it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. it is indeed a stormy sunday. we have been enduring unseasonably warm weather as of late. everyone us sick. I got hit with the flu last week. I was able to prepare three Chanukah meals for the yeshiva and then I broke down. it was awful. I was feverish, nauseous, in pain and ravenous at the same time. I lost my voice. I babysat for the kids, who were on vacation, while I lay in bed waiting to die. I thought that perhaps flu shots wasn't such a bad idea after all. last year I got the flu and stayed ill for nearly three months.
I didn't go to work all last week. I only went outside to walk the dog. a couple of times I thought that I might be having a heart attack. I went down to the supermarket one morning to buy treats for Chanukah and had to cab it home. I felt like I might collapse outside. the supermarket is a whole five minutes from here. I am still coughing and straining to spit up a bit of phlegm. I wasn't dressed the entire week.
I thought about staying in today. the yeshiva called to ask me to come in. the other cook is at the hospital today dealing with the removal of a stent in her urethra. that means I need to cook both meals today. I pray that I won't collapse. I just threw in a small load of laundry. it is really miserable outside. I will cab it to and back from work today. I didn't really sleep last night. I passed out during the day. I watched friends' reruns to about 6:00 a.m.
I took the dog to the corner at 7:00 a.m. it was miserable outside so I came right home. I left the porch door open if he needs to relieve himself. I don't really care if he pishes in the house. I called my son to get a lift to work. today is his birthday. he turns 31. I bought him a small Nivea shaving kit for men and a blueberry cheesecake. my grandson didn't much care for the cake. they invited me to come for Shabbat. I absolutely couldn't make it out. I had food in the freezer so I had plenty to eat.
I took a headache pill which made it easier to relax. I read a lot of the saul bellow novel, 'humboldts' gift'. it is an amazing book but very deep. I ate too much as I have been doing lately. usually, one loses weight after the flu. not me. I am so nervous about going to work today. I hope I don't relapse.
it is 5:00 p.m. and I just got back from work. I only did 5 1/2 hours today on my feet. I didn't cough much and I had the stamina to make two meals. the kitchen was trashed from Shabbat. I had tons of pots to scrub and huge plastic tubs to wash out , too. I made a big pot of buckwheat groats, sweet potato and carrot soup, a squash soufflé, a sweet noodle kugel and an Israeli salad for lunch. I did the rest of the pots and plastic bins and then made dinner.
I made 2 trays of shephard's pie. I just used chopped meat and corn for the filling. I made a huge pot of rice but I was too tired to stay longer to make another salad. there was some leftover for lunch. I left out the leftover kugel and soup for them to nash. I cleaned the stovetop and the floor and I fled. it was warmer than this morning and I only got a bit wet while I waited for the bus. I think there was enough food made for them.
it's 9:00 p.m. now in the holy city of safed. just got back from the pub steak house. these guys really know how to live. the kids devoured skewers of steak like little carnivores. I demanded a bowl of soup. I got an enormous serving of lentil soup. it was wonderful. I also tasted Carpaccio for the first time served on garlic toasts. I've seen it on the cooking shows. I didn't really want meat. I truly enjoyed the wild rice dish, the string beans in teriyaki sauce, the home fries and fresh salad. I was really stuffed. I hadn't been to this pub in years. it was quite a treat.
I don't know if I am needed for a double shift tomorrow. I will play it by ear. my son wants to go out to a fancy meat restaurant in an hour. it is across the street form the yeshiva. oh well..... I could really go for a good bowl of hot soup. we'll see.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Happy Chanukah
it is 7:30 in the holy city of safed. tonight is the first night of Chanukah. I invited the kids to come for a party. I do this every year and I am disappointed every time. I rushed home from work about an hour ago. I finished frying up about 74 3 inch latkes for the guys and left. I called my son to say I would like to start around 6:00 p.m. I got up at 7:00 a.m. and started cooking. I made sweet potato latkes, beet latkes, and cottage cheese latkes. I also made a chestnut soup. the daughter-in-law likes chestnuts. I made greek donuts with yogurt. I cut up veggies and feta cheese to make a greek salad. I also bought sweet potato mini raviolis. I am sick. I have lost my voice and feel horrible. I am no longer in the mood for a party.
I ran around town buying little surprise gifts for everyone and went food shopping twice. I'm sure at this point that the latkes are dried out. I do not understand why 6:00 p.m. becomes 8:00 p.m. I am tired and my throat and head hurt. why does the daughter-in-law choose to clean her house while I am waiting for them to come over. they are going away for Shabbat and invited me to join them. I declined their gracious offer. I need to rest and be quiet.
