Tea for two, and two for tea . . . alone!

I know there are plenty of opportunities for a Jewish person to have a culture clash with secular or non-Jewish people. Fodder could come from a variety of lingo (oy vey!), food (gefilte fish), cultural (matchmakers!), geographical (you're from ___ you must know Sara Cohen!), physical (the shnoz), emotional (if you called more often you'd understand).

This week I had one I'd never experienced before. The Baffled Barista. See, the poor guy was just making me some tea (Grande non-fat please!) when there was a hub-bub from the break room. We'd been joking about something funny that had happened in line while I was ordering, so in an atmosphere of joviality he shared that a coworker was celebrating the news that she was expecting.

<<>>

What was he expecting me to say? I have no idea :) Something between indifference to polite smiling. Instead he got the Jewish mother treatment. Poor barista didn't know what hit him.

"Wow! Congratulations!" I beamed. I had known enough not to say mazal tov, my usual reaction to hearing news like this.

He looked shocked. "It's not mine, it's a coworkers."

"We all celebrate news like that. It's part of the Starbucks family celebration, right?" I fumbled.

He gave me his most strategic "you're a crazy lady but I'm in food service so I'm used to dealing with loonies" smile. Oy vey indeed.

See, every celebration in the Jewish people is something we share. If my mom's hair stylist's third cousin's half sister's dog had puppies, I'd say "Mazal tov!" and my excitement would only increase as the proximity of the celebration approached me personally. So my best friend's future engagement would require an ear shattering squeal, lots of jumping, and at least 3 more laugh lines to every person who informed me of the news, from the future-bride herself to any one of the 252 facebook friends we have in common.

We share simchas (celebrations) because we all have a piece of it. We've prayed for the blessing for ourselves and those we know, and at the end of the prayer is usually "and all of the people of Israel." So any time someone has something good, we've prayed for it at one time or another. We've put in the effort, the shared excitement is the reward. At a wedding, bris, engagement, we wish Mazal tov to everyone attending, not just the immediate participants. It's the sense of community we all feel for each other.

I feel bad for putting the poor guy on the spot when he was just trying to slog through his caffeinated shift. Maybe it was mostly because he was male, and a female would have reacted differently safe in the knowledge that I couldn't be mistaking paternity.

I also feel a little bad that there is such detachment from one another that the congratulations can't spill over. In hindsight I remembered the appropriate response "She must be so happy." The singular over the plural.

I know there are plenty of opportunities for a Jewish person to have a culture clash with secular or non-Jewish people. Fodder could come from a variety of lingo (oy vey!), food (gefilte fish), cultural (matchmakers!), geographical (you're from ___ you must know Sara Cohen!), physical (the shnoz), emotional (if you called more often you'd understand).

This week I had one I'd never experienced before. The Baffled Barista. See, the poor guy was just making me some tea (Grande non-fat please!) when there was a hub-bub from the break room. We'd been joking about something funny that had happened in line while I was ordering, so in an atmosphere of joviality he shared that a coworker was celebrating the news that she was expecting.

<<>>

What was he expecting me to say? I have no idea :) Something between indifference to polite smiling. Instead he got the Jewish mother treatment. Poor barista didn't know what hit him.

"Wow! Congratulations!" I beamed. I had known enough not to say mazal tov, my usual reaction to hearing news like this.

He looked shocked. "It's not mine, it's a coworkers."

"We all celebrate news like that. It's part of the Starbucks family celebration, right?" I fumbled.

He gave me his most strategic "you're a crazy lady but I'm in food service so I'm used to dealing with loonies" smile. Oy vey indeed.

See, every celebration in the Jewish people is something we share. If my mom's hair stylist's third cousin's half sister's dog had puppies, I'd say "Mazal tov!" and my excitement would only increase as the proximity of the celebration approached me personally. So my best friend's future engagement would require an ear shattering squeal, lots of jumping, and at least 3 more laugh lines to every person who informed me of the news, from the future-bride herself to any one of the 252 facebook friends we have in common.

We share simchas (celebrations) because we all have a piece of it. We've prayed for the blessing for ourselves and those we know, and at the end of the prayer is usually "and all of the people of Israel." So any time someone has something good, we've prayed for it at one time or another. We've put in the effort, the shared excitement is the reward. At a wedding, bris, engagement, we wish Mazal tov to everyone attending, not just the immediate participants. It's the sense of community we all feel for each other.

