Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

The Green KCC

Ratatouille, a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish
Ratatouille, a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish

Ilana-Davita has hosted her first Kosher Cooking Carnival, and she named it the “Green Edition” because it is mostly meatless recipes and because it is almost Tu B’Shevat, the holiday of the trees. I thank her for including my matzo ball recipe and my ratatouille.

Looks like Tu B’Shevat will occur this year on Monday, February 9th. Maybe I’ll do a little collage of tree photos in honor of the day. It was always strange to me, growing up in snowy cold New England, that one celebrating the planting of trees in February. But Israel has a much different schedule than here, so I suppose February is a good time there to plant a tree!

Speaking of matzo balls, my middle son (he’s twelve) made the matzo balls on Friday. I dictated the recipe to him by heart, as I was rushing off to take a shower about an hour before Shabbat. When he asked “how much oil,” I yelled, “some.” The matzo balls came out absolutely delicious. When I asked him how he did it, he claimed he “worked the balls a lot.” Which is sort of the opposite of conventional wisdom on how to make a good matzo ball. He also made a “chocolate chip pie” using a muffin recipe cooked in a round pie tin. That got devoured, too. And I had enough time to make my cole slaw with red and green cabbages, brussel sprouts and garlic spread.

Frumteacher says

Thanks for dropping by on my blog! How wonderful that your son enjoys helping in the kitchen. Your post makes me crave for matzo ball soup!

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The Jewish Side says

wow, sounds like your boy could cook a lot.

For some reason I never tried matzah balls, we never had it at home, and when we were by weddings, I would tell them not to give it to me. But then Thursday night I went to a wedding, and I decided I'll try it out, and taste it, and it wasn't so bad. So then I was thinking about trying out your matzah ball recipe that i remembered seeing. Maybe for next shabbos.

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Leora says

When I was growing up, my mother went back to work full-time when I was about 12. So when I wanted to make something, she would give me the recipe, and I would make it. My brother learned to cook, too.

Now when my boys are hungry (my daughter is too young for this), I say, here's how to make it. Yesterday my son made some corn bread. My daughter was quite happy!

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The Jewish Side says

That's great that you give them the recipes so they can make it, so this way they have the skill and know what to do when they need food.

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Batya says

Not just the cooking, your kids are learning how to follow directions. It's a wonderful way of raising them.

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