I love how you really LIVE the chaggim in Israel simply by taking note of the supermarket specials.
Just a couple of weeks ago there were promotions everywhere on dried fruit and nuts for Tu'Bishvat....now you fill your trolley with hamentashen, family sized boxes of wafers and entire crates of grape-juice.
People everywhere else in the world remark on Christmas decorations in the shops from October....here we talk of matza in February.
Of course, Purim's early appearance means that the pressure is on to prepare mishloach manot, and the challenge is to put together gift baskets with originality and style.
There's a limit to how many hamenstashen you can eat without feeling your hips becoming decidedly triangular-shaped too and let's not pretend that these symbolic pastries offer much in the way of flavor.
By contrast this utterly scrumptious Chocolate & Nut Trail Mix - which is an adaptation of a recipe by kitchen queen Rachel Ray - will hardly appear in the Weight Watchers Guide anytime soon but it's well worth every addictive mouthful.
It also looks absolutely fabulous packaged in a clear glass or plastic bottle and is especially festive for Purim with its clown-like, candy coated chocolate buttons.
Go COMPLETELY NUTS this chag and spoil friends and family alike!
CREATING MISHLOACH MANOT WITH A DIFFERENCE CHOC-NUT TRAIL MIX
3/4 cup maple syrup (imitation will do fine)
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup oats
1 cup peeled hazelnuts
2 cups whole natural almonds
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&M's or similar candy-coated chocolate
1:Pre-heat oven to 180 C.
2: Place maple syrup in a small pot with cinnamon and vanilla over medium-low heat for a few minutes to allow the flavor to develop and then remove from heat.
3: Combine oats, hazelnuts, almonds, raisins, cranberries and seeds in a bowl. Toss with maple syrup and remove the cinnamon stick. Spread the maple coated mixture out on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
4: Remove the mixture from the oven and toss to break up the pieces then mix with chocolate candy when completely cool and package prettily.
Just a couple of weeks ago there were promotions everywhere on dried fruit and nuts for Tu'Bishvat....now you fill your trolley with hamentashen, family sized boxes of wafers and entire crates of grape-juice.
People everywhere else in the world remark on Christmas decorations in the shops from October....here we talk of matza in February.
Of course, Purim's early appearance means that the pressure is on to prepare mishloach manot, and the challenge is to put together gift baskets with originality and style.
There's a limit to how many hamenstashen you can eat without feeling your hips becoming decidedly triangular-shaped too and let's not pretend that these symbolic pastries offer much in the way of flavor.
By contrast this utterly scrumptious Chocolate & Nut Trail Mix - which is an adaptation of a recipe by kitchen queen Rachel Ray - will hardly appear in the Weight Watchers Guide anytime soon but it's well worth every addictive mouthful.
It also looks absolutely fabulous packaged in a clear glass or plastic bottle and is especially festive for Purim with its clown-like, candy coated chocolate buttons.
Go COMPLETELY NUTS this chag and spoil friends and family alike!
CREATING MISHLOACH MANOT WITH A DIFFERENCE CHOC-NUT TRAIL MIX
3/4 cup maple syrup (imitation will do fine)
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup oats
1 cup peeled hazelnuts
2 cups whole natural almonds
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&M's or similar candy-coated chocolate
1:Pre-heat oven to 180 C.
2: Place maple syrup in a small pot with cinnamon and vanilla over medium-low heat for a few minutes to allow the flavor to develop and then remove from heat.
3: Combine oats, hazelnuts, almonds, raisins, cranberries and seeds in a bowl. Toss with maple syrup and remove the cinnamon stick. Spread the maple coated mixture out on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
4: Remove the mixture from the oven and toss to break up the pieces then mix with chocolate candy when completely cool and package prettily.