The Magikal Journey

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Must Be Nice to Have a Sugar Daddy

I am just appalled with the $700 Billion bailout plan. This is yet another example of what's good for Main Street isn't good for Wall Street. I understand that they need bailing out because this does affect the entire world, however, it needs to be contained to Wall Street. They need to face the consequences for their greed and covert actions. Bonuses and severance packages should be seized for the bailout in lieu of jail time. Homeowners should get an extended loan (a 40 year mortgage instead of a 30, for instance) instead of a lower interest rate. Homeowners are partially to blame for this as they knew they were buying beyond their means. This isn't fair to the rest of us who struggle to pay our bills. Our house values have dropped too yet we're the ones who are going to be footing the bill.

Rosh Hashanah

••Rosh Hashanah••

••by Fluffy Puppy••

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated no later then September 6^th because Jews follow the Lunar Calendar. The Lunar Calendar, different than the Mayan Calendar, has events falling on different days each year. On Rosh Hashanah, the traditional greeting is Shana Tova, which means ‘Have a Good Year.’ Piyyut, religious poems, are added to the regular services. Also, prayers are recited by a river, or a natural body of water, to cast away sins. Jews throw bread crumbs or pebbles, as if those are their sins.

The Shofar, a trumpet made from a ram’s horn, is blown on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There are four sounds the instrument makes: Tekiah, which is one long sound, Shevarim, three blows, Teruah, a series of short sounds, and Tekiah Gedolah, one very long sound.

The foods eaten during Rosh Hashanah are mostly symbolic. Apples and honey and honey cake represent a sweet New Year. Other foods, such as dates, black-eyed beans, leek, spinach and gourd, are mentioned in Talmud, the second most important text, after the Hebrew Bible. A loaf of round challah bread represents the cycle of the year.

Rosh Hashanah

Greek Honey Cake

This is a very good recipe but I remembered AFTER we baked it, I wanted to try incorporating the honey into the cake and forgo the honey sauce. You can find this recipe here.

For a more traditional honey cake recipe, go here.

Rosh Hashanah

Lokshin Kugel (noodle pudding) for Rosh Hashanah. This is the first time I'm trying this specific recipe. You can find the recipe here.

Note: After trying this recipe tonight, I have to say it's excellent! It looked like a lot of sugar, but it really is just enough! Two thumbs up! You can serve this either warm or cold. I prefer it warm.