No, We're Not Closing for the Cleaning

Fellow female blogger Lady-Light of Tikkun Olam has blogged that she may not get to blogging until after Passover, but I'm not blogging that.  I need my breaks.

When I was a "FlyBaby" I learned to divide my chores into bite-size pieces, tiny doses.  It makes difficult work much easier, especially for cleaning-phobes like myself.  Since I took out all the fridge door shelves yesterday to clean them and plan on doing the same to the large shelves this week, G-d wiling, I know that when I get closer to the final big switch-over to Passover, it'll be easier.

Over thirteen years ago, when I worked in the Bagel House, a full-time job responsible for selling ready-made sandwiches plus to offices, I discovered something amazing.  On a normal day, after selling on my route, I'd sit over lunch at the desk, go over the day's sales and plan the next day's orders.  I'd work until the last second needed to catch the bus home.

But... on the rare occasion when I had a date to meet someone for lunch in Center 1, I'd leave the office for more than an hour, sometimes two, and I'd finish work early with time to spare.

Breaks from the desk, or cleaning, make us much more productive!

Post-Purim Means Pesach Cleaning

This year's calendar is a tough one.  Passover starts on a Monday evening which gives very little time between Shabbat and the Seder.

If we were rich and independent we could go away for Shabbat HaGadol (the Sabbath before Passover) and return to a home ready for Passover cooking.  Maybe I should plan it very much like that, as if we had the Seder on Saturday night or something like that.

Shabbat food could be chametz on disposables and then switch the kitchen after Shabbat.  I will need all of Sunday for cooking.

Or  I could change the house before Shabbat and only serve oven food on disposables or serve Pesach food.

Yes, about cleaning.  I actually started, sort of.  I decided to start cleaning the fridge, so it wouldn't be a lot of work when I have to.  Oops!  Some of you probably clean it well every week or every month.  I admit that I don't, besides the obvious spills etc.  Now you know.  Yes, now you know that I'm an awful housekeeper.

You Say Mishmosh; I Say Mishmash. It's Just Havel Havelim!

Our favorite Bima Ima is hosting the latest Havel Havelim.  Don't miss the show!

She'll be hosting the Kosher Cooking Carnival pretty soon.  Please send your post about kosher food, cooking, restaurants, relevant Halacha etc.

Growing!

This year we've noticed that the weeds are much higher and leafier than in previous ones.  It's not just because we've had a healthier amount of rain.  I don't even remember seeing plants like these next door.  The chances are that it's due to the goats which used to wander around the neighborhood, eating and yes defecating.  And in that fertilizer were the seeds of the plants which are now growing so high here.

There's something else growing in the neighborhood.  Homes are getting larger to suit their owners' needs.  This one "lost its top" and is getting another floor added.  Thank G-d.

Yes, they are both expamples of natural growth in Shiloh!

Pre-Pesach Simcha Season

I must admit that not all of the very recent smachot, joyous events to Shiloh families  can be attributed to the annual "Pre-Pesach Simcha Season."  Births and the subsequent, thirteen years later, Bar Mitzvah are planned by G-d, not humans nor caterers.

We've had a joyously busy weekend, thank G-d.

Of course I wasn't invited to all, just some, and some were open to the entire community.

On Monday, shushan Purim, neighbors celebrated their son's Bar Mitzvah.  Then Wednesday evening there was  a wedding.  On Thursday night, there were two weddings affecting three Shiloh families.  That's because a local girl married a local boy.  That's not all there was.  Two families had Bar Mitzvah parties.

And then on Shabbat, there was also Shalom Zachor Friday night, the Erev Shabbat get-together the first Shabbat after a boy is born.  The Shiloh wedding had a reception, too.

In the morning after shul there were two kiddushim in two different synagogues; one was for the other wedding, and the other for one of the Bar Mitzvah boys.  Then in the afternoon the second Bar Mitzvah boy's family invited everyone for a reception.

MAZAL TOV to One and ALL!

Yes, I Baked Challah!!

After a hiatus of at least ten years, I got my hands sticky and baked challah.  What one doesn't do for one's children and grandchildren....

It had been so long that I had to look up my challah recipe on the internet.  I confess that I added more sugar than written there.

I'm sorry that I forgot to photograph the challot after baking.

Here's the general recipe for hand-kneaded challah, which can be doubled etc:

a kilo of flour, more or less, whole wheat and brown sugar

start with about a 1/2 cup sugar and 3T dehydrated yeast
mix in large bowl
add about 1/4 kilo flour then a pinch of coarse salt
mix with a spoon
add 1 1/2 cups warm water 6oz soy oil and 3 eggs
mix well and cover
let sit until fermenting
gradually add/mix the rest of the flour, starting with a spoon, until too thick, then use your hand
until the batter no longer sticks to your hands
then knead for 10 minutes
cover and let rise until double
punch down and rise again
(take "challah")
then shape, paint with raw egg, let rise, then bake
start with hotter than cake temperature, and when it starts to "brown" lower until less than cake temperature
when the bottom "hardens" and if you tap it sounds "dry," turn off the oven; it's ready

If you're using a mixer with a dough-hook, follow the general instructions for bread-baking or yeast dough for cake of the manufacturer.  And if anyone can please post guidelines for using a mixer in the comments, I'd greatly appreciate it.  Thanks

Keeping Busy, Arts, Crafts and Exercise

More in the saga of caring for my very elderly father...