I invited a few friends to come over on Thursday evening. it is the ninth anniversary of my mother's passing. I am still not communicating with my sister in safed. it is pretty odd. I have never not spoken to her before a parent's yirtseit. oh well, it is what it is.
I sent Chanukah email cards to all of my special friends. my favorite one is a dog singing a Chanukah song. I am a bit annoyed that the kids aren't here yet. while I was online they arrived. my son was disappointed that I didn't make the regular white potato latkes. my daughter-n-law got a stomach ache from all the fried foods. she suffers from the pylori bug. the kids ate very little and wanted to see the prizes. I did get to quiz them on Chanukah. the parents were on their cells and not really paying attention.
I tried playing dreidel with the kids but they started fighting over chocolate coins. by then I was too sick to deal. I think this will be my last attempt at a Chanukah party. my grandson was disappointed with the bey blade toy I bought for him. I need to watch them tomorrow afternoon. I need to, also, fry up about 50 turkey schnitzels tomorrow. I got a great deal of help today from the other cook. she peeled and processed the 30 potatoes using the funky food processor. all I had to do was fry those suckers up. I used three frying pans at once.
I wonder if I will make it to work tomorrow. I had to take a cab this afternoon. I know that I'm sick but the house is freezing. it was summerlike this morning. I left for work without a coat. it was rather calm and then suddenly it became Antarctica like. I am sitting in front of a heater right now. I do not have the strength to walk the dog tonight. every man or dog for themselves. my friend's dog makes in the kitchen all the time.
yesterday I tore the house apart and did a serious cleaning. I didn't spare the buckets of water. it took me a few hours. I even returned the empty beer bottles to the supermarket. I set up the chanukiahs early in the day. I did my thing and hopefully that's it. maybe tomorrow we can get a pizza for the kids. who knows?
I ran around town buying little surprise gifts for everyone and went food shopping twice. I'm sure at this point that the latkes are dried out. I do not understand why 6:00 p.m. becomes 8:00 p.m. I am tired and my throat and head hurt. why does the daughter-in-law choose to clean her house while I am waiting for them to come over. they are going away for Shabbat and invited me to join them. I declined their gracious offer. I need to rest and be quiet.
I invited a few friends to come over on Thursday evening. it is the ninth anniversary of my mother's passing. I am still not communicating with my sister in safed. it is pretty odd. I have never not spoken to her before a parent's yirtseit. oh well, it is what it is.
I sent Chanukah email cards to all of my special friends. my favorite one is a dog singing a Chanukah song. I am a bit annoyed that the kids aren't here yet. while I was online they arrived. my son was disappointed that I didn't make the regular white potato latkes. my daughter-n-law got a stomach ache from all the fried foods. she suffers from the pylori bug. the kids ate very little and wanted to see the prizes. I did get to quiz them on Chanukah. the parents were on their cells and not really paying attention.
I tried playing dreidel with the kids but they started fighting over chocolate coins. by then I was too sick to deal. I think this will be my last attempt at a Chanukah party. my grandson was disappointed with the bey blade toy I bought for him. I need to watch them tomorrow afternoon. I need to, also, fry up about 50 turkey schnitzels tomorrow. I got a great deal of help today from the other cook. she peeled and processed the 30 potatoes using the funky food processor. all I had to do was fry those suckers up. I used three frying pans at once.
I wonder if I will make it to work tomorrow. I had to take a cab this afternoon. I know that I'm sick but the house is freezing. it was summerlike this morning. I left for work without a coat. it was rather calm and then suddenly it became Antarctica like. I am sitting in front of a heater right now. I do not have the strength to walk the dog tonight. every man or dog for themselves. my friend's dog makes in the kitchen all the time.
yesterday I tore the house apart and did a serious cleaning. I didn't spare the buckets of water. it took me a few hours. I even returned the empty beer bottles to the supermarket. I set up the chanukiahs early in the day. I did my thing and hopefully that's it. maybe tomorrow we can get a pizza for the kids. who knows?
