Purim in Tel Aviv

We went to a Purim party in Tel Aviv, which I didn't have a costume for - but I felt like getting out.  So, I was lent some beads, unbuttoned a few buttons, and took a picture "Jonathan the Hippy" was the idea.  Shirt went back on, beads came off and were returned, and I went for dinner down the street.  When I came back some sort of drama had ensued.  Many of the group were innebriated, and I, well, I just had an amazing burger and made friends with the guy working at Burger Bar .

A few went home, I found out some other friends were in Florentine (it's the artist colony, the west village so to speak of Tel Aviv) and we headed over there.  Massive party on the street in celebration of Purim.  It took all of ten minutes to lose everyone, I was impressed we stayed together that long.  But, I found other friends whom I was hoping to meet up with.  It was so packed, you had to give exact locations to the meter almost or else you couldn't find people.  If you moved through the crowd, you strung out in a line, holding hands so as not to lose anyone.  Eventually, we left for Ramla, arriving just as the rain started to drip from the heavens above.  Izy and Nicole slept on the sherut monit back, we got off and and went to our respective apartments where I for one, fell into a deep sleep only to awake 7 hours later.

Volunteering at Arab Kadima today, I have an activity for them of making Vinegar volcanoes.  Hopefully it works out!  I will try to take some pictures.

Shakshuka for lunch

It's a great dish, basically a stir fry with a sunny side up egg on top.

Shakshuka recipe

Tel Aviv and Shabbat dinner

After Double Ulpan, I came back to the apartment for a bit, intending to make pecan squares.  I realized though that with volunteering at 4, I wasn't going to have enough time to do that - so instead, I cleaned up.  A little before going, I spoke with a friend in Tel Aviv, who told me about plans to go to a restaurant where all the waiters are deaf (in another section of the same restaurant, the waiters are blind and you eat in complete darkness - for another time). 

After a side tour of Jaffa, we got out of our cab a bit to early - at one point we had to ford a small river, but no one's oxen drowned.  We arrived at the restaurant where we discovered the difficulty of conveying allergies to dietary restrictions without speaking.  Survived that portion, and had a lovely meal.  Two bottles of wine later, we realized that we had been there for long enough when we received the same sign language crash course for a second time (it's given to the whole restaurant at the same time).

We discussed and agreed to return to Bala.  After only just arriving, the two friends visiting Israel who were out with us found themselves dancing the night away with two Israeli's - one in the army, the other a university student.  We talked, drank beer and then moved on to cava before eventually going home in a cab very late.

I woke up late shabbat morning, and remembered how the previous time there wasn't any challah left at the place across the street.  I had offered to make shabbat dinner for everyone from the night before.  After picking up the challah, I went to the shuk with Ben and Josh, purchasing vegetables and fruit and a few other small things.

Back at the apartment, I started to cook a little after 1PM.

I prepared stuffed onions (I think I went a little bit overboard on the cheese, but it's like the saying about the secret to french cooking: butter, butter, butter) and a vegetable soup that turned into a vegetable stew.  Izy was going to join us, but had a commitment with his host family.  He still helped though, dipping the strawberries I purchased into melted chocolate.

We set the table, and then Jeff called without a place to go - so I invited him to join us as well, and then Argentinian Jonathan showed up and joined in as well.  After dinner, my two other roommates came out, and finished the left overs.  I had invited them to sit with us for shabbat dinner earlier, and thought that they were planning to, but I guess they slept through it.

We ate relatively early since two of my guests had a flight tonight that they needed to catch. 

They left, ran home in the torrential pouring rain, and happened to call their parents.  The airline called, the flight was delayed.  Back they came.  Another bottle of wine was opened (bringing the total to 5 for the evening).  I was laughing about how I bought bourbon just for a spoonful.  Nicole had come over earlier to help make the Pecan Bars, and we had used the spoonful.  We decided to do a L'Chaim.  I think we should stick to cooking with the bourbon.

Judita also arrived at the apartment, and we had turkish coffee, and more wine.  This is the type of shabbat meal I enjoy, lots of friends, talking, sharing wine, telling stories.  As it got later, Jeff, Jonathan, Judita, and our two traveling friends (we learned at this point that their flight was delayed 9 hours - now we know it's closer to 12 hours delay) went to Tel Aviv for a cover band.

