Kosher Cuisine with Marcy Goldman

Tu B'Shevat 2012

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is acknowledged and celebrated this year on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Named a New Year’s holiday of sorts (vs. the larger New Year holiday of fall’s Rosh Hashanah), this is the day also called the New Year for Trees. It marks the beginning of a season where the first of trees to give its fruits (at least in the ancient lands of Jewish forefathers). As with any new year’s should do – it is also a sign to wake up from a winter slumber and embrace spring and newness-on-the-way. From the first fruits, will come more harvest and that is worth celebrating – especially mid-winter!

We celebrate the day of Tu B’Shevat by enjoying fruits, particularly those found in our earliest days, such as grapes (raisins too), figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Although it is the middle of winter (at least here in North America) it is a good reminder of our spiritual ties to the land and all things that grow and the hope of renewal.

I’ve created some special recipes for you to nibble on this Tu B’Shevat, and they do include a biblical nod insofar as pomegranate dates, figs and honey have their due – but I’ve also included some contemporary tweaks for our more modern tastes. I assure you however, it’s all good.

Enjoy!
Marcy Goldman

Recipe Collection
Fragrant Pomegranate Tea for Tu B’Shevat
Sometimes a tea to go with the treats we bake is just the tonic – especially when it is a sweet and fruity tea in a ‘harvest of the trees’ theme. I love serving this in Iranian or Persian teacups, which are similar to shot glasses but come in many beautiful color tints with gold trim.

Fig and Apple Tart
Fresh figs are such a nice change, especially in combination with apples in this beautiful tart.

Roasted Red Beet Fudge Cake
A deep and moist chocolate cake that is appropriately earthy for this holiday but still, somehow most decadent. Roasting the beets stops them from bleeding their gorgeous red colour (vs. boiling wherein they lose more of their hue).

Fig Walnut Stuffed Mandelbrot
Studded with walnuts, this rustic Mandelbrot showcases a layer of dried fig and date filling. Look for plump, moist, dried figs.

Zucchini Carrot Apple Bread
A trio of fruity things and a touch of zucchini (so nice and moist, not matter what time of year) makes this a great slicing loaf for a Tu B’Shevat get together.

Nutella Filled Figs
A friend of mine, a wedding cake designer from Armenia, makes these as gifts.