Kavanot: Simanim 5783

סימנא מילתא היא

ת׳היה ש׳נת ”פָּנ“ים ג׳דולים

Kiddush

Bartenura Moscato D’Asti

this is the year we all “moscato”-long with each other

apples in honey
dates
pomegranate

because Rosh Hashana

gummy fish heads

because real fish heads are gross

whirled peas

that this may be a year of “world peace”. My contribution to כלל ישראל

dried cherries and blueberries

may we “cherry”sh our family and friends, and may this be a “berry” good year

Drinks

Coca Cola

may this year be קולה“ טוב”

iced tea

Rabbi Silberstein (from Bais Abe) had a nice דבר תורה. In פרשת נצבים, instead of employing the usual verb for establishing a covenant (לִכרוֹת בְּרִית, lit. “to cut a covenant”), the Torah says לְעׇבְרְךָ בִּבְרִית ה׳ אֱלֹקֶיךָ “for you to cross over into the covenant of Hashem your G-d.” To be a בן ברית one has to be an עברי, literally one on the other side, to go against the values of the broader society and remain loyal to the Torah. So how does a Jew make tea? “He brews” it. (Full disclosure: the bad pun is my fault, not Rabbi Silberstein’s)

Heavens Chocolate Liqueur

for the adults who want to get to heaven early

Dips

(they’re not dips; they are spreads—may we spread joy and peace throughout the world)

hummus (commercial)

because “hummus” where the heart is

red onion/date jam

may our children be “red” good shidduchim and go on productive “dates”. And may we live this year בצל“ כנפי השכינה”.

mayonnaise with cherries (spread on challah)

Meira’s contribution this year: “Mayo” have a “cherry” “challah”-day. I think for next year I will make a cherry aioli (mayo-garlic-dried cherries-touch of sriracha)

Simanim soup

butternut squash, with fenugreek

Amazon sells dried fenugreek seeds

Roast vegetables

carrot
golden beets

Artscroll says so

celery root
grapes

that’s this year’s “raisin celery”. And may we have a “grape” year

Quinoa with leeks and mushrooms

Quinoa, mushrooms

May this be a year in which we “quinoa”-tch our children and grandchildren grow, with “mushroom” for אהבת ה׳ and אהבת הבריות

leeks

leeks are on the traditional list

Main

Bagels, lox and cream cheese

a real fish. But no head. Bagels are לזכר אבי מורי, who would point out that we lived on the north side of Barrier Island, by the “bay” (that’s what everyone called it; really Reynolds Channel). So those birds in the air weren’t seagulls; they were bagels.

Shana tova everyone!

Recipes

Whirled Peas

Take a bag of sugar snap peas. Whirl them around your head (it’s practice for kapparot). You were expecting some fancy recipe?

Red Onion/Date Jam

In a large skillet, heat on medium:

2 tablespoons oil

Sauté until translucent:

4 red onions, thinly sliced

Cook until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes.

Add:

1 cup chopped dates
1 cup sweet red wine
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Bring to a boil, then simmer on low until thick and syrupy, stirring occasionally, about one hour. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cool.

Butternut Squash/Fenugreek soup

In a 4-quart pot, heat on high:

3 tablespoons oil

Sauté until translucent:

4 onions, cubed

Continue sautéing until starting to caramelize, stirring occasionally, about twenty minutes.

Add:

2 tablespoons minced garlic

Stir and cook for a minute more

Add:

2 cups water
2 tablespoons crushed fenugreek
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pareve ranch dressing mix

Stir, bring to a boil and deglaze the pot.

Add:

2 medium butternut squash, about 5 pounds, cubed
3 cups water

Stir. Cover and simmer over low heat until very soft (at least an hour; I leave this on the stove and get back to it whenever I get a chance)

Puree with hand blender.

Add:

2 cups almond milk

Puree with hand blender at high speed.

If rewarming, stir constantly to make sure it doesn’t scorch.

Note for fenugreek: I got the dried seeds from Amazon, soaked them in water overnight, drained then toasted in a 1-quart pan on medium heat until dried and slightly browner, then crushed with a mortar and pestle. They were still moist enough that they didn’t grind to a powder, just mushed.

Roasted vegetables

Heat oven to 425.

Cube:

3 beets (golden beets are better, since the red gets over everything, but I couldn’t find them this year)
1 celery root
3 carrots
2 dozen grapes

Toss with:

2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Sprinkles of parsley and rosemary to taste

Spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

(The grapes burned at 30 minutes. I tossed the vegetable with some raisins. Next year, take them out at 20 minutes)

Quinoa with Leeks and Mushrooms

Sara makes this.

Prepare according to package directions:

1 cup quinoa

Slice thinly:

2 leeks (green parts included, but cut off the very fibrous ends)
16 ounces white mushrooms

Heat over medium heat:

2 tablespoons oil

Add leeks and mushrooms (there is too much stuff in the pan to call this sautéing). Season with salt and pepper (about 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper) to taste.

Continue to cook until vegetables are very soft and liquid has evaporated.

Add to quinoa. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Serve warm.

שנה טובה ומתוקה!