I feel bad for putting the poor guy on the spot when he was just trying to slog through his caffeinated shift. Maybe it was mostly because he was male, and a female would have reacted differently safe in the knowledge that I couldn't be mistaking paternity.

I also feel a little bad that there is such detachment from one another that the congratulations can't spill over. In hindsight I remembered the appropriate response "She must be so happy." The singular over the plural.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Cute boots, Unfortunate name

Minding my own business, browsing the Aerosole website looking at the cute sale boots for my tiny feet and athletic calves and I come across these beauts: The Sota Water. Cute brown or black leather with a wide cuff, and named after the litmus test to determine if an accused woman was in fact an adulteress.

Unfortunate mistake? Random pairing of words? Willful use of a misunderstood phrase?

As cute as they are I just can't bring myself to buy them with a name like that!

Minding my own business, browsing the Aerosole website looking at the cute sale boots for my tiny feet and athletic calves and I come across these beauts: The Sota Water. Cute brown or black leather with a wide cuff, and named after the litmus test to determine if an accused woman was in fact an adulteress.

Unfortunate mistake? Random pairing of words? Willful use of a misunderstood phrase?

As cute as they are I just can't bring myself to buy them with a name like that!

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

WWYD? Borrowed toy is broken

Our apartment building has a shared courtyard where everyone keeps their riding toys: bikes, cozy coups, scooters. We have our toys in the corner near our front door and we always return them there when we are finished. The neighbors generally have a pretty open sharing policy,

Today our hand-me-down scooter was there in the corner, or at least most of it. I found part of it in the grass about 200ft away. This means someone borrowed it, broke it, then put it back without saying anything, leaving a note, anything. We aren't in a position to replace it at the moment and I'm part sad and part angry about the whole situation.

My first impulse is to hang a note near our things asking they be returned in the same condition they are borrowed and then with an addendum that whoever broke the scooter please leave $20 in the attached envelope towards a replacement. But I doubt anything would come out of it.

I'd hate to bike lock our belongings since we use other people's toys and not having ours available doesn't seem right. Bringing the toys inside isn't practical.

Anyone have advice? Should I lock the remaining toys? What else can I do besides shake my fist at the failure of communal sharing?

Our apartment building has a shared courtyard where everyone keeps their riding toys: bikes, cozy coups, scooters. We have our toys in the corner near our front door and we always return them there when we are finished. The neighbors generally have a pretty open sharing policy,

Today our hand-me-down scooter was there in the corner, or at least most of it. I found part of it in the grass about 200ft away. This means someone borrowed it, broke it, then put it back without saying anything, leaving a note, anything. We aren't in a position to replace it at the moment and I'm part sad and part angry about the whole situation.

My first impulse is to hang a note near our things asking they be returned in the same condition they are borrowed and then with an addendum that whoever broke the scooter please leave $20 in the attached envelope towards a replacement. But I doubt anything would come out of it.

I'd hate to bike lock our belongings since we use other people's toys and not having ours available doesn't seem right. Bringing the toys inside isn't practical.

Anyone have advice? Should I lock the remaining toys? What else can I do besides shake my fist at the failure of communal sharing?

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Conversations with a Toddler: Intro to Toddler logic

Awa is a 4yo chatterbox. It's genetic, definitely from my side of the family. She can create a lengthy conversation out of thin air, changing topics mid-sentence, firing away like a pinball racing around it's machine. I understand this, I am also like this, it still drives me crazy. It's definitely always good for a laugh.

Lately she has been asking "Tell me all about _____." My boo boo, the dinner, where I went shopping, bugs, pocket lint, lather rinse repeat.

Tonight's conversation began about the days events, meandered into learning about dinner and kosher. Then she hit me with:

"Ima, tell me about the whole world." She says, leaning forward with interest like any good interviewer would.

My response was naturally lots of eye blinking. "That's a big topic with lots to talk about. Where should I start?"

I patted myself on the back for keeping the lines of communication open while simultaneously directing the conversation to a narrower scope.

"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything" Of course, that's logical . . . .

And this is why dinner conversation over sweet and sour hot dogs and rice was about the creation of the world and G-d's plan.

Awa is a 4yo chatterbox. It's genetic, definitely from my side of the family. She can create a lengthy conversation out of thin air, changing topics mid-sentence, firing away like a pinball racing around it's machine. I understand this, I am also like this, it still drives me crazy. It's definitely always good for a laugh.