Most of my kids and all the grandchildren were over for the Shushan Purim Feast.  The kids got lots of presents including fancy, glittery pipe cleaners.  My father got a hold of some and began fashioning jewelry.

Yes, that's him putting a pipe cleaner necklace on me.  And yes, I'm in a wig, which I wear only on Purim.

My father always had a lot of artistic talent.  Now he can neither see nor control the pencil well enough to draw, so we were all very exited to see him use his talents on the pipe cleaners.

I had blown up a lot of balloons before the kids came over.  They didn't take them home of course, so my father and I now play "volley-balloon."  It's great exercise stretching and bending, lots of hand-eye coordination.  The balloons don't move as quickly as balls, and they don't pose risks of damage, injury etc.  When my kids were little we would play with balloons in the house when the weather was too nasty to go outside. 

Pre-Passover Inventory Check!

Here's a recent freezer photo.  I may have too many rolls and pittot for someone who doesn't eat much carbohydrates.

As you may be able to see, I've frozen a couple of servings of vegetable soup.  I figure they can provide meals when I have little time to cook before Passover.  Pesach cleaning is never easy for me.  I'm just not a good, competent house-cleaner.  At least we don't eat in the bedrooms.  I'm very strict about eating only in the official dining areas.  Yes, even when my children were small.  They were never allowed to wander around with cookies, sandwiches and candies.

That's the best trick I can think of to make Pesach cleaning easier, prevent chametz from entering bedrooms, etc.

Alternative, Non-Motorized Transportation

There's a Jerusalem bicycle path on Rechov Yaffo, Jaffa Street.  It ends short into a pole, but the intentions are good.  One of my sons rides his bike to work and says that he frequently can make better time than a car.

I've always said that he was born in the wrong century.  He was meant to ride horses.  One of the neighborhood kids has a horse.

I prefer walking.

No Need For A Fancy Grill!

As you can see we have a very simple grill, small and simple, low and simple.  It has to be mounted or the cook must crawl on the ground.

But that doesn't stop Jerusalem's most handsome bachelors.  The older one honored us with his presence and grilling skills for a festive Purim meal, yes, steaks.  The younger one was pouring drinks and running his business.  (Scroll down a few posts, and you'll see where.)

Rocking Ruby Tuesday

With my eagle eyes always searching for something red to shoot, I spied this red plastic see-saw perched on the entrance to a storage basement.  No, I haven't the vaguest idea why or how it got there.

Your guess is as good as mine.

There's always something interesting in Shiloh to shoot for Ruby Tuesday.

On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog.

Is Purim Really Over? Only Thirteen Lunar Months Till The Next Time

As usual, we ended with a bang of sorts.  The kids almost all came over to us today.  So after four Megillah readings I cooked and baked for my children, grandchildren, and yes, my father, too and husband, of course.

My hamantaschen needed an additional egg.  As the kids said:

"Only grandpa enjoys them. He eats bones, too."

The big surprise on the menu, a last minute (just decided this morning) was home-baked challot.  I hadn't baked challot in years, probably ten or more.  My sons, especially the younger, had taken over the challah baking in high school.  Then by the time they were both in the army I never resumed that aspect of baking.

I had an extra kilo of flour in the freezer and decided it needed to metamorphose into challah, so I put dehydrated yeast on the shopping list, searched my blog for the recipe and baked, hand-kneaded.  I don't have a mixer.

The kids were happy.  It was a taste of the past, of their youth.

Long after we finished eating I was telling them about the friend on the no nightshade diet to be relieved of arthritis, when suddenly I remembered that there was eggplant in the vegetables waiting in the oven....  So, I gave the kids food to take home.

Peculiar Purim Printer Problem

On the first night of Purim...
because here in Shiloh there are two days, two nights, two feasts, double days in costume, double Mishloach Manot (shaloch monose) and four Megillah readings....

I decided to get a head-start on things and did the graphic design for the little "cards" to be stuck on the food packages for the Mishloach Manot.

It had to be changed from last years, which was signed משפחת מידד, Mishpachat Medad, the Medad Family, to ישראל, בתי'ה & Sidney.  That's Yisrael, Batya & Sidney.

Minor, unexpected, unplanned problem.  The printer didn't print.  So...

I emailed a request to a neighbor, to please print our Purim cards.  He has an up-to-date, state of the art, fully working computer and accessories.  Problem was that his and ours are so many generations apart his didn't recognize our clipart and fonts.  So, instead of a gorgeous little pic and perfectly fonted message, there was an empty box and dull printing.

Being that it's Purim, that's what I stuck to the food gifts.

Then, this morning, when I replugged* and turned on my computer, printer etc, I heard those familiar clicks and groans... suddenly the paper started to moving and a perfectly printed page of messages appeared.  So the lucky people receiving my Mishloach Manot today will get colorful, well-decorated and perfectly fonted little cards.

