it is nearly noon time in the holy city of safed. I should be on my way to work but I am very tired. it has been raining non stop for a few weeks. it is a huge blessing for the land but a drag to navigate in. I went to Hadera on Thursday for the festive meal after the thirty day mourning period. my daughter-in-law's grandmother passed and I wasn't able to make it to the funeral. I was going to join my son and his wife for the meal after the official shiva ended but they ended up going the day earlier and I then went to Jerusalem for the rest of chanuka to take care of the grandkids. I felt very guilty that I hadn't consoled my in-law on his mother's passing. I didn't make a phone call because it was awkward talking on the phone in Hebrew.
on Thursday, we had monsoon like rainstorms. I rushed to finish my meals at the yeshiva in order to be able to travel. by car this trip is less than two hours but I wasn't going by car. I waited forty minutes for a bus that ended up not going to Hadera. I jumped on a bus to Carmiel to catch the train. I hate trains. I can't stomach the smell. I am a bus person. the trip to Carmiel took an hour. it travelled through every Arab village and neighborhood along the way. I felt a panic attack coming on.
I had a minute to climb the stairs to the platform to catch the train. it took an hour to reach Hadera. I called my daughter-in-law to ask her for directions to the meal. I thought it was close by. she informed me to go to Pardes Chana. I was in the wrong town. I was on an express train. I needed to go back a stop. the only problem was that I only had a minute to catch the next train. I told her that I would catch a taxi and meet her at Pardes Chana. it was pretty much a twenty minute ride. I never meant for her to have to pick me up. she had just driven from Jerusalem. I wasn't even sure that she had gone.
I couldn't reach her or her mother in the morning. my son made it seem like she wasn't sure about travelling in the rain storm and he told her that I wasn't coming. we relied on him and that was a huge mistake. she and her sister travelled to Hadera to pick me up. her mother and father were extremely grateful that I made the effort to come. I had to wait until after 9:00 p.m. to catch the bus back to safed. it arrived at 10:30 p.m. I was driven to another town to catch the bus. a man stopped to offer me a ride. he was going to Rosh Pina which is about ten minutes from safed. I felt very blessed. but then I felt very scared driving off with a male stranger at that hour. I was also afraid of being stranded at Rosh Pina without a cab.
I declined the ride and waited another half an hour for the bus to show up. I was afraid that the driver might not see me. I also assumed that it would be crowded. the bus was completely empty. I was relieved to get in and get a seat. he made a rest stop and I was able to get small bills for a taxi. he left me off at the taxi stand in safed at 12:30 a.m. and I got home safely. he was a very nice man and very good driver. I had planned to go back to Jerusalem with the kids after the meal but in the end, I didn't prepare an over night bag. I couldn't reach my friend to come over and watch the dog, either.
I thought about going out on Friday to buy underwear, a toothbrush and a change of clothes at the second hand store in Jerusalem. I just couldn't leave the dog alone overnight. the grandkids were very disappointed that I didn't go back with them. I felt really conflicted. I had an awful Shabbat alone. I ran to the local supermarket to buy challah. I ended up buying prepared gefilte fish and root vegetables to make a chicken soup. I didn't make it out for services. i slept most of the day. i was pretty miserable.
i should be at work already. i don't have time to shower. i will call a cab.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
Another Friday Afternoon
it is 11:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. the sun came out for a bit. I have been thinking about getting to the local supermarket since 7:00 a.m. my dog wakes me up every morning at this time to go out. it has been raining for a couple of weeks. we are truly blessed to have the rain. I have been cabbing it home form work lately. I keep on missing the bus and have no strength to wait a half an hour for another. I have been getting home at 7:30 p.m. and I'm totally beat. by the end of a 6 hour day, my hip starts to hurt and it is difficult to walk.
I was told that I didn't prepare enough food to break the fast on Tuesday. I think they received another 3 students and of course, I wasn't notified. as a jewish mother and grandmother, and not professional chef; it hurts me very much to think that someone went hungry. I work in a small kitchen and it takes me 5-6 hours or more to make two meals for 25 guys. I only have a large built in oven to work with. it takes 2 hours or longer to make stuffed peppers and frozen French fries. I do cook on 4 burners but even soup takes about 2 hours.
the pantry at the yeshiva is depleted and I am at the mercy of the manager to provide me with enough legumes, grains and pasta on a daily basis. I really should come to work before 12:00 p.m. but I can't seem to get my act together in the morning. I linger on the net for hours while I sip my chai tea. one student complained about my serving beans all the time. I make a vegetarian chili every couple of weeks. it takes forever to cook beans from scratch. I have been serving lentils about three times a week to accommodate the two vegetarian students. I think i'll have to reevaluate my menus. how much pasta can I serve these guys?? I have limited oven space, to boot.