Nicole stayed to help me clean up a few last things, and we sat and talked and listened to some music waiting for them to make it back so they could catch their flight.  They did, and left for the airport this morning.

I woke up this morning wondering if I had played in traffic last night.  I felt like I had been run over by a bus. 

Note to self, avoid cheap wine.

Actually, I felt relatively good, except that I slept weird and my neck bothered me - but Izy had some ibuprofen, so all feels better now.

Looking forward to a day of rest and relaxation.  Some writing to do, some reading to do, and of course, some cooking to do.

What's for lunch?

Double Ulpan

Since Oranim has refused to provide additional Ulpan, despite the interest of the group, I decided to attend both the beginner and intermediate classes today.

Luckily, I have studied a few different languages, so grouping verbs is a concept I am familiar with.  I didn't know the verbs themselves, but was able to break them into groups based on similarities, which seems to be the more difficult part.  Once parsed, they just need to be treated in their respective manner.  I think the grammar in Hebrew isn't so bad, it's just a lot of vocabulary and luckily word roots play a significant role in Hebrew as well, so it's very doable.  Of course, reading and writing in the aleph - bet does complicate matters, but I am becoming very familiar with it.

Library this afternoon, and then I am not sure.  Shabbat dinner here tomorrow night, so we shall see how that goes.

In other news, my father after reading my blog post, sent me some valuable information which I share with you now: How to properly make a root beer float.

Root Beer Float

I am craving a root beer float, if anyone has any suggestions on where I can get one here in Israel.

Food Processor

I decided that we needed a blender, so I asked Oranim about replacing the broken one that came with the house. They refused on the grounds that someone else must have brought it, it wasn't provided originally by Oranim, and therefore, not their responsibility to provide a working food processor. I decided to take the cost of it on myself, and purchased one. Of course, it never occurred to me until checkout that I had to get it home on my own.

Once home, I had to to run to volunteering at the library, where Daniella yelled at everyone in Hebrew (I think the parents were complaining again that we weren't translating for the kids, they don't seem to be aware that we don't have that ability, I wish I could translate. I calmly responded to her that I was working with Hadeel and her sister, and would be doing english homework with them. She told me I should be sharing my time equally, 20 minutes per child. I told her that I am volunteering, and that I would work with the kids who were interested, but I wasn't going to spend time with kids who were goofing off or didn't want to be there. I am not going to waste my efforts, especially when there are kids who do want the help, and ignoring them would be killing the ones who have the best chance of learning something.

Afterwards, back at the apartment, we opened the food processor. For those that don't know:

food processor [’fu:d‚prəʋsesər] [US]

noun

מְעַבֵּד מָזוֹן

Web definitions

a kitchen appliance with interchangeable blades; used for shredding or blending or chopping or slicing food

wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A food processor is a kitchen appliance used to facilitate various repetitive tasks in the process of preparation of food. Today, the term almost always refers to an electric-motor-driven appliance, although there are some manual devices also referred to as "food processors".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_processor

A machine with interchangeable blades and disks and a removable bowl and lid separate from the motor housing. ...

www.ciakids.com/forkids/dictionary/dictionary_f.html

and decided to use the "french fry cutter" to make french fries. A plate of hash browns and a bottle of wine later, we also decided to remodel the kitchen, bringing in a table from the living room, and creating a work area next to the sink. I think it has a lot more functional space. Of course, we need to find the extension cord that disappeared from the living room which was originally in the kitchen to plug in the different appliances, but all in good time.

Below are some photos of Izy and me enjoying our new kitchen toy.

I prepare to power on the food processor. The machine to the left is a blender - so I am certainly looking forward to making some smoothies as the weather gets better. All those amazing fruits in the shuk - maybe even an avocado and ice cream smoothie or two for old times sake!

You can see Izy's excitement as he turns potatoes into french fries. Our first meal with the food processor.

