For those of you who don't know, Lag B'Omer was my birthday, celebrated in Israel with large dangerous bonfires being set hapahazardly close to grassy areas. In my own neighborhood, a man was employed with a fire hose to extinguish those fires (read, most) that got out of hand. I myself told my own neighbor about the three little boys trying to make a bonfire directly in front of my building, next to his car. After all, they didn't know how to build it properly, and they might have needed help, no?
Anyway, my workplace celebrated my birthday as well- going to special efforts to obtain a kosher cake for me, and wished me a happy year filled with blessing. So, how's that for a birthday?
Yet, between Lag B'Omer and Shavuot, people's heads turn to thoughts of: cheesecake. Yes, there is Kabalat HaTorah, yes, the men learn all night, and my friend visiting from the US is planning to hike to the Kotel at dawn, but for me- I've got to figure out cheesecake. I've decided this year to do like last year, and make a delicious and delectable pareve cheesecake, rather than make a milchig one. That way, it can be eaten at more meals- some of which will be fleshig for those lactose intolerant people in my family and who are invited.
So does pareve cheesecake still count as cheesecake?
Any other random thoughts floating through my head?
Not really. But I have a more serious post coming up soon, so stay tuned.
Oh, and Chag Sameach!
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15 hours ago
6 comments:
Mazal Tov!!! Didn't know it was your birthday. That's one cool birthday. :)
Goodness about all those fires...
Pareve cheesecake does NOT count. Why not make two? there is absolutely no substitute for a beautiful, creamy, cheesy cheesecake, even if you do have to go to the ends of the earth to get American cream cheese to make it properly (Israeli won't set properly, as I have found out).
There is no such thing as "Pareve" cheesecake. You can call it a pareve confection that poorly imitates cheesecake, but you simply can't call it cheesecake.
Personally I think if "pareve cheesecake" were around in the times of the Talmud Chazal would have prescribed lashes for those who baked and those who attempted to foist it off on their innocent guests.
I guess that about sums up my opinion.
Mindy- Thanks!
And I know!! Today, I saw 8 boys setting another one. My rebbitzen passed by, put it out, and said that the Lag B'Omer bug seems to last a long time.
Rabbi's Wife and Mekubal- I'm getting a milchig one from a friend- I just can't deal with making cream cheese out of something that does not look like cream cheese to begin with. Socks being used as cooking implements are not my favorite things.
If you both want- you and your family are invited over to taste the pareve cheesecake and let me know whether or not it isn't half bad! Chag Sameach!
Pareve cheesecake can be delicious too, even though you cannot compare it to a real dairy one. I have tasted a really good parve cheesecake before. So make one of each!
re the cheesecake in Israel thing:
I did this this year, and boy was it good!
crushed biscuits, mixed with butter, pressed into springform pan.
4 shamenets (in the yoghurt cartons) drained overnight in a clean towel, over my milchig sink (i tied it to the tap with rubber bands)
creamed with 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar and two 500g containers gevina levana (I used the 9% one)
baked at 160 for 45 minutes.
Tasted so good and wasn't expensive, since I used the readily available, Israeli cheeses - on sale too!
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