My Beautiful Jewish Year

Hello nice people who still visit Kosher Whine!

In case anyone was wondering what happened with KosherCop's campaign to get a cat, I can tell you he won. In fact he won big - I was just about worn down and willing to get one adult cat, slightly used, previously owned. But right at that point I made the mistake of visiting our friends' brand new tiny 8 week old fluffy little kittens. And suddenly KosherCook's assertion that you should always get 2 kittens to keep each other company made perfect sense.

Within a couple of weeks we found these 2 crazy kits:

Chickpea and Nemo - May 2012

Nemo snuggling Chickpea - November 2012

These cats are REALLY attached to each other!

They are a lot of fun and EXTREMELY patient with KosherCop, and they do entertain each other.

They destroy the house, though - literally - Nemo crawled up into the basement ceiling and brought half of it crashing down.

Anyway, just a quick update on the cats. But, the real reason I wanted to post here is to let you know I've started a new project for 2013:
My Beautiful Jewish Year.

It's a year-long project to finally organize our lives, based on the idea that the reason my efforts over the last 20 years have failed is because they weren't focused on Shabbat and the Jewish holidays.

It's just getting started, but I have lots of plans, downloads and crafts coming, so I hope you'll check it out!

That Vintage Chanukah Feeling

I have a real problem this time of year. I admit it - I have Xmas envy.

It's a graphic design thing. I love all the cozy vintage imagery that seems to go along with the holiday.

There just isn't a lot of "vintage" in Chanukah, or Judaism in general for that matter. Jews in general seem to gravitate toward modern design, from what I can see. You don't see a lot of "shabby chic" Judaica - and don't think I haven't looked. Of course this is probably because the concept would be in direct opposition to the idea of Hiddur Mitzvah - although, I ask you, wouldn't cabbage roses enhance any mitzvah?

Every year I scour the web by searching for "vintage Jewish" to see if anything turns up and there is precious little out there. I have found some vintage illustration - mostly early Zionist posters - and this great collection of Rosh Hashana cards. In fact, Rosh Hashana cards seem to be the only place I can find that Victorian style of overly precious, slightly demented illustration that I enjoy and KosherCook loathes so much (so much that I made him a Valentine's Day card last year that bore the disclaimer "This card was made with a refreshing lack of Victorian imagery. No Cupids were harmed in the making of this card"). You can read a little about the history of these cards here. In fact I was delighted by the discovery of these antique cards because KosherCook has been arguing for years that Victoriana is inherently non-Jewish - because he had only seen it for Christmas and Valentine's Day decorations. But, if I remember correctly, it was actually the same German cardmakers that made Valentines that produced these high holiday cards.

In any case, Xmas gets that vintage look and Chanukah doesn't.
 
I also object to being locked into the whole blue, white, silver and gold color scheme, which is ironic as you will see in a moment. 

Download Your Free Hanukkah Card!

Anyway, I decided if there was no such thing as Vintage Hanukkah I would create it myself. So I set out to make a vintage Hanukkah card that all you nice people could download for free, print out and send to your friends. Which I did. And you can. And guess what color it is? That's right - blue and gold.

Perhaps the next one will have lots of demented-looking Victorian children on it (or as KosherCop calls them, "Aaah! Scary babies!")

Fabulous Shavuot Finds

I spent today thinking about all of the wonderful additions I want to someday make to this blog, and couldn't wait to get home to start them. Of course life intruded and now it is midnight.

So instead I'm just going to share a hodge podge of fun Shavuot finds I came across. (As well as a few KosherCop tidbits, of course.)

Strawberry Rhubarb Blintzes Recipe
Today was the first day of our CSA delivery for the season and as usual this time of year, we received rhubarb. One of our members was nice enough to post a recipe from myjewishlearning.com for Strawberry Rhubarb Blintzes.






Creative Jewish Mom
I have been all over the blogasphere looking for Jewish craft blogs and haven't had much luck...until today. I discovered Creative Jewish Mom which has tons of great craft tutorials for Jewish holidays. I love these cupcake paper carnations! Too bad I waited until the last minute and can't possibly festoon the house with paper flowers before the holiday starts tomorrow night.






KosherEye.com
For everything kosher, check out KosherEye.com. They have a kosher cheese update for Shavuot as well as
kosher deals and a project called “Culinary Heirlooms” which will highlight readers contributions of beloved handwritten recipe cards (I have a few in my mother's handwriting that are all stained and frayed, but I love them), advice, photos, etc.




