Holiday Tips

 

Tu B'shvat cake receipe (my 16 year old daughter's)

Preheat oven to medium to high temperature
Prepare- 2 cups whole wheat organic flour (Itamar's is the best!)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts are great)
Mix that up
In a separate bowl- 1 cup oil
1 cup sweet red wine (or cherry brandy mixed with water)
6 eggs
In a frying pan with a little water and maple syrup-
2 cups of- raisins, dried figs, apricots, dates and prunes
Sautee this concoction for about 15 minutes and add it to the wet ingredients
My daughter says it's good to separate the eggs and fluff up the whites but I wouldn't patchker with it so.

Place all of the above ingredients into a greased pan into a slow hot oven for 30 minutes.

Leah Goldsmith


 

Family and agriculture in the heart of the Shomron are miraculous in view of the fact that the summers are long, hot and dry. The winters are gusty with torrential rains. The ground is usually semi-frozen. Thus vegetation is limited to two seasons, spring and autumn. Spring begins in late February with the symbolic flowering of the Almond tree; along with it all of nature bursts forth with an abundance of fruit and vegetables. As the days warm up we bless the farmers "congratulations" and "many blessings." A sign of the redemption is when the land brings forth its fruit to her children and this we merit seeing it is very special.

        The first autumn rains bring with them lively green colors seen on every hill and dale. The olive trees are finally watered by these first rains. The quality of sunlight during these seasons brings the vegetables to the highest excellence of taste, aroma, shape and texture. Itamar exports many of its award winning merchandise to international markets. Tomatoes, melons strawberries, cucumbers, peppers, are just some of them all of them are organic.

        This produce is what the people of Itamar also eat in their homes. Our menus vary and include raw food, pickled, grilled, baked, fried, baked or steamed.

        I may mention that there is also a local olive press here. Many people make their own olive oil for all their cooking needs. The olive tree is native to the Shomron. Itamar also produces its own organic whole wheat flour, honey, fruit leather, cheeses, yogurts, and organic eggs. Spices like thyme, mint, and Zatar(oregano) grow wild in the cracks of the rocks or in the open fields.

        Just like fruits and vegetables give strength to the body and spirit so does your friendship. Let's hope this site can offer virtual sustenance to all of our friends.

 

 

 

Autumn vegetables in olive oil

 

1 bushel of celery

3 carrots

1 potato

1 sweet potato

250 grams of pumpkin

5 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 lemon

2 teaspoons of sugar

A handful of dill parsley and coriander

 

Peel all the veggies and cut them into cubes. Put into a large pot. Pour over the olive oil and squeeze the lemon. Turn off the flame. Add 4 cups of boiling water after sautéing for 5 minutes. On a medium flame add all remaining ingredients and cook for thirty minutes (you can add one cup of pearl barley to this recipe)

 

Leah Goldsmith, Itamar

 

 

Preparing an unusual and beautiful decoration for the Sukkah

 

Merav Goldsmith with decorations

Items needed

·       1 or 2 medium sized balloons

·       Elmer's glue and a plastic cup

·       Different colored thread and yarns

·       Sewing needle

·       Patience

 

How to make it

 

Blow up your balloons to the size you want.

Fill up the cup with 1/3 glue.

Thread the needle with the color of your choice of thread and punch a hole through the cup of the glue with your needle and thread. Pull through and your needle will become saturated with glue. You can do this many times with different colored and textured threads. All of these are wound around the balloon until the area of the balloon cannot be seen because of it being covered in threads. Place the covered balloon for drying until the balloon shrinks and then gently pull the shrunken balloon out of a crevice. Tie a thread at the top of your new lampshade for the Sukkah! Don't place a candle or light inside because of a fire hazard.

 

Chag Sameach!

 

Merav Goldsmith, Itamar