Parshat Mishpatim - Shabbat Shekalim - February 24-25

Hmmm.. Shabbat Shekalim. Counting the Jews with the half shekel. The only food thoughts that come to mind would be semi-circular food. Bourekas maybe? Not this week, I'm not up to it. Got it, meatloaf. Each slice looks (kind of) like a semi-circle. That will be for shabbat lunch. I make a spicy cajun meatloaf that goes into the oven to warm, and stays moist and yummy even if we eat lunch at 2:00. If anyone has any other suggestions for semi-circular food - please comment!

Friday night we have lots of company, should be at least 12 people, and happily (for us anyway), older son is staying home this shabbat (of course he is, I told him he had to. He's been away two shabbatot in a row for shabbbatons).

Friday Night:

Chicken Soup with Noodles (kreplach could be semi-circular, but I don't have time!)

Roast chicken with shallots
Spinach Loaf
Saffron Rice Pilaf
Ratatouille
Cauliflower Popcorn (the best recipe from KBD2)
Corn Kugel (maybe - It's so easy and good)

Meringues
Devil Dogs

I found the recipe online for devil dogs about six years ago. These are the best things. http://www.koshercooking.com/recipes/everyday/devildogs.html The only change I make is that I find they don't need to bake 10 minutes, maybe about 7. And don't use margarine for the filling - crisco is the way to go. To make the shells, put the batter in a ziploc bag, cut a corner, and squeeze out "fingers". You can make them small, medium or large that way. Just try to be consistent. Don't worry if the fingers don't look perfect. When they're done baking, they'll look just right. And the easiest way to fill the shells is to put the filling in a ziploc bag, close it up, cut a corner, and squeeze a line (generously) onto the flat side of one, then squeeze the other shell on. Goes 1-2-3.

As you might notice, I love ziploc bags. For baking shortcuts like this, using them instead of pastry bags, I buy the target brand ones. Very inexpensive, and you don't need such good quality for one shot use.