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BERLINER PFANNKUCHEN
(PURIM KRAPFEN)
Take one and one-half cups of flour, a pinch of salt sifted into a deep bowl, one cup of lukewarm milk and three-fourths cake of compressed yeast which has been, dissolved in a little warm water and sugar. Stir into a dough, cover with a towel and set away in a warm place to rise.
When well risen, take one-half cup of butter, one cup of sugar, a little salt and rub to a cream. Add two eggs well beaten, stir all well and add the risen dough, one teaspoon of salt and work in gradually five cups of sifted flour and the grated peel of a lemon. Stir the dough till it blisters and leaves the dish perfectly clean at the sides. Let the dough rise slowly for about two hours (all yeast dough is better if it rises slowly).
Take a large baking-board, flour well and roll out the dough on it as thin as a double thickness of pasteboard. When it is all rolled out, cut with a round cutter the size of a tumbler. When all the dough has been cut out, beat up an egg. Spread the beaten egg; on the edge of each cake (spread only a few at a time for they would get too dry if all were done at once). Then put one-half teaspoon of marmalade, jam or jelly on the cake.
Put another cake on top of one already spread, having cut it with a cutter a little bit smaller than the one used in the first place. This makes them stick better and prevents the preserves coming out while cooking. Set all away on a floured board or pan about two inches apart. Spread the top of each cake with melted butter and let them rise from one to two hours.
When ready to fry, heat at least two pounds of rendered butter or any good vegetable oil in a deep iron kettle. Try the butter with a small piece of dough. If it rises immediately, put in the doughnuts. In putting them in, place the side that is up on the board down in the hot butter. Do not crowd them in the kettle as they require room to rise and spread. Cover them with a lid.
In a few seconds uncover. If they are light brown, turn them over on the other side but do not cover them again. When done they will have a white stripe around the centre. Take them up with a perforated skimmer, lay on a large platter, sprinkle with pulverized sugar. If the butter gets too hot take from the fire a minute. These are best eaten fresh.
The doughnuts may be baked in moderately hot oven and when half done glazed with sugar and white of egg.
MOM'S PURIM CANDY
- 1/2 lb poppy seeds
- 1 lb walnuts, shelled and coarsely chopped
- 1 lb honey
Cook honey over medium heat until it bubbles around the sides. Add poppy seeds and nuts, mix well making sure to mix from the bottom and sides of pot. Cook 20-25 minutes, until it hardens slightly when dropped onto a plate.
Wet a wooden board with cold water and spread out candy to 1/4 inch thickness. Let it cool for about an hour. Using a wet knife, cut the candy into strips and the strips
into squares or rectangles. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Purim Patties
Yield: about 3 dozen
- l package Chinese noodles
- 2 cups (dry roasted) unsalted peanuts
- 1 package chocolate chips
Mix the noodles and peanuts in a large bowl and set aside.
Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler (NOT in the microwave) and, when melted, mix with the noodle peanut mix. Mix well so that everything is coated with the chocolate.
Get into the Celebratory Mood by Designing your own Purim Baskets
ECommerce Articles | January 20, 2011
Purim is the celebration of the story of Esther and her heroism when the Jews were saved from a cruel destruction. For such a grim tale, the holiday is celebrated with the utmost joyousness
Purim is an annual festival of the Hebrews and is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar (a Hebrew month). The festival is a celebration of the victory of the Jewish people over their adversaries. The festival celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people living in the ancient Persian Empire from the clutches of Haman the Agagite as stated by the Biblical Book of Esther. The Book also states that the festival be celebrated through feasting and by giving out gifts to the less privileged ones. The food parcels are known as misloach manot implying "sending of portions". Purim baskets are thus an integral part of the celebrations.
When you decide to send these baskets across to your loved ones, it is necessary that you first draw up a list of the people whom you want to gift the basket to. As per Jewish law, the Purim basket should be sent to one person. But people prefer sending to family members, friends and acquaintances on such a special occasion.
