VALLEY PASSOVER PREPARATIONS IN HIGH GEAR.Byline: Holly J. Andres Daily News Staff Writer On an evening devoted to asking questions, ``What's for dessert?'' might be the fifth most important one tonight as Jews sit down to celebrate Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. ``Monday to Wednesday are our crazy days,'' Nathan Farahmand, owner of the Palace Bakery in Encino, said Tuesday. ``We've been busy baking for 24 hours Adv. 1. for 24 hours - without stopping; "she worked around the clock" around the clock, round the clock the last few days. The oven was never turned off.'' The Passover challenge for bakeries or home cooks is to make baked goods without leavening agents, including yeast, baking soda baking soda: see sodium bicarbonate. and baking powder. Farahmand uses cake meal, potato starch, eggs and nondairy non·dair·y adj. Containing no milk or dairy products: nondairy coffee creamer. cream for these special desserts. The use of such cream ensures that the sweets are pareve pa·re·ve also par·ve adj. Judaism Prepared without meat, milk, or their derivatives and therefore permissible to be eaten with both meat and dairy dishes according to dietary laws: pareve margarine. or nondairy. Pareve foods may be eaten with meat or dairy dishes, which is helpful in planning meals according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Jewish kashrut kash·rut also kash·ruth n. 1. The state of being kosher. 2. The body of Jewish dietary law. [Mishnaic Hebrew ka or dietary laws. Farahmand began taking orders for Passover cakes and cookies about three weeks ago. He believes his bakery is the only one in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. that exclusively sells ``Kosher for Passover'' baked goods. ``This store has been here for about a year and a half. This year we've had a lot of repeat customers for Passover. We've also noticed that the gossip on the street, right outside our door, has been our best advertising for Passover,'' said Farahmand, who also owns stores in the Pico district and Santa Monica. ``Our most popular cakes for Passover are the chocolate mousse and strawberry shortcakes,'' said Farahmand, who added that these specialties are also available year-round. One regular customer, Michelle Jacob, was picking up three cakes Tuesday for a family Seder that she will attend. ``I don't think that there are a lot of great-tasting desserts around for Passover. But I bought cakes here last year, and I know that they taste great. It's convenient and easy for me,'' said Jacob, a resident of Northridge. Passover - or Pesach, the Hebrew word for ``passing over,'' refers to God's words in Exodus 12:13. The Israelites were to mark their homes with lamb's blood so the Angel of Death would pass over them while the firstborn first·born adj. First in order of birth; born first. n. The child in a family who is born first. Noun 1. firstborn - the offspring who came first in the order of birth eldest of Egypt were slain to persuade Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave. The Bible commands Jews to eat unleavened bread for seven days, beginning the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which will begin today at sundown. Jews living outside Israel observe Passover for eight days. The Passover Seder, a ceremonial meal that focuses on the retelling re·tell·ing n. A new account or an adaptation of a story: a retelling of a Roman myth. of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, is given on the first two days of the holiday week. Each person at a Seder is given a book, known as a Haggadah, that contains prayers, readings and songs that help to tell the Passover story. Central to the Seder are the four questions asked by the youngest person at the table: Why do we eat matzo? Why do we eat bitter herbs? Why do we dip our vegetables? Why do we recline re·cline v. re·clined, re·clin·ing, re·clines v.tr. To cause to assume a leaning or prone position. v.intr. To lie back or down. when we eat? ``The celebration of Passover defines who we are as a religious group,'' said Rabbi Richard Camras of Shomrei Torah in West Hills. ``It is a reminder of the Exodus from Egyptian bondage. This retelling of liberation culminates with the receiving of the Torah from God at Mt. Sinai. We celebrate the beginning of our freedom with Passover.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Michelle Jacob carries the Kosher cakes she ordered for Passover as she leaves the dessert-filled case at Palace Bakery in Encino. John McCoy/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion