I consider myself a pretty “bad Jew”. I know very little about my own religion and I attend temple only a handful of times per year. Luckily I am a reform Jew, so expectations of my devotion are relatively low. I enjoy the traditions and holidays but when it comes to answering my son’s questions about anything Torah related, I am often at a loss for explanation. Our goal is for our son to feel connected to his roots and culture while also learning about other religions; and having respect for all diverse beliefs. So far, so good, though trying to explain the resurrection of Christ the other day, lead into a very confusing discussion about zombies and well, I had to stop it there.
My boys are off skiing this week in Colorado and while I have an entire week to myself, purely devoted to lazy indulgences, I decided I would “skip” Passover this week. I know, I know, if I report back that I had a flat tire or went into labor early, you will know I have been punished from up above. My friends have lovingly invited me to their homes and I have had to respond honestly, “thank you but I have a date with myself and a masseuse this Friday.” I am holding on tight to this time with myself as I know it may be my last after baby number two arrives.
I have been sleeping in until 7:30, eating whatever I want (I had ice cream for dinner last night), leaving dishes in the sink, reading celebrity magazines and watching reality t.v. Can you hear the angels singing? I certainly can. This is ultimate freedom. No school pickups or drop offs, no packing and unpacking lunches, no multiple loads of laundry, no chauffeuring around town and no negotiations with my 7-year-old. Luxurious I tell you, absolutely luxurious.
Feeling only slightly guilty, I thought I would make matzos for Passover to try to win at least a few points with the big guy in the sky. After all, I was focusing on the holiday while baking, so that should count for something – right?
Depending on how religious you are, there are some rules to making matzos properly. One of these rules is you have to make and bake your matzos within 18 minutes. Since avoiding leavened bread, grains or anything fermented is a featured goal of Passover, this 18 minute window is allotted as it is believed to be fermentation free. I like a challenge and decided to make it fun with sweat bands, Nike running shoes and a stop watch ensemble. I am living alone this week, I have to entertain myself somehow.
The dough is quite simple, requiring only 3 ingredients. It is a sturdy dough that is easy to roll out and bakes quickly. Though matzos are often described as tasting like cardboard, these homemade versions are absolutely delicious. They are more reminiscent of a mix between water crackers and Naan bread. Crisp, salty and airy, they make a great compliment to any spread, charoset (a Passover mixture of apples, raisins and nuts) or even your morning breakfast. If you want to make a lot of matzos, simply wrap them individually in plastic wrap after they have cooled completely and place them in a freezer safe ziplock bag in your freezer. When you are ready to eat, simply remove the amount you want and allow to thaw on your counter for 3 minutes.
“Chag Sameach” (happy holidays) and happy baking!
Enjoy!
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