Passover Seder Invitation and Matzah Brittle

This week my friend and I were invited to a Passover Seder. This week is extraordinary because Passover and Easter fall in the same week. We celebrated the story of Exodus reading from the haggadah in English. About twenty people had been invited.

These are the symbols of the Seder Feast. There is  clockwise: fruit (apples with walnuts and cinnamon), parsley, horseradish (the root, and ground), egg, and lamb.

We ate Matzah, and drank wine.

We had a Christian version of the Jewish Passover Seder. Our meal consisted of turkey, green beans, salad, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted white potatoes, and carrots.

Everyone looked like they had a wonderful time. It was a time of learning and of faith. A time to rejoice in a people and a time to rejoice in each other. A time to rejoice in food.

For dessert there were almond macrons, dates, noodle kugel and matzah brittle which I brought.

The brittle was a hit and the plate was cleaned!

Here it is fresh out of the oven.
I found the original recipe at Dying for Chocolate.
And it all started with a matzah.

English: "Holyland" brand matzah, machine-made in Jerusalem and purchased at Trader Joes in the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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My Pork Creation

Pork roast with a butternut squash crust #pork #butternut #squash #roast via caseygoduti

Have you ever had a moment of inspiration that turned itself into something totally amazing. That was what it was like for me, in the creation of the dish above. I literally created this dish at the grocery store, while thinking of the leftovers I wanted to use in the refrigerator.

This meal was made in two parts.

The first part was the butternut squash mixture, where I roasted the butternut squash, mashed it, and added ginger, Chinese 5-spice, Duck Sauce, Soy Sauce, celery and garlic.

"Let's see, I have half a butternut squash mash mixture I used for stuffing potstickers Asian style. What do I want to do with it?"

The only meat that came to mind to me was a pork loin.

Putting the pork loin in the pan, I poured sesame oil over the top and placed the butternut squash mixture on like a crust. I then stuck a thermometer into the pork and put it into a 350f  oven. I put 1/2 cup white wine into the button of the pan and cooked the pork until it reached 170F.

When it was done it was moist and juicy and a real treat.

It is not that often that I come up with such a creative meal. I was really proud of myself.

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Review: Life Could Be a Dream at the Ivoryton Playhouse

Rob Rodems* as Wally, Sheila Coyle* as Lois  and Matt Densky* as Eugene

Life Could Be a Dream takes place in Springfield and croons its way into audiences' hearts from Denny's basement where he is planning for his future. Wally and Eugene, his friends, reminiscence about school. It is not until they meet Lois and Skip that everything starts to come together.

Life Could Be a Dream is written and created by Roger Bean Musical arrangements by Roger Bean and Jon Newton. Additional musical arrangements by Steve Parsons.

Doo-wop and  sh-boom are just a few of the musical sounds you'll hear in this fun, slightly romantic, musical. Denny, played by Aaron Catano* is the driving force, Rob Rodems* is Wally the church goer, and Matt Densky* is Eugene, who is slightly emotional. In enters Sheila Coyle* as Lois, who assists with the group, and Evan D. Siegel* as Skip, who is a auto mechanic.

The cast was terrific and the singing was out of this world, especially when they performed the angel song music mix which included such songs as "Earth Angel". That was my favorite! I loved the way the songs were put together.

The choreography was smooth, and the acting and the singing was terrific. The show is worth a standing ovation. If you haven't bought tickets to see the show at the Ivoryton Playhouse you should. This is a show for the family, just as the Jacqueline Hubbard says.

This show is directed by Jacqueline Hubbard. The Choreographer is by Schuyler Beeman and the musical direction was done by Jason Wetzel.

This show will leave you bopping in the streets.

Photos courtesy of Anne Hudson and the Ivoryton Playhouse
* member of Actors Equity

Quarter Pounder Hamburger Meat Loaf

My room mate went off to Italy and left a lone hamburger in the refrigerator. I didn't feel like eating a burger so I decided to dress it up. This definitely does not look like a burger but I can tell you, for me, it would have been one hell of a big burger for me.

Quarter Pounder Hamburger Meatloaf
Serves 1
1/4 pound hamburger
2 portobella mushrooms, chopped fine
1 celery stick (from the center), chopped fine
1 garlic clove, minced
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 slice pepperjack cheese
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350F. Beat egg, and add the meat and other ingredients. Shape into a meatloaf. Place on a baking pan and put in the oven. When meatloaf becomes a dark brown but the juices are still flowing red, place (about 15 to 20 minutes) the slice of cheese on top and place back in the oven. Cook for another 10 minutes or when you cheese is nice and crisp, and pull the meatloaf out of the oven.

This meal was not your plain old every day hamburger.

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