my rice is nothing to write home about. I use two cups of water to every cup of rice and it is pretty mushy. I try making bulgur and couscous but lately my couscous flops. yesterday, I made two pans of turkey meatloaf. I threw 5 pounds of minced turkey into a pot of leftover cooked oatmeal from breakfast. I added some spices and a lot of eggs and covered it in the leftover juice from the broiled tomatoes, I served at lunch. I figured it would be a disaster but it actually came out great. I was very tempted to taste it but I didn't want to have to wait 6 hours before I could eat dairy. I like my chai tea with milk.
I had to leave the guys some pasta for their lunch today and I made a sweet noodle kugel for their supper. I also made split pea soup. at the last moment, I cooked up a tray of rice so the vegan would have something besides soup. I hope it was enough food. one of the students asked me if I could make the buckwheat groats, aka, kasha, a bit wetter. the guys leave the food on the electric platter for hours, until everything is like shoe leather. I cannot live at the yeshiva and oversee everything. I would love to don a hairnet and spoon out the food, cafeteria style but alas, I need to get home to my empty house and dog, Tiny.
I do not feel like making food for Shabbat. I am having about 15 people sleep downstairs for Shabbat. an old family friend asked to rent the place for a shabbaton. her son got married this week. the Sephardim make a festive meal on Shabbat for the groom and family. askanazim do a Kiddush on the Shabbat before the weeding. anyway, I didn't accept any money. I once lived at her parents' home many years ago, when I first came to safed. I didn't have the strength to wash all of the apartment downstairs. I did manage to sweep and clean the bathroom. I think it is presentable. I put heaters in every bedroom and set up the electric water urn.
while I ran up and down the stairs, putting toilet paper in all of the bathrooms and turning on lights, I managed to do some plastering in the master bedroom on my floor and on the upstairs wall which supports the hand rail. it was quite loose and had a gaping hole the size of a tennis ball. I filled it in and now it doesn't move.
I am pretty tired. I keep on saying that I do not know how much longer I can keep working at the yeshiva. I do enjoy having some extra cash; especially when I visit Jerusalem. I really have to get down to the supermarket now. I don't feel like getting out of my warm pajamas but I must. I wish everyone a good Shabbos!
After thought: 2:00 p.m. I am having a snack before Shabbat. I bought some chicken bottoms, goat cheese, pitas, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, strawberries, bananas, and 4 cartons of tea. (earl grey and jasmin). the strawberries were on sale but still quite pricey. I paid $10. my bill was over $70. oh well.... I put up some fish and veggies, hard cooked eggs and chicken bottoms and string beans. I may be alone but why not eat well. in a little while I will go downstairs and put on heaters.
ran into my neighbor. tiny, may have knocked up her dog. I am expected to take the puppies and she actually asked if I wanted to take her 10 year old dog, too. really???
I was told that I didn't prepare enough food to break the fast on Tuesday. I think they received another 3 students and of course, I wasn't notified. as a jewish mother and grandmother, and not professional chef; it hurts me very much to think that someone went hungry. I work in a small kitchen and it takes me 5-6 hours or more to make two meals for 25 guys. I only have a large built in oven to work with. it takes 2 hours or longer to make stuffed peppers and frozen French fries. I do cook on 4 burners but even soup takes about 2 hours.
the pantry at the yeshiva is depleted and I am at the mercy of the manager to provide me with enough legumes, grains and pasta on a daily basis. I really should come to work before 12:00 p.m. but I can't seem to get my act together in the morning. I linger on the net for hours while I sip my chai tea. one student complained about my serving beans all the time. I make a vegetarian chili every couple of weeks. it takes forever to cook beans from scratch. I have been serving lentils about three times a week to accommodate the two vegetarian students. I think i'll have to reevaluate my menus. how much pasta can I serve these guys?? I have limited oven space, to boot.
my rice is nothing to write home about. I use two cups of water to every cup of rice and it is pretty mushy. I try making bulgur and couscous but lately my couscous flops. yesterday, I made two pans of turkey meatloaf. I threw 5 pounds of minced turkey into a pot of leftover cooked oatmeal from breakfast. I added some spices and a lot of eggs and covered it in the leftover juice from the broiled tomatoes, I served at lunch. I figured it would be a disaster but it actually came out great. I was very tempted to taste it but I didn't want to have to wait 6 hours before I could eat dairy. I like my chai tea with milk.
