Purim Baskets and Fun!
Joy and Gladness on Purim!
With Spring on its way, actually already here in the Low Country, we need a little joy and gladness for body and soul. Happy Purim for all who are celebrating and joy and gladness for all!
In years past, I have chosen themes for sending Purim baskets to friends. Purim is one of those happy holidays where those who observe get dressed in costumes, hear the story of Esther of Persia saving her people and giving Purim baskets to friends. This year I’ve done a Touch of Israel, a basket which has mixed olives from Israel, couscous, a jar of Zaatar, Bubbly White Grape Juice, and, of course my favorite, Chocolate Hamantaschen.
Other ideas for Purim baskets with links below, include: Green Purim, an Italian Purim, Happily Healthy Purim, Coffee and Chocolate Purim, a Salad Purim.
Chocolate Hamantaschen
Yield: 2-2/12 dozen, depending on size
For the chocolate dough:
½ cup butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/8 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
For the white chocolate drizzle:
½ cup white chocolate chips
2 tsp vegetable oil
Nutella
Dough
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Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add egg, milk and vanilla until mixed thoroughly. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl. Add dry mixture to wet mixture until incorporated.
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If the dough is too soft, increase flour amount by 1/4 cup of flour until firm.
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Chill dough for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
To make the cookies:
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Dust your work surface with powdered sugar or flour to keep from sticking. Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick.
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Using a round cookie cutter, cut out and place onto cookie sheet. To keep the dough from sticking to your cutter, dip in powdered sugar or flour before each cut.
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Fill cookies with scant 1/2 teaspoon nutella.
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Bake for 7-9 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely.
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To make white chocolate drizzle: Place white chocolate and vegetable oil in a small glass bowl. Heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals until melted. Mix until completely smooth.
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Drizzle white chocolate sauce back and forth on cookies. Allow to dry completely on a cooling rack before serving or packaging.
expandthetable suggestions
Make it dairy free: Use a non-dairy nut milk in place of milk. Use non-dairy margarine in place of butter. Use a non-dairy white chocolate or omit.
Too much Chocolate? Put Raspberry Jam in the center.
Taken from The Nosher.
Foodie Lit
Laurie Easter has an unusual life. She dwells in a remote area, off the grid. Her bathtub is outside, she birthed on the dirt floor of her cabin and she lives much of her life as part of nature. Laurie is a caregiver, nursing friends and family through illness, staying with others as they approach death and facing difficulties of all sorts. She is brave, not turning away from struggles, yet continues to search for the joy that simultaneously exists with sorrow. All the Leavings is a beautiful memoir about how we, and those we love, arrive and leave.
A Green Purim Green salad tongs, green olives, green parsley and basil, and salad adders: canned tuna, “bacon” bits, and raisins. Add to that a salad container for lunch, parsley seeds to grow your own parsley, green jelly beans and a bubble maker for the young at heart.
Salad: A bag of spinach, whole wheat croutons, homemade salad dressing, wooden salad forks to toss, fresh tomatoes in a large bowl, perfect for salad
Italian: A Pasta fork, homemade spaghetti sauce, pasta, black olives, and biscotti for dessert.
Coffee and Chocolate: A bar of fin chocolate ad a bag of coffee beans in a large mug
