Hamentashen Cookies

Tonight I feel rather overwhelmed. Between closing the show, getting my photography to the theatre director, and working on printing the Faith and Practice, not to mention living my own life, I am feeling pulled in several directions at once. Having my laptop home bound is not helping but I'm just glad it's running. I'm having it fixed when this Faith and Practice book is published. Until then, it seems fine if I watch the cord and leave it on my desk.


In the midst of this, I've had the pleasure of spending some extra time with my friend, Stacey. This week the athletic club she works at is launching new routines and yesterday afternoon, I attended her class as her guest. One of the things that impresses me the most about her is her positive attitude and ready smile. She is also unspeakably kind to whomever she comes in contact with. Not to mention energetic. Stacey was a delight to watch teach the class and I even got to go up with her for the balancing routine. Whenever I have trouble balancing, I just think of her quilt that I made for her. I don't know why that works but it usually does. Perhaps it is because I consider it one of the truest things I've done and that centers me.

Then this afternoon, I joined her at Roth's Bakery to help make enough dough for 300 dozen Hamentashen cookies. The bakery assists us in this and between the bakers and the three volunteers, it takes about two hours. Making Hamentashen has become one of my favorite yearly traditions. We do it at my temple every year at Purim as a fundraiser. An army of volunteers gathers at the temple once the dough is ready and we roll, dollop, and pinch for days. It is one of my happiest times of being a Jew. Our Torah Treck and Israeli dancing are others, posts in themselves. Times like this are when I am reminded the most of how proud I am to be a Jew.


Sometimes when life seems hectic and overly full, it helps to remember the people who bring light to our lives and the work that gives us joy.
Some of the bakers were frosting cupcakes while we worked on making the dough.

Kip is our dough-making hero. And a great baker.

I couldn't resist this photographic opportunity. Doesn't that just look fun?

This is Stacey holding the vanilla bottle. We had EXACTLY what we needed. It was like the oil of Hanukkah all over again.

This is all the dough we made. Each bag will make 50 dozen cookies. Roth's keeps it in their fridge until we are ready for it. Thank you Roth's!

365-09 #42