Hamantaschen

So after reading our book for our stART project this week, D made a craft hamantaschen and then we made the dough for real ones.  We finished up our real ones yesterday afternoon.  D was not so into it at first, and had more fun playing with Jolly Green Dad.  Which I can't be upset about because normally when I'm cooking dinner, this is favorable to having a munchkin underfoot in the kitchen.

When we first put her into her high chair to play with the dough, she really wasn't interested.  We have played with playdough a few times, but it's not always her favorite thing to do (though I definitely like the benefits for manual dexterity).  Then again, maybe getting her hair out of her face would have been good too!

I showed her how to use the cookie cutters on her dough like JGM was on the counter, which definitely helped.

I will say that even if she wasn't into rolling out the dough and cutting out the circles, she was more than happy to eat the final product.

stART When It's Purim!

This week's stART project went along with our Purim week!  We read When It's Purim, by Edie Stoltz Zolkower.  

This book is very cute for a youngin' like D.  It is about a family that is getting ready for Purim by making Hamantaschen, a very yummy treat! 

After reading When It's Purim, we made our own craft hamantaschen.  I was looking for a craft project to go along with this book, and decided to make one up.  We used a paper plate.  D colored the bottom of the plate with a brown crayon.

Then we glued Pom Poms on the "top" of the plate.  D especially liked this part of the project.  We have found that she really likes glue.  In fact, when she saw me bring out the supplies for the craft, she went straight to her high chair and was ready to get going!

When she was done I folded up the sides like I do when I make real hamantaschen, and made the circle into a triangle.  I then stapled the ends together (making sure that the staple closed entirely).  Here is D checking out her new hamantaschen.

Now that we finished our craft, we made the dough for our hamantaschen .  It has to sit in the fridge overnight, so we made it this morning, and will do the cutouts, filling and baking tomorrow.  Mmmmm... can't wait. 

Here is D inspecting the measuring spoons!

Go to A Mommy's Adventures to see what other people read this week.

What is Purim?

D and I are learning about Purim this week.  This is one of my favorite Jewish holidays, and always has been.  In all likelihood, it started with the fact that I love good Hamantaschen (pronounced humentashin).  This is a cookie traditionally filled with apricot, prune, poppy seeds.  The bakery in the town I grew up in had an apple filled one, then added lemon and cherry.  These are my favorites.  They may not be classic tradition, but they sure are yummy.  D and I will be making some hamantaschen later this week.  I normally make the traditional apricot, and then get creative with the rest, as we are not big fans of poppyseed (sorry Mom) or prune.  In the past I have made cherry, apple, chocolate, and bananas foster.  We'll have to see what I can come up with this year!

Anyway, though all Jewish holidays do revolve around food that's not the whole of the holiday.  The other reason I loved this holiday as a child was that it is similar to the American holiday or Halloween, where you can dress up in costumes and make quite a ruckus.  (In fact for adults, you are supposed to get drunk to the point that you cannot distinguish the hero's name from the villain's.)

The story is a typical one for Jewish history.  Here is the abridged version:  Haman, the Persian King's advisor did not like the Jews and wanted them all to bow down to him.  When they wouldn't all follow his directions, he decided that they should all be killed.  The King was looking for a new wife (after banishing his first wife), and found and fell in love with Esther (during the ancient version of speed dating).  Esther was not only Jewish, but the niece of Haman's nemesis Mordecai.  Esther kept this a secret from the king, until she learned that all the Jews were to be killed.  She then had a party for the king (where was to drink quite a bit) where she told the king that she was Jewish.  At which point the King decided that the Jews would be saved, and Haman would be killed.

Today we celebrate Purim by reading the story of the holiday and making noise and using groggers (noisemakers) whenever we hear the name Haman.  Children (and many adults) dress up as characters from the story (and whoever else they would like to be).  And a good time is had by all.  

Chag Purim, Everyone!