﻿﻿Here in New York City, we live on top of each other, so the idea of "interfaith interaction" is more than just some abstract PC concept. It’s a way of life. Not that every corner of my fair city is filled with sweetness and light.
Certainly, when we don’t know much about a neighbor’s heritage, culture, or faith, we tend to feel wary of that person. But learning leads to understanding, which is why food can be such a great first step toward bringing us together.
Almost everyone enjoys food (talking about it, eating it) and food is often a window into a person’s nationality, heritage, and/or beliefs. As I put it in Holiday Grind: "A diversity of cultures means a diversity of foods. Eat with tolerance, I say."
MY PASSOVER INGREDIENT: Monday evening marked the first night of Passover, one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays of the year. An important food custom that’s followed during this week is to eat no yeasted bread, only unleavened bread. Why? Because this is a time when Jews all over the world celebrate the story of Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. They left Egypt so quickly that there was no time to bake yeasted bread. During their journey through the dessert, they took the raw dough and baked it in the hot desert sun into hard crackers called matzos.
MY EASTER INGREDIENT: The Christian holiday of Easter, also one of the most important holidays of the year, is closely tied to Passover. The crucifixion of Jesus took place during Passover and biblical scholars believe that the Last Supper was a Passover seder. To prepare for Easter, many Christians observe 40 days of Lent in which they fast and make sacrifices to prepare for the celebration of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Giving up treats like chocolate and candy is a common custom. That’s one reason why chocolate is consumed with joy on Easter Sunday. Christ is risen, Hallelujah! Lent is over and it’s time to celebrate with feasting and favorite foods, including chocolate.
MATZOS + CHOCOLATE = AN INTERFAITH TREAT: Over the last few years, the basic recipe for Matzo Caramel Buttercrunch has been posted all over the Internet, but it was originally created by Marcy Goldman, author of A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking. You can see Marcy's famous, original version at her website here. David Lebovitz also adapted her recipe here. Today it’s my turn! I hope you enjoy my version, too.
Love and peace to you. Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Spring! And may God bless us, every one.
To download a PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here.
Holy moly! Is this stuff really legal? What a great recipe. My mouth is watering. Somehow my oatmeal brekkie is going to feel like a letdown.
Haha! MJ just "cracked" me up! This looks absolutely gorgeous and way too delicious to be legal. Amazing, Cleo! Can't wait to try this!
HA HA MJ you are too funny. It should be illegal ha. Cleo you know I always love your recipes and the ones with pistachios are my absolute favorite. This will be made this weekend. Good thing I am going to the store today.
Love, love, love! Must make some of this for my next staff meeting.
Terrific post! Wow. My husband will love this.
I'm with MJ. Everything in my house is boring by comparison. Ooh, yum, Cleo!
What a fascinating recipe. Looks delicious!
Chef Connor made this afternoon!!!! He used saltines (I love the whole sweet/salty thing) on half of the pan and graham crackers on the other half (I need to go to the store!!); they are wonderful. Needless to say this is not on WW...but what is life without breaking of the food laws???!!!
Wendy - I was thinking of you when I made a version of the buttercrunch with margarine. I'm glad to report that it tastes just as good with margarine as it does with butter!
MJ, Elizabeth, Avery, Julie, and Krista - Thank you all for dropping in today!
Babs - TY. If you give it a try, I hope you and your adorable boys enjoy it, too.
Nanc - I'm thrilled to hear Chef Connor took a *crack* at the recipe already (pun intended :)) TY for letting me know.
Have a great week, everyone. Happy Passover! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!
Passover is not going to be a long stretch of days of boring matzoh this year--I've got Cleo's Matzoh "Crack" to look forward to! Thanks, you brilliant woman - can't wait to try it.
That video is one of my annual favorites - hilarious!
OMG,this looks good! Thanks, Cleo! MJ wins awards for cracking us up! Happy Passover/Easter, everyone!
This is so similar to something my Mom used to make with saltine crackers.....also like crack!! Looks delicisous enough to eat as a meal!
Had this today at Wellness House. Delicious!
Not sure who provided--maybe Whole Food, which donates unsold flowers. So glad to know what it was and to be able to forward recipe.