Chayei Sarah menu

Today is preparation Day but I need one more cup of coffee...

What a challenging week this has been. My FIL has had some health trouble that required more attention, we've had car problems, weather has gotten in the way of plans, I've been stumped for a menu, and I STILL haven't gone grocery shopping!!! AAaack!

It's ok! This week's portion has been very centering for me and I finally realized what I needed to cook. I am so grateful how The Father uses His Word to speak directly to me and teach me exactly what I need, and provides a menu to illuminate His Word to our family.

~The Life of Sarah~

Genesis 23:1-25:18

1 Kings 1:1-31

Isaiah 51:2-22

Matthew 1:1-17

1 Cor 15:50-57

The portion celebrates a long and fruitful life with all it's cycles, it celebrates the very name of this blog, so this menu incorporates healthy antioxidants in a celebratory wedding feast. I set pictures of family members of blessed memory around the table along with some heirlooms and also set out pitchers of water to remember how Rebekah watered the 10 camels.

...The theme makes me think of the song, "Sunrise, Sunset." :)

The menu is gluten free, Kosher, and prepared by Friday afternoon...

~Shabbat Dinner~

Challah

Wine

Pan Seared Salmon with Walnuts and Pomegranate

Onion Mushroom Soup

Spinach Salad with Pomegranate and Avocado

Roast Beef with root vegetables in Red wine

Raw and Pickled Vegetable and olive Platter

Mixed Nuts

Fresh Fruit and Berries

Frozen Pears drizzled with Raspberry Dark Chocolate Sauce

~Shabbat Breakfast~

kefir, honey, & fruit

cheese

~Shabbat Lunch~

cabbage soup

salad

~Supper ~

leftovers

~Shabbat Shalom

~WOW~

Echad

This week, I read a post about a person's sadness over broken families. She wondered how to acheive oneness with The Father, Echad. She ended with the idea that to have Echad, we should trust and obey. How very right she was!

I've been thinking about her post and here is a small thought on Echad~

In Mark 12, when Yeshua was asked what is the GREATEST commandment, he replied by reciting part of the Shema, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) which as a Jew, was probably the first scripture he learned

"Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Echad)

And you shall love the Lord your God

With all your heart

and all your soul

and with all your strength..."

He went on to sum up all the law and prophets

"...and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these."

In another place, Matt 22:40, he says

"On this hangs all the law and the Prophets..."

The first instance of Echad is in the creation story in Genesis 1, and here it is a few verses later in Genesis 2:24...

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one (echad) flesh.

When we are so very intimate with our spouse that our very chromosomes mingle, the result is a "to one flesh-ness;" in other words, a baby.

The same with YHVH, When we are intent on pleasing HIM, we give HIM our all, the result is that we bear godly fruit with Him and we can not sin! There's just no way!

That begs the question, What is sin?

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:

for sin is the transgression of the law. (1Jn 3:4)

When we walk perfectly before him, become Echad, we are walking in and obeying HIS Law *because we love him*, we are so very intimate with him that we can't do anything else. We do what pleases HIM and only then are we able to bear His fruit, namely

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.

With this fruit, His fruit, we are able to:

… walk before me (Almighty God),

and be thou perfect. (Gen 17:1)

How do we know just what pleases The Father? Through HIS WORD!!! Here are just a few examples:

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (Joh 15:10)

"Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God,

to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments,

as at this day." (1Ki 8:61)

"I delight to do thy will, O my God:

yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psa 40:8 )

...and the entire chapter of Psalm 119!

~Shalom

~WOW~

A wonderful Fish Appetizer recipe

I needed an easy appetizer that included fish and honey for last week's Shabbat meal. While using Google, I stumbled across A Taste of Persia, (I am soooo gonna buy this cookbook!) and was able to modify the recipe to suit my needs and the family's taste prefrences. What a wonderful dish! Everyone loved it, even the little ones. I wish I had taken pictures, it was as beautiful as it was yummy! I will certainly cook this one again!

