Box of Bad Advice: Game Night

A couple of years ago when visiting the states I spotted this game, BOX OF BAD ADVICE and just had to buy it. Finally last night I gathered three good friends, and we played it.

We had great laughs together. Laughing is healthy. We didn't exactly follow the rules, but it worked for us. That's what's  most important. We must do it again!

Wonderful Week

שבוע טוב

Surprise Sandwich Discount

Tuesday night I ended up without a dinner date and without food from home, so I literally walked up and down Jerusalem's Emek Refaim Street looking for something worth buying and trying to burn some calories. It was too depressing to think of sitting by myself, while the world out there was socializing, so I figured I'd pick up a sandwich. Well, there weren't many reasonably priced sandwich options. The bagel place charged over ns20 for tuna, and the bagels are the "fake" puffy round rolls. I would have paid it if there had been real bagels, boiled and baked. They are almost impossible to find nowadays.

Suddenly I remembered the Cafe Neeman Bakery up on Pierre Koenig off of Emek Refaim. I wasn't sure what they'd have at that hour, since it's more a breakfast and lunch place.

When I entered I could smell freshly baked rolls and bread. Customers were coming in for bread and rolls to use the following morning.

I found a small selection of readymade sandwiches in long Israeli "sandwich rolls." I asked the price:

"NS18.50, but only NS15, because it's late."

That seemed in my budget, and I was hungry. And the sandwiches looked fresh. Only when I got to where I was staying did I notice that I hadn't taken the one I wanted, but there was nothing I could do. I ate the chavita, fried egg, on white bread. It had sufficient, though not a lot of, salad. It was tasty and filling. Even the full price is reasonable, being under NS20.

Each of these Ne'eman Bakeries have different selections and prices, but all seem rather reasonable. Yes, I do recommend going there.

Sometimes Even I Wait

You may know that I hate waiting. It drives me nuts, but there are times when even I wait.

You may know that I try to walk a lot even up the hill to my house, but there are times when I wait for a ride.

Walking is great, but schlepping isn't.

Yes, there was no way that I could have safely walked home with those heavy bags.  So I waited for a ride. Within a minute a former student of mine came by. He actually needed to go in the opposite direction, but he wanted to help, and I didn't refuse the offer.

They Haven't Forgotten Me

It has been well over a year since I stopped working in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin. I had worked there for just under six years. Besides my two main teaching jobs, that's the longest I've worked anyplace. I'm always meeting people who say I seem familiar, and the reason is that they had first met me or seen me  at Yafiz during those six years.

I can understand why many of my neighbors still think I'm working their. I don't know where they are working either. But the other day when I was paying after my my biweekly shopping trip to Rami Levy, the cashier asked:

"Aren't you working today?"
"No, I haven't worked at Yafiz for over a year." I replied.
"Rally?" She seemed surprised.

I guess I made quite an impression if I haven't been forgotten even by the supermarket staff. They and the customers were more appreciative of my work than the chain's bosses, who don't miss me at all.

Pomegranates, Definitely Worth The Mess

In recent years, I'd be treating myself to pomegranates from fall to well into the winter, even though they make an awful mess. Experts say that they are extremely healthy. When my father was living with us, we got him pomegranate juice from a neighbor who froze the juice immediately after juicing.

Pomegranates are one of those foods I don't remember at all from the states. I developed my taste for them only in recent years. Early on here in Israel we'd just have one for the "Yehi ratzon*" prayer on the first night of Rosh Hashanah. That was the only time we ever bought and ate them.

This year, the pomegranates I bought for Rosh Hashanah tasted awful, which ruined my appetite for them. I didn't buy any after that. That is until yesterday. I saw some in Rami Levy which looked so good and felt "juicy," the way they should be. Since it isn't an inexpensive fruit I just bought one. I'm so sorry about that. It was totally delicious.

