Any special celebrations for the sweetest holiday in these troubled times, here and abroad?
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Shana Tovah!
We are hosting this year as we usually do - a small group of local friends who don’t have family nearby.
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DS is going to be shofar blower at his Hillel! But we are going to be empty nesters. Yesterday I baked apple cake, pumpkin cake, and brownies. I bought the challah 
The problem with apple cake is that it’s such a potchke to do all that preparation and then when you’re done, it’s not brownies…
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My one friend is bringing apple cake and other desserts, another soup. I did the brisket yesterday and will do the rest of the main course foods today. Challah and chopped liver on order from favorite deli.
Sharing: I love this recipe and so does everyone who eats the brisket!
https://www.chabad.org/recipes/recipe_cdo/aid/2635033/jewish/Miriams-Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Rosh-Hashanah-Brisket.htm
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It looks wonderful. I adore brisket. However, DH is a vegetarian, so I only make fleishigs when the kids or guests will be there. For tonight, I made a “chicken” pot pie, i.e. with real cream but fake chicken. It’s actually delicious, particularly in a butter-based pie crust.
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Anyone have a really easy recipe for dessert with apples? My family is in MA and we will celebrate on Saturday–taking the bus from NY that morning.
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Wishing everyone a healthy and happy year!
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Wishing all a happy and healthy New Year!
It’s just the two of us. Yesterday I made honey cake; today will be chopped liver. Husband made carrot and parsnip soup.
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The problem with apple desserts is that typically you’d have to do the not-easy part of coring/peeling/slicing them. You could make applesauce of the type where you cook the whole apples and then put through a food mill/strainer?
That said, the easiest fruit dessert I know is what I call “FAAST" crisp:
F - fruit, peeled and chopped
A - alcohol, choose a wine or liqueur you like that matches
A - acid, like lime/lemon juice or perhaps balsamic vinegar
S - sweetener, choose one that goes nicely
T - thickener, my favorite is tapioca but my kids like agar (vegan gelatin)
Basically, you microwave all of the above together until it is all cooked, and put it in a pan.
Then mix together a smashed stick of butter, about a cup or cup and a half of oats, and maybe half a cup of brown sugar. Sprinkle that on top, and bake the whole thing at 350 F until it looks done.
With apples, I’d suggest white wine or maybe Sabra as the alcohol, lemon juice as the acid, brown sugar or honey as the sweetener, and tapioca as the thickener.
(My favorite was once with plums, limoncello, lime juice, maple syrup, tapioca)
Friends have invited us to their Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday. I’ve never been to one (I’m not Jewish–I’m a Unitarian). Is there anything special I should bring? Advice?
Best advice: go hungry.
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Nothing you need to bring but a small bouquet and/or a jar of gourmet honey (not hot honey) wouldn’t go amiss.
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I was about to post the exact same!
totally agree about interesting honeys being a perfect gift (maybe check for kosher certification). Also, kosher wine could be OK
It’s worth mentioning that most western Jews (and Israeli Jews!) don’t follow Kosher rules in their diets and households.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.
I don’t think kosher gourmet honey is easy to find…or is it? Wine is easier, at least if you have a BevMo or similar nearby.
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Bring your appetite!
All pure bee honey is kosher. (not kosher for passover, but that’s a far off worry). Anyone who keeps kosher knows this, so just stay away from a weird mixture and you’ll be fine.
But totally fine to show up empty handed and write a nice note afterwards; maybe a donation to your host’s favorite charity?
If I’m having a crowd (which I am) it’s easier to appreciate the note that arrives in a week than it is to track “who brought the wine, who brought the honey” as you’re greeting people!
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Shana Tova. Tonight we go to friends house and tomorrow 25 come to us.
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