~Pomegranate Fish with Honey~

4 firm-fleshed, Biblically-clean fish fillets,( halibut, salmon, sea bass...)

butter or olive oil

pomegranate seeds for garnish

chopped walnuts for garnish

candied orange peel for garnish

squeezed lemon juice

fresh cilantro

~sauce~

1 onion, sliced very thinly

3 cloves garlic, pressed

small palmful walnuts, chopped

cayenne pepper to taste

squeeze of juice from an orange, or a bit of candied orange peel

4 TBLS pomegranate paste diluted in water to make 1 cup, or 1 cup pomegranate juice

1 TBLS honey

1 pinch of saffron threads

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400F. Wash and pat dry fillets, rub both sides of fish with salt and oil. Place on foil lined, oiled baking sheet.

Saute onions and garlic in sauce pan with butter and olive oil until nicely browned. Add remaining ingredients and saute until nuts are softened.

Spread over fish. Either roll fish and secure with toothpicks, or leave flat to bake. Pop into oven bake until done, about 10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily.

Arrange on platter, pour remaining sauce over fish, garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped walnuts. Add chopped, fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon.

Serve with saffron rice and Tziki.

Shabbat menu, Vayera!

I was going to cook a Jordanian-bedouin style meal for this portion but my oldest son made a special request for this week and I was happy to oblige. He asked for Tandoori chicken which has it's modern roots many miles East, in New Delhi, India. How could I form the meal around the Portion? Well, it begins with Abram's show of hospitality and carries on with the folks of Sodom's total lack of hospitality... I sat up the dinner table area as much as possible, as Abram's tent!! Next year we might sit on the floor. This menu was still very similar to foods found in Jordan, and I think Abram and Sarai would have approved.

We're still searching for a fluffy, EASY gluten free flat bread. This menu's version of Naan, flat bread baked at high temps, was approaching GREAT! I added yeast, egg, and yogurt to the rice flour mix. Next week I'm gonna try to make Ingera, a fermented, teff flour-based flat bread that looks promising.

The tandoori chicken, Clinton's request, was very good though it could have used more cayenne pepper. I found a recipe online for the a multi-ingredient spice mix. Thankfully, I had all the spices on hand and was able to make my own so I was insured it was gluten free. The recipe called for high heat cooking so I cooked the blazes out of that chicken, made me think of Mrs. S.J.! haha!!

The surprise winner of the evening was the fish. I wanted to remember the New Testament verses where the apostles gave The Messiah fish and honey. I found this recipe on an online Persian cookbook. (Wish I could pronounce the name...) The recipe included pomegranate paste, walnuts, honey, onions, and saffron. even though I had to use fillets, it was amazingly good! I can't wait to tell my Persian friend about it.

Later, Craig and Grace are coming over for Bible study with us. I think they will have a good time.

~

~Shabbat Dinner~

Naan

wine

pomegranate fish with honey

tandoori chicken

roasted vegetables

pickled vegetables

salads

dips & spreads

nut & seed mix

fruit

mint tea

coffee

~Shabbat Breakfast~

kefir with honey and fruit

~Shabbat Lunch~

chicken wraps

salad

~Supper~

left overs

popcorn

~

Shabbat Shalom v'Shavua Tov!

~WOW~

What Shabbat Looks Like at our House...

I was recently asked this question:

“Lynn, when you prepare the meals for Shabbat the day before, how do you serve them warm on the Sabbath day? I have never quite gotten my brain wrapped around that concept. I would love to see a blow-by-blow description of a "composite" Shabbat for your family sometime, when/if you have some time to type it out, please. Like how you prepare and what the actual day actually LOOKS like in your family.”

I’ve answered this before in earlier posts, complete with scripture. Now that we’ve kept Shabbat for a few years, we have changed a few things, streamed lined a few things, and Shabbat has become even more blessed and a much anticipated rest at the end of the week.