On another note, I spent a good two hours searching the supermarket and was unable to find corn syrup, not a typical recipe, but called for in a recipe I am planning. So, I checked on my blackberry, and found a substitute. But then, I couldn't find one of the ingredients in the substitute, so I googled again, and found another substititute, and suddenly realized that I was looking for something that would be the substitute of a substitute and already, everything is different from home. I wonder if it will work out alright, or not?

The American Palette

I found this short article on the NYTimes:

The Case of the Fraudulent Pinot Noir

In the case of the fraudulent pinot noir, a group of French wine brokers were convicted of selling to E. & J. Gallo 3.57 million gallons of red wine from the Languedoc that it falsely called pinot noir but in fact was made from a much less expensive grape, Decanter.com reported.  Gallo then sold the wine as pinot noir under its Red Bicyclette brand.
According to a news report, the brokers more than doubled their profit by calling the wine pinot noir. Those convicted received fines, suspended prison sentences or both.
The scandal was uncovered when French officials noticed that far more pinot noir was sold from the Languedoc than the region produced.
“Not a single American consumer complained,’’ one of the defense lawyers said.

- The Pour

It's the last line that I love.

I have been trying many different Israeli wines, so I thought I would share this story that I read.

A beautiful day

It would be a perfect day to float in the dead sea. Photo taken from the college during Ulpan break.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Planned tour of Ramla

While searching for information for the supermarket, I found this neat tour map of Ramla.  I hope to take the walk later this week and check it out.  It looks like there is a lot to see here if you know where to look.

White Tower

It's almost time for a trip to the tower - I did some googling, and this is what I found out:

The tower served as both a watchtower and the minaret of the White Mosque, which stood nearby in the 8th century (only a few ruins are left , but you can see a model at the Ramla Museum). Apparently, it was an architectural gem in those days, and a great source of local pride – a medieval Empire State Building of sorts.

The legend goes that the inhabitants of nearby Lod were jealous and decided to steal the tower. At night, they crept to Ramla and tied it up with miraculous ropes given to them by a wise man. They pulled with all their might and were sure it was moving. By daybreak, when they thought they were almost home, the ropes snapped – they were made of rubber – and tower had not moved an inch. “Jam’a al-abiyad bitkarb” (“the White Tower is near”) thus became the great put-down, used whenever the people of Ramla wanted to tease the people of Lod.

-Ramla things to do

Wasted morning

I was able to spend some time at the library today as there was a typical breakdown in communication this morning with regard to volunteering at the Amal high school.  The teachers were being observed, so they didn't want us anywhere near their classrooms - after having some coffee and waiting for her to come get us, I asked what was going on, only to find this out.  Drat - could have slept in.

At the library I worked on my hebrew, going back through the book and making sure I fully understood every conversation and every word in every conversation up to where we are now.  The ones I didn't know immediately, I listed and plan to make flashcards.  I have about a page of words to learn, which is not a big deal - some of them I was just a little iffy on.

Back at the apartment I enjoyed a perfectly ripe avocado with some carmelized onions I cooked in the oven yesterday and some garlic I roasted as well.  Avocado had salt and lemon, which I find combined really pull out the flavor.

Jewish Kadima this afternoon, so I won't be able to go food shopping until tomorrow most likely.

I am planning to make Pecan Bars, recipe below.

I also need to purchase some stuff for a project I am planning to do next week at the Arab Kadima (I want to make vinegar volcanoes with the kids, I think they will really enjoy it).

I won't be able to go tonight as well since I want to go to the Ramla Women's Basketball game.

//

Recipe: Pecan Bars

Makes 24.

Toast all of the pecans for the recipe (2 ¼ cups) on a rimmed baking
sheet in a 350-degree oven until fragrant (about 8 minutes), stirring
once. Assemble the pecan filling while the crust bakes. Once the crust
is lightly browned, spread the filling on top and continue baking.
Because of their high sugar content, pecan bars store well and taste
great up to 5 days after baking. While we liked bourbon the best, dark
rum is quite good. For a very boozy tasting bar cookie, add another
tablespoon of liquor.

