The Holidays have arrived.
Dec. 15th, 2002 04:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ambitious_wenchWe made baklava today. This is a major step, because this was Mom's job, and a tradition in Techi's family. Techi has taken the job, and I think that in years to come, perhaps Marsha will cede the ceremonial baklava pans to Techi because of it. I hope so. But then, Techi has no problem buying her own pans.
I had the priveledge of making baklava with mom once. It's a dance, because filo dough sheets tend to dry out quickly, and become too brittle to use. ingredients are gathered, the butter melted, the honey sauce must be brought to a boil, and the nuts have to be spiced before opening the package. Techi and I spread the sheets of dough, and mom would spread the melted butter with a paint brush. Then at particular intervals, she would spread the spiced nuts. Even so, at the end, the sheets of dough were becoming brittle, and we tried to keep them from shattering. But we did it, and it was wonderful.
This year, it's just me and Techi. She takes this seriously. She told me that I could not sing while doing the work--it would slow us down. And so, I put on a CD of selections from Handel's Messiah. I cannot think of better music to make baklava to. "For unto us a Child is given" has the perfect rhythm for brushing the butter on the sheets of dough.
I suspect that we will be buying a Yule tree soon. I hope so. I cannot think of not having Christmas. I don't think Mom would have appreciated it if she knew that we had canceled it because of her death.
I had the priveledge of making baklava with mom once. It's a dance, because filo dough sheets tend to dry out quickly, and become too brittle to use. ingredients are gathered, the butter melted, the honey sauce must be brought to a boil, and the nuts have to be spiced before opening the package. Techi and I spread the sheets of dough, and mom would spread the melted butter with a paint brush. Then at particular intervals, she would spread the spiced nuts. Even so, at the end, the sheets of dough were becoming brittle, and we tried to keep them from shattering. But we did it, and it was wonderful.
This year, it's just me and Techi. She takes this seriously. She told me that I could not sing while doing the work--it would slow us down. And so, I put on a CD of selections from Handel's Messiah. I cannot think of better music to make baklava to. "For unto us a Child is given" has the perfect rhythm for brushing the butter on the sheets of dough.
I suspect that we will be buying a Yule tree soon. I hope so. I cannot think of not having Christmas. I don't think Mom would have appreciated it if she knew that we had canceled it because of her death.