page 101

sa.

Looking Back At
Israeli Homes
page 108

ANNABEL COHEN
Special to The Jewish News

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s the 14th of Adar fast
approaches, hundreds of
lovely young Queen
Esthers and strapping
Mordechais are practicing just the
right twirl of their groggers (noise-
makers), for the most clamorous,
most annoying answer to the hated
name, Haman, as it's read from
the Megillah.
And they're eating fingerfuls of .,
prune, jam or poppyseed filling,
0
just before they're packed into
hamantashen, the sweet triangular -=
cookies which remind us of the
evil Haman.
But Jews around the world and
around town will also be busily
involved in another Purim tradi-
tion: the packing of bags, baskets
and bundles of treats that celebrate
giving to charity. And we're not
saying just the traditional half-
1-iekel (these days about three 50-
cent coins).
For those who make and give
shalach manot, feasting and glad-
ness and drinking enough hard

shalach manot since they were mar-
ried two and a half years ago. "We
make from 20 to 30 cellophane-
wrapped gifts each year. We make
gift tags on our computer and send
them on their way," said Renee.
"Mark's biggest contribution is
as deliveryman."
Stacy and Noam Carmen of
Southfield also perpetuate the tra-

1E' t ,t1rille41C. 101
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daughter Laura,
14, send a mini-
mum of a dozen
and up to 40 or
more parcels each year.
The giving list
seems endless.
Traditionally, what
goes into these joy-filled
packages? The general rule

A Purim 'flower pot."

Today the custom con-
tinues with a twist. "In
the past, I used to buy
everything," said Renee
Phillips. "This year, I'm
baking. I'm trying out a
new recipe for chocolate and
peanut butter hamantashen."
The Carmens make their
packages for giving with an
emphasis on originality. "My
house is very colorful, and I make
my packages colorful," said Stacy
"They've definitely been getting
more creative and 'grown' every
year. And this year I'm putting the
shalach manot in flower pots."
Markofsky always includes
hamantashen and a recipe her
daughter likes to make. "Laura's
been making these great, easy
peanut clusters since she was 7,"
said Mimi. "We always put in fresh
fruit and include matanot revyonim
(a gift of charity) in each gift —
usually we put in two pennies.
Sometimes we add a little private
joke to a package. It's all part of the
fun.
Homemade, premade, bought
and bundled. Chock-full of cook-
ies, candy crammed or fruit filled,
the mitzvah of mishloach manot is
a tradition that celebrates giving,
adding another thoughtful note to
the most festive of Jewish celebra-
tions.
The following recipes are perfect
for shalach manot, Purim or for
anytime a sweet treat is called for.

Win

't1,

Making treats or Purim is a tasty way to celebrate.

stuff until you can't distinguish
between the names of Mordechai
and Haman are nothing compared
to the joy and delight that comes
from giving colorful packages filled
with sweets and drinks.
Huntington Woods' Renee and
Mark Phillips, now with 13-
month-old Adam, have been giving

dition in their home. Along with
their four children, Ari, 13, Esti,
11, Kayla, 9, and Talya, 6, the
Carmens construct 30 or more
packages to give, each year making
them more elaborate and original.
And West Bloomfield
caterer/pastry chef Mimi Markofsky
along with husband Stewart and

is that at least two shalach manot
are to be given to family and
friends and that money be given
to the poor. The gifts should con-
tain at least two different kinds of
foods, including candy, fresh fruit
or nuts.
Often, a drink is added so that a
bracha (blessing) may be recited.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter
Hamantashen
Renee Phillips is adding these
goodies to her packages for the fi rst
time, this year. The recipe is from
Marlene Soros s Fast and Festive

Meals for the Jewish Holidays.

Chocolate Dough
6 T. butter or margarine, at room
temperature

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Detroit Jewish News

2/26
1999

97