I had to leave the guys some pasta for their lunch today and I made a sweet noodle kugel for their supper. I also made split pea soup. at the last moment, I cooked up a tray of rice so the vegan would have something besides soup. I hope it was enough food. one of the students asked me if I could make the buckwheat groats, aka, kasha, a bit wetter. the guys leave the food on the electric platter for hours, until everything is like shoe leather. I cannot live at the yeshiva and oversee everything. I would love to don a hairnet and spoon out the food, cafeteria style but alas, I need to get home to my empty house and dog, Tiny.
I do not feel like making food for Shabbat. I am having about 15 people sleep downstairs for Shabbat. an old family friend asked to rent the place for a shabbaton. her son got married this week. the Sephardim make a festive meal on Shabbat for the groom and family. askanazim do a Kiddush on the Shabbat before the weeding. anyway, I didn't accept any money. I once lived at her parents' home many years ago, when I first came to safed. I didn't have the strength to wash all of the apartment downstairs. I did manage to sweep and clean the bathroom. I think it is presentable. I put heaters in every bedroom and set up the electric water urn.
while I ran up and down the stairs, putting toilet paper in all of the bathrooms and turning on lights, I managed to do some plastering in the master bedroom on my floor and on the upstairs wall which supports the hand rail. it was quite loose and had a gaping hole the size of a tennis ball. I filled it in and now it doesn't move.
I am pretty tired. I keep on saying that I do not know how much longer I can keep working at the yeshiva. I do enjoy having some extra cash; especially when I visit Jerusalem. I really have to get down to the supermarket now. I don't feel like getting out of my warm pajamas but I must. I wish everyone a good Shabbos!
After thought: 2:00 p.m. I am having a snack before Shabbat. I bought some chicken bottoms, goat cheese, pitas, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, strawberries, bananas, and 4 cartons of tea. (earl grey and jasmin). the strawberries were on sale but still quite pricey. I paid $10. my bill was over $70. oh well.... I put up some fish and veggies, hard cooked eggs and chicken bottoms and string beans. I may be alone but why not eat well. in a little while I will go downstairs and put on heaters.
ran into my neighbor. tiny, may have knocked up her dog. I am expected to take the puppies and she actually asked if I wanted to take her 10 year old dog, too. really???
Thursday, December 13, 2018
HomeAgain
it is 7:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I just got home from work. the yeshiva had another chabad holiday and I needed to make another holiday feast for 25. I didn't cook as much as I did the last time. I was pretty tired. I arrived back to safed on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and went straight to work. I was in Jerusalem for 7 days. I worked very hard to leave meals for last Wednesday and Thursday and left on tuesday evening on the 6:00 p.m. bus to Jerusalem. I usually make three courses for each meal. it can be rice, lentils and meatloaf or carrot kugel, mashed potatoes and meat patties. I usually serve soup at lunch time. today, I made a very thick pea soup, baked potatoes, garlic bread with leftover rolls and an Israeli salad.
yesterday I made a sweet noodle kugel and a carrot kugel for tonight. it's pretty much a carrot cake only you mash cooked carrots instead of grating them. the consistency is different from cake. I never have noodles at the yeshiva so I use spaghetti and break it into small pieces. I made a zucchini kugel today and spent a lot of time squeezing the liquid out of the veggies. I also made rice, carrot and sweet potato tsimmes, coleslaw, Israeli salad, Chinese meatballs, oatmeal kugel and string beans in tomato sauce. we had a lot of oatmeal left over from breakfast so I added soy milk and a ton of eggs and some flour and made a kugel. I made a sweet and sour meat sauce using a lot of soy sauce, ginger, garlic and tomato paste and vinegar. I rolled small balls of chopped meat into the sauce. I didn't add any filler.
I was planning on making an eggless chocolate cake but I ran out of steam. It took so long to do the washing up and cleaning the counters and stove top. I sifted 2 kilos of flour and it took forever. the flour was embedded into the counter top. I was covered in flour, too. I forgot to put out the chumus. perhaps, someone will remember and get it. I was so tired and I just wanted to get home. I also had to cook up a ton of macaroni for tomorrow's lunch. if there isn't enough food, there is plenty of nosh and store bought cakes to eat. I did all I could.
