Gleanings of Wheat

Now that the kids' dad is more involved in their lives I don't have them full time on holidays anymore - I know they're glad to see their dad, and I'm happy for them, but I miss how laid back things like Easter used to be. This year I got them for Good Friday and half of Saturday so I tried to make the most of it. Friday we visited the grandparents and cousins - always a lot of fun, always exhausting. Since I wasn't going to have them for Sunday we celebrated the Resurrection as a family Saturday morning. When they got up they raced to the fridge to grab the stuff to make our Empty Tomb treats - they've been looking forward to it all week. Now that they're older and have a better understanding of the Gospel they get more out of it than just the treats. J is still surprised when our "Jesus marshmallows" disappear, though. It's a lot of fun to talk about how much more amazing the real Jesus and His resurrection is. Once we got done we headed t...

I'm going to be starting more "formal" discussions with the kids about the crucifixion and resurrection today as we lead up to Easter/ Resurrection Sunday...not to say we don't talk about it, but they've been getting a lot of Easter bunny talk at school the past couple of days and we've got to deal with that distraction. So I'm going to have them help me make the Empty Tomb treats for part of the fun. On a semi-unrelated note: I randomly switch between calling it Resurrection Sunday and Easter. I know some people who think it is dumb to call it anything but Easter and I know others who refuse to call it Easter because of some pagan ties to the name. Me? I try to call it Resurrection Sunday more than Easter simply because it shocks people into realizing (if only for a moment) that there is a reason we celebrate this holiday that has nothing to do with bunnies, candy, baby chicks, or spring. But I'm not a Nazi about it, though and sometimes I do call it...

I got this one from the Jews for Jesus website too. Desserts!!! 5 egg whites 1 1/2 pounds confectioner's sugar 5 tablespoons matzah cake meal grated rind of one lemon 1 pound blanched almonds, finely ground Beat egg whites until stiff (but not dry); add sugar a little at a time until blended in. Fold in cake meal, lemon rind and ground almonds, being careful not to break down egg whites. Drop from a teaspoon onto a foil-lined cookie sheet, leaving one inch between drops. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 300° or until lightly browned on top and bottom. Let cool: peel off foil. Makes approximately 3-3 1/2 dozen macaroons. Passover 2009 Series Introduction Charoseth Fat-free Knaidlach Chicken Soup A Kosher Diet A Kosher Diet

As promised, here is the next installment in the Passover 2009 Series. Two recipes for the price of one today! Both come from the Jews for Jesus website . Roast Lamb for Passover Have butcher bone and roll a lamb shoulder or leg-figure on 1/2 to 3/4 pound boned and rolled lamb per person. You will need 2 cloves of garlic for every 1 pound of lamb. Slice garlic into thin slices: make holes with the point of a sharp knife in the fatty part of the lamb. Insert garlic slices into holes. Place meat thermometer in the center of the thickest part of the lamb. Roast at 325° on a rack in a shallow pan until meat thermometer reaches 175° (medium done) or 180° (well done)-about 35 - 40 minutes per pound. Slice thin. Carrot and Sweet Potato Tzimmes 4 pounds beef brisket or chuck roast 10 large carrots 10 medium white potatoes 6 medium sweet potatoes 2 teaspoons salt 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 medium onion, sliced thin 4 tablespoons matzah meal 4 tablespoons melted chicken fat or margarine cinnamon Scra...

I thought it'd be interesting to give a basic overview of the laws that outline what is a Kosher diet with what was sent to the Gentile believers of Acts 15. I got the following chart from Religious Facts. Kosher (permitted ) Ritually slaughtered beef, sheep, goats and deer with no flaws or diseases Chicken, turkey, quail, geese Salmon, tuna, carp, herring, cod Meat eaten separately from dairy Wine or grape juice made under Jewish supervision Soft cheese and kosher hard cheese Trayf (forbidden) Crab, lobster, octopus, clam, swordfish, sturgeon Meat with dairy (e.g., cheeseburger, burger with milkshake, chicken cordon bleu, wiener schnitzel, etc.)** Eagle, hawk, vulture Any other wine and grape juice Most hard cheese **This requirement is not actually found in Scripture, rather is an interpretation that has been handed down in the Talmud. Exodus 23:19b says "Thou shalt not seeth a kid in his mother's milk," tradition imposed even more strict standards on top of what G...

