Sparkling Rosh Hashana Sangria

Sparkling Rosh Hashana Sangria

Dear Readers,

During this time, as we approach a new Hebrew year of 5773, many take on the tradition of reflecting on the past year and doing what is called "T'shuva"/repentance, asking for forgiveness from others.  So, I would like to ask your forgiveness, for my lack of blogging for the past several months.  I will try to post on a more regular basis and to make up for it, I will try to add some images along with these words.  

Now, back to the essence of the blog, the drink recipes!  Rosh Hashana has so so many options:  apple martini, pomtini (which is one of my favourites and will definitely include at some point), and my previously mentioned Tekiyah shots.  However, I decided to include a simpler, lighter drink:  a sparkling Rosh Hashana sangria.  I thought that a not-so-intense drink would be best for this time of year when people are reflecting and collecting their thoughts with a clear mind.  Also, the fruit that can be added to the sangria is flexible, so you may add whatever fruits you want.  Perhaps you would like to include a new fruit that you haven't tasted before?  Take this drink on as you would take on the new year:  try new things, reflect, and enjoy a sweet beginning to a good new year.  Just make sure that you at least add some slices of apple, to remind yourself to have a sweet new year, and some pomegranate juice to encourage you to take on many mitzvot (like the many seeds in a pomegranate).  

Recipe (serves about 4 people):
-in a pitcher add:
-small (half inch/cm) slices of one apple (I prefer honey crisp, but whatever floats your boat)
-small slices of 8 strawberries
-small slices of one peach
-4 shots of pomegranate liquor (or triple sec if you do not have this liquor)
-1 cup of pomegranate juice 
-1-2 bottles of sparkling white wine (or sparkling grape juice for a non-alcoholic version)

-refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving

-Shana Tova!

Golden Dreams: Parshat Vayeshev

In this week's parsha, Joseph dreams his famous dreams (you know the play!) where he imagines himself as ruling over all, including his brothers. He makes the mistake of sharing these dreams with his brothers, who are anything but pleased, and then he is sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt. Joseph is very far from his dreams, working as a slave, and then thrown into jail at the end of the parsha. But then, there is a little glimmer of hope at the very end of the parsha, when Joseph interprets two fellow prisoners' dreams. The hope is that the prisoner who is then let out of prison and sent back to work for Pharaoh, will remember Joseph and then help him out. We have to see what happens...or you can read ahead or see youtube clips of the play!

One lesson that I take from Joseph is to keep dreaming. Even when things get tough, even when the dreams seem impossible, to keep dreaming.

And to those of you living the dream: whether that means you are living in New York City, in Israel, joining the army (shout out to my brother Josh!), or somewhere else great that you enjoy, it's about appreciating what you have and hopefully continue dreaming.

In honour of the dreams, dreamers, and dream interpreters of this week's parsha, I present the Golden Cocktail. May all of our dreams turn golden:

Golden Dream Cocktail

3/4 oz cream
3/4 oz orange juice
3/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Galliano

Or, skip the cream, or replace the cream with ice cream and then blend ingredients together.

Vayeitze-A Reunion Drink

Family reunions can be tough and we learn that they were tough on Jacob in this week's parsha too. Jacob takes a journey from Haran back to his hometown in the land of Israel. In anticipation of the upcoming reunion with his estranged brother, Eisav/Essau, Jacob sends messengers to check out Eisav's group. Jacob also begins to take precautions with his things and the tents that he and his family were living in. But, in the end, the reunion of the brothers is a peaceful one, it even included a brotherly embrace! They did not need the liquid courage that many of us seem to crave in anticipation of upcoming family reunions during the holiday season. But, I just discovered this drink called a reunion cocktail and I adapted it a little big for you all.

1/2 oz. Brandy, sherry
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1/4 oz. Lime Juice

P.S. Just FYI, I am VERY excited for the upcoming family reunion of my own that is coming up at the end of December! And am not concerned enough to need the drink to get through it, I am just plain looking forward to it.

Parshat Toldot: Red, Red, Cocktail!

Parshat Toldot: Red, Red, Cocktail

In this week's parsha, Rebecca is told that she is going to be expecting twins! These twins will be the beginnings of two new nations. When they are born, it is said that the first-born, named Eisav, is born with lots of red, red hair.