Maybe the ones we got for Rosh Hashanah had been in storage from the previous year... Now, I'm in the market to buy more pomegranates. I hope I find some worth buying.

*May it be Gd's will...

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	346 kJ (83 kcal)
Carbohydrates	18.7 g
Sugars	13.67 g
Dietary fiber	4 g
Fat	1.17 g
Protein	1.67 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1)	(6%) 0.067 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	(4%) 0.053 mg
Niacin (B3)	(2%) 0.293 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)	(8%) 0.377 mg
Vitamin B6	(6%) 0.075 mg
Folate (B9)	(10%) 38 μg
Choline	(2%) 7.6 mg
Vitamin C	(12%) 10.2 mg
Vitamin E	(4%) 0.6 mg
Vitamin K	(16%) 16.4 μg
Minerals
Calcium	(1%) 10 mg
Iron	(2%) 0.3 mg
Magnesium	(3%) 12 mg
Manganese	(6%) 0.119 mg
Phosphorus	(5%) 36 mg
Potassium	(5%) 236 mg
Sodium	(0%) 3 mg
Zinc	(4%) 0.35 mg
Link to USDA Database entry
Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Menu Bloopers

Why is it so difficult for Israeli restaurant owners to pay someone competent to check the English every time they change a menu or update their website? This is from a big restaurant chain. We ate in the Hadar Mall branch where we just couldn't ignore these mistakes.

And maybe I'm just stupid, but what is "ciabatta?" According to Professor Google, it's some sort of bread. Standard food has sure changed over the decades. But that's still no excuse for "TUNS ANDWICH" and "other practices."

What's your favorite menu typo?

Israeli Craft Beer Saga

*The Beer Bazaar has been in touch with me, and I hope to have a proper visit in the near future. I must say that they really seem to care about the service and customer relations. 

Last week visitors were here from abroad, and I wanted to show off the fantastic craft beer we now have here in Israel.  In addition, I had hoped to blog a great review of the place and the beers. Since we were in Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda aka the shuq,I took them to Beer Bazaar, but it just didn't work out. I'm now in touch with the owners and hope to have a more pleasant visit in the future.

The beer mavin has been mentoring me about craft beer, and I'm a great fan of it.

Being Prepared for Electricity Problems

I gave up pretty quickly this past week when looking for Shabbat guests. It only took a couple of "negatives" to stop me in my tracks. The weather forecast was for winds, and everyone was told to prepare for "power outages," aka being without electricity. Considering that we only have electric heaters and electricity for cooking, I figured that possible guests wouldn't be very happy if the house and food were cold, plus dark and dingy.

We stocked up on "yartzeit candles" that claimed 48 and 72 hours of light. I lit two in the kitchen where I work and two by the Shabbat candles. And when I lit the Shabbat ones, I lit a lot more than usual, so in case the electricity went out while we were eating, there'd be some light.

This photo was taken after Shabbat before I put out the 48 hour candles

And now to tell you that it was just a regular rainy winter Shabbat, no drama. We had electricity, thank Gd. It was drizzling when I walked out to take a walk, so I just walked back in.  A "lazy Shabbat" is allowed on occasion. I did make it to shul and to my usual shiur, class.

Shavua Tov

Have a Wonderful Week

Before The Storm

Way back when, weather would take us totally by surprise. Sometimes we'd look at a sunset or sunrise and "predict" rain or dry weather, but the odds of our getting it right were about as bad as the weather forecasts on the news. This, of course, predated the internet, computers, smartphones and all the apps.

But in recent years, weather forecasts are sometimes spookily accurate, like when the app forecasts snow beginning to fall at 10am, and it actually does. So now people go totally bonkers "preparing" for forecasted rain storms, blizzards etc. Yes, even me.

Yesterday afternoon I decided to take the recycling garbage to our little neighborhood recycling "center." I noticed a neighbor there:

"Are you also here now instead of tomorrow?" I asked her.
"Yes, if it's going to be stormy, I don't want to leave my house." She answered.