Please remember, I have older children who are a wonderful help and we enjoy having a big, festive meal. This was much more difficult when they were all younger and we didn’t really know what we were doing…

~Sunday through Wednesday We actually begin preparations for Shabbat on Sunday by reading the new Parasha, (the scripture reading set up by Ezra to keep the Hebrews learning scripture) the Haftarah, (the portion of the prophets that corresponds to the Parahsa) and the Brit Chadasha, (the corresponding New Testament portion.) During the week, we study these and several extra biblical texts, Biblical and Modern Hebrew, history, geography, ancient sociology, nutrition, climate, archeology, cultural anthropology, etc... anything that helps us further understand the text.

I try to plan my menu around the things we’ve studied but I don’t always achieve this. Dietary needs, taste preferences, ingredient availability, budget, and whim is sometimes limiting…

The menu encompasses the Shabbat evening meal on Friday evening, a Shabbat breakfast & lunch on Saturday, and leftovers for Saturday night supper, and even several more meals. I also try to plan the menu to be hot for Shabbat evening and either a cold lunch or to stay warm in the crock pot for lunch. Many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern meals are ideal for this.

~Thursdays are usually reserved for school, shopping, and cleaning.

~Fridays are devoted to cooking and last minute prep. I have older children who are great workers so I can devote myself to this. I make sure to employ crock pots, rice cookers, (they’re not just for rice) hot water pots, warmers to make this easier. I would someday like some nice serving pieces to really make the food look as good as it tastes, and maybe even a Blech keep it all warm.

~

~Shabbat is sundown Friday until sundown Saturday~

Here’s what our Shabbat looks like:

~Sundown Friday~ Shabbat begins. I cover my hair, we gather around the food for Kiddush, blessings, prayers, a little singing, an explanation of the menu to the Parasha. Then we Eat, talk, discuss, laugh… Then, clear the table, food left in crock pots or put in ‘fridge, dishes to soak (Clint has everything washed up before Shabbat begins as a kindness to me so there really aren’t many dirty dishes)

After Dinner, we might have a quick summary of the Parasha, watch an online Parasha study, or we might watch a “Sabbathy” movie, or go visit someone. Usually, I’m just ready for bed!

~Saturday morning~ Sleep late! Stay in our special Shabbat PJ’s all day!!! Shabbat is all about resting and remembering. We don’t have to work, or shop, or cook; we only need to rest. All meals are ready so I don’t have to do anything, just set out the breakfast and maybe some items to come to room temp in time for lunch. I am a total Lady of Leisure on Shabbat!!!

Clint might go to synagogue or a Bible study but I usually stay home, that’s what I love. About once a month we’ll all travel to a meeting with like-minded people for fellowship.

~Saturday midday~ We will eat our lunch, dishes in the sink and then begin our Bible study. We might have some folks over or it might be just us.

Now THIS can get fierce. My older children are very good at bringing what they’ve learned during the week to the table and we’ll discuss, debate, argue, listen, compare, read, consider… It can be intense and once, my 19 son actually yelled out:

“The Marquis of Queensbury Rules will be observed at all times!”

Our Bible study can last hours and sometimes, it is very short. A few times, we don’t have Bible study at all but instead there may be a need in the community and we will go help. One time, we had a tornado hit the adjacent town and the guys were able to get there quickly, before emergency services and help out.

~Saturday afternoon~ Clint joins a Jerusalem-based online Torah study and I have my Hebrew studies. We are free to play, read, nap… We love to go to the state parks and hike. Sometimes we’ll go visit people and sometimes we’ll continue our Torah study.

~Saturday sundown~ supper and Havdalah, when we mark the end Shabbat and the beginning of the work week with prayers of thankfulness and blessing. I dearly love the Havdalah prayer…

~Saturday night~ Shabbat is over and our work week begins again. We clean up, wash the dishes, and then it’s off to Broomball. Or we’ll watch a movie and eat freshly popped popcorn, since we can cook again!!!

It is a wonderful time with our family and The Father. I only wish that we had always kept Shabbat.

~

Shabbat Shalom v'Shavua Tov!