KosherCop Updates
KosherCop brought home all of his Shavuot projects from school today, which include this vegetable placemat and Ten Commandments that are written in kid-friendly terms that a six year-old can understand:

1. There is only one G-d
2. Do not bow down to idols
3. Use G-d's name only when you need to
4. Rest on Shabbat
5. Listen to Ima and Aba (Mom and Dad)
6. Use words, not hands
7. Be good friends
8. Do not take what does not belong to you
9. Tell exactly what happened
10. Be happy with your own toys

Mother's Day
Backing up a bit, I received a big pile of presents for Mother's Day - all handmade in school as well. There was this beautiful card with a hebrew poem that made me cry:

Mommy, precious to me
Mommy, precious to me,
Precious mommy.
Mommy, precious to me,
Precious mommy.
My precious mommy,
Loves me very much,
Loves me very much.

I will smile at you,
I will smile,
I will smile at you,
I will smile,
I will sing a little song about you,
Because I love you,
I love you.

I had to search for the translation and found it here along with a recording of the song.

In case it isn't clear - that is KosherCop on the left inside the heart and I'm on the right.

But wait there's more: I also received a matching photo clip and box - both decorated in my absolute favorite of all kid mediums - faux stained glass ala tissue paper!

Have a wonderful holiday!

Hag Sameach!

PS - I apologize from the bottom of my little designer's heart for the truly atrocious photo layouts on this post. The photo editor has become rather difficult to manage in Blogger and I just can't make it any better at this hour.

Corn Arugula Omelettata

Tonight was the end of Tisha B'Av, the day commemorating the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. It is a fast day, and spent as if in mourning - similar to the observance of shivah. During the 3 weeks before Tisha B'Av we slowly move toward this day of mourning, by refraining from joyous occasions and doing things like listening to music. Then, nine days before Tisha B'Av, things become more intense, and one of the customs is to refrain from eating meat, except on Shabbat.

All of this introduction is to explain last night's vegetarian dinner KosherCook created. It served the dual purpose of being meat-free and using up some of our bountiful CSA corn.

I don't know if "omelettata" is a real word or I just made it up, but I feel that's the only word for this recipe. It is an eggy pie sort of dish - it is allowed to set and then is finished up in the oven like a frittata, but it came out thin (although not folded) like an omelette.

As always, I didn't know I wanted to blog about it until the dish was gone, which is unfortunate because it was really pretty before it was served. There were a few shards left in KosherCop's dish that I was going to save for his lunch today. One piece looked like a teeny pie slice, so I tried photographing it.

By this time KosherCop was hovering and asking questions. He already knew I was planning to post the recipe, so I showed him this photo and asked whether it looked interesting and tasty or unappetizing.

He decided it looked interesting and tasty.

So much so that he ate the rest of my "subject" before the photoshoot was over.

Oh well. Behold the Omelettata. Try it if you dare.

Ingredients:

• 2 ears fresh corn
  
• Handful of fresh arugula - washed and sliced
• 6 eggs - beaten
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Basil

Method:

1. Cut corn off the cobs, mix with the olive oil, and roast in a roasting pan at 400° F for 10 mins, then shuffle corn around so the other sides cook, and roast another 6 mins.
2. Melt butter in a large oven-proof pan over low heat.
   
3. Add corn and arugula to pan and saute briefly.
4. Add salt, pepper, and basil to taste
5. Add eggs to pan and let sit over medium heat for 5-6 mins until set.
6. Remove from stovetop and put under the broiler - with rack at the highest level - uncovered for 2 minutes.
7. Cut and serve with salad. Serves 4.
   

B'tayavon!

Earth Hour 2009

Tonight at Chez Kosher Whine we participated in Earth Hour 2009. At 8:30pm we turned off our lights along with a billion or so other people around the world to help raise awareness and vote for more action on climate change.

I have no idea if it will change anything, but it would be nice if it did.

What I do know is that it was completely confusing to turn all the lights off right after Shabbat ended. It was even more confusing because KosherCop and I watched a dvd on the computer (via battery power - since flashlights were okay I figured the laptop was okay too).

So there we were in the dark, watching a movie - the power wasn't out so if we wanted to we could turn on the lights and they would have worked. We chose not to turn on the lights yet anything we could manage to do in the dark without breaking our necks was perfectly permissible - cooking, cleaning, writing, etc. Very confusing.

KosherCook and I always experience this same confusion on secular American holidays, especially Thanksgiving when there is a "festive meal." We always walk around all day reminding ourselves its okay to write, phone, cook, and no - we don't have to wait until sundown to eat or light candles.

