it is 9:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. the holiday of pesach has ended. i spent the entire holiday in bed. i was mentally and physically exhausted. i didn't leave my house except to take the dogs out. it was very cold and rainy. i overate and food binged. i did manage to fast the minimum 12 hours every night. i was pretty miserable. the matzah this year was my enemy. it was fresh but very thick and hard. i have a sore in my mouth from chewing it. i stayed away from all sugar. i wasn't tempted in eating chocolate or potato chips. i did prepare some french fries one day. it hurt my stomach. the next day i cooked a sweet potato. it was more agreeable.
i made all of my food from scratch and except for the oil, matzah and wine; i bought everything fresh. i even made my own tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes and onions. i only used salt and whole peppercorns; which i ground. i didn't do any baking this year. i bought cakes and cookies and potato chips and chocolates for the kids. i missed my chai tea with almond milk dearly. i found almond flour for pesach but it was very expensive so i passed on it. i also found hand made oat matzah but i also passed on it for the same reason. i spent a fortune on pesach this year. i always do. it seems to get more expensive every year. i try to keep it simple but it seems to never end. i did without steak and lamb chops and bought minced turkey and beef and inexpensive poultry. i did buy two small pieces of beef.
the kids had a good time here being with their cousins but they were able to do the real fun things in jerusalem. they did get to go to an indoor amusement park near safed this week before shabbat. i stayed home. i am still in social distancing mode. i don't think there was a place for me in the car; anyway. it took me a month to get the house in order for pesach and it will probably take less than a half hour to get it back to normal. i have already put the pots away. i will clean the sink inserts and the pesach stove tomorrow. my back is killing me. i was sick last night and quite dizzy all day. i spent the morning in bed. the kids will be going home soon. it will be a month i guess; before i see them again. we will have the holiday of shavuot then. that's the holiday of dairy and cheesecake.
i am not even thinking about making any cheesecake this year. last year's tiramisu was a disaster. i kept to the original and only used mascarpone cheese and red wine. if i do make one this year i will add the whipped cream and use brandy. we have lots of time to decide. i usually make a lasagna and ever since i started buying the ricotta and mozzarella, it has been a real winner. i am already thinking about making blintzes. my kids don't really go for them but i am thinking about blueberry and cheese filling.
i hope i start feeling better this week. i intend to go on a fruit and yogurt diet for a couple of days. i need to let my poor stomach have a break and i need to get out and start walking again. i have been a couch potato for too long.
