Jewish life is all about family, Torah and food! Lots of yummy, lick your fingers, delicious food. So today I'm posting one of my favourites. With Purim fast approaching this hamantaschen recipe is the same one I made with my mom as a kid. Last week I made it with Sari. Note: If making with a 2 year old it will likely take double the time to make the dough, place the filling and fold them into shape. Also while poppy seed filling is more traditional, try fruit pie filling as well. It's convenient and tasty. Let me know if you try them and what you think. Also feel free to send me your favourite hamantaschen recipe Here's the recipe everyone..
Dough
3 Eggs
1 cup oil
1 cup Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1/8 tsp. salt
5 or 6 cups Plain Flour
Poppy seed Filling
1 cup Poppy seeds
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 Sultanas (roughly chopped)
1-2 tsp. grated Lemon Rind
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Dough:
Combine ingredients in order given, using enough flour to make a soft dough which is not sticky. Let stand for 15 mins. Divide into 4 parts. Roll to 1/4" thickness of floured board. Cut in4"circles. Place a spoonful of desired filling in the middle. Brush with egg-wash. Bake on lightly greased baking sheet at 350 for 20-25min or until golden brown.
Poppy seed Filling:
Combine the first 4 ingredients into a pot, bring to a boil and let simmer for 5-10 mins. Take off heat and add the vanilla extract. Let cool.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Over The Hill
This post is certainly about age but not the old age the title suggests. Instead it's about the hill you climb with your toddler as they head towards pre-school age.
Three seems to be the magic number. Or at least that's what I've read in parenting books and on several websites. About three months ago while going through a rough patch with Sari I sought advice on the Dr. Sears website. Dr. Sears if you haven't heard of him is a promoter of Attachment parenting. This is a philosophy on raising children. It's includes things like baby wearing, long term breastfeeding, co sleeping and the like. While I couldn't call myself an AP parent in all senses, I do like many of the ideals and have use many in raising my own kids. discipline is most definitely an area in which I agree with the AP approach (or at least Dr. Sears AP approach.) I don't think it's helpful in any way shape or form to hit your kids. Sometimes though I need find it helps when things are not going so smoothly to re-read, talk to friends and reassure myself that my approach is indeed the right one for us.
So, as I was saying three months ago, I'm having a terrible time with Sari's behaviour. She just didn't seem to be listening and when she did listen if she didn't like it there was screaming and crying and a whole number of other 'terrible two' behaviour. In my reading I was reassured I was doing the right things and this too would pass, I just needed to be consistent. This turned out to be true and things are improved, in very improved. Which brings me to why I'm writing this post.
While on the site I read that 3 year olds are easier than 2 year olds. This gave me a little something extra to look forward to. Could it be true? Could a 3 year old Sari be much easier than her as a 2 year old? Turns out, in our case anyways, it could! In those 3 months I have seen a huge overhaul in her attitude. it wasn't an over night thing but as we close in on her third birthday I find a have a much more agreeable child. One who not just can but chooses to communicate with me when she's upset and who will generally listen as I explain things to her. I wonder, is this the magic of getting closer to the top of the toddler hill? Have any of you have the same experience?
Here's to entire tear-free weeks!
Three seems to be the magic number. Or at least that's what I've read in parenting books and on several websites. About three months ago while going through a rough patch with Sari I sought advice on the Dr. Sears website. Dr. Sears if you haven't heard of him is a promoter of Attachment parenting. This is a philosophy on raising children. It's includes things like baby wearing, long term breastfeeding, co sleeping and the like. While I couldn't call myself an AP parent in all senses, I do like many of the ideals and have use many in raising my own kids. discipline is most definitely an area in which I agree with the AP approach (or at least Dr. Sears AP approach.) I don't think it's helpful in any way shape or form to hit your kids. Sometimes though I need find it helps when things are not going so smoothly to re-read, talk to friends and reassure myself that my approach is indeed the right one for us.
So, as I was saying three months ago, I'm having a terrible time with Sari's behaviour. She just didn't seem to be listening and when she did listen if she didn't like it there was screaming and crying and a whole number of other 'terrible two' behaviour. In my reading I was reassured I was doing the right things and this too would pass, I just needed to be consistent. This turned out to be true and things are improved, in very improved. Which brings me to why I'm writing this post.
