Chanukah is quickly coming to an end and Christmas is coming so quickly that it boggles my mind. I have been giving my hubby books for each night of Chanukah. Last night he said before opening his gift, “Ok, this is book three in the trilogy.” Geez! Yes, of course he was correct in his guess, but he could have played along with the surprise element to humor me, couldn’t he? Not my hubby! Tonight he will be getting book one of another trilogy. But, for the last night I have a surprise for him…he will not be getting the third book of the trilogy. It hasn’t come out yet! LOL My hubby loves Nora Roberts and her alter ego, J.D. Robb. He has read many of her books,as I have, but these two trilogies have been missing from our collection. I know he will enjoy them. Currently he is reading the last of her Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy as we just got the last book in that trilogy a few weeks ago. Of course I had to read it first. I love her trilogies. I’m not too into her J.D. Robb books. I don’t know why. But I do love her trilogies.
I admire Nora Roberts. What I’d like to know is how she writes so many novels. It blows me away everytime my hubby gives me the latest count. Does the woman sleep? Does anyone know of any author more prolific than Nora Roberts?
It is a grey dreary day here. I slept away most of it. Had another bad night, but that goes alone with getting older, I think. When I got up, I immediately went to Pinterest.com to pin recipes that I will probably never try. It relaxes me to do that though and I love drooling over the photos. I envy the creativity people showcase in their decorating and presentation of such goodies as Chanukah and Christmas cookies and cakes. Just blows me away. However, I am finding that when I follow the link to get some of the recipes, the webpages are messed up. Of course, it could be my virus-ridden puter. I need to take it in but it will have to wait till after the first of the year. So, expect another period of down-time in the near future. I need a different virus checker, but waiting till the subscription on my current one is over.
So, how is your holiday going? Did you get to go to many parties? Did you get all of your shopping and wrapping done? I still have to wrap four Christmas gifts. Did you mail your holiday cards? I still have to print and mail my cards out, for both holidays. I don’t know why I am procrastinating. Did you do your baking? I hope to do mine on Wednesday. I want to make Chanukah cupcakes to take over to my mom. I will use a box mix though, but will decorate them for Chanukah. If they turn out pretty, I will post photos here.
I see very few posts about Chanukah music, so I thought I would share the Chanukah songs from my youth, the songs I learned in Sunday school and later in Hebrew school:
Let’s all dance the hora!
CHAUKAH, OH CHANUKAH
Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we’ll all have a treat
Sivivon to play with, and latkes to eat.
And while we are playing
The candles are burning bright
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
We sing Maoztur – Rock of Ages – after we light the menorah.
ROCK OF AGES
Maoz tzur yeshua-si
Lecha na-eh li-sha-beyach
Tikone bais ti-fee-lasi
Vi-sham todah ni-za-beyach.
Li-ase ta-chin mat-beyach
Mee-tzar ham-na-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach.
Oh, Dreidel We Shall Play
I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when my dreidel’s tired
It drops and then I win!
(Chorus)
My dreidel’s always playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidel
Come play now, let’s begin!
(Chorus)
Sivivon, Sov, Sov, Sov
SIVIVON, SOV, SOV, SOV
Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
Chanukah, hu chag tov
Chanukah, hu chag tov Sivivon, sov, sov, sov!
Chag simcha hu la-am
Nes gadol haya sham
Nes gadol haya sham
Chag simcha hu la-am.
For some more modern Chanukah songs, including one from Bare Naked Ladies, and for translations of the Chanukah songs that I have included here that are in Hebrew, please go to http://www.hanukkahcelebrations.com/songs.html
I found the following treasure at: http://jewishmusiclyrics.blogspot.com/2013/05/tatenyu-8th-day-chasing-prophecy-jewish.html You must visit the site to see a very cute Chanukah song about latkes. Just keep scrolling through the music there.
Colored Candles from Destiny Volume 1 Eli Nathan Jewish Music Lyrics Chanukah Song
From his block of rolling lawns and fancy cars
He was so proud that he’d come so far
With the greatest of ease, he moved through high society
That grocer’s boy from the city streets
Well he’d long since gone and changed his name
It was the only way that he could play the game
With the neighbors like the Richardsons, the Williams and the Jones,
What could he do with a name like Cohen
But he had one memory,
Yes his father he did see
Lighting colored candles on the window sill
Eight days a year he’d light
Another candle every night
It lingered in his memory still
In December came home from school his little girl called Sue
She held a picture of an x-mas tree she drew
All the kids in my class have one she said with a tear,
And could we have one in our home this year
He didn’t know what to do
With his little daughter Sue
Although her desires he wished to fulfill
“My dear Sue listen to me,
There’s something better than a tree,
It lingers in my memory still”
The next day he came home from work with a menorah in his hand
His dear wife said to him “Joe! I just don’t understand,
We’ve worked so hard to get to where we are today,
And now what will we do? What will the neighbors say?
