For 2010, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated Thursday, September 9th through Friday, September 10th. The following traditional holiday recipes are simple to prepare and are a delicious way to bring families and friends together.
Matzo Ball Soup
During the Exodus from Egypt, the Hebrew people were in such a rush to leave that they did not have enough time to let their bread dough rise (to supply them with food for their travels). They had to make haste so they took the dough with them anyway and baked it in the sun, which produced unleavened bread, now called matzo. Matzo Ball Soup is commonly prepared during Passover, but it can also be prepared for other holidays (such as Rosh Hashanah).
Ingredients for Matzo Balls:
1 cup of matzo meal
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup seltzer water
Dash of black pepper
Ingredients for Broth:
1 whole chicken (approximately 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 onions, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 sprigs of dill
Dash of black pepper
Steps:
1. Put chicken in stockpot and fill with water.
2. Bring chicken to a boil, making sure to remove excess chicken fat from the broth (save this chicken fat for the matzo balls).
3. Add carrots, celery, onions, garlic, dill, and pepper.
4. Simmer for one hour.
5. Remove chicken from the pot.
6. Remove chicken meat from the bones.
7. Return bones to the pot.
8. Simmer for an additional hour.
9. Strain the broth (remember to save the chicken fat for the matzo balls). This broth can be refrigerated for two or three days.
10. In a separate bowl, stir in the eggs, matzo meal, approximately 2 tablespoons of the saved chicken fat, salt, baking powder and seltzer.
11. Refrigerate the mixture for one hour.
12. When you are ready to serve, bring the broth back to a boil.
13. Heat the matzo balls to a warm temperature suitable for eating.
14. Serve the broth into separate serving bowls.
15. Transfer the matzo balls into the serving bowls with the broth.
Challah
Challah is a loaf of bread that is commonly served during Rosh Hashanah as a symbol of eternity and the continuity of God’s creation.
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1 package yeast
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
¾ cup water
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375 °F
2. Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
3. Add oil, eggs and water and mix well
4. Knead dough into a ball.
5. Coat dough ball with oil.
6. Cover dough ball with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
7. Take the dough ball out of the refrigerator and divide into three pieces.
8. Roll the three pieces into long rope-like strings.
9. Braid the three pieces and place on a buttered baking sheet.
10. Bake at 375 °F for 20 to 30 minutes.
Honey Cake
Honey Cake is a delicious dessert that is commonly served during Rosh Hashanah.
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 cup honey
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375 °F
2. Beat eggs for five minutes.
3. Add eggs, honey, brown sugar, vegetable oil, chopped walnuts and cinnamon.
4. Beat mixture for an additional five minutes.
5. Bake at 375 °F for 30 to 40 minutes.