While on the site I read that 3 year olds are easier than 2 year olds. This gave me a little something extra to look forward to. Could it be true? Could a 3 year old Sari be much easier than her as a 2 year old? Turns out, in our case anyways, it could! In those 3 months I have seen a huge overhaul in her attitude. it wasn't an over night thing but as we close in on her third birthday I find a have a much more agreeable child. One who not just can but chooses to communicate with me when she's upset and who will generally listen as I explain things to her. I wonder, is this the magic of getting closer to the top of the toddler hill? Have any of you have the same experience?
Here's to entire tear-free weeks!
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
To Homeschool Or Not To Homeschool
As I posted not long ago the 'school issue' takes up much of my thinking time lately. This is something I'll probably be posting about a lot in hopes that writing about it with declutter my brain a little. Anyways, this morning in the shower (where I do my best thinking) I was weighing the idea of homeschooling my children...again. There are two things that I was really mulling over this morning.
The first is how much fun we could have with the subjects I enjoy. History being always my favourite and to this day one of my favourite things. I'm a book reading, history lover and I have no shame about that. Geeky or not I love history, in particular English history. I'm so passionate about the subject I imagine how it might and hopefully would rub off on the two kids. As a kid I always found my favourite and best teachers were the ones who loved what they were teaching. I've worried a lot about whether I could be a good teacher, teaching something I love though, I would enjoy that and I'd like to think so would the kids. As a good homeschooling friend has pointed out several times, we could get completely absorbed in a period of history. We could tie in maths, science, English and even cooking to our history lesson. A entire unit absorbed in the Romans or the Middles Ages or Regency period. Jewish history ties is to all these eras and we could look into the impact of these periods of history on our people. As you can probably tell I absolutely love the idea of teaching history to my children. I have to say this gets an extra check on the pro side of my pros and cons list.
The second thing that I was pondering over in the shower probably won't sound so nice. I love my kids beyond measure, them along with my husband are the best thing to ever happen to me and the most important but the fact of the matter is sometimes they drive me crazy. I'm not sure if I have the type of patience I would need to be a homeschooling mum. The same homeschooling friend has said to me 'it could be the best childhood or the worst.' I'm worried the latter would be the case. I'd like to think I'm not a terribly cranky mum but it would dishonest of me if I didn't say some days I'm most definitely not 'Mother of the year' material. I want Sari and Lev to have a happy, carefree and wonderful childhood and I'd be devastated if that wasn't the case because of me.
All this thinking and analysing is because I'm terrified of making the wrong choice. I realise that if one doesn't work out then we can simply change our minds. However I don't like the idea of starting a school or begin homeschooling and then upset Sari by changing my mind after she's settled in. I went to ten different schools growing up mostly all attended before I graduated the fifth grade. I don't want that for my children. Stability is such an important thing for young ones. I feel like I'd be doing both kids a disservice if I did that. Thank goodness Sari is still only two and half, Doug and I have some time yet before we make a final decision.
The first is how much fun we could have with the subjects I enjoy. History being always my favourite and to this day one of my favourite things. I'm a book reading, history lover and I have no shame about that. Geeky or not I love history, in particular English history. I'm so passionate about the subject I imagine how it might and hopefully would rub off on the two kids. As a kid I always found my favourite and best teachers were the ones who loved what they were teaching. I've worried a lot about whether I could be a good teacher, teaching something I love though, I would enjoy that and I'd like to think so would the kids. As a good homeschooling friend has pointed out several times, we could get completely absorbed in a period of history. We could tie in maths, science, English and even cooking to our history lesson. A entire unit absorbed in the Romans or the Middles Ages or Regency period. Jewish history ties is to all these eras and we could look into the impact of these periods of history on our people. As you can probably tell I absolutely love the idea of teaching history to my children. I have to say this gets an extra check on the pro side of my pros and cons list.