*Due to the frequent thunder and lightening accompanying the blessed rain, I thought it most cautious, safe and careful to totally unplug the computer last night.

And... This Year's Purim Sign is:

Have a happy, healthy and joyful Purim everybody!!

I trust that you can read my sign.

I've been trying out various Megillat Ester readings.  The first was at neighbors.  It was quiet, but the reading wasn't clear.  I couldn't make out the words and had trouble following.

So, this morning I went to a small shul, call it the "shtibel."  The reading was very good, clear, dramatic.  The place was noisy for my needs, but I got there early and found a seat in the back corner.

I still haven't decided where to go tonight.  I planned on walking down the hill to neighbors in a different neighborhood, but the blessed rain has returned.

No Need To Panic!

I woke up in the middle of an anxiety attack of sorts.  On my mind was Saturday night after Shabbat and I was in a hotel organizing myself for some performance which would take place in a short while.  Suddenly I realized that since I hadn't checked out of the hotel immediately after Shabbat I'd be booked/charged for another night.  We can't afford it.  I had fouled up for sure.  I was in a panic.  What should I do?  How can I pay for it?

Slowly as I began waking up, or was I still in that dream, my mind began to clear.  This was just a dream.  I was home.  I didn't have to pay any hotel bill.  I worked hard to calm myself down physically.  What a peculiar dream....

Now I really ought to finish up here, get myself showered, dressed and dovened (pray.)  And then I must pack the Purim mishloach manot food gifts.  After that I have to go to a Megillat Esther reading, 2/4.

The Purim Situation, Havel Havelim

We have a situation here, a Purim situation, in the Israel Situation and it's called:

Havel Havelim!

It's highly recommended that you check it out!

It's That Time of The Week...

Yes, an hour before candle-lighting, before Shabbat restrictions kick in.  I must return to the kitchen.  I cooked a bit less than usual, since we have two days of Purim and I'll be cooking for those meals.  My Shabbat cooking doesn't have to shouldn't last the week.

I wonder if you agree with my Purim Pet Peeve.  Maybe I should have cross-posted here.  Sorry, nu, maybe you want to guess before clicking?

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

Have a Peaceful & Blessed Shabbat

Fussy About Food

I'm the type who's always washing my hands with soap when handling food for myself and others.  It was a shocker when I began noticing that most people don't.

Ironically, uselessly, in many restaurants the staff wear gloves in order not to touch the food, but they don't take the gloves off when handling money.  And studies have shown that money is full of bacteria and viruses.  I also can't stand the use of those wet-wipes (all brands) used for cleaning hands and food surfaces, because the chemicals aren't wiped/rinsed off.  It turns my stomach to think of eating those chemicals.  I prefer (when it's possible) soap, water and a clean water rinse for cleanliness.

In another couple of days, we'll be celebrating the Purim holiday.  It's a Jewish holiday to commemorate our victory in Persia over those who wanted to annihilate us.  It's customary to dress in costumes to hide our identities, like G-d hid and controlled events in His mysterious ways.  We're commanded to give charity to the poor in our Jewish community, read the Purim story in the Scroll of Esther, have a thanksgiving feast and send food packages for the feast to others.

As I write this, I picture some of the plates which arrive from well-meaning neighbors.  Even when I wasn't trying to avoid sweets and carbohydrates, I just couldn't touch the unwrapped food items, candies, cookies etc touched by who knows how many dirty hands.

I admit that I'm probably a terribly neurotic fanatic about food cleanliness.  During the years I was the cook at the local day care center for infants to three year olds, there were no cases of food-born illness.

Yes, I've heard that it's healthy to get the body used to local bacteria and viruses at an early age.  That's why many people new to a region (like those moving to Israel) find themselves constantly ill during their first year.  Their bodies just aren't immune.  There are easier ways to get vaccinated.

I don't know what Mishloach Manot, food gifts, we'll receive this year, but especially with my elderly father in the house, I'll have to be extra careful about what's put on the table for noshing and eating.

Food-Filled Fast Day

Rather ironic, keeping my mind off of eating food by cooking all day.  The Jewish Holiday of Purim is preceded by a fast.

Physically I don't have trouble fasting.  The Problem is more in my mind, like craving coffee all day, but I didn't have a headache.  I just love to eat.  I was pretty tired by the end of it.

Nu, what did I cook?

• my famous, very easy tnt, delicious vegetable soup
• a bunch of banana and chocolate chip cakes
• one batch of my whole wheat Hamantaschen, cookie dough and no margarine
• this kids love it chicken

The soup is really for Mishloach Manot,  the food gifts we give on Purim.  But we broke the fast on it, and my father enjoyed it.  The chicken is for Shabbat and during the week.  And the cake and Hamentaschen are also for Mishloach Manot.  It's so easy to bake cakes. 

Now I ought to try to take a walk.

Celebrating Purim With JPIX at Pesky's

The latest JPIX is posted by Pesky.  Take a look. There are lots of posts, but....

Jpix at Pesky's

Stop in and please send my regards!