The arrival of the Jewish high holidays each fall means lots of cooking. While aspects of the holidays reflect themes of justice and repentance, there is also a theme of joy and happiness at the start of a new year. Menus reflect this desire to start the year off on the right foot by incorporating ingredients that reflect a list of traditional symbolic foods such as honey, apples, and leeks. This year, perhaps, these foods take on an extra value as we hope and pray that we eventually move out from under the cloud of COVID-19 in the coming year.
Dinner for First Night
Soup and Appetizers
Apple & butternut squash soup
Gefilte fish – I really wish that I was making this from scratch (or at least ground fish from the butcher) but for now, we will have to settle for the frozen loaf.
Main Course
Miso & apricot roasted turkey breast – This yummy sounding recipe is from recipe developer Danielle Renov’s Peas, Love & Carrots cookbook.
Sweet potato casserole – Steaming the sweet potatoes in the instant pot should speed this up.
Vegetable kugel with caramelized leeks
Dessert
Apple cider donuts
Black & white cookies
Lunch for First Day
Soup and Appetizers
Brussel sprouts, apple & pomegranate salad
Potato leek soup
Main Course
Bourbon peach meatballs
Moroccan keftas – While not a traditional Rosh HaShanah food, this will be yummy. I’m using another recipe from Peas, Love & Carrots.
Carrots with pomegranate molasses glaze
Persian rice
Cranberry apple kugel
Pumpkin noodle kugel
Dessert
Majestic & moist honey cake
Apple pie
Lunch for Second Day
Soup and Appetizers
Mango salmon – While mango isn’t a traditional symbol for Rosh HaShanah, I thought its sweetness would brighten the table.
Vegetable soup with matza balls – because why not?
Main Course
Barbecue chicken poppers
Honey rice – An interesting twist on a vegetable infused rice dish from the Bais Yaakov Cookbook.
Roasted Brussel sprouts
Cut veggies
Dessert
Apple butter rugalach
Chocolate cake – I’ll probably make a simple dump cake after all of this cooking.
Wishing you and your family a Shanah Tovah U’metukah (a happy and sweet new year)!
