Jewish Recipes

Arthur was Jewish raised by his grandfather in the most conservative tradition.  I felt flattered he wanted me to be his wife and his mother loved me.  When he suggested we not have Christmas I took off my engagement ring and said that's not happening. I was leaving. He convinced me we could share his Judaism and my Methodism.  I thought hey I will go on Sunday he can go on Saturday and all will be fine. He gave me Blu Greenburg's  book How to Raise a Jewish Family which I read with deep interest. She came to speak at the Jewish Community Center and we drove up from Auburn to hear her.  She said the biggest shift of the Jewish faith, more than the Holocaust was men marrying Christian girls. I wish I had given him how to raise a Methodist family. The Rabbi came to wish us well at the hospital when David's was born and asked me if I was going to raise him Jewish and I of course said no. Arthur asked me to change the subject if the Rabbi asked me questions like that which reminded me of a date we had had.  We were at a Chinese restaurant and they served Won ton Soup with slices of pork on top. I told him as he slurped it down and he said if I don't know it's okay. I took Jennie to be baptized and he refused to go. That really hurt.  For David's bris Momma made challah and braided it with perfection.  David screamed at eight days old and I couldn't stay in the room.  Everyone celebrated. 

Someone told me I hadn't included recipes in my last couple of blogs so I need to be a more reliable including them.  In honor of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot I will give you recipes this humble Methodist developed for her Jewish ex husband.

Bagels:
Slice bagels, toast, and spread with cream cheese, a little smear, lox or I broil salmon for my bagels too.  Slice tomato and red onion sprinkle with capers. Put the two halves together.

Matzo Ball Soup:

I boil chicken for my stock.  Cool stock in the refrigerator. The fat that forms on top of the chicken stock is what make the Matzo Balls divine.  Purchase the Matzo Ball mix and do what it says except add about two tablespoons of the schmaltz to the meal. Wet hands and roll the balls a little smaller than golf balls. I drop the Matzo Balls directly into the boiling chicken stock and when they rise to the top the soup is ready.

Potato Pancakes or Latkas

Grate peeled potatoes into a bowl.  I sometime zap the potatoes to cook just a bit maybe a minute a potato.  Remember to pierce them with a fork before putting them into the microwave.Stir in an egg and some flour. Spoon the pancake onto a hot griddle.  Serve with sour cream and applesauce.

Brisket  Just follow the directions on the side of the package that always works. Rye bread lightly toasted and gobs of  sauerkraut.  Slice brisket thinly and lay on bread and spread Russian dressing.

Arthur's family immigrated to America during the slaughter depicted in the play Fiddler on the Roof which I saw in London at 16.  My Father was with Patton when they entered Buchenwald to rescue the Holocaust survivors.  Daddy showed me photographs of the skeletons of men, barely alive he witnessed when he went in. Piles of skulls lay on the ground. Unfortunately the photographs he showed me were lost.Jennie married a Jewish man and they smashed the glass at the end of the service and the Rabbi scooped his mother and me up to walk out together. David hangs out with Methodists. As a little girl growing up in Birmingham we didn't know Jewish families.  I remember being told if you saw a penny on the floor and picked it up you would be considered Jewish.  Damn right I picked it up I am a Mac.