But he light those candles anyway, yes there were 5 that night
And from his window to the street glowed the candle light
They were burning for an hour maybe a little more
When suddenly Mr. Richardson stood there by the door
He said would it be ok if a word to you I’d say
There’s something about those candles you must know
Yes they bring back memories, of my father I still see
As he light those candles many years ago
He stepped outside on that night and boy was he surprised!
He couldn’t believe what he saw he couldn’t believe his eyes
From all the houses on the block glowed candle light
From their window sills and out unto the night
Yes they had one memory
Yes their father’s they did see
Lighting colored candles on the window sill
Eight days a year they’d light
Another candle every night
It lingered in their memory still
My favorite modern Chanukah song was written by none other than the great Woody Guthrie. I found these lyrics at: https://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/Honeyky_Hanukah.htm I do own the Klezmatics’ cd that this is on and I highly recommend it. The cd is called Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah.
Honeyky Hanukah
Words by Woody Guthrie, Music by Frank London (The Klezmatics)
It’s Honeyka Hanukah ‘round and around,
Honeycake Hanukah, eat them down,
Latkes and goody things all over town,
It’s Honeyky Hanukah time.
It’s Honeyky Hanukah, shaky my hand,
My candles are burning all over this land,
To light the dark road for the man passing by,
It’s Honeyky Hanukah time.
It’s Honeyky Hanukah, kissy my cheek,
The light in my window it burns for a week
I’ll open my present and take a little peek,
It’s Honeyky Hanukah time.
It’s Honeyky Hanukah, makes me feel glad,
This box for mother and this box for dad,
For sister and brother, nice ribbons I’ll tie,
It’s Honeyka Hanukah time.
It’s Honeyky Hanukah, huggy me tight,
It’s Hanukah day, and it’s Hanukah night,
If you’ve got no money, well, that’s all right.
It’s Honeyky Hanukah time.It’s Honeyky Hanukah, brushy my hair,
Let’s dance a big horah and jump in the air,
You look lots prettier to me every year
At Honeyky Hanukah time.
Copyright © 2003 by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
Ok, to enjoy all this wonderful, memorable Chanukah music, relax with a cup of tea and the following recipe which is my favorite recipe for pie.
Home Cookin Chapter: MARILYN’S RECIPES
Chocolate Mint Pie
==================
This is my verrrrry favorite desert! I first made and served this
pie when my sister became engaged and my parents invited her
future in-laws to dinner. My future brother-in-law’s father really
enjoyed this pie as much as I did. This is a very rich pie and I
strongly suggest serving with whipped cream! It is my favorite
pie recipe! ~ Marilyn Sultar
Ingredients
CRUST:
1 1/4 cups (10 double graham crackers) Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) Butter OR Margarine; melted
2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
FILLING:
3 squares (3 ounces total) SEMI-SWEET Chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter OR Margarine
1 cup Confectioners Sugar
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
.
Directions
CRUST:
PREHEAT oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Blend crumbs, margarine and sugar. Press firmly on the bottom and
sides of an 8″ pie plate. Bake in PREHEATED 350° Fahrenheit oven
for 10 minutes. Cool.
(MARILYN’S NOTE: You can skip the fun of making your own graham
cracker crust as above and buy a ready-made graham cracker crust!
Your choice.)
FILLING:
Melt chocolate over hot water in a double boiler; cool slightly.
(MARILYN’S Note: Melt chocolate in microwave for about 30 seconds
to a minute on HIGH OR until chocolate is shiny and melted.) Cool
SLIGHTLY.
In the small bowl of your electric mixer, cream butter with
confectioners sugar. Blend in the eggs, flavorings and melted
chocolate.
Place bowl in REFRIGERATOR until well chilled. Beat at HIGH speed
in your electric mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread
chocolate mixture into baked and cooled crumb crust.
9
REFRIGERATE until ready to serve. Garnish with whipped cream, if
desired.
Source: Marilyn Sultar – original is from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle or the Rochester Time’s Union newspaper. It is a very old recipe that I cut out and the name of the paper isnt’ on the clipping.
Servings: 0
Exported from Home Cookin 8.59 (www.mountainsoftware.com)
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT DUE:
Menorah photo: http://www.israelnewsagency.com/hanukkahisrael481225.html
Blue Dreidel: http://pickandprintgallery.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bluedreidelkathygrimmc2a92012.jpg
Menorah clip art: http://poetrysync.blogspot.com/2013/11/hanukkah-candle-clip-art-pictures.html
Happy Chanukah clip art: http://poetrysync.blogspot.com/2013/11/hanukkah-candle-clip-art-pictures.html
A TZIMMES REVIVED 