Nope! It's almost Purim! And to stay true to character (not a perfectionist) let me paste some info here about the baskets (which is where Easter got their basket idea, tho I like this better because KIDS GIVE the baskets as gifts and receive a piece of candy for delivering vs. just getting a basket of candy):
KEY:
Hamentaschen- pastries shaped like Haman's hat
Mischloach Manot- Purim Basket
Mitzvah- Good deed
Purim- A Jewish holiday-- this is the actual holiday where we get gifts (Hanukkah became that way, but isn't historically a gift holiday) and we also dress up in costume and get drunk. We like to joke that it's Halloween meets St. Patty's Day + more. A festive meal and costume party is part of the celebration. Giving a Purim basket to two friends with food in it is required. One of the more interesting things about Purim is it is the only story where God's name is never mentioned once, and no magical miracles--it is all about the Jewish people coming together and... sort of making their own miracle.
Mishloach manot, literally, "sending of portions"; also called a Purim basket, are gifts of food or drink The mitzvah of giving mishloach manot derives from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews as a counter to Haman's assertion that the Jewish people are characterised by strife and disunity.
According to the halakha, every Jew over the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah should send a food gift consisting of two different types of food to at least one recipient. The practice is a fairly prominent feature of Purim.
Two different mitzvot: the sending of two different, ready-to-eat foods and/or drinks to one friend (known by the Hebrew term, mishloach manot), and the distribution of two charitable donations (either money or food) to two poor people.
Poor people are also required to give mishloach manot. One who cannot afford to buy food for his friend may exchange his own food with that of his friend — this fulfills both their obligations.
This mitzvah may not be fulfilled by giving items other than food. Money or other material items cannot suffice. Only food gifts fulfill this mitzvah.
So--- we set out to start on the Hamantaschen today. It's kind of a long process for just 16 of them in the end.
I like to make my own filling so it's simple and fresh, but you can just buy apricot preserves.
To make your own, buy a bag of organic apricots, put 5-6 in each muffin spot, cover completely with water, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Remove from oven, put all of it including water into a food processor, add 1/4 cup cold water and puree 60 seconds. The entire bag makes enough to fill probably 100 Hamantaschen, so adjust to your amount. Pureed apricot is also great for babies or smoothies or added to oatmeal or yogurt, so plenty of ways to use the leftovers.
Make the dough (see the end of this post)
Roll it out
Find a nice large round thing to cut circles with-- I used the second largest stacker in my baby's toy stackers, ha! You want something wider than a cup rim, but not so big as a coffee can.
Put just a bit of filling in the center of each circle-- less than a tablespoon usually--but do it to your taste.
Pinch the 3 corners creating a triangle. It's very important to really seal off the 3 corners or they will open up in the oven. (The ones I let my kids do usually open up) ;)
As you can see, my 6 yr old loved the apricot puree so much she asked for a little to eat-- and that is just PLAIN apricots and water! Why give them extra sugar if they love that!?
Bake and cool... eat, or put in mishloach manot baskets!
RECIPE:
makes 16
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cane sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp orange juice (it really makes it, don't leave it out!)
apricots OR apricot preserves
(Get apricots baking, see above)
1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients
2. Cut in butter
3. Add beaten eggs & extracts and mix well to form dough into ball, roll & cut circles, etc
4. Bake at 350 for 25 min
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