I stopped off at the bank before I went to work. I went through all of my money in Jerusalem on the kids. I took cabs everywhere. I took them to the movies and the jamboree. I bought small toys everywhere we went and spent a fortune in a second hand clothes shop on chatchkas for them. I also spent a fortune at the local food shop. I couldn't make it to a supermarket. each trip cost me over $100 dollars. we bought pizza a couple of times and plenty of candy each day.
I also stopped off at the post office in town. before I left for Jerusalem, I mailed a hand made cruelled bedspread to my niece. my mother made it over 40 years ago. I bought the kit at the museum in new York. it was a bicentennial replica. well, it never made it to my niece. it cost about $50 to send it. I think it was sent back to Israel. my niece moved to a new house and it wasn't forwarded to her. I am planning on going to the post office up here tomorrow morning to see if it is there. I was heartbroken thinking it was lost forever. I really hate to spend the additional money to send it back again. what can I do?? the package included a prayer book from world war two that my mother used. she was a sergeant in the WACS.
the kids are coming to safed for Shabbat but will stay at the Sephardi family. I am totally beat. I was alone with the kids for a week and had to get them to Chanukah day camp and also take care of the new cat. I had to clean out the cat box which was simply awful as well as feed the creature. I had to get the kids showered and referee their fights. I had to cook and make Shabbat meals for us. it was not really a vacation for me. it was hard work. I also had to keep the house clean. I didn't do laundry because I don't know how to use their machine. I didn't have access to internet the entire time I was away. anyhow, I made it through and came back to work. and now I am free until Sunday. whoopee!
yesterday I made a sweet noodle kugel and a carrot kugel for tonight. it's pretty much a carrot cake only you mash cooked carrots instead of grating them. the consistency is different from cake. I never have noodles at the yeshiva so I use spaghetti and break it into small pieces. I made a zucchini kugel today and spent a lot of time squeezing the liquid out of the veggies. I also made rice, carrot and sweet potato tsimmes, coleslaw, Israeli salad, Chinese meatballs, oatmeal kugel and string beans in tomato sauce. we had a lot of oatmeal left over from breakfast so I added soy milk and a ton of eggs and some flour and made a kugel. I made a sweet and sour meat sauce using a lot of soy sauce, ginger, garlic and tomato paste and vinegar. I rolled small balls of chopped meat into the sauce. I didn't add any filler.
I was planning on making an eggless chocolate cake but I ran out of steam. It took so long to do the washing up and cleaning the counters and stove top. I sifted 2 kilos of flour and it took forever. the flour was embedded into the counter top. I was covered in flour, too. I forgot to put out the chumus. perhaps, someone will remember and get it. I was so tired and I just wanted to get home. I also had to cook up a ton of macaroni for tomorrow's lunch. if there isn't enough food, there is plenty of nosh and store bought cakes to eat. I did all I could.
I stopped off at the bank before I went to work. I went through all of my money in Jerusalem on the kids. I took cabs everywhere. I took them to the movies and the jamboree. I bought small toys everywhere we went and spent a fortune in a second hand clothes shop on chatchkas for them. I also spent a fortune at the local food shop. I couldn't make it to a supermarket. each trip cost me over $100 dollars. we bought pizza a couple of times and plenty of candy each day.
I also stopped off at the post office in town. before I left for Jerusalem, I mailed a hand made cruelled bedspread to my niece. my mother made it over 40 years ago. I bought the kit at the museum in new York. it was a bicentennial replica. well, it never made it to my niece. it cost about $50 to send it. I think it was sent back to Israel. my niece moved to a new house and it wasn't forwarded to her. I am planning on going to the post office up here tomorrow morning to see if it is there. I was heartbroken thinking it was lost forever. I really hate to spend the additional money to send it back again. what can I do?? the package included a prayer book from world war two that my mother used. she was a sergeant in the WACS.
the kids are coming to safed for Shabbat but will stay at the Sephardi family. I am totally beat. I was alone with the kids for a week and had to get them to Chanukah day camp and also take care of the new cat. I had to clean out the cat box which was simply awful as well as feed the creature. I had to get the kids showered and referee their fights. I had to cook and make Shabbat meals for us. it was not really a vacation for me. it was hard work. I also had to keep the house clean. I didn't do laundry because I don't know how to use their machine. I didn't have access to internet the entire time I was away. anyhow, I made it through and came back to work. and now I am free until Sunday. whoopee!
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Oh Chanukah
it is 5:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. it is the third night of Chanukah. it is the 10th anniversary of my mom's passing. I am going to Jerusalem on the 6:00 p.m. bus. I just got back from work. I was hoping to leave earlier but I still had to sort out some meals for Wednesday and Thursday. I have been cooking since sunday to cover these days. today, I made falafel and chips, salads and fried eggplant. I sometimes make soup, too, but today I was busy cooking white bean chili, rice, mashed potatoes, green lentils, spaghetti and organizing the meals. I hope it will all work out.
