Gleanings of Wheat

I love Passover, I've never been Jewish but I have an insane fixation with the Old Testament festivals, and Passover is my favorite. I love the tradition of recounting God's faithfulness in His delivering the Israelites from Egypt, I love that Jews are called to see that deliverance as their own, to embrace it, to identify themselves with a helpless people who needed to be rescued by the Lord all those years ago. But most of all I love how it points not just backward to Egypt, but forward to the Cross of Calvary. The Passover is full of rich imagery; the spotless lamb sacrificed, the blood that covers the Israelites as Christ's blood covers our own sins. Even the second of three pieces of matzoh, unleavened bread that is pierced to keep it from rising just as Christ was pierced to ensure He was dead, the second piece is broken, wrapped in a cloth, and then hidden to be brought out later. Just in case you're wondering what some traditional recipes from a Sedar might loo...

I found this post over at Culinary Musings and since I have a profound love of garlic I figured I'd post it. 1. A Clove for Courage The Greeks and Romans believed that garlic increased courage. Greek commanders fed garlic to soldiers before battle, perhaps making their breath as lethal as their weapons. Roman soldiers also ate garlic for courage, but their commanders went a step further. Romans planted fields of garlic in conquered countries. They wanted the courageous effect of garlic to transfer from the garlic field to the battlefield – hopefully to Roman soldiers only, not their enemies. 2. Strength in Numbers (of cloves, that is) Many cultures believed that garlic increased strength and stamina. Greek Olympic athletes chewed it for stamina before competition. Both Greek and Roman soldiers ate garlic before and during battles. The Egyptian laborers who built the pyramids ate it as part of their daily ration. One year, unusual flooding on the Nile caused a shortage of garlic, s...