Ingredients
Crust
1       cup unbleached all-purpose flour (5 ounces)
1/3     cup packed light brown sugar (2 1/3 ounces)
1/4     cup toasted pecans , chopped coarse
1       teaspoon table salt
1/4     teaspoon baking powder
6       tablespoons cold unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Pecan Filling
1/2     cup packed light brown sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
1/3     cup light corn syrup
4       tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
1       tablespoon bourbon or dark rum
2       teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2     teaspoon table salt
1       large egg , lightly beaten
2       cups toasted pecans , chopped coarse
Instructions

 1.

    1. For the crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat
oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick
cooking spray. Fold two 16-inch pieces of foil or parchment paper
lengthwise to measure 9 inches wide. Following illustrations 1 and 2
below, fit 1 sheet in bottom of greased pan, pushing it into corners
and up sides of pan (overhang will help in removal of baked bars). Fit
second sheet in pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet.
Spray sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
 2.

    2. Place flour, brown sugar, pecans, salt, and baking powder in
food processor. Process mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal,
about five 1-second pulses. Add butter and pulse until mixture
resembles sand, about eight 1-second pulses. Pat mixture evenly into
prepared pan and bake until crust is light brown and springs back when
touched, about 20 minutes.
 3.

    3. For the pecan filling: While crust bakes, whisk together
brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, bourbon, vanilla, and salt in
medium bowl until just combined. Add egg and whisk until incorporated.
 4.

    4. Pour filling on top of hot crust and sprinkle pecans evenly
over top. Bake until top is brown and cracks start to form across
surface, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Remove bars
from pan using foil or parchment handles and transfer to cutting
board. Cut into bars that measure 1 1/2 inches by 2 1/4 inches.

Dinner and Arab Kadima

My two companions were sick, so I went to the Arab Kadima alone today.  I had a lot of fun, working with a few kids on some oragami projects.  We made some birds and some balls and I made a fortune telling thing for them at the end (probably the simplest) but I didn't have time to explain.  After, during the study period, I helped one girl with her english homework and then taught her a little spanish at her request.  It was fun, I had to figure out what she wanted to say in Hebrew, and then translate into English and then into Spanish.  Luckily, it was mostly phrases, so I recognized things like how are you and how old are you pretty quickly, but it still necessitated the dictionary at one point to clarify some points.

I left during the free time, and headed to the market.  After starting to fill a basket, I realized that the produce there was awful - things were withered and not fresh at all.  I returned the few items and went to the canned foods, and other things like that, but realized that they were probably over priced.  I called a friend, and found out that there is another shopping center closer to Lod, so I am going to head there tomorrow to see if I can get a better deal on groceries.

While walking back from the Arab Kadima, I noticed black smoke coming from around the field.  I turned the corner to see a large conflagration.  Instinctively, I reached for my phone, and dialed 002.  Wrong number.  102 and 101 got me an error message as well which is strange, so I called the police, 100, and after talking with them for a few minutes, a firetruck came.  Not sure if I had anything to do with it, but I like to imagine I did my part, my civic duty.

Back at the apartment, I offered to make Izy dinner.  All I had left were starch items, so I sliced the skins from the potatoes, put them in some olive oil and tossed with some herbs before putting them in the oven.  The were awesome when they finally finished.  I also made some spaghetti sauce from scratch, some pasta, and some garlic mashed potatoes.  All came out well.  Izy did most of the dishes, and I offered to do some of the pots since I went overboard.  We sat down to finish some wine, a cabernet from Tishbi, when the phone rang.  It was some other members of our group inviting us for dinner.

We grabbed the rest of the wine, and the potato skins, and headed over to sit with them and talk, but arrived as everyone was finishing eating.  It was nice to get out for a while, but I came back early to make a call and write up this blog.

In other news, I am getting into the source a little bit, which is starting to get interesting.  I wish I could have seen Israel then, when it was a sea of sand full of adventures.

red flowers in a gray world

Flowers from the Bahai Gardens.

There was so much color here, that I didn't want to lose the beauty of these red flowers, so I just cut out the other colors and left them. It's also because I found this awesome new feature on my camera. I guess I don't have an awesome SLR that will let me focus on a single person, making the background blurry - this is the only comparable shot I can take at this time.