The next step is obviously that of choosing the things that you would like to include in the basket. It is customary to include a minimum of two food items in the basket. You may include an assortment of chocolates, nuts and other dried fruits. Again, how can one forget the most popular hamantaschen that has undoubtedly emerged as the favorite of one and all.
You obviously need to select the Purim baskets up next. It is often believed that the concept of Easter baskets was influential in determining the shapes of the baskets that are bought for the purpose of gifting. However there are families who do not hesitate to stuff the goodies into a shopping bag. Obviously you do not want to be a part of that category and therefore it is necessary that you gather all your supplies well in advance so that there are no last minute hassles.
Decorate your basket with ribbons, glitter glue
, pom poms and other
decorative items that you can lay your hands on. Your loved ones will certainly
be more than happy to receive such decked up Purim baskets.
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PURIM
ARTICLES - MINI-SERMONS - RECIPES
TIME TO UNMASK OURSELVES
Russell A. Irving
Purim. Often viewed by Jew and non-Jew, alike, as our Mardi Gras, our Halloween, our time of unbridled joy and revelry.
How many American Jews recognize the names of Esther, King Ahasuerus, Haman, or Mordechai? Or can do more than vaguely associate them with Purim?
Masquerade.
Jewish children often don masks of these key figures from our Bible, during Purim parties. - As we grow older, we tend to keep some of these masks on, daily. Especially, the mask of a Jew who does not want to be publicly identified as one.
A fear of anti-semitic treatment or even negative stereotypical comments. A desire to assimilate into our society, not only on a secular level, but on a quasi-religious one, as well. Evidenced by pour celebrating Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, St. Joseph's Day, even Easter. A fear of acknowledging our minority status. Hoping to avoid feeling like an outsider... A part of the minority which we truly are. Perhaps, for some, even a trace of embarassment at not knowing more concerning
our religion, it's rich history, its beautiful traditions.
But, the time has come! Take off your mask! Become as brave as Esther, as wise as Mordechai, as true to yourself as you deserve to be, and an involved, observant Jew, as God hopes that you will be.
Teach your children, of your faith and of God's commandments. Speak of His power, love, mercy, forgiveness, and fairness.
Teach by example, so that your children feel free and proud to be Jewish!
Live your life in such a way that you are free to expose your true face, your faith, and your heart... No longer hidden by a mask.
Amen.
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PURIM CAKES
A recipe for making purim cakes – Take two cups of flour, one tablespoon of sugar, add four eggs and two tablespoons of oil; knead all these together, roll out not very thin, cut in squares, close two sides, prick with a fork so they will not blister; put on tins and bake well. Then take one pound of honey, boil, and put the squares in this and let boil a bit; then drop in one-quarter pound of poppy seeds and put back on fire. When nice and brown sprinkle with a little cold water, take off and put on another dish so they do not stick to each other.
THE STORY OF PURIM, ITSELF, AS 'THE STORY'
Russell A. Irving
Esther, Mordecai, King Ahasuerus, and Haman are well-known to almost every Jew. In fact, their story is probably more often re-told by Jews than almost any other Biblical saga.
But, why is this fact so important?
Is it the message of the story? God's role in it? It's lessons for modern Israeli or American life?
Probably, all of the above.
But, perhaps also because it is a story that is shared from generation-to-generation. One which easily engages both children and teenager, alike.
Stories, especialy when true are a powerful tool. -
Our faith faces many obstacles. One of which is assimilation. Another is mass media. - Yet, stories as exciting and vividly portrayed as that of Esther, hold the power to draw Jews deeper into their faith, by piquing the curiosity for delving into other Biblical stories. For learning more of how and when and why God acted upon our behalf. For absorbing God's words... His commandments.
Stories can be the lure for reeling children in. Out of the sea so laden with trash.
The story of Purim is worth sharing.
So, when offering your child, neice, nephew, or grandchild that hamantashen, serve it along with a re-telling of the story. Then, wash it all down with love. And, thanks to God.