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
I'm Still Standing
it is 8:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I just got back from taking tiny, the medium sized dog, for his second walk. the first one at 7:00 a.m. was uneventful, if you get what I mean. I did two shifts at the yeshiva on Tuesday and Wednesday. I survived. yesterday, I fried up about 70 huge turkey schnitzels. I used up three bags of breadcrumbs and then hit the precious bag of corn meal. I should have just added a bag of flour from the start. oh well....
the other cook, who designs the meal plans, expected the schnitzels to cover two evening meals. however, yesterday was a chabad festive evening. it was the commemoration of the liberation of the founder of chabad chassidus thought, the alter rebbe, from Russian jail. every year they make quite a big megilah about this. there is quite a lot of vodka to be had at this time. I wonder what shape the guys will be in this morning. in the past, the guys were quite hung-over and missed breakfast. I hope it doesn't make them more hungry.
the manager of the yeshiva told me to serve up all of the schnitzels and come up with something else for tonight's meal. they must have had a food orgy last night. or perhaps, not. these guys can really eat. I also made a huge sweet noodle kugel and pot of rice to boot. I was supposed to make green beans too but I gave up trying. I was frying three schnitzels at a time in two small fry pans for about two hours. I used the egg cartons to blot out the excess oil. I didn't have paper towels. the stove top got trashed. I stayed an extra half hour to clean it. I did manage to cut up veggies to make a crude salad.
I baked a chocolate cake the night before and froze it to keep it fresh. for lunch I made a pot of thick split pea soup, a tray of 13 pounds of cooked potatoes, a huge bulgur salad, a tuna salad with smashed 30 hard cooked eggs, a tomato and chick pea salad and pita chips. there was hardly anything left. these are 25 of the hungriest kids around. I was almost ready to hand over the kugel, too, but I resisted. I need to get the grandkids today so I will go in around noontime. I am just going to make another two shephard's pies for dinner. it's just another 6 kilos of potatoes to peel, cook up and mash. I have a bit of turkey schnitzel to throw into the pie with the 5 pounds of chopped meat. I will also make the green beans as a side dish.
I hope the cook will not be disturbed that I didn't exactly follow her meal plans. I tried. but I was thwarted by the manager each day. I am making Shabbat meals for the kids once again. I guess they don't want me to be alone. I will not do it as elaborate as last week. I need to get to town early to buy treats and eggs and a small piece of meat to make yet another, cholent. meanwhile, winter has hit Israel. it's cold and rainy and dark.
the other cook, who designs the meal plans, expected the schnitzels to cover two evening meals. however, yesterday was a chabad festive evening. it was the commemoration of the liberation of the founder of chabad chassidus thought, the alter rebbe, from Russian jail. every year they make quite a big megilah about this. there is quite a lot of vodka to be had at this time. I wonder what shape the guys will be in this morning. in the past, the guys were quite hung-over and missed breakfast. I hope it doesn't make them more hungry.
the manager of the yeshiva told me to serve up all of the schnitzels and come up with something else for tonight's meal. they must have had a food orgy last night. or perhaps, not. these guys can really eat. I also made a huge sweet noodle kugel and pot of rice to boot. I was supposed to make green beans too but I gave up trying. I was frying three schnitzels at a time in two small fry pans for about two hours. I used the egg cartons to blot out the excess oil. I didn't have paper towels. the stove top got trashed. I stayed an extra half hour to clean it. I did manage to cut up veggies to make a crude salad.
I baked a chocolate cake the night before and froze it to keep it fresh. for lunch I made a pot of thick split pea soup, a tray of 13 pounds of cooked potatoes, a huge bulgur salad, a tuna salad with smashed 30 hard cooked eggs, a tomato and chick pea salad and pita chips. there was hardly anything left. these are 25 of the hungriest kids around. I was almost ready to hand over the kugel, too, but I resisted. I need to get the grandkids today so I will go in around noontime. I am just going to make another two shephard's pies for dinner. it's just another 6 kilos of potatoes to peel, cook up and mash. I have a bit of turkey schnitzel to throw into the pie with the 5 pounds of chopped meat. I will also make the green beans as a side dish.
