to set the table a couple of days before the dinner party. Cover the table with a printed satin gray tablecloth. Place a plate in front of each seat and top it with a gray napkin (preferably one that matches the tablecloth) rolled into a silver napkin ring. Use your best flatware and properly set the silverware with the forks on the left of the plate and the knife to the right of the plate. A spoon is necessary for enjoying the matzo ball soup - it goes on the outside of the knives. White wine and red wine glasses belong on the upper right side of the plate. For an intimate glowing atmosphere, light low candles. Fill a silver vase with flowing white flowers and make the Seder plate the centerpiece and focal point.

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Is It Kosher For Passover?

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:50:21 -0700

Now that we're into the month of April, Easter is right around the corner - and so is, Passover, the Jewish holy festival that commemorates the liberation of Israelite slaves from Egypt. The seven-day holiday, which is one of the biggest holidays on the Jewish calendar, requires adherence to strict dietary laws. Do you know which foods are kosher for Passover and which aren't? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

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