As the sun sets this evening, and for the next two days, our Jewish friends will observe and quietly celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. These holy days honor the creation of the world. This year, Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew for "head of the year", marks the beginning of the Jewish year 5768.
Rosh Hashanah is not celebrated in the traditional sense - i.e. party like it's 1999! (that's the Gregorian year 1999 not Jewish year 1999) No. It's a time for prayer, personal introspection, and spiritual growth. Families and friends send greeting cards wishing each other well for the new year and, of course, they gather for feasts of traditional Jewish foods! For many families, Rosh Hashanah meals begin with a simple course of apples and honey. Apples represent the fruits of the harvest while the honey symbolizes sweet wishes for the new year to come. A blessing said over challah, a Jewish egg bread, is also a tradition of Rosh Hashanah. This round bread loaf, sweetened with honey for Rosh Hashanah, symbolizes the circle of life and hopes of a life enduring without end.
Honey plays an important part in many Rosh Hashanah recipes. So Jewish or not, if you like honey, you'll enjoy this popular Rosh Hashanah dessert, Lekach Honey Cake. And in keeping with this week's Perfect Pantry theme, the pantry ingredients are highlighted.
Rosh Hashanah is not celebrated in the traditional sense - i.e. party like it's 1999! (that's the Gregorian year 1999 not Jewish year 1999) No. It's a time for prayer, personal introspection, and spiritual growth. Families and friends send greeting cards wishing each other well for the new year and, of course, they gather for feasts of traditional Jewish foods! For many families, Rosh Hashanah meals begin with a simple course of apples and honey. Apples represent the fruits of the harvest while the honey symbolizes sweet wishes for the new year to come. A blessing said over challah, a Jewish egg bread, is also a tradition of Rosh Hashanah. This round bread loaf, sweetened with honey for Rosh Hashanah, symbolizes the circle of life and hopes of a life enduring without end.
Honey plays an important part in many Rosh Hashanah recipes. So Jewish or not, if you like honey, you'll enjoy this popular Rosh Hashanah dessert, Lekach Honey Cake. And in keeping with this week's Perfect Pantry theme, the pantry ingredients are highlighted.
Lekach Honey Cake
1/2 cup strong coffee, cooled
1 cup honey
1 tablespoon brandy, optional
2 eggs
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup honey
1 tablespoon brandy, optional
2 eggs
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
confectioner's sugar
Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease a 9-inch square pan; set aside.
2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
confectioner's sugar
Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease a 9-inch square pan; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine coffee, honey and brandy; mix well. Using an electric mixer and a large bowl, beat eggs just until mixed. Add oil and brown sugar. Combine flour, baking powder, baking powder, baking soda and spices in a seperate bowl; mix well. Add flour mixture and honey mixture alternately to egg mixture.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, if desired.
Recipe adaptation and photo image courtesy of the National Honey Board.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, if desired.
Recipe adaptation and photo image courtesy of the National Honey Board.
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