I hope the cook will not be disturbed that I didn't exactly follow her meal plans. I tried. but I was thwarted by the manager each day. I am making Shabbat meals for the kids once again. I guess they don't want me to be alone. I will not do it as elaborate as last week. I need to get to town early to buy treats and eggs and a small piece of meat to make yet another, cholent. meanwhile, winter has hit Israel. it's cold and rainy and dark.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Hussling
it is 10:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I got up at 5:30 a.m. and my cooking contest, 'my kitchen rules' was blasting away. I had turned it on at 12:30 a.m. but I must have passed out. these days I fall asleep pretty early. the telllie doesn't get turned off. I watched the show and then took 'tiny' the medium sized dog for a quick walk. he isn't so glad to be home alone and has started chewing the mattresses again. he destroyed my two best flannel sheets that I use on the double bed. I woke up the other night in front of the computer. I had actually passed out online. it was 9:30 p.m.
last night we had a birthday party for my granddaughter downstairs. I don't know why but I voluntarily went out and bought all of the party goods. it cost a small fortune. it was a princess theme. I ran to the supermarket on Wednesday morning and did a proper food shopping. I bought tons of olive oil for lighting the chanukiah. Chanukah is right around the corner. I also bought 4 new laser dreidels for the kids. I bought tons of canola oil and potatoes to fry up latkes and most of the ingredients to make a cheesecake. it has become very popular to eat dairy foods on Chanukah.
I filled up the freezer and pantry. I bought cleaning supplies. I paid my electric, water and real estate tax bills. I went downstairs and cleaned the huge laundry room which doubles as a party room, the stairs, hallway and bathroom. I spent about three hours on it. I schlepped down both plastic tables and about 16 chairs from the upstairs courtyard. I also washed them all with the hose. I cut out some pix of a princess and her coach from a coloring book and scotched taped them to the cabinets. I hung up a few birthday banners. of course, everything was pink motif.
I took a photo magnet of my granddaughter and put it on the outside entrance door. of course, I taped a small cut out of a crown to her head and then taped a small cut out of a 6 to the top of the crown. I then taped a cut out of a birthday cake under her face. I get pretty caught up on my themes. the Sephardi grandma made a beautiful pink and white birthday cake and a vat of homemade couscous with veggie soup. I was tired from schlepping but she did the hard work. as usual, I played hostess and made the hot drinks for everyone. I always feel like such a phony.
the party was just for family. the five little cousins ran around like wild Indians. the three boys had bey blades, the latest craze in Israel. I straightened up my house on Thursday before I went to town and work. I came in early so that I could come home in time for the party which was called for 6:30 p.m. I got up early and ran to the local bakery to buy jelly filled fried donuts which are popular around Chanukah time. my friends were returning from overseas and requested them. I had gone to their house on Wednesday before work, to bring fruit, veggies, eggs, and some dairy products.
I made a vat of macaroni and meat sauce for the 24 yeshiva guys, a monster sized squash and mushroom soufflé and a huge chunky Israeli salad. my hands are trashed form work. I have calluses, blisters and burns and one of my thumbs is infected. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. before I went to work I spent 3 hours cooking for Shabbat. the kids asked to come again. they were here last week, too. I figured that I must have filled up the fridge for a reason. I still have to make a cholent, and a few salads. last week I had to pick up the kids in town from school. I did the floors and ran.
last week we took the school bus home and we returned at !:00 p.m. candle lighting was at 4:00 p.m. I had done double shifts at the yeshiva all week and I was wrecked. I had no time to cook for Shabbat before Friday. I managed to make fish, liver, chicken wings, rice, mashed potatoes, meatballs and cholent. I only had enough time to make two salads. I made a slaw with white cabbage, cranberries and walnuts and a green salad. needless to say, it was a bit of a disappointment. it was also, the kids anniversary and I couldn't find a small non dairy cake anywhere. I bought a few cream puffs but no one liked them. I felt like a loser. this week I don't have to pick up the kids and I might just have enough time to make a banana loaf cake. I have leftover birthday cake for the daytime.
I do have to wash the floors but I don't feel under any real pressure. I am truly tired and my body aches. I have pain in my lower back and both shoulders. I ran to town after work yesterday, to buy snacks for Shabbat at a certain store and a birthday present. I spent a fortune. I bought a mini kitchen for my granddaughter. it came in 4 pieces. it has tiny pieces and the microwave lights up and rings. my grandson was quite jealous. they love playing restaurant. they have a cart with tons of pots and pans and plastic food objects. they keep a pad and pen and are always taking my food orders. my house is one giant playhouse.
