Rosh Hashana

[bostonman]

I think the idea here is that certain foods, like latkes or Hammentaschen are associated with jewish culture, but unless you are Orthodox jew, the specific holiday on which you eat them is incidental. Matzoh ball soup has become the go-to in many cultures to cure a cold as the BALLS are often floating in the "miracle cure" Chicken soup.... So for me, if the food is ethnically jewish, it doesnt matter if I eat it on Passover, Yom Kippur or Hanukah.... it's ALL good ! It's my one identity with the faith I was born into.. Otherwise, I am not "practicing"...

 

We could debate hammentaschen simply because they are named after Haman, who's involved in the history of the holiday.

[+ Gar1eth]

We could debate hammentaschen simply because they are named after Haman, who's involved in the history of the holiday.

 

I think my favorite are the prune and apricot ones (separate flavors not combined). Have you had the experience that some are great but a lot of them are overly dry?

 

Gman

[jjkrkwood]

We could debate hammentaschen simply because they are named after Haman, who's involved in the history of the holiday.

 

This is true, but once you can find it in the stores year round, it's more of a staple.

[bostonman]

Have you had the experience that some are great but a lot of them are overly dry?

 

Yes. Often the case. The best ones, not surprisingly, tend to be fresh-baked - pre-packaged ones tend to be dry. (Same with rugelach, IMO.)

[jjkrkwood]

I think my favorite are the prune and apricot ones (separate flavors not combined). Have you had the experience that some are great but a lot of them are overly dry?

 

Gman

 

It's all about the BUTTER..... Paula Deen will tell you that.

[LaffingBear]

There really arent many great jewish, or eastern european, pastry desserts.

 

Theres an old joke that jewish cakes make great bread.

[+ Gar1eth]

There really arent many great jewish, or eastern european, pastry desserts.

 

Theres an old joke that jewish cakes make great bread.

There really arent many great jewish, or eastern european, pastry desserts.

 

Theres an old joke that jewish cakes make great bread.

 

How many times has some relative told you that, "No really, this new pesadicky cake recipe is very moist."

 

I'll admit I've had a few moist cakes but not very many.

 

Gman

[jjkrkwood]

How many times has some relative told you that, "No really, this new pesadicky cake recipe is very moist."

 

I'll admit I've had a few moist cakes but not very many.

 

Gman

 

I tend to gravitate towards Cheese cake. I've NEVER had a dry one of those !

 

However, THIS eliminates Dryness, and has MANY other uses too !! :D

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/cddca481b24b55b4467263d0fc0bc107/tumblr_ow7vw9TRzc1rkdbsho1_400.jpg

[bostonman]

There really arent many great jewish, or eastern european, pastry desserts.

 

Theres an old joke that jewish cakes make great bread.

 

Mandelbrot, anyone? (I've had some that was decently chewable, but occasionally some that was more the texture of stale biscotti lol.)

[+ WilliamM]

 

Hene Ma Tov

[jjkrkwood]

Mandelbrot, anyone? (I've had some that was decently chewable, but occasionally some that was more the texture of stale biscotti lol.)

 

That about sums it up, unless its fresh out of the oven....

[+ WilliamM]

 

Marlene Dietrich and Burt Backarach in Jerusalem. She was the first to sing a non-classical song in German.

[beachboy]

T

 

Marlene Dietrich and Burt Backarach in Jerusalem. She was the first to sing a non-classical song in German.

They don't make 'em like her any more!

[+ Funguy]

I am fortunate I have easy access to "jewish" foods all year round, and have learned to enjoy a good matzoh brei on an average ole day. Sometimes I make it sweet and sometimes savory, but it always makes for an enjoyable meal that takes me back to those special family holidays. I figured WHY WAIT for the holiday? It's just another Carb....

 

And oodles of butter! YUM

[+ Gar1eth]

Mandelbrot, anyone? (I've had some that was decently chewable, but occasionally some that was more the texture of stale biscotti lol.)

 

I don't really like mandelbrot. I thought they all had the texture of hard biscotti. I'm not a big fan of biscotti either-unless maybe covered in chocolate.

[+ Gar1eth]

 

Marlene Dietrich and Burt Backarach in Jerusalem. She was the first to sing a non-classical song in German.

 

Forget Dietrich (sorry I'm not much of a diva worshipper). I always thought Burt was attractive but that was starting in the 1970's with his salt and pepper hair. In this earlier picture, he's really a babe.

 

Gman

[bostonman]

I don't really like mandelbrot. I thought they all had the texture of hard biscotti. I'm not a big fan of biscotti either-unless maybe covered in chocolate.

 

I have had mandelbrot that's softer - and I do like the taste (of course, it can be made with various ingredients). Biscotti are really best to dunk in coffee - though I suppose one could do that with mandelbrot too.

[+ Gar1eth]

I have had mandelbrot that's softer - and I do like the taste (of course, it can be made with various ingredients). Biscotti are really best to dunk in coffee - though I suppose one could do that with mandelbrot too.

 

I thought that was what you were really supposed to do with mandelbrot or in my case tea. Maybe I'm confusing it with biscotti though.

 

Gman

[jjkrkwood]

Now I'm craving a hot corned beef sandwich with kasha varnishkas from Katz's deli.....

[Islesguy]

Now I'm craving a hot corned beef sandwich with kasha varnishkas from Katz's deli.....

I never much like the corned beef at Katz's and I love corned beef. Their pastrami, OTOH, is amazing.

[bostonman]

I recently ate at Mamaleh's - a fairly new deli restaurant in Boston (well, Cambridge, but close enough). I couldn't decide between the pastrami sandwich and the tongue - so they offered me a 1/2 sandwich of each. Both were terrific.

 

I also got the grebenes - unlike the tiny fried bits of guilty greasy deliciousness my grandmother used to make, these were impressively large pieces - and were also very good, though a bit drier. It was funny, though - in trying to describe to the non-jews at the table what these actually were, I simply said "instant heart attack" lol.

 

But based on that visit, I'd definitely recommend the place to anyone who's going to be in the area. Also, Cheryl Ann's bakery in Brookline, who make this wonderfully dense almost cake-like challah which is really damn good.

[+ Gar1eth]

I recently ate at Mamaleh's - a fairly new deli restaurant in Boston (well, Cambridge, but close enough). I couldn't decide between the pastrami sandwich and the tongue - so they offered me a 1/2 sandwich of each. Both were terrific.

 

My maternal grandmother fixed tongue when my mother was a girl. My Mom says she ate it until she figured out what it was.

 

Gman

[Good Grief]

 

What?

[bostonman]

My maternal grandmother fixed tongue when my mother was a girl. My Mom says she ate it until she figured out what it was.

 

It's funny, isn't it, how we can eat all sorts of meat in general - even calling certain cuts by their body parts without even thinking literally about it - but something like "tongue" can nevertheless seem disgusting.

[marylander1940]

I tend to gravitate towards Cheese cake. I've NEVER had a dry one of those !

 

However, THIS eliminates Dryness, and has MANY other uses too !! :D

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/cddca481b24b55b4467263d0fc0bc107/tumblr_ow7vw9TRzc1rkdbsho1_400.jpg

 

I've heard you use Crisco for other things not approved in the Torah (Old Testament)