~WOW~

Chukat and menu

~Chukat~

The weather has been so hot and dry, the garden has been burning up. My lettuces have been looking poorly and the only thing really producing right now is the zucchini and my herbs. Tomatoes and cucumbers are flowering but no fruit yet and I'm still waiting on the peas and green beans, too.

My garden was frost-bitten and flooded in May but now I have been praying for some of that cooler, wetter weather.

The children haven't been able to mow since noone's grass is growing. Their bank accounts are feeling the heat, too. The little ones don't even want to go outside.

It's funny how this week's Bible study dealt heavily with water and this week, I've been desperate for it! Friday, we finished up the gardening for the week, changed the water in the hydroponics, and cleaned out and refilled the little pond. Then inside, we straightened up the house and finished cooking. Oh, so hot! Air conditioning is truly a blessed invention!

Wow, I sound like those grumbling Israelites we have been studying about this week...

This week's Bible Study, Chukat, contains the sacrifice and use of the ashes of the Red Heifer, the Water of Purification, the death of Miriam, the grumbling of the people, (again!) Moses' and Aaron's sin, water from the Rock, death of Aaron, the bronze serpent, and various battles. Figs, Dates, Pomegranates are mentioned... and of course the Red Heifer. I again relied on table settings to help Clint tell the story...

I sat the table with a red felt table runner which I attached tassles to the corners, a large vase containing Rosemary branches, sprigs of marjoram, oregano and thyme, (the closest things I had to hyssop) all seated on a plank of cedar. I also sat out glasses of water, pitchers of water, bowls of water and even some lye water.

I always try to reflect the Portion in my menu. This week, my husband smoked a large beef brisket to remind us of the Red Heifer. I also chose to serve glasses of water and a three different versions of watermelon. My vines aren't yet producing but I was able to pick up some nice melons from the grocery. I also served a few dishes prepared with rosemary, marjoram, and other herbs that could possibly reflect hyssop.

For our Torah study, we discussed the medicinal side of the ashes of the Red Heifer, how lye water was made by pouring clean water through the ashes, how it cleansed after exposure to the dead, various forms of "leprosy" and cleansing of sin, and how it is used today. We explored the various forms of water... water for cleansing, water for sustaining, living water, stagnate water... and the danger of too little water. One of the songs we sang was, "I've Got a River of Life"

We looked for other references to the Water of Purification.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (Hebrews 9:19-20)

Did we find Yeshua in the Portion? Here are just a few instances:

He is the unblemished sacrifice! (Hebrews 9:14)

He is the living water that is poured through the ashes! (John 7:37-38)

He is the Water of Purification that cleanses us from all unrighteousness! (1John 1:9)

He is our Seventh Day! (Matthew 11:28)

He is the Rock that gives us water! (1 Corinthians 10:4)

He is the serpent on the staff! (John 3:14)

He is the High Priest who became unclean for us so that we might be clean! (Hebrews 9:11-28)

~Halleluyah!~

Speaking of sustaining water, The Father gave us a wonderful respite this Shabbat afternoon. We received a soothing summer shower that refreshed us and gave the garden a good soaking. Such an unexpected blessing! HE only gives me good things.

~

~Chukat~

Statute

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Judges 11:1-33

John 3:10-21

Hebrews 9:11-28

Here's the menu, gluten free, Biblically clean, prepared by Friday, and relevant to the Torah portion. I hope to post recipes later:

~Shabbat Dinner~

Water Challah

Wine, Alexandria, Orleans' Hill Winery

Smoked Beef Brisket w/ rosemary

zucchini sauteed with fresh herbs

Smoked Corn on the Cob w/ cumin butter

garden salad w/ Rosemary vinaigrette

watermelon/mango salsa

watermelon/mint salad

Watermelon slices

~Shabbat Breakfast~

Kefir

Fresh Fruit, including watermelon

cheeses

milk

~Shabbat Lunch~

Brisket lettuce wraps w/ quinoa

salad

~Supper~

leftovers

~wow~