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Posted on Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 1 p.m.

Favorite Rosh Hashanah dishes celebrate bounty

By Mary Bilyeu

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Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — begins at sundown on Sunday evening. While the secular new year is all about champagne, the dropping of the ball at Times Square, a kiss at midnight, and designated drivers, Rosh Hashanah is more spiritual, more introspective. It begins a 10-day period leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, during which Jews begin the process of teshuvah ([teh-SHOO-vah]), or repentance, assessing the past year.

But Rosh Hashanah is also a time of celebration, of hopes for a happy year. And so it is customary to eat sweet foods, and apples dipped in honey is just one notable tradition. People often eat foods that represent bounty (such as pomegranates, with their numerous seeds, or sliced carrot coins), as well as round foods which are symbolic of the circle of the year and of life.

I've compiled a list of some favorite dishes that would be perfect to serve for a holiday dinner, or for any time of year.

Shanah Tovah! [shah-NAH toh-VAH] = May you have a good year!

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Serving dish for apples and honey (Mary Bilyeu, Contributor)

Apple Almond Kugel (one of my most requested recipes)

Challah

Cider-Braised Chicken (my very favorite chicken dish)

Quince-Glazed Baked Yams

Honey Cakes with Caramel Frosting

Sauteed Apples a la Mode

Applesauce Bars

Vanilla Cakes with Caramelized Bananas (pictured above)

Sugar Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Pie

Grilled Brie with Cherries and Almonds

Orange, Date and Almond Salad

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Loaves of round challah with raisins (Mary Bilyeu, Contributor)

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Mary Bilyeu writes for AnnArbor.com on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, telling about her adventures in the kitchen - making dinner, celebrating holidays, entering cooking contests, meeting new friends ... whatever strikes her fancy. She is also on a mission to find great deals for her Frugal Floozie Friday posts, seeking fabulous food at restaurants on the limited budget of only $5 per person. Feel free to email her with questions, comments, or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.

Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — where she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related; and look for her monthly articles in the Washtenaw Jewish News. "Like" her on Facebook, or send a tweet on Twitter, too.

The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.

Comments

Sandi

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.

I love reading about traditions that are different than my own. It was great that the article included the proper pronunciation. I think I will include some honey and apples in my son's lunchbox tomorrow!

Mary Bilyeu

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 3:06 a.m.

Apples and honey is such a great treat! So simple, and yet it's just a perfect combination ... :)

Sheila Ray

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 2:32 a.m.

Yum, Mary!! This looks fabulous. I love how you embrace natural ingredients, showcasing the beautiful looks and flavors of real, whole foods. Bravo! Sheila

Mary Bilyeu

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.

Thanks so much, Sheila! I don't want to play with a lot of chemicals and colorings; and people expect foods to look a certain way, too. If the bananas were turquoise, to make them prettier, you'd think something was wrong with them. I'm a firm believer in authenticity - here's what you'll get, even if it's not always supermodel gorgeous. And all those brown foods are some of my very favorites!

DBH

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 1:47 a.m.

I think the pictured foods look delicious!

Mary Bilyeu

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.

Thank you! I picked my favorites, so I hope everyone enjoys them ... :)

Fran Martin

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.

Seriously, dude, are you wearing the food or eating it? So what if it is beige. Funny thing when you cook honey or apple based foods. They take on that "tan" or "beige" hue.

justcurious

Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.

More brown and tan food? This does not look appetizing.

bethjarvis

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 12:23 a.m.

As someone who has personally tasted Mary's food, both the brown and tan variety and the brightly colored variety, I know that her Rosh Hashanah recipes are delicious. If the color offends, you can always throw some multicolored sprinkles on it, since it is a dish for a celebration. Personally if a food is lacking in striking color, I think its a perfect excuse to use my brighter colored plates. If all else fails, your can always eat while wearing rose colored glasses.

Mary Bilyeu

Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 11:57 p.m.

If it doesn't look appetizing, then don't make it. I'm not going to use either Photoshop or food coloring to make it pink or purple. Basic foods like bread, peanut butter, beef ... they're all brown or tan. Should I not prepare these perennial favorites because the color is displeasing?