I found a lovely play rug outside and it lies in the living room, which has become the kid's playroom. they kind of out grew the t.v. area. it still is good for lego and puzzles but the main place is the living room. it gives me great pleasure because the living room has never been used much except for sitting shiva. I find it actually, comfortable now. I need to get some heaters put up on the walls and it will be well for winter.
the house is freezing. it's warmer outside in the sun. everyone was cold last night even though I put on one heater. I only have one outlet downstairs in the laundry room. one day i'll take care of that, too. I think i'll use my salary to buy more heaters next week. thanks to a very special friend in the states who helps me out, I haven't had the bank calling me lately. May she be very blessed!!
last night we had a birthday party for my granddaughter downstairs. I don't know why but I voluntarily went out and bought all of the party goods. it cost a small fortune. it was a princess theme. I ran to the supermarket on Wednesday morning and did a proper food shopping. I bought tons of olive oil for lighting the chanukiah. Chanukah is right around the corner. I also bought 4 new laser dreidels for the kids. I bought tons of canola oil and potatoes to fry up latkes and most of the ingredients to make a cheesecake. it has become very popular to eat dairy foods on Chanukah.
I filled up the freezer and pantry. I bought cleaning supplies. I paid my electric, water and real estate tax bills. I went downstairs and cleaned the huge laundry room which doubles as a party room, the stairs, hallway and bathroom. I spent about three hours on it. I schlepped down both plastic tables and about 16 chairs from the upstairs courtyard. I also washed them all with the hose. I cut out some pix of a princess and her coach from a coloring book and scotched taped them to the cabinets. I hung up a few birthday banners. of course, everything was pink motif.
I took a photo magnet of my granddaughter and put it on the outside entrance door. of course, I taped a small cut out of a crown to her head and then taped a small cut out of a 6 to the top of the crown. I then taped a cut out of a birthday cake under her face. I get pretty caught up on my themes. the Sephardi grandma made a beautiful pink and white birthday cake and a vat of homemade couscous with veggie soup. I was tired from schlepping but she did the hard work. as usual, I played hostess and made the hot drinks for everyone. I always feel like such a phony.
the party was just for family. the five little cousins ran around like wild Indians. the three boys had bey blades, the latest craze in Israel. I straightened up my house on Thursday before I went to town and work. I came in early so that I could come home in time for the party which was called for 6:30 p.m. I got up early and ran to the local bakery to buy jelly filled fried donuts which are popular around Chanukah time. my friends were returning from overseas and requested them. I had gone to their house on Wednesday before work, to bring fruit, veggies, eggs, and some dairy products.
I made a vat of macaroni and meat sauce for the 24 yeshiva guys, a monster sized squash and mushroom soufflé and a huge chunky Israeli salad. my hands are trashed form work. I have calluses, blisters and burns and one of my thumbs is infected. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. before I went to work I spent 3 hours cooking for Shabbat. the kids asked to come again. they were here last week, too. I figured that I must have filled up the fridge for a reason. I still have to make a cholent, and a few salads. last week I had to pick up the kids in town from school. I did the floors and ran.
last week we took the school bus home and we returned at !:00 p.m. candle lighting was at 4:00 p.m. I had done double shifts at the yeshiva all week and I was wrecked. I had no time to cook for Shabbat before Friday. I managed to make fish, liver, chicken wings, rice, mashed potatoes, meatballs and cholent. I only had enough time to make two salads. I made a slaw with white cabbage, cranberries and walnuts and a green salad. needless to say, it was a bit of a disappointment. it was also, the kids anniversary and I couldn't find a small non dairy cake anywhere. I bought a few cream puffs but no one liked them. I felt like a loser. this week I don't have to pick up the kids and I might just have enough time to make a banana loaf cake. I have leftover birthday cake for the daytime.
I do have to wash the floors but I don't feel under any real pressure. I am truly tired and my body aches. I have pain in my lower back and both shoulders. I ran to town after work yesterday, to buy snacks for Shabbat at a certain store and a birthday present. I spent a fortune. I bought a mini kitchen for my granddaughter. it came in 4 pieces. it has tiny pieces and the microwave lights up and rings. my grandson was quite jealous. they love playing restaurant. they have a cart with tons of pots and pans and plastic food objects. they keep a pad and pen and are always taking my food orders. my house is one giant playhouse.
I found a lovely play rug outside and it lies in the living room, which has become the kid's playroom. they kind of out grew the t.v. area. it still is good for lego and puzzles but the main place is the living room. it gives me great pleasure because the living room has never been used much except for sitting shiva. I find it actually, comfortable now. I need to get some heaters put up on the walls and it will be well for winter.
the house is freezing. it's warmer outside in the sun. everyone was cold last night even though I put on one heater. I only have one outlet downstairs in the laundry room. one day i'll take care of that, too. I think i'll use my salary to buy more heaters next week. thanks to a very special friend in the states who helps me out, I haven't had the bank calling me lately. May she be very blessed!!
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