But, tonight our self-imposed darkness only lasted an hour - an hour that a very tired KosherCop couldn't even make it through. He has a cold - complete with fever - and was begging to go to sleep by 9:15 - which is obviously well past his bedtime. Luckily, flashlight teethbrushing is one of KosherCook's many talents and KosherCop was too tired to ask for a story. Although KosherCook could probably have managed that as well, since he was perfectly happy to read by hurricane lamp candlelight for an hour.

What was interesting was that we talked to my Aunt this evening and KosherCop told her all about how were going to be turning off the lights and why. When I got back on the phone I clarified a few details and her answer was okay, I guess I'll turn my lights off at 8:30 too.

Now this is an 80-something year old woman who lives alone, and yet she was willing to participate in this brief bit of activism with absolutely no convincing. Pretty cool of her, and more importantly, it shows how easy it is to get people on board with this line of thinking.

Chag Sameach and L'Shana Tovah!

It's October. How did this happen? Wasn't it just August?

So much has happened. I started a new job at my company. Am I enjoying it? Well, I don't come home and tell KosherCook that my day was "mind-numbing", so I guess it is better.

KosherCop turned 5 at the world's worst children's birthday party a mother could ever hope to throw. KosherCop had a great a time - he's a big fan of mayhem.

KosherCook had to go to a funeral when the party was supposed to happen so I was on my own. Thank goodness my friend LN was there to help me, or those kids would've brought me to tears. Also, KosherCop was quite the ringleader. He greeted every kid at the door with "Free candy! Come and get your free candy!" (Like a moron I had put out candy for the adults figuring they would monitor their kids chocolate intake. Wrong.) So the party started with 8 kids spilling a thousand mini M&Ms all over the living room. I also realized as this was happening that the beads for the beading project I had planned (not my idea - my son loves stringing beads) bore a striking resemblance to the mini m&ms. Luckily no one mixed them up - that I know of.

Then KosherCop decided that all the kids should come into his bedroom and shut the door. I followed them in to tell them the door needed to stay open and 6 little munchkins were jumping on the bed. KosherCop's idea. So I sent them out with some toys and closed the door. I tried to play a game with them, but our house is really tiny and all the parents were talking so the kids couldn't really hear me and just looked at me like I was crazy.

Somehow I got them to the table for lunch (which they hardly ate even though I had made very delicious tuna and PBJ sandwiches shaped like hearts and dinosaurs. The parents at least seemed to like the tuna dinosaurs) and birthday cake (which they all took 2 bites out of and left over - too many m&ms I guess).

Then, covered in tuna and cake they all went back to playing. While I tried to keep one little boy from repeatedly ramming KosherCop's bedroom door with a dump truck full of blocks, KosherCop opened the piano so all his friends could bang on it with tunafish-fingers (the piano had to be cleaned and tuned anyway - now it needs to be cleaned and de-tuna'd).

At this point I pretty much gave up and told KosherCop to give out the goody bags. It ended up being only about 15 minutes before the party was scheduled to end so it worked out okay. Then KosherCook came home and started cleaning up and all was right with the world again.

The very next day was Erev Rosh Hashanah and I somehow worked and still managed to cook chicken soup and bake a honey cake before our families gave up and went home hungry. Honestly, I don't know why they continue to show up at the time we tell them. I guess they just like us and know they won't be eating until 2 hours after they arrive. We love you too, guys!

Let's see - Rosh Hashanah - that brings us to Yom Kippur, bronchitis, lots of drugs that keep me awake but finally stopped me coughing, and then to today. KosherCook's amazing - he got up an hour before I did, fed KosherCop, and started cooking stuffed cabbage. Then he went to shul with KosherCop and I finished up the cabbage. Unfortunately that was for dinner, not lunch, which we had guests coming for. Honestly, I don't know why our friends continue to show up at the time we tell them. I guess they also like us and know they won't be eating until 2 hours after they arrive. Do you see a theme here?

The cabbage proved further to be an unfortunate choice. It was slow-cooking in our crockpot and when we came in from the Sukkah, the cabbage had released its full force of odoriferousness. The kids all pronounced the house super-stinky and I had to agree. But our friends seemed to forgive us that too. And it tasted good, despite the smell.

So that brings you up-to-date. It leaves just one thing. The election. We are reading and watching everything said about it. I can't speak for KosherCook, but I guess I think as long as I keep watching, Obama's poll numbers will stay up. Kind of like when we are driving and I don't let myself nod off because I'm afraid KosherCook will fall asleep too (when he's driving - when I'm driving I just go ahead and nap).

