Our church has been going through the book The Story together...from the babies in the nursery to the adults. It's been a fun, exciting and eye opening journey. The book has put the Bible in chronological order and reads more like a novel. Josh and I have a chapter book that we read and discuss with our small group and again on Sundays. Rory also has a preschool book that we read every night and coordinates with the lesson at church on Sunday. I've really enjoyed this journey and will be sad when it ends.
OK-so a couple weeks ago the chapter we discussed was on Esther. I love reading that account and is probably by go to reading if I can't find something else. Esther is on my list of top 5 women I'd love to sit and have a chat with.
Here is a basic and super quick run down of her story. Current Queen is ousted by King Xerxes and therefore he needs a new Queen. Esther, who is Jewish, is also beautiful and is chosen as a replacement. Mordecai, Esther's Uncle and caregiver, saves the King's life by learning of and reporting a plot of an assassination attempt. King's right hand man, Haman, comes from a lineage of Jewish haters. Haman despises Mordecai because he will not bow down to him. King learns that Mordecai has never been properly thanked or recognized for saving his life. The King does lavish things for him which only angers Haman more. Haman devises a decree to have all the Jews killed and the King signs the decree, without realizing that he is signing his wife's death sentence. Haman is blood thirsty and even raises a pole that he intends to kill Mordecai on. Esther must go before the King to petition for her life. This is risky business...she can only go to the King when summoned. Any other time she risks being killed. The King welcomes her and even promises half of his kingdom to her. What a relief to Esther-she invites the King and Haman to a banquet. After two dinners Esther requests that her life be spared. The King, now realizing what had been happening, granted her wish, spared all her people and Haman was impaled on the pole meant for Mordecai.
This is really Hollywood ready material. Anyway, Jewish people still celebrate Esther delivering the Jews from certain death. It's called Purim and this year Purim is on February 23rd and 24th. To celebrate we made Hamantaschen (Ha-man-tosh-en) or hoppin-toppin as Rory called them. Hamantaschen translates to Haman's Ears.
Here is the recipe I used:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of water *
fruit jam
*I used a total of 4 tablespoons of water to get the right dough consistency
Preheat the over to 375 and either grease a cookie sheet or use parchment paper.
In a large bow, mix together cake mix and flour. Stir in eggs and water to form stiff dough.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness.
Use a cookie cutter or rim of a glass to cut 3" round circles and place on cookie sheets.
Place 1 teaspoon of jam in the center of each cookie.
Pinch the sides of circles to form thee corners so that only a little filling is visible. (I need some work on my shaping...they aren't quite like I pictured!)
Bake Hamantaschen for 6-8 minutes in the oven until lightly browned.
Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute and then move to a wire rack to cool fully.
Rory was very happy with his snack and he gave it a thumbs up!
This recipe came from our church bulletin...if there are plagiarism issues or you want a link let me know.
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