23 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com /CharlestonWomen Directions: Pour one cup of hot water over one cup of pitted and chopped dates. Add one teaspoon of baking soda and let cool. Mix the sugar, butter, egg, flour, salt, baking powder and chopped nuts together. Add the date mixture and stir well. Grease and flour baking pan. Bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees. For the topping, heat brown sugar, dates, water and vanilla extract in a saucepan until blended. Pour mixture over the pudding, let cool and serve. HANUKKAH From the editor: Our source for the Hanukkah traditions has asked that her name be omitted from the article due to the conflicts currently going on in Israel. That, in itself, leaves us all something to reflect and meditate upon. However, we at Charleston Women, felt the tradition of Hanukkah and our source’s cookie recipe should still be shared, perhaps with an importance stronger than ever in the current climate where some individuals have experienced antisemitism. The Holy City was founded as a safe place where all faiths could practice in the American South from its beginnings, in which we are proud. Hanukkah means “rededication,” and it is the festival that celebrates the rededication of the second temple. In that dedication, some oil was found, thought to be only enough to burn for one day. However, a miracle occurred, and it burned for eight days. Hence, Hanukkah, or the “Festival of Lights” is eight days long, which is why Jewish children receive a gift on each of the eight days. It reminds those who practice Judaism to rededicate themselves to keeping the flame of Jewish religion, culture and its people alive in order to pass on to future generations. Traditions that occur in the celebration of Hanukkah: • Lighting of the Menorah: A nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day celebration. • Playing the dreidel game and singing the dreidel song: A dreidel is a four-sided, spinning top. On each side is a Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimel, Hei and Shin, which means “a great miracle happened there.” After spinning, the player follows the directions on how many coins or candies to take. Children often play the game utilizing chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver wrappers. Once someone has collected all, the game is over. • Mensch on a Bench: This toy is similar to “elf on a shelf.” Jewish children play with Mensch on a Bench and read the book. It depicts Moshe the Mensch and is designed to inspire children to be honorable and to have integrity. • Traditional Hanukkah foods: Eating latkes (a potato pancake) and Hanukkah cookies are also Hannukah staples. We have shared Vinick’s cookie recipe below. HANUKKAH COOKIES Ingredients: • 2 sticks butter or margarine • 1 ½ cups sugar • 2 eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 3 ½ cups flour • 1 ½ tsp baking powder • Colored sugar (blue is best) Directions: Blend all ingredients except for the flour, adding it a cup at a time (just enough to roll the dough). Use Hanukkah-shaped cookie cutters: stars of David, menorahs and dreidels to shape. Decorate with traditional blue sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. NEW YEAR’S Flowertown Bed & Breakfast owner and Innkeeper Carol Grant celebrates each new year with both her family and guests by serving a delicious traditional meal that southerners love. Prior to the feast, the family always gathers on New Year’s Eve to watch “Gone with the Wind” while snacking Charleston Women at Home A cozy interior from Flowertown Bed and Breakfast Flowertown Bed and Breakfast
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