Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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Yom Kippur: A Time for Togetherness
Published about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Happy New Year, my friend!
I hope you enjoyed a meaningful, uplifting and joyous Rosh Hashanah. May the coming year bring only sweetness and blessings to all of us.
Now of course, it's time to look ahead to Yom Kippur and Succot. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins next Wednesday evening (1 October) and ends on Thursday evening (2 October), so don't expect an email from me next week! Then hot on its heels comes Succot, which begins on the following Monday evening (6 October). Phew!
Yom Kippur - food before and after
Every family has their own traditions about what to eat before and after the fast of Yom Kippur. In my experience the trick is to eat a well-balanced meal before the fast starts, but not to overdo it. Overeating before the fast just seems to make you hungrier later. Making sure you're well hydrated is also really important. Take plenty of non-caffeinated drinks on Wednesday to stave off headache and fatigue come Thursday afternoon.
Growing up, our standard break-fast item was hot milk with instant coffee powder stirred in - don't ask! π€·π»ββοΈ Then there would be a spread of classic Ashkenazi food - challah, herring, chopped and fried fish etc. and maybe some fruit, honey cake and kichels. These days I've swapped the coffee for hot chocolate and usually follow it up with challah slathered with a thick layer of butter. Yum! But again, don't overdo it - better to have a few smaller 'snacks' over the few hours between the end of the fast and bedtime, than a giant meal on a (very) empty stomach, that just leaves you groaning.
Of course many people can't fast, for a whole variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean they can't take part in the pre- and post-fast meals. The day has special meaning and significance regardless of whether or not you're able to fast, so let's keep our tables welcoming to everyone!
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Stuffed foods for a Succot feast
Succot is the Autumn harvest festival, and as such, stuffed foods that represent the overflowing bounty of the harvest, are traditional. And while the weather at this time of year in Israel is just perfect for sitting outside in a shady succah, the same can't always be said of Britain! So we also tend to enjoy warming soups, filling bakes and casseroles, and hot puddings.
Below are some of my family's favourite things to eat on Succot. Bookmark them now, so you're ready to get started after YK.
βButternut squash and mushroom cobblerβ A rich and flavoursome vegetable stew baked under a savoury scone topping makes a wonderful and filling main dish.
βCreamy fish pie with mustard mashβ Fish pie has become a Succot staple for us. One pot dishes are easy to carry outside to the succah, and this one really hits the spot! Tasty fish, delicious sauce and fluffy mashed potato. Don't expect leftovers!
βVegetarian moussaka (gluten free)β βLayers of grilled aubergine, rich tomato sauce, and tender potato slices with a delicious cheesy topping. Just add a green vegetable on the side and you're all set.
βSpinach and mushroom puff pastry plaitβ Quick and easy to make and it looks a million dollars! A delicious veg-packed filling is enclosed in golden puff pastry for a beautiful family meal.
β'Charoset' stuffed baked applesβ βOK, they may have originated on Pesach, but these delicious baked apples, stuffed with spiced dried fruit and nuts, make a wonderful hot dessert. Just add custard!
βHealthier fruit crumbleβ βProbably my favourite hot pudding - succulent fruits under a delicious layer of nutty, seedy crumble that's packed with good-for-you ingredients. Delicious and nutritious!
All my cooking, recipe-writing, photography, research - even this newsletter! - is fuelled by TEA! So every cuppa you provide is very much appreciated! π
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Family, friends and food are three of lifeβs most important things. Letβs celebrate them!
Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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