Posted on 12/08/2004 6:13:49 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.
Hi...Carlo, our Resident Chef and Beloved Freeper Friend!
Toda Rabbah for all of your hard work and those Delicious Recipes.
May Our LORD Bless and Keep You and Your Household at Hanukkah and throughout the New Year, may HE shine HIS Marvelous Light Upon You.
LOVE YOU!
Easy is alway the Best Butter CookiesPreheat oven to 375°F.
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (I use only the egg yolks)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
In a large mixing bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix well.
Divide dough into four portions. Roll out one portion at a time on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into shapes with floured cutters and place 1inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.
Makes 60 cookies.Insider info.. The butter should be unsalted, which always has a fresher dairy taste. Besides, like almost all recipes, the amount of salt called for assumes you'll use sweet, unsalted butter.
Be sure to cream the butter and sugar well enough to blend them thoroughly but not so much that the mixture is mushy-soft and greasy looking. Next add the remaining ingredients (except for the filling) and mix only until you get a uniformly colored dough. The dough should be slightly firm, not hard. If it's too soft and sticky, refrigerate it for several minutes; do not add more flour. Use only egg yolks; I once tried the recipe with whole eggs and the cookies were granular and weirdly shaped.
To form each cookie, pick up rounded tablespoon size lumps of dough and gently roll them into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Don't handle the dough too much, or the cookies will harden. Flatten the balls, then press the center with your thumb (I use my index finger) to make a hollow for the filling. Place each cookie on an ungreased cookie sheet, then load the centers with your choice of filling. Lekvar or fruit butters are ideal because they don't run, but you can use preserves, chocolate chips, chopped nuts or dried fruit.
You can do amazing things with this simple recipe: Use almond extract instead of vanilla; add freshly grated lemon or orange peel; add about a cup of finely grated, sweetened coconut; or 3/4 cup toasted ground almonds.
You can roll the dough to make cutout cookies of various shapes. In that case, refrigerate the dough for at least a half-hour before you roll it. For crisp cookies, roll the dough 1/8-inch thick; for softer cookies, make it 1/4-inch thick.
You can form the dough into logs to make "refrigerator" cookies. Chill the logs thoroughly, then slice them into rounds for baking. You can roll the log in chopped nuts before you refrigerate it; in that case the wafers bake with a crumbly, attractive nut-flavored edge.
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies add cocoa powder and melted chocolate to the basic dough. There's a vanilla icing between the layers; you could also add a film of raspberry preserves. If you prefer, serve these cookies as wafers, iced with fancy decorations or dipped in chocolate or fondant.
The Raspberry-Almond Cookies are bar-type cookies, made in one sheet, then cut into squares. For these, simply press the dough evenly into a cookie sheet, Bake the dough to harden it a bit, then layer the remaining ingredients on top. You are not limited to raspberry preserves -- use any flavor that suits your fancy.
ENJOY!
HAPPY HANUKKAH .. May God shine his light upon your new baby.. Bless you all.. :)
Perfect - thank you so much!
HAPPY HIGH HOLIDAY EGGNOG
You can't help but get fat and happy drinking this great party drink1) Whip eggs and superfine bar sugar together until sugar is dissolved.
- 1 dozen eggs
- 1 lb. sugar, caster, or superfine, 10x sugar
- 1/2 qt. brandy
- 1/2 qt. rum Meyers dark
- 1/2 qt. vodka or flavored brandy
- 1 qt. cream light
- 1/2 gal. ice cream, vanilla
- 3 qt. whipped cream (see below)
- nutmeg
- cinnamon, ground
2) Add liquor (try apricot or other flavored brandy instead of vodka). Whip well.
3) Add light cream. Break up ice-cream small and add 1/2 ice-cream and 1/2 whipped cream and stir in well.
Float remaining ice-cream and whipped cream on top.
4) Grate fresh nutmeg and cinnamon over top lightly. Serve with butter cookies.
Whipped Cream
1) Chill bowl and beater. Whip 1 qt heavy cream till tracks show.
2) Add 4 oz sifted 10x sugar.
3) Add 1/2 oz Vanilla. Continue beating, add Gran Marnier slowly while beating if you are adding it. Whip to medium soft peaks. Makes the 3 qt's required.
Yield: about a gallonChocolate Version
Use Double dark chocolate ice-cream. Add 6-8 oz (about a cup) of Gran Marnier to the whipped cream with the vanilla slowly. Or add a pint of Gran Marnier or Sabra Orange Chocolate liqueur instead of the vodka. Garnish with chocolate curls or grated dark chocolate.
SHALOM
Good Morning and SHALOM my dear FREEPER FRiend.. :)
Thanks for the Hanukka stories. But none of those 4 kingdoms on Jacob's ladder was Egypt?
I always get it confused with Passover but Hunukka is to Christmas what Passover is to Easter, yes? Seasonally at least. I attended a Seder once with friends--lots of fun. Any cool Hanukka parties I can try to get invited to? or that tradition for passover only?
Shalom right back atcha!
:-)
(and this is another BUMP! )
ping
Ditto
To all of my Precious (Freeper) Friends,
Have a Very Special and Blessed Hanukkah 5765!
"The People walking in darkness have seen a great Light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a Light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their Joy; they rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest". "For To Us A Child Is Born, To Us A Son Is Given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty G-D, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his Kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this"
(ISAIAH 9:2-3b, 6-7).
Baruch HaShem, Amen ~ and ~ Amen.
With Love and Prayers for ALL of You.
Thank you, Simcha!
Peace, Love and Joy for you!
( And PLEASE stay warm! LOL! )
:-)
Amen
Have a safe and Happy Hanukkah .. :)
BLINTZES "CHEESE" WITH BLUEBERRY SAUCE Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, and the kids go wacky for this stuff, and oh so many ways to fill'em....enjoy!
These Hanukkah desserts are appropriate to this holiday, since cheese delicacies are a typical off offering.Sauce
- 2 cups frozen blueberries, thawed
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup light brown sugar, to taste
- dash lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Pancake batter
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 egg substitutess, beaten
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 cup soymilk
- 2 tablespoons safflower oil
FillingCombine the blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a food processor. Pulse on and off until the blueberries are coarsely chopped. Sprinkle in the cornstarch and pulse on and off a few more times. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. The filling may be done ahead of time and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- 1 ½ pounds soft, well-mashed tofu
- 3 tablespoons honey, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. In another bowl, combine the egg substitute with the water, soymilk, and oil. Stir until well blended. Make a well in the flour and pour the wet mixture in. Stir vigorously just until smoothly combined -- don't overbeat.
Heat a 6- or 7-inch nonstick skillet. When it is hot enough to make a drop of water sizzle, drop a scant 1/4 cupful of batter in and swirl it around until it coats the skillet. Cook on both sides until golden. Remove to a plate and repeat until the batter is used up.
Combine the ingredients for the filling in a small mixing bowl. If the "cheese" seems very dry, add a bit of soy milk to give it a creamier consistency. Divide the mixture among the pancakes and fold as instructed in the accompanying illustration. Serve at room temperature, passing the sauce around for guests to spoon over their blintzes.
Makes 16 blintzes, 2 per serving
I love you and your recipes, Carlos.....I adore blintzes, but tofu, egg substitute and soymilk are not going to cut it with me. YUCK
My guess is that some guy didn't want to ask for directions, thus Egypt got a pass.. If you are in the Chicago area and can't find a cool Hanukka party, you haven't been passing out enough of those Bagels all year...LOL.. Happy Holidays.. Carlo
I-696 and Greenfield.
Let me join in in wishing a happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish Freepers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.