Hamantaschen- Yum Yum

I have a really cool job. I am a preschool teacher.  It's really fun and it's really easy because we have a very small class this year.  And, I really love it! I like little kids.  Somebody found out this week that I teach preschool and she asked me how I could stand the little kids.  I was a little dumbfounded.  "I love those little kids." I replied. "And, by the way, are you aware that I have 6 kids of my own" I actually like them too, most of the time.  Anyway, this is all related to hamantaschen, and you will find out how if you just pay careful attention.  Okay, I'll just tell you.  My boss is Jewish and she posted these yummy looking cookies on facebook last week. When I "volunteered" to try some, she graciously brought me some at preschool.

They are triangle shaped crispy buttery cookies with filling. They are called hamantaschen.  Eva filled hers with apricot jam, raspberry jam, chocolate, or nutella.

Anyway, these cookies are yummy.  And they are a traditional treat for Purim.  Hamantaschen means Haman's Pockets.  They are supposed to represent a triangle hat, much like Haman, from the story of Esther, is supposed to have worn.  Purim is a celebration of Queen Esther who saved her people, the Jews, from being killed.  For Christians, this is the story of Esther from the Old Testament.  Anyway, it is a really cool story and features a very brave lady.  I think Purim is pretty cool. So, I am not Jewish, but I love the story of Esther, and I love cookies, so I thought I would make these cookies and share the story with my kids this weekend.

Eva gave me a link to the recipe she used.  It was from The Shiska in the Kitchen, a post labeled Buttery Hamantaschen on March 1, 2012.  I followed that recipe for the dough.  Then I clicked on the link for chocolate cream cheese filling and used that for the filling. That link also had a completely different dough recipe which used shortening and pineapple juice.  I prefer butter, so I think I'll stick with that one.  Anyway,  they turned out pretty dang delicious. There is orange zest in the dough. So the final product was something like a creamy, crunchy, buttery, sweet chocolate orange cookie.  Yum Yum!

They are not kidding about only putting 1 tsp. of filling. DO NOT OVERFILL.  1 tsp. is perfect.

Cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla, and chocolate chips. 

My cookie sheet is ugly, but my kid is cute. That makes up for it. 

She said they smell great!

One cookie.  Isn't it cute?

Before baking.  They were pretty easy to make, especially once I got the hang of it.

Down with Daylight Saving Time!

Many years ago, somebody who thought he was really smart came up with an idea that would go on to plague babies, children, adults, old people. . . everyone!  Okay, here is the truth.  This concept has been around for a long time.  The Egyptians used to adjust their schedules according to the rising and setting of the sun. In 1784 old Benny Franklin had the idea to institute Daylight Saving Time, but it didn't happen then.  Several other people over the next 100+ years suggested various versions of playing with clocks, such as adjusting them two hours, or adjusting one hour, but taking 4 weeks to do it both in the Spring and Fall when returning to normal time.  But, what really did us in, was. . . NOT THE FARMERS!  This is a myth. The farmers were opposed to Daylight Saving Time.  It was WAR!!  Boom boom boom! ( you need to kind of sing this part to yourself, getting lower on each Boom)

War stinks!  And now we all have another reason to hate it.

Daylight Saving Time in the US was implemented during World War I.  And they forgot to undo this BAD IDEA.  It has been fiddled with multiple times and isn't observed everywhere.  To my US friends, we all need to move to Arizona. Not only does Arizona keep the real time year round, you can also buy Bluebell ice cream there. And, it doesn't snow. Win. Win. Win.  Hawaii is also an option for relocation.  Aloha!

In 2005, Daylight Saving was extended to last longer, starting the second week of March rather than in April and not ending until November, thus ruining Halloween and the delights of trick or treating when it is actually dark outside.

The violations go on and on.   Can you tell that I am not a fan?

I say ,"DOWN WITH DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME!"


http://perspectives.rea-hedrick.com/2010/03/13/count-rugen-on-why-daylight-savings-time-sucks/

We do not need it anymore.  Daylight Saving does not work.  It just screws people up.  It also kills people.

Check out this detailed explanation of all the ways it is bad for us.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/03/08/when_is_daylight_saving_time_it_starts_march_9_and_it_s_bad_for_your_health.html

We just need to stop messing with the clock.  Clocks are something that man created, so, if we want to convince people to get up earlier, then let's play with it ONE TIME, and "LET IT GO".  I love saying that right now.  All this back and forth is literally killing us at the worst and making me extremely cranky at the best.

How many babies cried at 9 o'clock church today?  How many grownups feel cruddy today?  How many people will have a heart attack this week because they had to get up early?  It's KILLING PEOPLE!

Okay, I'm almost done ranting. Usually, I just rant on facebook, but I decided to go whole hog today and expand my rant because, well, we haven't gotten rid of this abomination yet.  Can you believe it?  I mean, I'm serious.  Why are we still doing this?  Why is the world doing this?  Somebody stop the madness!

If the US government could hire 300,000 people to invent the atomic bomb during World War II and keep it a secret from almost the entire country, including congress and the senate, could somebody with power please pull a quick one and get rid of Daylight Saving?  Please.  I'll give you a muffin.