On Friday we had Freckles, with her two kids, and HerbiFaerie, with her two kids, over to share a special celebration. Celebrating and sharing our holidays with friends is a new tradition. I want to celebrate more of our holidays and it's just so much fun to share it with our closest friends.
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| Princess' Passover toys |
I read the story of Passover while the kids colored . . .
. . . and then the kids made seder plates of their own. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take any photos of the crafting extravaganza.
On Saturday evening, my sister came over for our Passover dinner. It was not much of a seder (I hope to do that next year) but we did have some non-traditional, traditional foods. We had grain-free gefilte fish with horseradish, charoset, celery dipped in salt water -- all symbolic foods. We couldn't eat matzah because it has gluten, but dinner was delicious and we talked about the meaning of the foods.
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| The Four Questions |
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| Our Seder Plate |
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| Chicken Soup with Natzah balls |
What great games/toys/crafts! Very cool. And what is in a natzah ball? ;)
ReplyDeleteA natzah ball is made from almond flour, eggs, chicken fat, salt and pepper. :) So not matzah!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, that sound good! I love good matzah (all those years in Chicago with the BEST food!!!!). But I have been cutting back on gluten a bit. Must make some!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Philly girl, lots of yummy Jewish foods there! Here's the recipe:
ReplyDeleteNatzah Balls
Ingredients:
2 eggs (pastured if possible)
2 -3 Tablespoon chicken fat (this is a HUGE factor in the taste)
1.5 – 2 cups almond flour (from blanched almonds, or almond flour)
1.5 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Instructions:
Mix eggs, chicken fat, salt and pepper with hand mixer for two minutes. Add almond flour and mix until the batter is stiff. The batter must be stiff. If it is not stiff, use more almond flour.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes - 4 hours
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt
Make small balls about 1 — 1.5 inches in diameter. If it is sticky, just wet your hands a little.
Drop the balls into the boiling water, cover and simmer for 45 minutes
Using a slotted spoon transfer the balls directly to soup, or let cool and freeze.
When ready to serve, let the matzoh balls rest in chicken broth to soak up some of the flavors.
This recipe makes about 20 matzoh balls
Sounds great! Except for matzah (a big except!), we were totally GF the whole week, because we don't eat "gebrocks" ie mixtures of matzah (even ground up matzah flour) with water. So all our cakes, cookies, soups, noodles etc were GF.
ReplyDeleteThey sell all kinds of amazing things, if you're anywhere near a big Jewish community. I know of celiacs who stock up for the whole year at Pesach time. I personally bought GF matzah-ball mix, wagon-wheel pasta, breading mix, crispy soup croutons, breakfast cereal and chow mein noodles.
They also sell GF (ie "gebrocks-free") cake and cookie mixes, plus frozen blintzes and a world of other products. They are not all amazingly delicious, but there is quite a selection.
As for matzah, what about oat or rye? I know there are issues because a) oats could be contaminated with wheat and b) some celiacs can't have oat things either. But there ARE other types of matzah out there beyond the basic wheat, I believe even by mail order if you get your order in early.
I just had 2 gluten-full bagels and am heading to bed!
p.s. I am coveting that wooden Seder set...
ReplyDeleteI love that you share your traditions on the blog, I'm learning so much about them. I just LOVE Princess' Passover toys...especially the matzah - too cute.
ReplyDeleteYes, Jennifer, there is GF (gluten free) matzah out there, but it's ridiculously expensive. Like $25 for 4 pieces. Crazy! I may make some next year. I really need to start preparing well in advance. It will be a splurge for me, as I've given up all grains.
ReplyDeleteThat wooden Seder set is really cool, isn't it?! Princess loves it and plays with it a lot each year when we bring it out.
I love sharing our traditions with everyone, too, Sheri! Although our traditions are not at all religious, it gives people a peek inside our world.
All of these foods are very foreign to me but sound and look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea to share your traditions with Princess and friends.
Cate, we'll just have to have you for Passover one year. ;-)
ReplyDelete