I was supposed to stop in hadera to make a shiva call but I was too tired to travel. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was so worried about organizing the house, and the meals for the yeshiva that I kept running items in my head. I gave the local chabad shul $100 to do a Kiddush for my mom and I spent about 100 shekels on cakes for the yeshiva. I just lit a memorial candle for her and I lit the chanukiah. I won't be able to visit her graveside until after Chanukah ends. I'm sure my sister went to the grave already.
I guess it's time to get ready to leave. I just had to run outside and get my very male dog unstuck out of another dog. can it get any weirder??
I was supposed to stop in hadera to make a shiva call but I was too tired to travel. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was so worried about organizing the house, and the meals for the yeshiva that I kept running items in my head. I gave the local chabad shul $100 to do a Kiddush for my mom and I spent about 100 shekels on cakes for the yeshiva. I just lit a memorial candle for her and I lit the chanukiah. I won't be able to visit her graveside until after Chanukah ends. I'm sure my sister went to the grave already.
I guess it's time to get ready to leave. I just had to run outside and get my very male dog unstuck out of another dog. can it get any weirder??
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Getting It Together
it is 7:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I've been home for hours. I went to the local supermarket this morning and spent over $200. I needed to get staples for my friends who are returning from the states. I also bought a lot of food for a friend who dog sits for me. I am needed in Jerusalem next week. the kids are going off for a vacation to eilat. they have a brand new cat and are very worried to leave it alone. the grandkids have day camp even though it's Chanukah. I will try very hard to cook up extra meals and leave them for the students on Wednesday and Thursday. I already told them that I will be gone on the following Monday and Tuesday. I hate taking breaks from work but after that epic 9 hour 'banquet', I am genuinely tired and cooked out.
I came in to work at 1:00 p.m. I had a taxi take me home first from the supermarket and then to my friend's home and last, to the yeshiva. it looked like there was already food there. there was leftover food form an event last night and some leftover dinner that I made. I took a platter of cut up raw veggies and added an Italian dressing over it. I put the leftover lentils and pasta on the electric platter. I was really tired and felt like cabbing it home right there and then. I threw some tomatoes and onions and red peppers into a pot and added olive oil and some spices and fresh garlic. I added a couple of cans of tomato paste and cooked it for awhile and then pureed everything. I added a bit of soy milk to make it 'creamy like'. there was tons of leftover rolls and a giant fancy mousse cake.
I individually bagged the rolls and placed them in the freezer for next week. the manager said to use them for bread crumbs but they were still quite fresh. he was going to put the cake out for breakfast bit I froze it instead. let them have it as a treat on sunday night, the first night of Chanukah. it's a custom to serve dairy besides all that fried food. I am intending to make a lot of potato latkes for their supper. as apples are very expensive, I will buy canned applesauce and spice it up. I think i'll make a thick pea soup, too. that ought to fill them up. I will make a greek salad too. I can't really add cheese as the kitchen is not dairy. I will figure something out.
I cooked a bit of spicy, saucy chicken already and made some brown rice and sweet potatoes and placed it in my friend's fridge. I also broiled some chicken wings. I had some leftover turkey neck soup from my thanksgiving Shabbat last week. I defrosted it and strained it so there wouldn't be any mushy veggies. I thought about making a cholent but I think that I will make a small shepherd 's pie instead. I can share it with my friends, if they have arrived in the morning. I am beat and will call it a night.
I came in to work at 1:00 p.m. I had a taxi take me home first from the supermarket and then to my friend's home and last, to the yeshiva. it looked like there was already food there. there was leftover food form an event last night and some leftover dinner that I made. I took a platter of cut up raw veggies and added an Italian dressing over it. I put the leftover lentils and pasta on the electric platter. I was really tired and felt like cabbing it home right there and then. I threw some tomatoes and onions and red peppers into a pot and added olive oil and some spices and fresh garlic. I added a couple of cans of tomato paste and cooked it for awhile and then pureed everything. I added a bit of soy milk to make it 'creamy like'. there was tons of leftover rolls and a giant fancy mousse cake.
