JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
“The Great British Bake Off” is the most comforting television around; it was my balm in the early pandemic lockdown. Crisp accents, bad British humor, the low-stakes drama of cakes coming out stodgy or tarts ending up with soggy bottoms — nothing more calming. Except when the show takes on Jewish foods. Last year, the…
Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s, mine was the only lunch bag that trailed matzo crumbs. On coming to America we lived in a Polish Catholic immigrant neighborhood so I had no friends with whom to compare seder rituals. Despite this, Passover has always been my favorite holiday. No other yontiff rituals compared to…
Although it stands as a symbolic reminder of the mortar used by the Jewish slaves who built the pyramids in Egypt, the fragrant spread called charoset deserves more than a once-a-year ritual appearance at the Passover Seder table. Related The rich fruit spread is made in two lovely versions, delectable either for breakfast or tea-time…
Charoset is one of the most fascinating, symbolic dishes of the Passover Seder. It represents the mortar that our ancestors were forced to spread between bricks to make majestic buildings for their Egyptian overlords, “embittering” their enslaved lives. But charoset, as it’s traditionally made, is far from bitter. Indeed, charoset is often as sweet as…
Prunes make a welcome addition to charoset. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons. Matzo isn’t called “the bread of our affliction” for nothing. This charoset recipe will help mitigate any misery it may cause. ½ cup each of prunes, dates, currants and apricots 1 cup orange juice 1 cup port, Manischewitz or other sweet red wine ¼…
Franklin Becker’s charoset dessert. Photograph courtesy of The Little Beet Everyone loves a good apple pie. Growing up in Brooklyn, in the primarily Jewish neighborhood of Midwood, meant eating lots of traditional sweets like apple strudel and rugelach. I always loved the texture of nuts and fruit together, specifically, that sweet but tart profile combining…
Getty Images (JTA) — A few weeks after Ben & Jerry’s founders indicated that marijuana-infused ice cream may one day join its product line, the company’s kosher-for-Passover charoset flavor has been generating buzz. In case your memories of last year’s seder are blurred by too many cups of wine, charoset is the fruit-and-nut puree that symbolizes…
It’s T-minus 12 days until Passover. So, while you’re getting your bread-binge on, consider this: There is a charoset-flavored Ben & Jerry’s pint waiting for you on the other side. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, charoset-flavored. And what’s more, it’s kosher for Passover (but only available in Israel — sorry guys!) Because there are about as many…