I have to say I enjoy the humor that comes from Sarah Palin being on the McCain ticket, though. Not just Tina Fey as Palin - which I love. I started thinking about her foreign policy expertise - being able to see Russia from her window. So I started to look at all the things I could see from my window. I can see the people coming and going from the halfway house across the street, so I will be adding drug treatment counselor to my resume. I can also see birds so I must be an ornithologist... or perhaps a cat.

I can't wait for November 4th.

We Had a "Dutch Wonderful Day"!

We spent the 4th of July at "Dutch Wonderland" in Lancaster, PA. Some wonderful friends of ours had extra passes and invited us along.

Now, I have never been a theme park kind of person. I can't usually stand the crowds, noise and heat. But this place is great. All the rides are geared to kids under 8, there is no annoying carnival music being blared out of every ride (at the same time) and there is a Kosher food concession on the premises.

And everyone who works there says, "Have a Dutch Wonderful Day!" How can you beat that?

Many of the rides are so small and tame that KosherCop and his friend were able to go on alone. And the ones that needed an adult were completely enjoyable despite my aversion to rides. There was only one that I didn't want to go on - the log flume - and that was pretty much only because we had been there all day and the fine drizzle that had been completely tolerable for the first 6 hours, had changed to actual rain. But our friends were kind enough to take KosherCop on with them one last time before we left.

The only ride KosherCop really didn't like was the "Fun Slide." This is a really, really, really tall slide that you have to ride down in a burlap sack. I couldn't bring myself to go up this thing - I had just discovered earlier on the "Sky Ride" cable cars that I can add "fear of heights" to my growing list of previously unknown phobias. But KosherCop was tall enough to slide alone and insistent that he wanted to go on, so off he went. I watched as my little boy carried his giant burlap sack up this very tall narrow set of aluminum steps, while I repeatedly pestered the ride attendant to make sure someone really was at the top to help him get into the sack and make sure he didn't fall down the slide.

I watched as he got into the sack (actually, sort of seated on it with his feet wrapped in the bottom of it) - with the help of an attendant at the top. I watched as he looked around not sure what to do. I watched as he saw the people next to him start themselves off and figure out how to get himself going with his hands. And then I watched as a look of sheer terror crossed my son's face as he flew down this ridiculously tall slide.

He got to the bottom just in time for relief to replace what would have been tears in another second, and then he almost collided with the person on the next slide over as he tried to extricate himself from the sack.

I felt absolutely horrible for letting him go alone and swore I would go with him next time if he wanted to go again. When he came out of the exit I asked him if he had fun and looking shellshocked, he said, "Yes. But I won't be doing that again!" Oh, such a brave sensible boy my KosherCop is!

It also turned out that KosherCook had been there as a kid. His mother told him this just before we went and as we walked around he started recognizing bits here and there - from almost 40 years ago.

Anyway, it was a completely lovely day, not in small part due to the wonderful company of our friends. When it was finally time to go home, KosherCop passed out 3 seconds after we got into the car. We drove back to Maryland in the rain and fog, hoping that the fireworks might be postponed due to weather so maybe we could catch them the next night. To our delight, as we drove East on Interstate 83, fireworks began exploding on either side of us the whole way back. Not only didn't we miss them, but we got to see a dozen more displays than we would have seen back home.

Happy Birthday USA!

A Box of Matzah and Counting

Chag Sameach!

So it's 1:17 am on the third day of Pesach. I have already practically finished the Temptee cream cheese and I have eaten the better part of a box of Matzah today (it's hard to know how much was in the box to begin with since we have about 10 open boxes floating around - but it was mostly full.)

Other than that, this holiday is going rather well. My father arrived despite a full day of airline delays on Wednesday. Despite the usual last minute stress and aggravation, H.'s annual community seder (150 - 600 of our closest friends depending on the day of the week the Seder falls on - this year it was around 150) went off without a hitch. In fact, it was downright delightful. But only because E. was such a sweetheart all evening.

I'm not really sure what has happened to our child, in fact. Over the last week he has undergone some giant developmental leap that includes reasoned arguments, scintillating conversation, excellent behavior, and a willingness to be helpful that, quite frankly, I didn't think I'd see until his mid-thirties. The great public unveiling of this new and improved E. included the discovery that our son had, just as he had insisted, learned all of the Four Questions and was more than ready to stand up on a stage and sing them into a microphone. If that wasn't enough (no pun intended) he was the only volunteer to get up and sing Dayeinu as well. He didn't get cranky or hyper (his Uncle Z's mere presence usual whips him up into a frenzy), but instead acted as the gracious host and offered people food and then decided his job was to go around and see if people were done eating and clear their plates if they were. I don't think I really experienced "kvelling" or "nachus" until that night - I was so proud of him.