I individually bagged the rolls and placed them in the freezer for next week. the manager said to use them for bread crumbs but they were still quite fresh. he was going to put the cake out for breakfast bit I froze it instead. let them have it as a treat on sunday night, the first night of Chanukah. it's a custom to serve dairy besides all that fried food. I am intending to make a lot of potato latkes for their supper. as apples are very expensive, I will buy canned applesauce and spice it up. I think i'll make a thick pea soup, too. that ought to fill them up. I will make a greek salad too. I can't really add cheese as the kitchen is not dairy. I will figure something out.
I cooked a bit of spicy, saucy chicken already and made some brown rice and sweet potatoes and placed it in my friend's fridge. I also broiled some chicken wings. I had some leftover turkey neck soup from my thanksgiving Shabbat last week. I defrosted it and strained it so there wouldn't be any mushy veggies. I thought about making a cholent but I think that I will make a small shepherd 's pie instead. I can share it with my friends, if they have arrived in the morning. I am beat and will call it a night.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Giving Thanks
it is 8:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I just got home from work a little while ago. I spent about 9 hours at work today. it is a chabad holiday and I needed to make a feast for about 25-30 people. I made sweet and sour meatballs, carrot and sweet potato tzimmes, white rice, sweet noodle kugel with pineapple and craisins, noodle kugel with zucchini and onion, string beans teriyaki, coleslaw, kasha, a large chocolate cake with genache frosting and a small non gluten and vegan chocolate cake for the two vegetarian students. I thoroughly trashed the kitchen and couldn't leave it like that even though the manager told me to go home. I put all of the food on the electric platter and washed all of the pots and pans and plastic bowls and serving utensils and then I did the stovetop and counter tops. I stayed long enough to wash the floor. I walked back to town to get a taxi.
I started cooking yesterday. I made the sweet and sour sauce and the sweet kugel before I left yesterday. it took forever to make the meatballs today. I used 5 pounds of chopped beef. I ended up burning the bottom of the pan of meatballs and most of the pineapple pieces were stuck to the bottom of the pan. I forgot how to cook them. I didn't really follow the instructions all the way. I tasted the meatballs and they didn't taste burnt. the vegan cake came out pretty good but the genache wasn't the best. I used baker's chocolate and perhaps I should have bought the 70 percent good dark chocolate. that was what I had in the pantry and I couldn't leave to go to the grocery store. I used rich's non dairy whipping cream. it looks like frosting and the guys got excited when they saw it.
the large chocolate cake didn't come out that good. I baked it on a temperature that was too high and the turbo was on, to make things worse. I also used a pan that was too large and the cake didn't rise very high. it looked dry but I'm sure that all that fluffy icing will help moisten it. I wasn't in pain all day long. I was able to walk through town and move my head sideways without wincing. the hip pain just started and I am struggling to remain seated and type. the neck pain is kicking in too. I guess I overdid it today. I hope that they all enjoy the meal and that I made enough.
I didn't get a chance to eat or drink today. I stopped off at the health food store before work to buy chickpea flour to make a non gluten cake. I made a huge pot of vegetables to go with couscous for lunch. I don't make it from scratch. I use a box. I cut up tons of zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, red peppers and onions to make a spicy sauce and added tons of freshly cooked chickpeas. I cut up tons of fresh veggies and made a tahini dressing. I made an eggless non gluten corn bread and threw in craisins. I tasted it before I went home. it was lovely. I made a non gluten low carb corn bread for Shabbat. it tasted like cake. it only had a third of a cup of cornmeal. I used coconut oil and flour and six eggs. coconut flour needs a lot of liquid. it looks like cornbread but doesn't really taste like it.
it is an out Shabbat for the yeshiva. it means that I may not have to work on Thursday. I am looking forward to a rest. I thought about going to Jerusalem for Shabbat before chanukah. my son didn't sound too interested in my visiting so I think I will shelve my plan. I could go and visit my friend in efrat but maybe I should rest. my friends are supposed to be returning on Thursday but they may be stranded in New York due to weather. I will shop tomorrow to fill up their fridge anyway. I was planning on making soup for them. I did freeze my turkey neck soup from last Shabbat. I can buy some cold cuts for them or make chicken wings on Thursday. right now I need to eat and have some tea.