The second thing that I was pondering over in the shower probably won't sound so nice. I love my kids beyond measure, them along with my husband are the best thing to ever happen to me and the most important but the fact of the matter is sometimes they drive me crazy. I'm not sure if I have the type of patience I would need to be a homeschooling mum. The same homeschooling friend has said to me 'it could be the best childhood or the worst.' I'm worried the latter would be the case. I'd like to think I'm not a terribly cranky mum but it would dishonest of me if I didn't say some days I'm most definitely not 'Mother of the year' material. I want Sari and Lev to have a happy, carefree and wonderful childhood and I'd be devastated if that wasn't the case because of me.
All this thinking and analysing is because I'm terrified of making the wrong choice. I realise that if one doesn't work out then we can simply change our minds. However I don't like the idea of starting a school or begin homeschooling and then upset Sari by changing my mind after she's settled in. I went to ten different schools growing up mostly all attended before I graduated the fifth grade. I don't want that for my children. Stability is such an important thing for young ones. I feel like I'd be doing both kids a disservice if I did that. Thank goodness Sari is still only two and half, Doug and I have some time yet before we make a final decision.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
My Reflections
Well it's that time of year. The time when as Jews we are suppose to reflect, forgive and ask forgiveness from those we've wronged in the past year. I hope I am forgiven if I've offended any of you, my readers and my friends (who are probably the only ones who read this blog.)
Indeed, the people I must and have apologised to are my husband and my two children. They are the ones who cop my bad moods and see all my imperfections. Sari at two and a half, has at least a basic understand of apology and forgiveness. I am a mum who will say 'I'm sorry' to my toddler when I'm in the wrong. This usually happens when I've snapped at her or lost my patience. I think it shows a healthy amount of humility and let's Sari know that everyone makes mistakes and that apologising for those mistakes is the right thing to do. Children follow our example. If I am honest with my children hopefully they will learn to be honest with me. I have no desire for my children to think I'm always right. It would only hurt and confuse them when they figure out I'm not. So I believe in owing up to my faults.
For now Sari's understanding of the ten days of repentance, Yom Kippur and the importance of this all is still lost on her but in the future I hope that both kids will take advantage of this time of year to sit down, reflect and hopefully move foward with improvement. I read somewheres an idea that I believe is a great way to represent wiping the slate clean each year at this time. Take the kids down the beach, grab a stick and close to the water write in the sand your past years mistakes in one word summaries. Once a word is written watch as a wave sweeps it away. I think this a fantastic way to bring home the idea of forgiveness.
I hope you all have an easy fast.
Indeed, the people I must and have apologised to are my husband and my two children. They are the ones who cop my bad moods and see all my imperfections. Sari at two and a half, has at least a basic understand of apology and forgiveness. I am a mum who will say 'I'm sorry' to my toddler when I'm in the wrong. This usually happens when I've snapped at her or lost my patience. I think it shows a healthy amount of humility and let's Sari know that everyone makes mistakes and that apologising for those mistakes is the right thing to do. Children follow our example. If I am honest with my children hopefully they will learn to be honest with me. I have no desire for my children to think I'm always right. It would only hurt and confuse them when they figure out I'm not. So I believe in owing up to my faults.
For now Sari's understanding of the ten days of repentance, Yom Kippur and the importance of this all is still lost on her but in the future I hope that both kids will take advantage of this time of year to sit down, reflect and hopefully move foward with improvement. I read somewheres an idea that I believe is a great way to represent wiping the slate clean each year at this time. Take the kids down the beach, grab a stick and close to the water write in the sand your past years mistakes in one word summaries. Once a word is written watch as a wave sweeps it away. I think this a fantastic way to bring home the idea of forgiveness.
I hope you all have an easy fast.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Rosh Hashanah already!
Where did it go? Maybe it's because I was pregnant for most of it and sleep deprived for the last few months but it seems 5772 passed by in a blur. Last night after lighting our yom tov candles and eating a delicious meal hubby made via our new bbq, we talked about our goals for the next year. I have a few and I'd like to share them. Hopefully by writing them down for all my readers I'll be able to keep to it.
Firstly I want and need to be more patient and in extension take some time to 'smell the roses'. As a parent of a toddler (almost preschooler) and a baby I so often feel like everything has to be rushed. Meals are rushed, outings are rushed, even getting the kids to bed at night seems rushed. That constant rushed feeling is affecting my enjoyment of my beautiful family. As a result of always rushing around I seem to have become a bit impatient. So this year I'm going to slow down. I don't have to say 'yes' to every invitation. I'm going to take my time with things. That includes being more patient with Sari when she's having a tantrum. For the most part they are so lovely and the occasional bad day or even bad hour shouldn't take away from that. They are only this age once after all and it'll be gone in a flash. I want to be able to look back and remember how gorgeous they are and how amazing each stage they go through is. Not feel as though I sped through some of the most wondrous years of my children's life.
