Shavuot

Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and is the day the Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. It is one of the 3 Biblical pilgrimage festivals, the other 2 being Passover and Sukkot. Shavuot is also connected to the season of the grain harvest in Israel. In ancient times, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness. It began with the harvesting of the barley during Passover and ended with the harvesting of the wheat at Shavuot. Shavuot was also the first day on which individuals could bring the Bikkurim (First Fruits) to the Temple in Jerusalem.

In modern times, Shavuot is celebrated differently. There is the reading of the Book of Ruth, Homes are decorated with greenery, The Torah is studied all night, and there is the consumption of dairy products like milk and cheese.

Which brings me to today's post.

A traditional food on Shavuot is Blintzes. Blintzes are a pancake that is stuffed with cheese or fruit. They are served with sour cream.

There’s a bit of history and a bit of mythology surrounding the blintz, a thin pancake wrapped around a filling. Gastronomically, its closest cousin is the French “crepe.” Like the crepe, many fillings work with blintzes.

Here a good blintzes recipe.

Cheese Blintzes

(Filling)
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup creamed cottage cheese
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
(Blintzes)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup milk
3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter

(Filing) - Mix all ingredients. Beat with until smooth. Refrigerate.

(Blintzes) - Beat eggs, oil, and milk well. Add flour and salt beat well. Refrigerate 30 minutes. For each blintz, melt 1 teaspoon butter in 7 inch skillet. Pour in 1 1/2 teaspoons batter, spread batter completely over bottom of pan. Cook over medium heat until lightly browned on one side. Remove. Put 1 tablespoon cheese filling on browned surface of each blintz. Fold and roll.

Now if this doesn't work, you can do the easy way out and buy them frozen. Then all you have to do is defrost and fry up in the pan.

Either way, enjoy your Shavuot.