I started cooking yesterday. I made the sweet and sour sauce and the sweet kugel before I left yesterday. it took forever to make the meatballs today. I used 5 pounds of chopped beef. I ended up burning the bottom of the pan of meatballs and most of the pineapple pieces were stuck to the bottom of the pan. I forgot how to cook them. I didn't really follow the instructions all the way. I tasted the meatballs and they didn't taste burnt. the vegan cake came out pretty good but the genache wasn't the best. I used baker's chocolate and perhaps I should have bought the 70 percent good dark chocolate. that was what I had in the pantry and I couldn't leave to go to the grocery store. I used rich's non dairy whipping cream. it looks like frosting and the guys got excited when they saw it.
the large chocolate cake didn't come out that good. I baked it on a temperature that was too high and the turbo was on, to make things worse. I also used a pan that was too large and the cake didn't rise very high. it looked dry but I'm sure that all that fluffy icing will help moisten it. I wasn't in pain all day long. I was able to walk through town and move my head sideways without wincing. the hip pain just started and I am struggling to remain seated and type. the neck pain is kicking in too. I guess I overdid it today. I hope that they all enjoy the meal and that I made enough.
I didn't get a chance to eat or drink today. I stopped off at the health food store before work to buy chickpea flour to make a non gluten cake. I made a huge pot of vegetables to go with couscous for lunch. I don't make it from scratch. I use a box. I cut up tons of zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, red peppers and onions to make a spicy sauce and added tons of freshly cooked chickpeas. I cut up tons of fresh veggies and made a tahini dressing. I made an eggless non gluten corn bread and threw in craisins. I tasted it before I went home. it was lovely. I made a non gluten low carb corn bread for Shabbat. it tasted like cake. it only had a third of a cup of cornmeal. I used coconut oil and flour and six eggs. coconut flour needs a lot of liquid. it looks like cornbread but doesn't really taste like it.
it is an out Shabbat for the yeshiva. it means that I may not have to work on Thursday. I am looking forward to a rest. I thought about going to Jerusalem for Shabbat before chanukah. my son didn't sound too interested in my visiting so I think I will shelve my plan. I could go and visit my friend in efrat but maybe I should rest. my friends are supposed to be returning on Thursday but they may be stranded in New York due to weather. I will shop tomorrow to fill up their fridge anyway. I was planning on making soup for them. I did freeze my turkey neck soup from last Shabbat. I can buy some cold cuts for them or make chicken wings on Thursday. right now I need to eat and have some tea.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
They Loved My Soup
it is 10:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. it is now thanksgiving in America. I really miss it. I wanted to do something tonight but I just couldn't get it together. I worked until 6:30 this evening. I came in at 11:00 a.m. to get the prep work done for the lunch. I decided to make falafels. I fried up about 5 eggplants. the secret to a crispy eggplant slice is to salt them first and drain the liquid. it does make a difference. I made a large bowl of tahini paste. the guys love this stuff. I then chopped up dozens of tomatoes and cucumbers and sliced up an industrial sized can of pickles and many onions. I baked two trays of frozen French fries. that's about 5 pounds of chips. they took over two hours to finish.
I also made a vegetable soup with carrots, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, onions and zucchini squash. I no longer throw tomatoes into everything. one of the guys can't deal with tomatoes. I stopped making a red sauce with tomato paste for the pasta. I have been doing a lot of teriyaki sauce lately. one guy has gone non gluten so I try to make lentils or chickpeas each day. another young man is a vegan so I try making eggless corn bread and cakes. the secret is vinegar. another young man has a nut allergy so I took home the peanut butter. it is quite a balance to feed everyone. we are up to 20 young men. there doesn't seem to be many leftovers these days. no one has complained of not getting enough food. at least, no one has complained to me.
I went to the supermarket on Tuesday to buy ingredients to make a thanksgiving meal. my friend, who dog sits for me when I visit the kids in Jerusalem, is coming over for Shabbat. I could only find ground turkey, necks and fillets. I already put up a pot of turkey neck soup and made a turkey stew and a pot of rice. I also made two slices of tuna. I bought two nice size pieces of pumpkin to make a pie. I baked one piece and put the other one in the soup. well, guess what? I have to go back to the supermarket tomorrow morning to buy another piece of pumpkin. after draining the liquid out of the mashed pumpkin, I was left with only one cup of pumpkin. the recipe calls for two cups. go know....
I am trying to make a low sugar and low carb pie this time. I have been sugar and mostly carb free for about two weeks. I have been eating huge amounts of protein and a lot of veggies. I really have to lose about 30 pounds or more. the grandkids started calling me a fatso. my sciatic has gone down into my hip and I am nearly crippled. I manage at work but when I sit, standing up is unbearable. I stood for 71/2 hours today at work. I don't know why it took me so long to finish up. after lunch, I made an eggless chocolate cake. I was going to make turkey burgers for their supper but I just couldn't fry one more thing. I made a tray of red lentils and one of rice. I made a pot of turkey meatballs without tomato sauce. I hope they liked it.
the washing up took over an hour. I couldn't wait to get home. luckily, I caught a cab home. I have a low carb recipe to make corn bread. I am using coconut flour and oil and many eggs and only a third cup of corn meal. I wonder if it will taste like corn bread. I bought a bottle of stevia back in the summer. it tastes disgusting. I have ben drinking hot chocolate with cocoa powder and a dash of natural almond extract. it really doesn't taste bad without the sugar. I will attempt a pie crust using coconut flour tomorrow. I hope it goes well. my friend is bringing a chocolate pumpkin cake.