Usually, I get rid of all the boxes, bottles etc right before Shabbat, on Friday afternoon, but I had no desire to go out in the rainstorm if there really was going to be one. Nor did I want all the "junk" to stay in the house.

And, yes, it is raining today, windy, too. I plan on staying home, and I'll do my walking by walking in the house. The forecast is for rain and wind until tomorrow afternoon or evening. Considering that we've had drought most winters in recent years, I'm not complaining. I just pray that our electricity with hold up, since we have no alternative for cooking, heating and light.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach,
May You have a Peaceful and Blessed Sabbath

See The Old Movie Instead

Last night my husband and I went to the Jerusalem Theater to see a play.

It really is a lovely building. We were in the small theater, where we've been before. The play was an Israeli original, Samson, based on the biblical/historical novel by Ze'ev Jabotinsky. Besides having just recently studied the Biblical story/text with my Al Haperek group, decades ago I read the Jabotinsky book and saw the movie. I had good memories of both.

But I just didn't enjoy the play. It was much too much stylized Greek Theatre. The lighting, bright on black, made it hard to watch, and the booming faux "biblical" voices turned me off. I had trouble following the dialog, too.

We were sitting in the second row of the tiny theater, which was awfully overheated. One of the chief stage props was dust, and a couple of people in the audience had constant coughing fits. I was relieved that I hadn't joined them, but my throat hurt terribly throughout the play.

So, if you're curious about Jabotinsky's Samson and Delilah, I suggest googling for the movie on youtube.

The best thing about the evening was that we had gone out to dinner at Gingi Steakhouse in the Hadar Mall.

Salad Nicoise aka Tuna at Café Mansfeld

The other day I was with a group of family members from near and far at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. We took a late lunch together at Café Mansfeld, the dairy restaurant there, and most of us ordered the same thing, the Salad Nicoise aka Tuna.

I gave away my potato which, as you can see, still left me lots of delicious food to eat. Considering how much walking I had done throughout the morning and early afternoon, this simple salad was amazingly satisfying.

Cafe Mansfeld got the vegetables absolutely perfect, which isn't easy. The green beans were cooked exactly right and not overcooked. There's nothing I hate more than overcooked vegetables.

It's important to know that you can enter the restaurant without entering the museum. There's parking and lots of buses go there, too.

Besides salads, they serve soups, fish, sandwiches, coffee and the most irresistible cakes. You can reserve for groups and parties. Call 02-563-6280. 052-9709422 or email: cafe@mansfeld.co.il

Disagreements Re:My Last two 52Frames Shots

This week, as Sunday, which is the deadline, was the last of 2017, the 53rd Sunday of the year, a very unusual occurrence, 52Frame's challenge was "Endings."

For me it was clear that I'd have to photograph our local Shiloh Cemetery. I managed to get down there just as the sun was beginning to set. I had the end of the day and the end of lives all in one package. 

I've been using my smartphone, the Samsung J7 as a camera. It really is better than the cheap camera I bought a few years ago. First I photographed it in black and white, but it looked too stark and cold. Then I tried the sepia, which gave it the warmth and character I had envisioned. The cloudy winter sky added the perfect dose of sadness.

When I consulted with member of a "subgroup" from 52Frames, I was told that the sepia was too yellow. I toned it down and added the vignette, hoping it wouldn't be too kitschy. I, davka, like the look it produced, a bit more sorrow, looking into a tunnel of sad memories, which really is the case. This is a community cemetery and I really did know almost everyone buried in it. There are so many stories...

"Cemetery Sunset"
Sad as I knew most of the people buried here. Their ends came much too soon. 

So far, there have been a nice amount of comments. Most people like the basic photo including the light sepia, while there's a split in opinion about the vignette effect.  What do you think? And why?

The previous week's photo, Black and White Minimalism, also had people either liking or hating one of the elements.