Unfortunately, because he went to bed at midnight the first night, he was pretty cranky by the time our families and friends arrived for the second Seder. But, to be fair, E. did basically reserve the right not to be quite that well behaved all of the time. He kept saying, "Sometimes I behave, but sometimes I'm still naughty." Smart kid - don't let those high expectations get in the way of your fun.

Now, however, my short vacation is over and I must return to work. Working during Passover is so much fun. I love answering 10,000 questions all week about what I'm eating - or not eating. This week will be even more fun, since I have a "lunch" meeting on Thursday. They will not be ordering in KLP food - I checked.

My going back to work tomorrow also brings up the point that this blog was actually created for: to discuss the particular trials (and joys) of being a working Jewish Mom while my husband stays at home with the kid. While I go back to work tomorrow, H. will be starting a week of fun-filled, action-packed activities with E. and some of his school friends and their Moms. Since his school is closed all week, they planned a whole bunch of terrific playdates and daytrips - tomorrow is the zoo.

Now, I have been trying to get us to the zoo for 3 years and H. always has an excuse why it isn't a good day to go. So, now E. will be going for the first time since he can talk and I will miss it. These are the times I get really upset about our situation. And what is even more frustrating is that H. either doesn't see these activities as all that much fun, or is unapologetic about my missing them.

Well, perhaps this will pave the way for more and frequent outings to the zoo. Here's hoping everything goes smoothly and H. wants to go back again soon - with me included.

Countdown to Passover

If you had asked me when I first got married, when do I start preparing for Passover, my answer would have been something like "Oh crap! It's Passover again already?"

It's not that I was less observant, or less interested. I wouldn't even say I was less organized - 'cause let's face it - I couldn't be any less organized.

I was, however, less attuned to the cycle of the Jewish year. I always knew what holidays fell during the year, but I didn't know when. They were always sneaking up on me. H. would say, "We should really start making some decisions about Passover." I'd wave him off - yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, we have plenty of time. Then suddenly it would be less than a week before Pesach, all the stores would have run out of chocolate covered macaroons and chocolate chip mandel loaf, and since I would have forgotten to ask for the day(s) before the first seder off from work, I'd be looking at several late nights of deep-cleaning and chometz removal (not to mention thinking up excuses for calling in sick for at least the day of the first seder, since despite the late nights, I'd still be cleaning after the last chometz was burned. Shh. Don't tell.)

Somehow, though, during the past two years, I have learned to remember to consult the Jewish calendar (both the requisite freebie on our kitchen wall and the Outlook calendar at work to which I added the Jewish holidays) ahead of time. This year I marked on the calendar - even before planning for Purim - which days I would request off from work for Pesach. I even sent out a Save the Date email to my family to make sure they could get here for the second seder - at the beginning of March!

I guess to a certain extent you could maybe say I'm more organized also. I did save my planning TO DO lists from last Passover and was actually able to find them for this year. That was pretty amazing. And last year we finally got tired of schlepping the dishes up from the basement for the week, so we moved some things around and found a permanent home for them upstairs.

But really I think it is just a matter of awareness. It has become second nature to look ahead and plan more. Because it was in the forefront of my mind I was actually able to fulfill all four mitzvot for Purim this year: tzedakeh (charity), mishloach manos (gifts of prepared food to friends), seudah (festive meal), and hearing the Megillah (story of Esther) read.

Okay, the only reason I was able to make sholach manos bags for my co-workers was because Chef Boy-Har-lee made hamantaschen ahead of time. And the only reason I got to go to a Seudah and hear the Megillah (the full Megillah - not the puppet version we took E. to on Thursday night) was thanks to this year's odd timing of Purim ending just before Shabbat. Last night we went to a Chabad Hawaiian Purim Seudah/ Shabbat dinner. It was a lot of fun and they did the fastest Megillah reading possibly in the history of man, to get it done before candlelighting.

And so, with Purim behind us, both H. and I woke up this morning, looked at each other and said, "As soon as Shabbat ends we have to start planning for Passover." A warm fuzzy feeling crept over me as I reveled in the feeling of shared values and seven years of learned habits. I remembered how much fun last year's giant second seder was - our biggest ever - with 20 people crammed into our tiny little livingroom, and thought, "If we made that work, this year will be a piece of cake."

...Until H. announced, "Oh, by the way, I invited an extra nine people to the the seder this year."

Good thing we are starting planning so early. I think I know how we can get the couch out of the livingroom...the piano, though, is going to take some serious thought.