Eisav is known as the outdoorsy son, the one who hunts animals for fur and food. He had a bad reputation, for some reason, but I have recently found some positive in him. He was connected to nature and to animals, and felt fit and comfortable spending lots of time outside, which not everyone can do.

This weekend, people who live in the US are going to be giving thanks at their Thanksgiving tables. I would like to challenge you all to think about something in nature that you are grateful for, like Eisav, the red-haired twin. In honour of Thanksgiving, a fall holiday associated with fall colours, like red, I present a very red drink! Maybe it will inspire you to think of more reasons to give thanks....

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Adapted from a recipe from the food network website:

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 2 ounces pomegranate juice
• 2 ounces gin
• 5 to 6 ounces club soda
• 1 ounce red wine
• Fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the juice and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.

Oh Baby! Parshat Vayera

Baby Bellini

Babies seem to be on the brain in this week's Torah portion and also in the lives of some people who I am close to. I'll start with the Torah, while you fabulous readers try to figure out whose babies I am referring to.

In this week's parsha, Abraham and Sarah welcome three guests to their tent. They are a fine example of what hosting guests are all about: they give food, drink, and are attended to with care, even though it was a very hot day and Abraham was in a great amount of pain at the time. The guests later reveal that they are in fact angels and God's messengers. One of these messengers tells them that Sarah will have a baby!

I have always liked this story of the first hosted meal, it inspires me to continue to host meals myself, as I hope it does for you!

Mazal Tov to Pnina and Dov Nickerson on the birth of their baby boy Yair Adin! Also, mazal tov to Maggie and Adam Norris on the birth of their baby boy Teddy! So excited for you and hope to meet the babies soon!!

One of my favourite drinks to make for a big meal that I am hosting (especially brunch) are bellinis. In honour of all of the babies' arrival to the world, I will introduce a baby bellini, which is non-alcoholic. Enjoy and here's to more reasons to host celebratory meals!

Recipe for Baby Bellini

-put one tablespoon of berry applesauce inside a champagne glass

-half of the glass full of sparkling peach or blush grape juice

-half of the glass with orange juice

Global Hunger Shabbat

Parshat Lech Lecha

This week instead of choosing a cocktail drink, I decided to put in a little shout-out for the American Jewish World Service Global Hunger Shabbat. Please parooz on ajws.org for readings, feel free to start here:

http://ajws.org/hunger/ghs/materials/09-11-ghs-2011-hunger-prayer_v3.pdf

Shabbat Shalom!

Rainbow Martini

Parshat Noach: A Rainbow Martini

I hope that you enjoyed the drinks from the holidays!

I just recently noticed that the colours do not always show up on my blog, so I am going to try to work on that. But in the meantime, if the colours are not showing up on your computer screen, please know that I attempted to make the blog as much of a rainbow as possible by making the first row red, second row orange, etc.

This week's parsha is Noach, with the Noah and the ark story. I always liked the ending of the story with the dove bringing an olive branch and then a rainbow. The rainbow is supposed to be a symbol of God's promise to never destroy the world again. As a teacher of young children, I tend to see rainbows in the students' drawings a lot. One time, I asked one of my students about the rainbows in her drawings and she answered simply, "When I look at rainbows, I feel happy." I think that's true for many people, young and old, that rainbows help to bring happiness, comfort, and hope.

Not too long ago, Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was held prisoner for years, was just returned home to his family in Israel. This is definitely cause for both celebration and a little bit of wariness and worry for the future: Gilad's future and Israel's future. I hope that this Shabbat can bring us what the image of the rainbow helps to provide: a little happiness, comfort and hope for the future of a better world.

Presenting a rainbow drink!!

Recipe for.....

Malibu Reggae Rainbow

Cocktail - Long drink

2 oz Malibu® coconut rum
1 oz Midori® melon liqueur
3 - 4 oz pineapple juice
1 splash cranberry juice

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Pour in the Malibu rum, then Midori melon liqueur (which will sink to the bottom). Gently pour in pineapple juice. Do not shake. Gently splash in a bit of cranberry juice. Do not mix. Drink will be layered, from top to bottom; green, yellow, red.