"Window Up High"

I took it in my daughter's house on a wintery day. Even though it was less than two weeks ago, I can't remember if I had photographed it in Black and White or removed the color in "post-production." Besides a bit of cropping and sharpening, there wasn't much to do. I liked the simplicity and asymmetric look of it, with the focus on the light in the perfect spot.

Comments have been almost evenly split about that lamp. Some people love it, and others find it distracting. I couldn't have removed it, though I could have turned it off. I think it adds a good visual focus of white on all the grey and black. What do you think? And why?

Yummy Health Drinks

Yesterday at the shuq, Machane Yehuda, I tried the health drinks, even though I'm not a juice drinker.  They were wonderful. And it's nice that there's a small "tasters" size cup.

I drank the lemon/mint. Is this living dangerously?

Sometimes you just have to do something different. And if it's trying one of these juices, why not?

Making Do After Breaking French Press

It was obvious to me that it was going to happen, inevitable for sure. It was always more an issue of when, than will. Yes, I broke the carafe/bowl/pot or whatever you want to call that glass part of my French Press. Kappora...

Davka, I had just bought a new stock of ground coffee to be made in the French Press. Of course, I could perk it in the percolator... But I decided on an experiment using coffee-making accessories I have sitting in the closet.

I decided to use the same principles as in the French Press, leaving the ground coffee to combine with boiling water and then filter it before it hits the mug. As you can see in the photos illustrating my morning coffee today, I used an old heat-resistant carafe/bowl/pot from a long dead and mourned electric coffeemaker. The filter was the simple, low-tech one I bought a few years ago in New York.

If you like really hot coffee, this isn't for you, but I don't have such a requirement. And coffee never comes out super hot from a French Press.

The only real change I'd make would be to add more ground coffee; I'm still experimenting with the actual coffee taste. I don't know how they roast/prepare the beans for commercial ground coffee in the states, but there's lots more flavor.

In conclusion, this is a reasonable solution to my morning coffee needs. And happily I had all of the equipment in the house. I do have a small, one cup French Press, too. But when do I ever drink just one small cup of coffee?

old parts new coffeetemporary replacementsmorning coffee "chai"#morningcoffeehaiku

Have a Wonderful Week

According to Judaism the day starts at nightfall. Shabbat begins as the sun starts to set and ends at night when you can see three stars in the sky. The Havdala ceremony which separates the Sabbath from the rest of the week includes a candle with multiple wicks.

And many people light the Shabbat candles again, after Shabbat as a "Melave Malka" for a good week.

Blessings to all of you.
May there be good news, good health and many joyful events and news...

Shavua Tov

Perfect Vegetable Soup

Yesterday I was home, sort of "chilling," totally relaxing and cooking a bit. It was a Jewish fast day, the 10th of Tevet. Luckily I'm not one of those "taste as I cook" people. I go by "eyeball" and smell. In the morning until early afternoon, besides lounging on the couch all I did was to take about a cup of dried peas, put it in a pot and pour boiling water over them. I covered the pot and let it all "sit." The peas cook best, get nice and mushy when prepared that way. You also need less time on the stove.

Ingredients, plus the peas and
a chunk of pumpkin

About three hours before the end of the fast, I felt energetic enough to start the soup. I took out the ingredients you can see on the right, plus the peas and a nice chunk of raw pumpkin. You can use an acorn squash or something similar if you can't get the pumpkin. I only cook with fresh vegetables.

The quantity I made was good for a pot of about 3-4 quarts or liters. I don't measure. By the time I put in all of the ingredients, the pot was pretty full to make a very nourishing soup. My Vegetable Soup is a meal, since the peas provide protein, and after fasting I can't eat raw vegetables.

Ingredients:
large onion
fresh garlic
mushrooms
carrots
green squash, zucchini would be fine, too
fresh pumpkin
dried peas, lentils can be substituted or combined with the peas
1T vegetable oil of your choice, optional
coarse salt and coarse ground pepper "to taste"
When in doubt under-season, since it's easier for people to add than to get rid of oversalting etc.