The second thing is I'd like to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. Lev is only four months but I need to find a way to get some more exercise in so I'm not feeling so terrible when I look in the mirror. This is for me. Hubby, God bless him, loves me just the way I am and the kids certainly don't care that I can't fit into my old jeans. I'm not aiming to be skinny even but just to be at a healthier weight. Recently we've had a bit of a overhaul in our diet and no doubt that will help. It's something that would make me feel better and if I'm feeling more positive that can only be good for my family too.
Thirdly, I'm determined to get our house in order, furniture wise. We need a new lounge, coffee table and a cot/toddler bed. Hello Ikea! We seem to have had terrible luck with lounges. We've been married only 3 and a half years and started out with mostly second hand furniture. The problem with second hand is it's already seen its' better days. So after some shopping around we want to buy a brand new one. Not anything incredibly expensive but something that will last long than 18 months. We also need, in the next couple weeks in fact, a cot that can turn into a toddler bed. Lev has quickly outgrown the bassinet and as of right now Sari is definitely not ready for a big bed. I'm sure by next year she will be but until then the solution seems to be another cot. By the time she's big enough for a single bed Lev will get a couple years out of the toddler bed.
I'm sure there are a very long list of things I could come up with but three is good number to commit to. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on how I go keeping to mine. What's on your list heading into the new year?
L'Shanah Tovah everyone! I hope you have wonderfully blessed and sweet year.
xx
Firstly I want and need to be more patient and in extension take some time to 'smell the roses'. As a parent of a toddler (almost preschooler) and a baby I so often feel like everything has to be rushed. Meals are rushed, outings are rushed, even getting the kids to bed at night seems rushed. That constant rushed feeling is affecting my enjoyment of my beautiful family. As a result of always rushing around I seem to have become a bit impatient. So this year I'm going to slow down. I don't have to say 'yes' to every invitation. I'm going to take my time with things. That includes being more patient with Sari when she's having a tantrum. For the most part they are so lovely and the occasional bad day or even bad hour shouldn't take away from that. They are only this age once after all and it'll be gone in a flash. I want to be able to look back and remember how gorgeous they are and how amazing each stage they go through is. Not feel as though I sped through some of the most wondrous years of my children's life.
The second thing is I'd like to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. Lev is only four months but I need to find a way to get some more exercise in so I'm not feeling so terrible when I look in the mirror. This is for me. Hubby, God bless him, loves me just the way I am and the kids certainly don't care that I can't fit into my old jeans. I'm not aiming to be skinny even but just to be at a healthier weight. Recently we've had a bit of a overhaul in our diet and no doubt that will help. It's something that would make me feel better and if I'm feeling more positive that can only be good for my family too.
Thirdly, I'm determined to get our house in order, furniture wise. We need a new lounge, coffee table and a cot/toddler bed. Hello Ikea! We seem to have had terrible luck with lounges. We've been married only 3 and a half years and started out with mostly second hand furniture. The problem with second hand is it's already seen its' better days. So after some shopping around we want to buy a brand new one. Not anything incredibly expensive but something that will last long than 18 months. We also need, in the next couple weeks in fact, a cot that can turn into a toddler bed. Lev has quickly outgrown the bassinet and as of right now Sari is definitely not ready for a big bed. I'm sure by next year she will be but until then the solution seems to be another cot. By the time she's big enough for a single bed Lev will get a couple years out of the toddler bed.
I'm sure there are a very long list of things I could come up with but three is good number to commit to. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on how I go keeping to mine. What's on your list heading into the new year?
L'Shanah Tovah everyone! I hope you have wonderfully blessed and sweet year.
xx
Friday, 31 August 2012
The School Issue
First I must apologise for the long absence. Lev arrived safe and sound and these past months have been very busy adjusting to having two children in the house and of course the demands of a newborn. Now that the baby is sleeping through the night and we have settled into a routine, I have time for thoughts outside of breastfeeding, nappy changing and grabbing the occasional nap.