Amen.
Making the Most Out Of Purim
Purim is the greatest day of the year. It is not only a day of happiness and gaiety, but it also has within it a tremendous opportunity to come close to Hashem (G-d) I would like to help you get the most out of the day, tapping into its great potential for spirituality and growth. There is a lot more to Purim than meets the eye, it is not just a play on words that equates Yom Kippur as being a day almost like Purim. Yom Kippurim, a day like Purim ( "yom" in hebrew is day, "k'' means like.) Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, a day that we try to emulate the angels as much as possible, no eating or drinking, praying almost the whole day. Purim, a day where there is a specific commandment to eat, drink and make merry. At first glance, there could not be any two days as diametrically opposed to each other than Purim and Yom Kippur. But our sages (tikkunei zohar 21) tell us otherwise, not only are they in fact very similar, but Yom Kippur is a day almost like Purim, impliying that Purim is on a higher level than even Yom Kippur. What is the explanation of this and if this is so, than how can we take advantage of this great day?
In order to understand how such a special day can be so misunderstood by the masses can be understood with a parable, said over by the Slonnimer Rebbe. There was a king who wanted to move his crown jewels from one part of his kingdom to another, but was afraid of robbers and bandidts on the way. So the king devised a ingenious plan. He hired a simple wagon and hid the crown jewels in some simple looking merchandise. The idea was not to draw too much attention to the great treasure that was being passed right under the bandit's noses. So to, does Hashem disguise the holiness of Purim with eating, drinking and gaiety. If only we knew the great spiritual treasure that is right at our doorsteps, we would not let it slip by.
We know that on Yom Kippur, Moshe came down from Mount Sinai, with the second luchos, (tablets). The event that preceded this momentous occasion remains a black spot in our history. After having witnessed all the miracles in Eygypt, the splitting of the sea and having been given the Torah, the Jewish nation sinned in a most terrible way. They turned their backs on Hashem (G-d) and worshipped the golden calf. Moshe came down, assesed the situation and broke the first tablets. The Jew's lives hung in the balance. Moshe castised them, they repented, and were given a second chance, culminating with the giving of the second luchos. This symbolized Hashem's forgiveness and unending love of the Jewish nation. That special day was the first Yom Kippur, and became a day for the generations of forgiveness. Now as great a day that it was, the repentance that the Jews did was one that was initiated out of fear of the Heavenly retribution for their sin. Now while fearing the Lord is a great level to reach, there is still a higher level to strive for and that is love.
On Purim, the Jews reached the level of repentance through love. When a person truly loves another, he governs his actions based on a desire to please his beloved. When the Jews of Shushan saw the whole string of events that led up to their salvation, they were overcome with such a strong love for Hashem that they willingly repented from all their sins and accepted upon themselves to uphold the Torah in its entirety. Just as Hashem made the day of Yom Kippur a day of atonement and forgiving for the generations, so to did He make Purim a day that one can come close to Him through love.
Our prayers are looked upon with a more benevolent look than during the rest of the year. Even if we are not worthy of our prayers being answered on a regular day, Purim has a special power that is able to pierce the heavens. There is a teaching that on Purim, one should give charity to all that ask, iregardless of whether the person is deserving or not. Hashem similarly gives to us when we ask, even if we are undeserving.
With all this in mind, we should really try to take advantage of this day. While the specific mitzvot of the day, like reading the Megillah, shalach manos and the festive meal all take up time, we should keep in mind the pricless treasures hidden in the day, and we should tgry to maximize their potential. Waking up early and praying at the earliest time is a good tip to have more time to fit in everything. Extra concentration in our prayers is always a good idea and especially on Purim when so much can be attained. Purim is also a time that the Jews, reaffirmed their commitment to the Torah. Hence, finding time to learn should be a high priority.
I hope that the ideas here will be beneficial in geting the most out of Purim.
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To see a great selection of shalach
manos and Purim cards, check out these great sites. |