Instructions:
pour lentils/peas in the pot and cover-plus with boiling water
cover pot also with a thick towel to keep in the heat
after at least an hour, even 6 or more, add cut vegetables, except for the pumpkin
add the oil
start cooking
add boiling water to about 2 inches, 5cm, from top of pot
when boiling, lower to simmer
add pumpkin, since it cooks much more quickly than the other vegetables
season with salt and pepper
when it looks soft, turn it off and again cover with a towel until serving

Wednesday Walking in Jerusalem

Most weeks I wake up in Jerusalem on Wednesdays. That's because I am part of a small Tanach, Bible, learning group that meets in Matan early on Wednesdays. I generally sleep Tuesday nights in Jerusalem, walking distance from Matan. It's a great way to start my day.

After our chevruta learning I go to a class, Isaiah: Prophet of Poetry, Passion and Principle taught by Dr.Yael Ziegler. After that I have a break of about 90 minutes until Biblical Politics: Challenging Assumptions About G-d, Leadership, and Land by Yael Leibowitz.

Weather permitting, I take a walk during the break

I try to keep busy.

2nd Hand but First Class

The other day I was in Jerusalem to buy some coffee for the French Press and decided to see what was on sale in my favorite women's clothing chain, Hilah. I was looking for a couple of sweaters to go with my dark blue, jeans-type skirt. There weren't any sweaters there worth buying, though I found a dress. Then I remembered that it was morning, and my super-favorite second hand store would be open. Actually, that's where I had bought the skirt, among other items.

The 2nd hand women's clothing store is in the Bell Tower on King George, near Yaffo. It's just by the bus stops and around the corner from the lightrail. Recently a Toys R Us opened in the building off of the street. The second hand store is in the main entrance, main floor, right side. Get there before 3pm, since it closes soon after. I don't know what it's official name is.

On the way, I checked in a few other stores for sweaters and saw some for well over my budget. I was not about to spend over ns100 for a cheap feeling ordinary sweater. So, I continued down King George Street to the Bell Tower.

Yes, in what was originally called the "Sweet Shoppe" has been a second hand clothing store for years already. Not only have I bought quite a few skirts and tops plus a necklace there, but I've even sold a couple of things.

I was greeted as a long lost relative and told the owner what I was looking for. She quickly found me a couple of sweaters that were absolutely perfect in every way. Not only did they seem high quality, fit and match the skirt perfectly, but they cost me only ns50 together. Yes, one was just ns20 and the other ns30.

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I could manage just buying second hand clothes. But I'm not adverse to sometimes buying second hand, especially items that one wears "forever," like skirts and sweaters.

French Press "Rides" Again

A few days ago I finished the last of my American ground coffee, so I had to make do with Elite Turkish Coffee perked in my classic stove top percolator. Finally, yesterday I combined my biweekly shopping in the Shaar Binyamin Rami Levi for fresh chickens with a shopping trip to Jerusalem.

This was a nice rainy day, which is what winter is supposed to be, and equipped with an umbrella and a smile I took care of a lot of shopping errands.

Getting ground coffee was the priority, so once I got to Jerusalem I made my way to Machane Yehuda's main covered market street/lane and searched for Rosmarin, where I had found the best prices plus a coffee-grinder that doesn't overgrind.

It's the only store I've found that has some coffee for under ns10 per 100 grams. You can choose between Brazilian and Columbian for ns8 per 100 grams. I bought some of both. They totalled about 600 grams altogether in two separate bags. Maybe another time I'll have them mix the coffee beans. What do you think?

This morning I was back drinking coffee from the French Press. I opened the Columbian, and it was fine. Yes, I'm awake.

French press coffee Yay!
bought ground coffee in the shuk
Cold, dry day not good 
#morningcoffeehaiku