S'Derot

S'Derot is a community in Israel, located in close proximity to the Gaza Strip. In particular, it is attacked on a daily basis by rockets from Gaza. It really doesn't matter if the rockets are launched by Hamas, people affiliated with Hamas, or just very angry people who'd rather attack Israelis then channel their energy into a productive activity. The attacks are real, the damages are real.

Chabad in S'Derot has set up an online fund to aid the Jewish residents of S'Derot. I would urge you to assist them.

Recipes from the Cholent Meister of Chabad of Tyson's Corner, VA (outside of Washington DC). A companion blog to Capitol Chai Life

Cholent is a uniquely Jewish creation...

...while assorted cultures have stews and slow-cooked foods, in Judaism, it is a necessity, since observant Jews are strictly prohibited from cooking on Shabbat, in addition to being severely limited in the use of fire and electricity. While there is some debate about the origin of the word "Cholent" (and for that matter, the term is not universally used -- Ashkenazic Jews [of Eastern European origin] make cholent, while Sephardic Jews [of Western European and North African origin] make Dafina), the origin is reasonably well understood.

Shabbat stews first started to appear around the 4th century CE, but in the 9th century CE, a movement within Judaism arose in the area known as Mesopotamia -- present day Iran and Iraq. These Jews, known as Karaites, believe in a very strict reading of the Torah. In reaction to this group, the Rabbis of the day ordained that their followers have a hot meal as part of their Shabbat observance.

Obviously, this was a challenge, since Jews could not tend a fire, nor cook food. The meal would have to be prepared and mostly cooked by the time Shabbat came in on Friday night, and then have to sit on a pile of coals for sixteen to twenty hours, until it was eaten for lunch on Saturday.

Given these conditions, cholents are generally heavy on beans, root vegetables, grains, and red meat. This simplest cholents are in fact just that -- beans, beef, and onion. Still, cholents have acquired some variation in the past 1700 years or so, and for that matter, some slow-cooked dishes are perfectly fine for cholent. Chili anyone?

Friday, February 15, 2008

Brunswick Stew


Important note: Okra is a seasonal vegetable. You will only be able to find fresh Okra in the spring. According to Chabad, frozen vegetables do not require certification in and of themselves. On still needs to take care to inspect for bugs and you may want to restrict yourself to frozen organic vegetables, which tend not to have added ingregients that MUST be kosher. Frozen vegetables used on Passover however MUST be certified.

Step

Amount
Ingredient
Notes
Directions
1
2
pounds
Chicken breasts
With skin and bones
Place chicken and beef in pot with water to cover, bring to boil, turn down to a simmer and cook 1 hour until chicken is falling from the bones.

1
pound
Stew beef

Remove chicken and remove skin and bones. Continue to cook beef another hour or until tender.
2
1
pint
Butter beans
Canned works
While meat cooks prepare veggies.

½
pound
Okra
Sliced


2

Onions
Medium, sliced


2

Potatos
Large, diced


¼
Cup
Ketchup



½bunch
Celery
Sliced

3
½Cup
Vinegar

Remove beef from broth and set aside to cool.

¾
Cup
Sugar

Place cut up veggies (except corn and tomatoes) in broth with all seasonings and cook over high heat about 12 mins. or until tender crisp.

½Tsp
Black Pepper



½Tsp
Red Pepper



1
Tsp
Salt



1
Tsp
Mustard


4
16
Oz
Corn
Frozen bag
Meanwhile, cut meats into small pieces, add to veggies, stir in corn and tomatoes, cook about 5 minutes, continue to cook over low heat stirring constantly until mixture thickens (a little flour mixed with water can be used if you want it thicker.

24
Oz
Tomatoes
Canned; peeled and chopped

5
¼lb
Margarine
unsalted
Add margarine and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook another 5 minutes.
Opt

Dash
Worcestshire




Dash
Paprika




Dash
Basil




Dash
Parsley



1

Bay leaf



See also Burgoo