I don't want to get triggered into eating a lot of sugar again. I couldn't find frozen cranberries. I bought dried cranberries to make a sauce. I read about a drink called 'cape cod' with cranberry juice and vodka and that's what got me started on making thanksgiving. I managed to buy ocean spray cranberry nectar but I will see if I can find the real juice in the supermarket. I also bought frozen string beans to make almandine and ready cooked beets. we shall have a feast!
sideline- that picture of me is already ten years ago when I was still active and healthy and pretty attractive. it was from my son's engagement party. it was before I had cervical cancer, and before they detected a brain tumor. it was before I had grandchildren and before I got fat. it was before I lost my mother and most of my savings. it was before I entered a pretty bad depression and before I got temporary facial paralysis.
I also made a vegetable soup with carrots, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, onions and zucchini squash. I no longer throw tomatoes into everything. one of the guys can't deal with tomatoes. I stopped making a red sauce with tomato paste for the pasta. I have been doing a lot of teriyaki sauce lately. one guy has gone non gluten so I try to make lentils or chickpeas each day. another young man is a vegan so I try making eggless corn bread and cakes. the secret is vinegar. another young man has a nut allergy so I took home the peanut butter. it is quite a balance to feed everyone. we are up to 20 young men. there doesn't seem to be many leftovers these days. no one has complained of not getting enough food. at least, no one has complained to me.
I went to the supermarket on Tuesday to buy ingredients to make a thanksgiving meal. my friend, who dog sits for me when I visit the kids in Jerusalem, is coming over for Shabbat. I could only find ground turkey, necks and fillets. I already put up a pot of turkey neck soup and made a turkey stew and a pot of rice. I also made two slices of tuna. I bought two nice size pieces of pumpkin to make a pie. I baked one piece and put the other one in the soup. well, guess what? I have to go back to the supermarket tomorrow morning to buy another piece of pumpkin. after draining the liquid out of the mashed pumpkin, I was left with only one cup of pumpkin. the recipe calls for two cups. go know....
I am trying to make a low sugar and low carb pie this time. I have been sugar and mostly carb free for about two weeks. I have been eating huge amounts of protein and a lot of veggies. I really have to lose about 30 pounds or more. the grandkids started calling me a fatso. my sciatic has gone down into my hip and I am nearly crippled. I manage at work but when I sit, standing up is unbearable. I stood for 71/2 hours today at work. I don't know why it took me so long to finish up. after lunch, I made an eggless chocolate cake. I was going to make turkey burgers for their supper but I just couldn't fry one more thing. I made a tray of red lentils and one of rice. I made a pot of turkey meatballs without tomato sauce. I hope they liked it.
the washing up took over an hour. I couldn't wait to get home. luckily, I caught a cab home. I have a low carb recipe to make corn bread. I am using coconut flour and oil and many eggs and only a third cup of corn meal. I wonder if it will taste like corn bread. I bought a bottle of stevia back in the summer. it tastes disgusting. I have ben drinking hot chocolate with cocoa powder and a dash of natural almond extract. it really doesn't taste bad without the sugar. I will attempt a pie crust using coconut flour tomorrow. I hope it goes well. my friend is bringing a chocolate pumpkin cake.
I don't want to get triggered into eating a lot of sugar again. I couldn't find frozen cranberries. I bought dried cranberries to make a sauce. I read about a drink called 'cape cod' with cranberry juice and vodka and that's what got me started on making thanksgiving. I managed to buy ocean spray cranberry nectar but I will see if I can find the real juice in the supermarket. I also bought frozen string beans to make almandine and ready cooked beets. we shall have a feast!
sideline- that picture of me is already ten years ago when I was still active and healthy and pretty attractive. it was from my son's engagement party. it was before I had cervical cancer, and before they detected a brain tumor. it was before I had grandchildren and before I got fat. it was before I lost my mother and most of my savings. it was before I entered a pretty bad depression and before I got temporary facial paralysis.
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