Crumby Passover

For those who aren’t forced to eat unleavened bread as a holiday tradition, Matzoh can be somewhat tasty and interesting. For those chosen people, who for over a week reluctantly eat the stale flat crispy pieces, the novelty has definitely worn off. Welcome to Passover: the carbohydrate lover’s worst nightmare. Problem is the holiday doesn’t just stop at bread. For those people who observe it (and are not of Safardic decent), the tradition also includes: rice, pasta, corn, vinegar, corn syrup, corn oil, and anything with grain (recently pot was added to the list too as it contains hemp seed- I mean c’mon!). When I moved out of my house, however, I drew the line at pretty much rice pasta and bread. You don’t realize how many foods contain vinegar and corn syrup until you are unable to partake in them (Think anything from Ketchup and salad dressing to beer to Jelly beans and gum!).

There are some foods that come out during the holiday time, however, that I really enjoy. A little Jewish Food 101: Take the food called Matzah Farfel. It’s basically sautéed matzoh dipped in egg with onions and salt. But I guess anything that fried would taste good. On the healthier side is matzoh ball soup. Although specifically for the holidays, I eat this soup all times of year (when not on Passover, noodles are added haha). It’s just a basic chicken soup with these soft consistency balls in it, but its delic. Also specifically for Passover is Harroset (I actually have no idea how to spell it). Its apples with cinnamon and wine all mixed together. It ends up being so good on Matzoh or over salad (a new find). Brisket; although I’m not even sure if this is specifically Jewish, is awesome if made well. My mom happens to make what I think is the best brisket. She cooks it two weeks in advance and freezes it so it really absorbs all the juices it cooks in. Then two days before she serves it she defrosts it in the fridge so it can soak in the juice. It ends up being amazing and is always the first thing to go on the table.

While some of these foods happen to be really good, it still doesn’t make up for the 8 days of painful anti-yeast eating. While I know bread isn’t the best thing for me; Like everything, somehow when you are not allowed to have it, it just makes you want it more.