In 2009 Shavu'ot, the festival that celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, will begin at sunset on 28th May. Shavu'ot celebrates a successful harvest in Israel. The Torah, also known as the Pentateuch, consists of the first five books of the Bible and according to the Torah Shavu'ot, meaning "weeks" takes place seven weeks after Passover during the barley harvest.
Shavu'ot Traditions in the Home
Because Shavu'ot is the Harvest Festival Jewish homes are decorated with fruits, flowers and green leaves. Tradition states that although Mount Sinai, even though it was located in a desert, bloomed with flowers when the Torah was given.
Food for the Festival
Almost every Jewish festival has its traditional foods and at Shavu'ot it is usual to eat dairy food. There are plenty of explanations as to why we eat such foods at this time.
One is that when the Jewish people received the Torah they accepted their obligation to observe the dietary laws of Kashrut, meaning kosher. These laws set out which foods can be eaten and how they are prepared. Since the Torah was presented on the Sabbath no cattle could be killed therefore they ate only dairy foods on that day.
Every Jewish cook has her favourite foods for Shavu'ot: Cheesecake is one and Cheese Blintzes are another. The Blintz is a thin pancake, similar to a crepe but only browned on one side, stuffed with a delicious cheese filling.
The following recipe will make 4 servings, 8 blintzes.
Ingredients for the Batter:
- ¼ pint milk
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 oz/30 g margarine
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 oz/60 g all-purpose flour
Method for the batter:
- Lightly beat the milk and eggs together
- Melt the margarine and add to the milk and eggs
- Sift the flour and add to the mixture
- Add salt to taste
- Grease a small frying pan
- Spoon in a small amount of batter, about three tablespoons
- Tilt the pan gently from side to side to spread the batter thinly and evenly over the surface
- Cook over a medium heat until the batter just sets - brown only one side
- Turn out the crepe, bottom side up
- Brush the browned side of each crepe with melted butter and stack
Ingredients for the Filling:
- 1 lb/450 g cottage cheese or Ricotta Cheese
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Method for the filling:
- Mix all the filling ingredients together
- Divide the mixture evenly between the crepes
- Enclose the filling by folding each crepe into a half moon or rectangular shape
- Just before serving heat a small amount of butter in a pan and brown the crepes
Optional Toppings:
- Sour cream or whipped cream
- Berries - fresh or stewed
- Honey
Cheese Blintzes can be served as a savoury starter or a sweet dessert accompanied by sour cream, whipped cream and mixed berries, or almost any other fruit.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
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