By Janice Denham, Suburban Journals
When it’s party time for Purim, the Jewish community knows what is good to eat: hamantashen.
Chanala Rubenfeld, program director for Chabad of Chesterfield, says the cookies are a sweet choice, with family-favorite fillings that even may tend creatively toward savory flavors.
She will lead a Hamantash Baking Happy Hour from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 1, at Chabad’s new home, 1639 Clarkson Road in Chesterfield. The cost of $8 per person includes ingredients and supplies, so cookie-makers will take home formed cookies ready to bake. Reservations can be made by e-mail to Chanalar@gmail.com or by calling (636) 778-4000.
“In all Jewish holidays, there is always a woman role model who shines; in this story, it’s Esther,” Rubenfeld said as she rolled out dough for the food that the Jewish Women’s Chai Circle always wants to bake together on this holiday.
King Achashveirosh had agreed to Haman’s plot to annihilate all the Jews in a single day. The lovely Esther, his second wife, and her uncle, Mordechai, were Jews. She hosted her husband and Haman at a feast with wine. The king agreed to whatever she wanted. She chose to have Haman and his 10 sons hanged in the gallows intended for Mordechai and the Jews, who were allowed to defend themselves.
A preview of today’s feast of Purim starts with a day of fasting, just as the Jews did then.
“The commandment of the day has four parts,” Rubenfeld said, “It is to read the story, have a big party with a feast, give gifts that include food and give charity to the poor.”
As a child, she remembers her grandmother in Cincinnati cutting dough rounds with a metal measuring cup, then baking them with apricot filling.
“She was very meticulous,” Rubenfeld said. “We had to see how many we could make with the dough.”
Rubenfeld finds the dough similar between households, but fillings can vary. It can be rolled as soon as it is mixed or chilled a short time for later baking.
“Any fruit filling works,” she said. “Some people add cream cheese. Others make hamantashen with chocolate. Prune and poppy seed fillings often appeal to older people.”
Her own children include Mendel, age 5; Zalma, 2-1/2; Zebi, 1, and Zelig, 4 months. The older ones, helping her decorate the first batch of the season, added plenty of sprinkles and squeezed peanut butter on some tops. A little beaten egg on the outer edge gives them a glazed look after baking.
The three corners of the cookie are said to represent the hat Haman wore, or possibly his ears, which fell off when he was killed. A German translation turns the name into the meaning of pockets with prune filling. Rubenfeld keeps the filling from popping out more than she wants by edging the dough with water and pinching it together tightly.
“God’s name is not mentioned once in the story,” she said. “The miracle is how God lined it up. We conceal the inside filling to represent the part of the story that was not obvious.”
This year’s party will start on the evening of Monday, March 9, the day before Purim. A carnival atmosphere at Chabad of Chesterfield will be “magical” with wands, hats and a magician who specializes in illusions.
Rubenfeld uses this recipe to celebrate the happy ending of Esther’s story.
HAMANTASHEN
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon rind
1 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 lb. poppy seed filling or 1 lb. jelly
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets.
In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until well combined. Add oil, lemon juice and rind, vanilla, flour and baking powder. Mix well. Divide into four parts.
On floured board, roll each portion about 1/8 inch thick. Using round cookie cutter, cut 3-inch circles. Leftover dough can be gathered and re-rolled.
Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in middle of each circle. She forms a triangular pocket by lifting right and left sides (leaving down bottom third) and bringing those two sides to meet at center above filling. Bring third edge to center and meet the two gathered edges. Pinch edges together.
Place on greased cookie sheets 1 inch apart. Bake in preheated oven about 20 minutes.
If desired, decorate by dipping in melted chocolate or adding frosting.
Makes 4 dozen.
