Pesach starts tomorrow at sundown. It gets tricky this year because it is also the Shabbath.
This year I was brave and made my own Chrain (horseradish). My son always complains that the horseradish with beets I always buy is never strong enough. I bought the root at Golders Green where I go for all my Passover items. I was in a bit of a pickle though. The recipe called for wine vinegar, which I could not find. I did find one type but it had malt in it. So I got the bright idea of buying jars of pickled onions and using the vinegar from that, which worked out perfectly. I can't stand pickled onions.
So I cut the root up and then put it in the food processor and covered the tube holes. I thought this is easy, no fumes...Yeah right until I took the top off and placed it in the sink to soak and then wash. Dummy me then stood over the topless food processor and I swore I went blind. The fumes were so strong. I added the vinegar and managed to put the entire concoction in the jar without too many tears.
Will my son complain that it is too weak? I don't think so.
The Seder plate will be on the table as will the cups, one for Miriam and one for Elijah.
Miriam's Cup is a new ritual for the Passover seder. Its purpose is to honor the role of Miriam the Prophetess in the Exodus and to highlight the contributions of women to Jewish culture, past and present.
Miriam’s Cup originated in a Boston Rosh Chodesh group in the late 1980’s. Based on the Legend of Miriam’s Well, Stephanie Loo Ritari created a new ritual. A member of the group led a guided meditation during which women gained inspiration and renewal from the Mayim Chayyim (Living Waters) of Miriam’s well, and the group drank from a special vessel called Kos Miriam (The Cup of Miriam).
Members of the group found the ritual so empowering that they adopted the idea of using Kos Miriam on Shabbat. The idea of using Kos Miriam at the Passover Seder was a natural progression because of Miriam’s central role in the Exodus story.
"Zot Kos Miryam, kos mayim hayim. Zeikher l'yitziat Mitztrayim.
This is the Cup of Miriam, the cup of living waters. Let us remember the Exodus from Egypt. These are the living waters, God's gift to Miriam, which gave new life to Israel as we struggled with ourselves in the wilderness. Blessed are You God, Who brings us from the narrows into the wilderness, sustains us with endless possibilities, and enables us to reach a new place."A few years ago I realised that the Haggadahs we were using were getting too tatty so I decided to make my own. So using the ones we had used for years as a base I added things that I thought would make the Seder more meaningful. I like it, my son thinks it is too feminist. Oh well.
Oh food? Well, this is really lovely.
Vegetarian Chopped "Liver"
Serves: 4
5 hard boiled eggs
1 cup of walnuts
2 chopped medium onions, sautéed (in a little oil)
salt and black pepper to taste
Put the eggs, walnuts and onions (with any remaining oil left) in a food processor.
Taste to season.
Serve warm or cold.
