Pastelicos ... The Tradition Continues

One of my favorite Sephardi dishes is pastelicos (or pastelikos), a traditional little meat pie that was eaten by the Jews of the Iberian peninsula before the Spanish Inquisition. Pastelicos are traditionally eaten on Rosh Ha'Shanna due to their round shape (for reasons why we eat 'rounded' pastelicos and round challot, click here).

Since I made aliyah, I have only eaten pastelicos twice - and both times were when I was in the US on vacation (2005 for the High Holidays and 2007 for my engagement party). So, this year I decided to ask the new Mrs. Piha to continue my family's traditions and help me make Pastelicos ... And here are a few pics from how the adventure went:

The menu used:


Making the Dough:


Rolling the dough into balls:


Making the 'cups':


Halfway there:


Ready to go to the oven:


Finished product:


Now granted, they don't look like my mom's but this was our first time making them! With time, and perhaps watching Mom or Auntie Monica making them, I'm sure we'll improve their looks! It isn't plastic surgery after all ... As for how good they taste, well, you'll have to ask me after Shabbat ...

Until then, Shanna Tova u'Metooka!

Shanna Tova - שנה טובה

I would just like to wish all of my readers who are celebrating a Shanna Tova u'Metooka. May this new year bless us all with happiness, health, fulfillment and only good news.

שנה טובה ומתוקה לכולם

The Headlines read

Today's Haaretz's headline:

Gov`t source: Israel plans to release 100 Fatah prisoners for Ramadan

By The Associated Press

Israel intends to release from prison 100 members of Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction as part of U.S.-backed efforts to bolster him, an Israeli government source said on Tuesday



and in another world, I'd dream of reading ....

German Source: Hezbollah plans to release 2 Israeli soldiers for Rosh Ha'Shannah

By The Associated Press

Hezbollah intends to release from captivity 2 members of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima faction as part of U.S.-backed efforts to bolster him, a German government source said on Tuesday