Lately she has been asking "Tell me all about _____." My boo boo, the dinner, where I went shopping, bugs, pocket lint, lather rinse repeat.

Tonight's conversation began about the days events, meandered into learning about dinner and kosher. Then she hit me with:

"Ima, tell me about the whole world." She says, leaning forward with interest like any good interviewer would.

My response was naturally lots of eye blinking. "That's a big topic with lots to talk about. Where should I start?"

I patted myself on the back for keeping the lines of communication open while simultaneously directing the conversation to a narrower scope.

"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything" Of course, that's logical . . . .

And this is why dinner conversation over sweet and sour hot dogs and rice was about the creation of the world and G-d's plan.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Droolworthy Doodads: Tea charms

As we cough and sputter our way into cold and flu season, I've had reason to unpack another gadget gifted by my mom. Most of the tea bags we have in the house are staple & string free. Great for the environment, not so much for the tea bag retrieval process. Enter the tea charm:

I love jewelry and accessories. It's an obsession. And isn't this just the cutest thing? Picture it hanging out of a dainty Ikea teacup, or more likely: my enormous Walmart tankard. I need more of them, not just so I can accessorize my mug, that would be lame, right? It's for when I'm hosting, really! A quick google turns up awfully few purchasing options, but mom found one by cruising TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross, she can do it again!

What would my British in-laws think if they found this gracing the side of a cuppa? Hubsters has seen me stir tea with a knife, at this point nothing would shock them.

As we cough and sputter our way into cold and flu season, I've had reason to unpack another gadget gifted by my mom. Most of the tea bags we have in the house are staple & string free. Great for the environment, not so much for the tea bag retrieval process. Enter the tea charm:

I love jewelry and accessories. It's an obsession. And isn't this just the cutest thing? Picture it hanging out of a dainty Ikea teacup, or more likely: my enormous Walmart tankard. I need more of them, not just so I can accessorize my mug, that would be lame, right? It's for when I'm hosting, really! A quick google turns up awfully few purchasing options, but mom found one by cruising TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross, she can do it again!

What would my British in-laws think if they found this gracing the side of a cuppa? Hubsters has seen me stir tea with a knife, at this point nothing would shock them.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Loving lentils: Vegan Couscous & Lentil Curry Soup

My obsession with lentils began after the birth of my first child. The pulses in my diet had been confined to gandules (pigeon peas) and I was surprised how much I loved the red lentil side dish I received from a friend with an after birth meal.

Now lentils are my go to meat substitute, and add-in every time I make rice or soup.

This recipe was born of reverse engineering a delicious instant cup of soup I bought at Whole Foods. It was tasty, spicy, and most importantly kept me full for hours.

In Israel I could find red or green lentils, but here in the US so far I've really mainly seen green. I find them mostly interchangeable, although red tend to dissolve more when cooking where green keep their shape.

Here's what we had for dinner tonight:

1/8 cup organic split pea mix

3/4 cup green lentils

2 Tblsp crushed garlic

1 carrot sliced

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 Tblsp crushed tomatoes

2 Tblsp cumin powder

3 Tblsp curry powder

Water - at least twice the level of the previous ingredients (could use veggie broth)

Combine all in a pot, and simmer until the carrots & peas are tender, about 40mins. Check the broth level, if the soup has thickened too much add more water or broth at this point.

Before serving add 1/4-1/2 cup of couscous, stir, and cover for 5 mins. The couscous really reduces the amount of water in the soup giving it a thicker consistency.

I find soup to be very forgiving and throw any combination of vegetables I have on hand in, sometimes it's nice to have a simple, filling soup though.

My obsession with lentils began after the birth of my first child. The pulses in my diet had been confined to gandules (pigeon peas) and I was surprised how much I loved the red lentil side dish I received from a friend with an after birth meal.

Now lentils are my go to meat substitute, and add-in every time I make rice or soup.

This recipe was born of reverse engineering a delicious instant cup of soup I bought at Whole Foods. It was tasty, spicy, and most importantly kept me full for hours.

In Israel I could find red or green lentils, but here in the US so far I've really mainly seen green. I find them mostly interchangeable, although red tend to dissolve more when cooking where green keep their shape.