Despite a high level of ignorance of the Old Testament, most people have at least a rudimentary understanding of the Jewish dietary laws. If nothing else, most people know that Jews are not supposed to consume pork. Unfortunately their understanding does not often extend beyond that. Obviously under the New Testament we are not bound to the 613 laws of the Old Testament, of which quite a few apply to the consumption of food, still I think it is beneficial to better understand them. I am only going to be dealing with the food aspect of the Law during this series. Passover 2009 Series Introduction Charoseth Fat-free Knaidlach Chicken Soup

I will be continuing my series until I run out of ideas or Passover occurs. I got the recipe from Jews for Jesus . 4 pounds chicken parts 3 1/4 quarts water 3 onions, peeled 2 cloves garlic 1 bay leaf 2 chicken bouillon cubes 1 1/4 tablespoons salt 2 carrots, peeled 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon dried dill Place chicken parts, onions and water in an 8-quart pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 2-3 hours, skimming foam off top as necessary. Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT dried dill and parsley: cover and simmer for 1-2 more hours. (If desired, soup can be strained at this point.) Add dill and parsley and cook for 15 minutes more. Refrigerate overnight. Skim off fat before reheating next day. Serve with knaidlach (recipe following) Makes approximately 10 servings. Passover 2009 Series Introduction Charoseth Fat-free Knaidlach

I will be continuing my series until I run out of ideas or Passover occurs. I got the recipe from Jews for Jesus . 1/3 cup club soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup matzah meal 2 eggs, separated 1/3 cup matzah meal 1 tablespoon dried parsley Combine first three ingredients: form into a smooth paste and refrigerate for 1 hour. Add the egg yolks, matzah meal and parsley. Beat egg whites until stiff (but not dry) and fold into mixture. Chill 2 hours in refrigerator. Form into walnut-sized balls and drop into rapidly boiling water or chicken soup. Reduce heat and cook slowly, covered, for 30 minutes. Makes 24 small knaidlach, enough for 6 servings. Passover 2009 Series Introduction Charoseth

As promised , I'll be continuing my series until I run out of ideas or Passover occurs. I got the recipe from Jews for Jesus . 2 tart apples 1/2 cup walnuts 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon sweet Passover wine Core apples (it is not necessary to peel them). Chop apples and walnuts together in food processor blender or by hand until finely chopped (the size of grape nuts) With a wooden spoon, stir in the cinnamon, honey and wine until well blended. Will serve 10-12 people. Serving is 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per person on piece of matzah.

I love the story of Passover, the foreshadowing of Christ's final redemptive work, the Father's mercy - I love it all. Truth be told I'm a fan of a lot of the OT festivals. I don't necessarily observe them, but I try to at least reflect upon them as they're taking place. I think it is a shame that so many Christians avoid/ are ignorant of the rich history of the Old Testament. So, in honor of Passover I'm going to be posting a series of recipes that would comprise a typical Jewish Sedar (Passover meal) as well as anything I think might help us reflect upon Christ's redemptive work during this time. I don't do Lent, I do Passover. ;) Dates to keep in mind Passover: Thursday, the 9th of April and will continue for 7 days until Wednesday, the 15th of April. Resurrection Sunday: Sunday, April 12, 2009

I found this one over at The Hutch . You'll need one package of crescent roll dough, 8 large marshmallows, a bowl of melted butter and a bowl of cinnamon-sugar. Unroll the dough and separate it into triangles. Have your kids dip a marshmallow into the melted butter, then roll the marshmallow in the cinnamon-sugar. Center the marshmallow on a triangle of dough and bring the dough up and around the marshmallow. Seal the dough tightly around the marshmallow by pinching it together (the rolls won't necessarily have the traditional crescent shape!). Bake as directed on the crescent roll package. You'll find a lovely visual illustration of the empty tomb: the marshmallow melts and vanishes, leaving puffed-up empty space inside the crescent roll!