Recently I have been mulling over what I call 'the school issue.' Basically what I mean by that is Doug and I have long been of the mind to have our kids enrolled at a Jewish school. We like the idea of our children learning in a Jewish environment, not having to deal with Christmas or Easter issue (in a school sense: concerts, crafts, etc.) Private school gives the advantage of smaller classrooms and a great education among other things. Two things weigh in on the other side of the scale. One being that locally we only have a Orthodox Jewish school and being a Progressive family I do worry about the 'politics' of that. The second is cost. I take great pride in being a stay at home mum. I feel strongly about not putting my children in day care and therefore we live off of hubby's income. That does us fine but private schooling is expensive and would more than likely require me going back to work, at least part time. Everything in me as a mum screams at me that this would be the wrong decision for our family. Now I realise Sari is only two and a half and Lev is only 4 months old but these are questions to be asking now. A: Do we wish the kids to attend Jewish, regardless of it being Orthodox? B: If so, how can we financially make it work without compromising our ideals of raising our children with a stay at home parent? C: Are there any other options?
The first question I've more or less answered is question 'C'. The other options are public school or homeschooling. The public school system makes me cringe and I truly wish to avoid it if at all possible, The other option is homeschooling. This actually appeals to me somewhat. One of my closest friends with children the same age as my own and being raised in Progressive Judaism has chosen to go with a secular homeschooling curriculum and will supplement their Jewish lifestyle into their education. Sounds pretty perfect, right? The thing is, is it perfect for us? I'm not so sure I'd make a great homeschooling mum. I would be devastated if my gorgeous, smart children had gaps in their education because I wasn't a good teacher. I hear there are great support networks though and I still am thinking quite seriously if this would indeed be a good fit for our family. So question 'C' has left me with more questions to answer.
I have some time to mull over these questions and I'd love to have some input from my readers as well. What has worked for you? Are there other options I haven't thought of?
Recently I have been mulling over what I call 'the school issue.' Basically what I mean by that is Doug and I have long been of the mind to have our kids enrolled at a Jewish school. We like the idea of our children learning in a Jewish environment, not having to deal with Christmas or Easter issue (in a school sense: concerts, crafts, etc.) Private school gives the advantage of smaller classrooms and a great education among other things. Two things weigh in on the other side of the scale. One being that locally we only have a Orthodox Jewish school and being a Progressive family I do worry about the 'politics' of that. The second is cost. I take great pride in being a stay at home mum. I feel strongly about not putting my children in day care and therefore we live off of hubby's income. That does us fine but private schooling is expensive and would more than likely require me going back to work, at least part time. Everything in me as a mum screams at me that this would be the wrong decision for our family. Now I realise Sari is only two and a half and Lev is only 4 months old but these are questions to be asking now. A: Do we wish the kids to attend Jewish, regardless of it being Orthodox? B: If so, how can we financially make it work without compromising our ideals of raising our children with a stay at home parent? C: Are there any other options?
The first question I've more or less answered is question 'C'. The other options are public school or homeschooling. The public school system makes me cringe and I truly wish to avoid it if at all possible, The other option is homeschooling. This actually appeals to me somewhat. One of my closest friends with children the same age as my own and being raised in Progressive Judaism has chosen to go with a secular homeschooling curriculum and will supplement their Jewish lifestyle into their education. Sounds pretty perfect, right? The thing is, is it perfect for us? I'm not so sure I'd make a great homeschooling mum. I would be devastated if my gorgeous, smart children had gaps in their education because I wasn't a good teacher. I hear there are great support networks though and I still am thinking quite seriously if this would indeed be a good fit for our family. So question 'C' has left me with more questions to answer.
I have some time to mull over these questions and I'd love to have some input from my readers as well. What has worked for you? Are there other options I haven't thought of?
Monday, 14 May 2012
Finally here!
It's been a little while and as a reader of my blog I'm sure you can guess why the pause in posting. That's right, my little boy finally made his way into the world. On May 10th, 2012 I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. We've named him Lev Judah. We will be spending the next week or so adjusting and getting ourselves into a routine. I'll be back posting rants very soon.
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