Surviving Pesach

The last few days we’ve all been rushing around; I’m sure I speak for everyone, those who will stay home and those who will be away.

I was actually very surprised to see the amount of Pesach food and options in all the stores. It seemed odd, as I thought my family was the only one staying home. I know this for a fact, because every year a few weeks before Pesach my daughter tells me, “we are the only family in the Five Towns that stays home for Pesach.”

Really, when the lot is full and dozens of cars are roaming (looking like the zombies of the TV show “Walking Dead”) trying to find a spot, for heaven’s sake get into your car and pull out. You can check your makeup, cell phone and have your snack when you get home.

By the time most of you are reading this most of your shopping will be done. Yes, I know, easier said than done. Just think, once the yom tov starts, you’ll be able to just relax and enjoy … oh, wait I take that back. There will be no relaxing, but you do get to enjoy your family and friends and continue all the customs that were handed down from your great grandparents to your grandparents to your parents to you … and G-d willing will continue down to your children and so on.

Sadly, this year will be very different. My mother-in-law passed away this past January, and I can’t imagine Pesach without her.

For the first year since 2006 I will be making the stuffed cabbage, gefilte fish, and compote. I will be buying my own shmurah matzot, cantaloupes, honey dews (all the size of beach balls), and any other type of fruit in season. Also included were cheese blintzes, all eight dozen of them. I used to joke that they lasted till Shavuot; I lied, they lasted till Rosh Hashana. Let me not forget the grape juice, cucumber salad and cole slaw. Most guests might bring flowers, chocolates or wine.

My mother in law a”h would have me stop by the week before and hand me prime rib roasts and veal roasts for me to prepare. I would always tell her that I so appreciate all that she buys us, but I didn’t want her to shlep around and have her carry all of these things. It was of no use. She lived to do for others, she always had. She made it clear that she would continue as long as Hashem gave her strength.

She and my mom made an adorable pair. My mom being five years older, needed a little help and my mother-in-law a”h was wonderful to her. When it came to washing, they would make their way to the kitchen holding hands like two little school girls and they would argue who would wash first, each one wanting to give the other the honor. Even after coming out of the hospital, always right before Pesach, she could be counted on to be shlepping all the packages and be found at the sink washing dishes, peeling potatoes or apples and setting the table. Nothing kept her down. She would have us laughing even when she didn’t mean to be funny.

When we spoke of the Mitzrim (Egyptians) and how difficult it was for the Jews to be slaves, she would say “That was hard?? That was nothing, compared to Aushwitz. In Mitzrayim, they were fed well, we were slaves in the concentration and we were starving. They were in family groups, we didn’t even have family anymore. This was the big terrible experience that I’ve heard so much about? After they left Egypt, they kept complaining that they preferred to go back to Egypt, rather than to be in the desert eating Mon. Really?! We got a piece of bread every third day and maybe a slice of raw potato if we were lucky enough to steal it.”

Of course we dared not laugh as she said it, but we all were thinking of the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where the rabbi tells Larry that he is bringing a survivor for dinner and Larry, thinking he is bringing a Holocaust survivor, invites his friend who is a Holocaust survivor, but the rabbi actually brings a contestant from the show “Survivor.” Who knows, maybe Larry David got the idea from her.

This year, when I light the yahrtzeit candles, including now, the dozens my mother-in-law lit for every relative of her’s and her husband’s that perished in the Holocaust, I’ll add one more for Sima Mattel bat Yoel Zvi HaLevi, who will forever live on in our hearts.

Wishing all of you a kosher zissen pesach.

Here’s a last-minute easy dessert or snack recipe for Passover.

Chocolate Covered Matzo

This recipe is dairy, but you can convert it to pareve if you wish.

Ingredients:

7 1/2 square matzohs unsalted

15 Tbs unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar

1 1/2tsps vanilla extract

15 ounces semi sweet chocolate chopped or chocolate chips

For those of you who like white chocolate or milk chocolate you can substitute.

The following are my favorites, but you can use any toppings you like:

5/8 cup of chopped walnuts

1/3 cup craisins.

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with aluminum foil and grease with butter. Place matzos in a single layer on both sheets. Set aside.

Heat sugars in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring often until totally liquefied. Should take about 7-8 minutes. Add butter and cook stirring untill caramel is liquid again and butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Next, add the salt and vanilla and stir to combine.

Pour caramel over the matzohs and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake about 8 minutes until the caramel mixture is absorbed and is slightly crisp. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the chocolate so that the chocolate is an even layer.

Before chocolate is set, add the toppings of your choice. When cool and chocolate is set, break into pieces and place in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper. Will last for at least 8 days at room temperature … perfect! Add butter and cook till caramel is liquid again and butter is melted, about 2 minutes. next, add the salt and vanilla and stir to combine.

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