Nosh a Hamentash!

Yesterday was Purim, which is like Jewish Halloween combined with St. Patrick’s Day – it’s a big party!

There are four mitzvot on Purim:

• Give mishloach manot.
• Hold a festive meal.
• Give charity to the poor.
• Read the Megillah (the story of Esther).

Mishloach Manot are sort of like trick or treating in reverse – kids dress up in costumes and give gift baskets of food. How sweet is that?

The traditional treat for Purim is Hamentashen – tasty triangular shaped pastries. Cole made Hamentashen at school and loved them SO much that he wants to get the ingredients to make them at home.  I thought we’d share the recipe with you all; apparently they’re pretty easy (I mean Cole’s class full of 3 year olds made them!).

Mrs. Fox’s Unbeatable Hamentashen

Cream together 3/4 cup of butter and 1 cup sugar.  Beat in 1 egg.  Stir in 1/4 cup orange juice and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla.  Gradually add 3 cups flour and 1 tsp. baking powder.  Chill dough 1 hour.  Roll out on a floured surface and cut out 3″ circles.  Put 1 tsp. of filling (prune, poppy, raspberry, apricot, etc.  Solo brand is excellent and usually found in supermarkets.) in the center of the dough circle.  Pinch sides to forma triangle.  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

I saw Nutella Hamentashen on Pinterest the other day, which sounds so crazy good, so if anyone tries it tell me how they turn out!

And here is the most adorable little Hamentash I’ve ever seen:

I am super crafty with a scrap of felt, my glue gun (which I’m not even sure where I got – I feel like it might have been stolen from Grammy Boo somewhere along the way), and a few staples.

The Purim Shpiel and carnival at temple were so much fun – and we get to celebrate the holiday AGAIN at Cole’s class party on Friday. Who can’t wait to see Lulu as Pebbles Flintstone?