Image courtesy of Diana's Desserts
Happy Passover to all my Jewish friends, and to all the Gentiles out there who think matzah is yummy and delicious -- just be grateful you don't have to eat it for a solid week.
For anyone who doesn't know, Passover is a Jewish holiday that comes in the spring, commemorating our escape from slavery in Egypt. Jewish families gather to retell the story of the Exodus so that we and our descendants will always remember. Different aspects of the story are represented by different foods we display on the table and eat. The youngest child present takes part in the service by asking four questions about the meaning of the holiday, and the rest of the pre- and post-meal service comprises the retelling of the story and an explanation of the various foods and traditions.
During Passover we refrain from eating anything leavened, including pasta, crackers, cookies, pancakes, cereals, and bread, of course. Instead, we eat matzah, which is a flat, unleavened cracker representing the dough that the Jews didn't have time to let rise as they prepared to flee. There are strict rules for manufacturing matzah, such as the requirement that the manufacturing process, from start to finish, take less than 18 minutes.
Even though we're prohibited from eating anything leavened, however, we've developed creative ways of working within the restrictions. There are recipes and mixes for KFP (Kosher for Passover) cookies, cakes, rolls, pancakes, brownies -- almost anything you can imagine. How do we do it? With eggs -- eggs, eggs, eggs, and lots of 'em! Mix matzah meal (matzah flour) with lots of beaten eggs, scoop onto a pan and bake, and voila -- Passover popovers. Every Jewish family treasures at least one recipe for Passover brownies. Passover angel food cake -- no problem. Matzahs dipped in dark chocolate are mouth watering (although I'd eat just about anything dipped in chocolate anyway); and you haven't lived until you've experienced matzah brei, which is crushed matzahs soaked in eggs and then scrambled for breakfast.
So, Happy Passover to everyone, and remember -- eat lots of fruit and salads for the next week.
