Today I welcome USA Today Best Selling author Ruth A. Casie to Foody Friday. Ruth is an amazing woman that I call friend. She values her family, her faith, and her health. She's a Renaissance woman and role model material for certain :)
So what is Purim all about?
The Book of Esther
This Old Testament story is about Esther, the beautiful Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and her cousin Mordecai. They persuade the king to retract an order for the annihilation of Jews throughout the empire. The massacre had been plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman, and the date decided by casting lots. The Hebrew word for lots is purim.
Instead, Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai on the day he planned to annihilate the Jews. But with Esther’s help and the king’s agreement, the Jews destroyed their enemies. According to the Book of Esther, the feast of Purim was established to celebrate that day.
Hamantaschen
The tradition to eat hamantaschen on Purim appears to have begun in Europe. The word is derived from two German words: mohn (poppy seed) and taschen (pockets). Mohntaschen, or "poppy seed pockets," were a popular German pastry dating from medieval times. Around the late 1500s, German Jews dubbed them Hamantaschen, or "Haman's pockets." The play on words likely references the rumor that the evil Haman's pockets were filled with bribe money.
While poppy seeds is one of the traditional fillings, apricot, raspberry jam as well as chocolate are the most popular today.
This recipe makes about 20 hamantaschen
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 t vanilla
2 t baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
Jam, chocolate spread or desired filling
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 3500
2. Cream together sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla.
3. Slowly add flour and baking powder and mix together. The dough might be crumbly, use your hands to smooth it out and combine it. (if the dough is sticky add an additional 1/4 cup flour)
4. Roll out dough on floured surface (about 1/4 to 1/8 thick. Not too thick since then the circles are hard to shape and will open up. Not too thin since then it will rip when shaping or filling)
5. Cut out circles using a donut cutter, cookie cutter or the rim of a large glass cup or mason jar.
6. Fill center of circle with desired filling (about 1/2 tsp)
7. Fold the sides (see the diagram) to create the iconic triangular shape.
8. Bake in a 3500 oven for 8 to 12 minutes. This depending on how soft or crispy you want them. Some people like them super soft and take them out after 8 minutes.
Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie
She was his witch, his warrior, and his wife.
He was her greatest love.
Four centuries couldn’t keep them apart.
When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he's intrigued.
Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she's travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return to her own time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what's killing Arik's land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.
As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik's household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.
“Ruth A. Casie, weaves an exciting and beautifully told legendary tale that is both rich and engaging. It is full of, ‘on the edge of your seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama and a forever-after romance. Ms. Casie's sparkling new novel, KNIGHT OF RUNES is a winner!” ~ Romance Junkies
Buy Link – Amazon
If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join me at the Medieval Romance Lovers group where you’ll find snippets of Knight of Runes and fourteen other Medieval Monday authors. You just might find a new book boyfriend or author to love!.
Find the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401384450126130
A yummy treat and an exciting read! What better way to head into the weekend? Thanks, Ruth and Ashley!