It seems it is about a year since I began this blog and I have to say,
NOT TOO SHABBY!
When I initially started, it was also in the midst of our fall Holiday season and it took time to become consistent, much like right now.
This weekend begins the eight day Holiday of Sukkos.
Long story short - when we Jews were running for our lives out of Egypt (Passover story) we had to wander a desert for 40 years. In this desert, we dwelled in huts. We commemorate this time by building ourselves a hut, typically in our backyards, and we eat our meals in this hut.
The hut can be made out of any material, so long as it is an appropriate height, has at least 3 walls and the top is covered in a natural resource, such as bamboo or evergreen leaves. The hut is supposed to feel like our home, so we decorate it as well. It mostly will end up resembling a cabana decorated like a Christmas tree.
And to pre-empt some questions.
Yes, if it is bitter cold one must still eat in the Sukkah (only men over 13 are actually REQUIRED to eat in the Sukkah). However, if there is torrential downpours of rain, we may retreat to our home.
I remember years that we were eating with winter coats, scarves and gloves, which may be how this year is looking. However, other years, it was so hot - we were running from bees.
Anyway - this has all just been some side information to my point.
I will be cooking ONLY one meal out of four (in the first days of Sukkos). But, that meal consists of 15 adults and 9 children.
Normally, this would not phase me, but herein lies the problem.
I am a bit rusty in the kitchen.
Until last December, my parents were living with me for 16 months. I did some Holiday cooking and Sabbath cooking, but it was always shared by my Mother's input. In December, when they left - I was already 4 months pregnant and I pretty much only cooked for my immediate family of 5, which is no biggie. I would have loved to have company more often, but
1. I had a major aversion to raw chicken and meat, so all chicken and meat was purchased already cooked.
2. I get major sciatica if I stand for long periods of time, so I could not spend consistently long amounts of time cooking around my kitchen.
In May, I had a baby, and I already know by my fourth child, that it will take me approximately 3 months to really learn my baby and get back to myself. Meaning, do I have a baby that has a mild temperament allowing me to get things done? I DO! And, am I getting "enough" sleep and did my energy level return so that I can be productive? Yes, and Yes!
So, that brings me to the beginning of October, and I feel like I have not embarked on such a mission for almost two years.
I know how to cook, but where have I been for almost two years? What have we been eating? Where are all my "special" recipes? I have to pull out the big guns now. I have people to impress.
(Really, I am not the sort of person who EVER feels the need to impress, it will suffice that everyone finds the food tasty and does not come down with food poisoning.)
So, I will be busy for the next two days, and maybe, just maybe I will become one of "those" people who takes pictures of her food and posts it on a blog for people who can only look and salivate over something they were not invited to eat.
Wish me luck!
NOT TOO SHABBY!
When I initially started, it was also in the midst of our fall Holiday season and it took time to become consistent, much like right now.
This weekend begins the eight day Holiday of Sukkos.
Long story short - when we Jews were running for our lives out of Egypt (Passover story) we had to wander a desert for 40 years. In this desert, we dwelled in huts. We commemorate this time by building ourselves a hut, typically in our backyards, and we eat our meals in this hut.
The hut can be made out of any material, so long as it is an appropriate height, has at least 3 walls and the top is covered in a natural resource, such as bamboo or evergreen leaves. The hut is supposed to feel like our home, so we decorate it as well. It mostly will end up resembling a cabana decorated like a Christmas tree.
And to pre-empt some questions.
Yes, if it is bitter cold one must still eat in the Sukkah (only men over 13 are actually REQUIRED to eat in the Sukkah). However, if there is torrential downpours of rain, we may retreat to our home.
I remember years that we were eating with winter coats, scarves and gloves, which may be how this year is looking. However, other years, it was so hot - we were running from bees.
Anyway - this has all just been some side information to my point.
I will be cooking ONLY one meal out of four (in the first days of Sukkos). But, that meal consists of 15 adults and 9 children.
Normally, this would not phase me, but herein lies the problem.
I am a bit rusty in the kitchen.
Until last December, my parents were living with me for 16 months. I did some Holiday cooking and Sabbath cooking, but it was always shared by my Mother's input. In December, when they left - I was already 4 months pregnant and I pretty much only cooked for my immediate family of 5, which is no biggie. I would have loved to have company more often, but
1. I had a major aversion to raw chicken and meat, so all chicken and meat was purchased already cooked.
2. I get major sciatica if I stand for long periods of time, so I could not spend consistently long amounts of time cooking around my kitchen.
In May, I had a baby, and I already know by my fourth child, that it will take me approximately 3 months to really learn my baby and get back to myself. Meaning, do I have a baby that has a mild temperament allowing me to get things done? I DO! And, am I getting "enough" sleep and did my energy level return so that I can be productive? Yes, and Yes!
So, that brings me to the beginning of October, and I feel like I have not embarked on such a mission for almost two years.
I know how to cook, but where have I been for almost two years? What have we been eating? Where are all my "special" recipes? I have to pull out the big guns now. I have people to impress.
(Really, I am not the sort of person who EVER feels the need to impress, it will suffice that everyone finds the food tasty and does not come down with food poisoning.)
So, I will be busy for the next two days, and maybe, just maybe I will become one of "those" people who takes pictures of her food and posts it on a blog for people who can only look and salivate over something they were not invited to eat.
Wish me luck!
6 have shown Orah a little love:
Good luck with your culinary undertaking. I'm sure it will be tasty!
Better you than me...cooking is soooo not my department.
good luck! I want to come! I miss cold sukkos in Chicago
I don't like handling raw meat either. I try and get Brent to do that part for me. ;)
Good luck!
i TOTALLY prefer cold over bees. i hate bees. i also hate being cold but at least the cold doesnt sneak up on you when youre eating and sting your hands.
Okay, bring on the salivation! I want to see you yummy food :)
Good luck! And thanks again for the brief history lesson. Since I live in Southern California everyone seems to use palm fronds as the roof for their "huts" here.
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