Hamantaschen

You know what a shiksa is, right?  By definition, a shiksa is a non-Jewish chica, but really the context isn't so nice. Hey, I've (probably) been called worse. When we first started dating and things got serious, my husband and I had to confront the whole she's Catholic, he's Jewish thing. And, trust me, it was a big thing. But we weren't the first to walk that path, and we won't be the last. One thing that works for us is embracing each other's traditions. For me, big Sunday dinners, Christmas, Easter. For him, Passover seders, fasting on Yom Kippur, and hamantaschen for Purim. 

Hamantashen are triangular cookies shaped like Haman's hat ( the biblical antagonist from the book of Esther). They are usually available at east coast bakeries all year round, but they are the culinary connection to Purim, a holiday at the end of February or the beginning of March, you know, depending on the Jewish calendar for the year. 

Leading up to Purim, a lot of bakers get creative with Hamantaschen, mashing recipes and decorating the cookie, but I always go classic: Apricot ot prune, jam-filled triangles. But classic is our couple style - one of our unifying factors. If you come from two different places in the world and choose to spend your lives together, there needs to be a lot that connects you. For us, we love food and wine, traveling, our families . . . that's our foundation for a solid relationship. Because I've spent a lot of time learning about Jewish foods and traditions, people often ask if I'd convert to Judaism. Why would I do that? Look, my husband and I fell in love with each other as we are - why would we need to change a core part of our identity? We learn from each other and grow together, but a strong relationship would never ask someone to compromise who they are for the other. But, it's still important to value a person's orgins, hence baking hamantaschen.

Here's how I learned - My Jewish Learning. This site is amazing and helped me figure out a lot of protocol for the High Holy Days, seders, baking challah, and hamantaschen - which, no matter the time of year, I highly recommend. Here's the recipe I use. Let me know which filling you choose!