Here's what we had for dinner tonight:

1/8 cup organic split pea mix

3/4 cup green lentils

2 Tblsp crushed garlic

1 carrot sliced

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 Tblsp crushed tomatoes

2 Tblsp cumin powder

3 Tblsp curry powder

Water - at least twice the level of the previous ingredients (could use veggie broth)

Combine all in a pot, and simmer until the carrots & peas are tender, about 40mins. Check the broth level, if the soup has thickened too much add more water or broth at this point.

Before serving add 1/4-1/2 cup of couscous, stir, and cover for 5 mins. The couscous really reduces the amount of water in the soup giving it a thicker consistency.

I find soup to be very forgiving and throw any combination of vegetables I have on hand in, sometimes it's nice to have a simple, filling soup though.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

What are basic skills needed in the kitchen?

I read and interesting article over at theKitchn.com by Emma Christensen about what basic skills all cooks should have, with Anthony Bourdain's POV from his book Medium Raw. Personally I can do all of the tasks with varying degrees of success, apart from cleaning a fish, something I've never learned to do. Here's his list (from theKitchn.com) :

• Chopping an onion
• Making an omelet
• Roasting a chicken
• The correct way to grill and rest a steak
• Cooking vegetables to desired doneness
• Making a vinaigrette
• Shop for fresh produce
• Buying a fish, cleaning it, and making it
• Roasting meat
• Roasting and mashing potatoes
• Braising meats and vegetables
• What to do with bones (a.k.a. How to make stock)

Emma adds baking cookies, bread, and a birthday cake, which I heartily agree should be basic. It's quite often I hear people claim the can cook but not bake. Some things are just basic skills, just like English Majors need some small proficiency in math to graduate. Other commentators mentioned adjusting the list for regional and dietary needs. This made me think more about what the basic skills I use day to day as a mother in a kosher kitchen. Living in Israel taught me some things I hadn't done in America, and I know my "basics" are more complicated for it. I'd add:

• make homemade pasta sauce
• eyeball portion size before and after cooking
• Read a recipe
• keep laws of Kashrus (Jewish dietary laws)
• cook in a crockpot
• make at least one vegetarian main dish
• make a balanced, nutritious menu
• fry an egg, over easy
• cook dried grains or beans (from the comments at theKitchn.com)
• use common cooking & spice substitutions

My grandmother would lament my inability to cut a whole chicken up, something considered basic in her day, while my mother-in-law is appalled that I can't make a good cuppa (tea that is) or kasher my own meat by salting.

On the other side, I've met people who subsist on instant food of all types and was recently in line at Target between two different families with carts piled high with microwave dinners.

What cooking skills do you think are necessary in general, or for your lifestyle?

I read and interesting article over at theKitchn.com by Emma Christensen about what basic skills all cooks should have, with Anthony Bourdain's POV from his book Medium Raw. Personally I can do all of the tasks with varying degrees of success, apart from cleaning a fish, something I've never learned to do. Here's his list (from theKitchn.com) :

• Chopping an onion
• Making an omelet
• Roasting a chicken
• The correct way to grill and rest a steak
• Cooking vegetables to desired doneness
• Making a vinaigrette
• Shop for fresh produce
• Buying a fish, cleaning it, and making it
• Roasting meat
• Roasting and mashing potatoes
• Braising meats and vegetables
• What to do with bones (a.k.a. How to make stock)

Emma adds baking cookies, bread, and a birthday cake, which I heartily agree should be basic. It's quite often I hear people claim the can cook but not bake. Some things are just basic skills, just like English Majors need some small proficiency in math to graduate. Other commentators mentioned adjusting the list for regional and dietary needs. This made me think more about what the basic skills I use day to day as a mother in a kosher kitchen. Living in Israel taught me some things I hadn't done in America, and I know my "basics" are more complicated for it. I'd add:

• make homemade pasta sauce
• eyeball portion size before and after cooking
• Read a recipe
• keep laws of Kashrus (Jewish dietary laws)
• cook in a crockpot
• make at least one vegetarian main dish
• make a balanced, nutritious menu
• fry an egg, over easy
• cook dried grains or beans (from the comments at theKitchn.com)
• use common cooking & spice substitutions

My grandmother would lament my inability to cut a whole chicken up, something considered basic in her day, while my mother-in-law is appalled that I can't make a good cuppa (tea that is) or kasher my own meat by salting.

On the other side, I've met people who subsist on instant food of all types and was recently in line at Target between two different families with carts piled high with microwave dinners.

What cooking skills do you think are necessary in general, or for your lifestyle?

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest