Posted on 12/18/2003 6:30:28 AM PST by carlo3b
HAPPY HANUKKAH ". . . and May This Festival of Lights bring Blessings
upon you and All Your Loved Ones for Happiness,
for Health, and for Spiritual and Material Wealth,
and May the Lights of Chanukah Usher in the Light of Moshiach
and a Better World for All of Humankind."The Victory over Antiochus
More than 2000 years ago, the land of Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a tyrannical Syrian king. Even today, people fight wars over their gods, despite claims to value "religious tolerance." But a couple of thousand years ago, religious tolerance didn't exist at all. Religion was as good an excuse as any to oppress a people.
That's precisely what Antiochus did to the Jews: he forbade them to observe the Sabbath or study their religious text, the Torah, and he erected a statue of Zeus in their sacred temple of Jerusalem. Many Jews followed his decrees, because they had no choice; those who resisted were executed.
In 167 B.C., the Jews -- driven to desperation -- rose up against Antiochus. Mattathias, a well-respected priest, gathered together an army and put his five sons in charge. Judah and his brothers wanted a name for their battalion that would signify force and strength; "Maccabee", meaning "hammer", fit the bill. It took three years of fighting, but eventually the Maccabees drove the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the temple in Jerusalem.
Naturally, the Maccabees quickly got rid of the statue of Zeus. Then they cleansed and purified the temple, and rekindled the menorah, a candelabra that symbolized God's Divine Presence. Oddly enough, although it only held enough oil to burn for a single day, the menorah burned for eight. This was the miracle.
HANUKKAH CUSTOMS: THE MENORAH
About the Menorah
To Jews and non-Jews alike, the menorah, or Hanukkiya, is the most recognizable symbol of Hanukkah. It's usually a nine-branch candelabrum whose candles are lit by a "shamash" or service candle which then takes its own place at the centre of the menorah. The menorah itself is placed in a window or anywhere it can be seen by passers-by.Lighting the Menorah
On the first night of Hanukkah, a single candle (or oil wick) is lit on the far right side of the menorah. A candle is added, from right to left, each night, and the newest candle is always lit first. Ideally, the candles should be lit as soon as stars become visible in the night sky, but they can be lit late into the night. While the candles are being lit and the blessing given, the whole family and any guests gather to witness the ceremony; everyone is encouraged to participate. By the eighth night, with all eight candles lit, the menorah makes a spectacular sight. And as they did the previous evenings, the candles will continue to shine until they burn themselves out.The Blessing
The first blessing thanks God for the commandment to "kindle the Hanukkah lights."Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-olam Asher Kidshanu B'mitzvotav V'tzivanu L'hadlik Ner Shel Hanukkah.
Blessed is Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, by whose Mitzvot we are hallowed, who commands us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.The second blessing praises God for the miracle the candles symbolize; it's said as the candles are being lit.
Baruch Atah Adonia Elohenu Melech Ha-olam She-asa Nissim L'votenu Bayamim Ha-hem Ba-ZmanHa-zeh.
Blessed is Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old, at this season.
On the first night of Hanukkah the "shehechiyanu" blessing is included, to signify that this is the first time the Hanukkah lights have been lit this season.Hanukkah is a "Festival of Lights" to celebrate the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Syrians, and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The holiday also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
What is the most tender cut of meat?
Since you asked, I will try to explain what we don't know about TENDER MEAT, because many things that are beyond the meat grading boards control. Much of the tenderness has more to do with the handling of the host (the cow) than the aging. What happened to the herd prior to it's demise, and what happened immediately after, probably has more to do with 'Warner-Bratzler shear force test' results (the tender test) than the aging, or ahem, the price. A peaceful end is the more important than the price, aging, feeding, or packaging. Just like with people, stress makes you bitter and tough.
Sex doesn't matter either.. GASP!
Which gender of cattle is more tender than the other is always the determining factor.. is BULL.. :) If a host is fed the proper enzymes, and treated quietly and with care until the moment of .. decision, whether he or she won't matter.
As the owner of high end, Gourmet Restaurants, I spent fortunes on purchasing quality meat with the hopes of getting the most flavorful, tender meats that money could buy. Price isn't the determining factor, but what other method is there? Where you purchase your food is the only real determining factor that I can suggest.
Here are some additional neat facts that won't help you guarentee a perfect piece of meat either.. LOLLOL
Which meat cuts are tender?
Those that you pay most for, basically. But tenderness is not guaranteed by price. There will be tough meat cuts in every grade. Tough meat cannot be recognised by eye when you are buying at the supermarket. In the USA, where cattle are fed grains and other supplements to lay down extra fat within the muscle ('marbling'), consumers often choose the most 'marbled' cuts as an indication of tenderness. Yet marbling accounts for a mere 10% of the variation in tenderness. Many lean carcasses that testing has shown were tender have received lower grades because they don't have enough visible fat marbling to be classified as 'USDA choice' or higher. And yet marbling is a very poor predictor of tenderness.
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Round tip steak |
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Bottom round roast |
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Top round roast |
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Chuck tender steak |
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Chuck roll steak |
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Eye of round roast |
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Rump roast |
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Bottom round steak |
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Eye of round steak |
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From Morgan et al 1991 -tender and tough meat cuts as measured by shear force derived from the US National Beef Tenderness Survey. 'Tender' and 'tough' are grades, and the most tender cut is at the top of each column. The terminology for the cuts is American.
How do you measure 'tenderness'?
Scientists measure the force needed to shear muscles. The more force needed, the tougher the meat is. This is known as the 'Warner-Bratzler shear force test'. It's units of measurement are kilograms of force needed to shear a 1 cubic centimeter muscle sample. The other method used is a straight sensory panel test, where ordinary people eat the meat and record their perception of it's tenderness. In the table above, the most tender cut, tenderloin, had a shear force of approximately 2.6, and the toughest meat cut, top round steak, had ashear force of 5.3.
What factors affect the tenderness of the meat we buy in the supermarket?
By the time the meat is in the refrigerated display, it's tenderness - or otherwise - is largely set. Obviously, the 'best cuts' are the most tender. But even meat that should have been tender can be made tough by stress just prior to slaughter. In general, breed and sex have relatively little effect on tenderness, but pre slaughter treatments such as Vitamin D injections or medication, quiet handling and good transport conditions on the way to the killing plant, electric stunning to render the animals unconscious immediately prior to slaughter, freezing then thawing and then aging to allow muscle enzymes to break apart muscle fibers - all treatments significantly improved tenderness.
Someday we may all find Peace, I hope we are still alive when it happens.. HAPPY HANUKKAH my FRiend
..and Merry Christmas to most of the rest..and Happy New Year to you dear girl. . :)
Bless you, I have a bushel of authentic ethic recipes many of my favorites are Kosher.. just ask and they could be yours.. :)
Great tip, Thank you so much.. :)
My neighbor would tell you that it tastes better with peels on, than without.. GOOD FOR YOU.. have a Happy Holiday.. :)
A delicious Diabetic recipe.
BEETS, TURNIPS, AND BEEF TSIMMES
Anyone remember this wonderful traditional holiday dish.. I do, and I love it.. sigh1) Mix 2 teaspoons of the salt and pepper and rub it into the beef.
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 pounds flanken, chuck, or brisket of beef
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1/4 cup honey or to taste
- 8 carrots, coarsely grated
- 1 turnip, coarsely grated
- 1 beet, coarsely grated
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and quartered (optional)
2) Place in a Dutch oven or heavy pot with the onions and brown slowly over a medium heat.
3) Add the flour, mixing well. Add the water, stirring, until it reaches the boiling point. Cover and simmer slowly for about 1 hour.
4) Mix the honey in with the meat, then add the vegetables and remaining salt.
Cover and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for an hour and a half, removing the cover for the last 15 to 20 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
Yield: 6 to 8 servingsJewish Cooking in America, Joan Nathan
There is one way and one way only to cook an expensive roast to the perfect degree of doneness, and tenderness that you desire, through and through. That is to apply heat slowly, steadily and evenly until the internal temperature of the meat reaches a specific degree, within a tolerance of one or two degrees.
Step I
Heat oven to proper temperature 325°F for Eye of Round and Round Tip Roasts, 350°F for Rib Eye Roasts and Rib Roasts, 425°F for Tenderloin and Tri-Tip Roasts. Place roast, straight from the refrigerator, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part, not touching the fat.Step II
Season beef before roasting as desired. Do not cover or add water.Step III
Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135° - 155°F (medium). This is 5-10 F below final desired doneness. Tent roast loosely with aluminum foil and let stand for 15 minutes.Step IV
Roast temperature will continue to rise about 5° - 10°F to final desired doneness and will be easier to carve. Carve across the grain, when possible.Garnish and enjoy!
Pray for W and Merry Christ's Night and Happy Honnukah
Where in the world did you get your info?
It may be a bit of an exageration but not by much. Republicans continue to support Isreal and Dems continue to support Palestinians and trash Zionist Isreal and yet the Jews continue to vote in block. It amazes most of us, like watching Jews buying more suicide belts to blow themselves up???
Pray for W and Merry Christ's Night
Eight and one half cups of schmaltz???
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