The word Sukkot means 'booths'--and refers to temporary dwellings. The sukkah (variations on the spelling) is great fun for children, as it is
reminiscent of forts with an open top usually covered with vines or loose branches, cornstalks, or reeds--something that grew from the earth
but was cut off. These are laid sparsely, so you can see the sky and
stars. A sukkah has at least 2 1/2 walls covered with a material that will not blow away.Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishri and is celebrated for 9 days (8 if you're in Israel).
When I was very young, our neighbor "Uncle Clyde" and his family always had a sukkoh in their small backyard. I would watch from our back porch...they were across the alley (a very wide alley through which horses and cars could pass--garages were on the alley), as he constructed the sukkah. Then we'd go there for food and drink and songs and fun. The sukkah was there for a full week. What an exciting time for a child. It was as close to camping as I came as a kid. My family was not into camping. And FYI, all the children on our two blocks were invited to Uncle Clyde's sukkah, Jewish or not. I have such fond memories of that time.
Sukkoth is a Jewish harvest festival--the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) that begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishri and is celebrated for 9 days (8 if you're in Israel). The Jewish calendar is lunar, so the 'date' is always changing.
Since Sukkoth is primarily a harvest festival, I thought today's post would reflect fruits and nuts - and, of course, chocolate. Here's a great recipe adapted slightly from Epicurious. I've substituted a few different fruits and nuts, and you may want to experiment with some others. These Fruit and Nut Chocolate Squares are perfect to eat in a Sukkoh.
Fruit & Nut Chocolate Squares
Ingredients
1 1/4 lb fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
Vegetable oil for greasing pan
2/3 cup dried cherries (or cranberries)
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup salted roasted shelled pistachios (3 oz)
2/3 cup salted roasted cashews or walnuts (3 oz)
Directions
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler or metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
While chocolate is melting, line bottom and sides of 8-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving 2-inch overhang, then lightly oil foil.
Remove chocolate from heat and stir in fruit and nuts, then spread evenly in baking pan. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Lift candy in foil from pan using overhang and transfer to cutting board. Peel off foil and cut candy with long heavy knife into 36 pieces (or whatever you want).
Tip: If you have more time, chill candy in refrigerator (instead of freezer) until firm, about 1 hour.
When I was very young, our neighbor "Uncle Clyde" and his family always had a sukkoh in their small backyard. I would watch from our back porch...they were across the alley (a very wide alley through which horses and cars could pass--garages were on the alley), as he constructed the sukkah. Then we'd go there for food and drink and songs and fun. The sukkah was there for a full week. What an exciting time for a child. It was as close to camping as I came as a kid. My family was not into camping. And FYI, all the children on our two blocks were invited to Uncle Clyde's sukkah, Jewish or not. I have such fond memories of that time.
Sukkoth is a Jewish harvest festival--the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) that begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishri and is celebrated for 9 days (8 if you're in Israel). The Jewish calendar is lunar, so the 'date' is always changing.Since Sukkoth is primarily a harvest festival, I thought today's post would reflect fruits and nuts - and, of course, chocolate. Here's a great recipe adapted slightly from Epicurious. I've substituted a few different fruits and nuts, and you may want to experiment with some others. These Fruit and Nut Chocolate Squares are perfect to eat in a Sukkoh.
Fruit & Nut Chocolate Squares
Ingredients
1 1/4 lb fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
Vegetable oil for greasing pan
2/3 cup dried cherries (or cranberries)
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup salted roasted shelled pistachios (3 oz)
2/3 cup salted roasted cashews or walnuts (3 oz)
Directions
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler or metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
While chocolate is melting, line bottom and sides of 8-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving 2-inch overhang, then lightly oil foil.
Remove chocolate from heat and stir in fruit and nuts, then spread evenly in baking pan. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Lift candy in foil from pan using overhang and transfer to cutting board. Peel off foil and cut candy with long heavy knife into 36 pieces (or whatever you want).
Tip: If you have more time, chill candy in refrigerator (instead of freezer) until firm, about 1 hour.
