All Jewish Holidays, Jewish Recipes, Rosh Hashana - September 05, 2021

How To celebrate Rosh Hashana 2020. Plus Apple Noodle Kugel Recipe

Rosh Hashanah is the day G‑d created Adam and Eve. We celebrate it as the head of the Jewish year. This year Rosh Hashana 2020 (Jewish Year 5781) begins on Friday 9/18/20 at sundown and continues through nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

How do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah? What are Rosh Hashanah traditions?

Hearing the shofar on the first and second mornings
Lighting candles each evening (similar to every major Jewish holiday)
Attending services in a synagogue
Not performing any creative work
Celebrating Rosh Hashanah with meals of symbolic foods every night and day of the holiday.
Challah bread dipped in honey that we all like :)
On the first night, we have (personal fav) Apples dipped in honey, which symbolizes a sweet year's promise to come.
We express our wishes for the coming year with pomegranates, the head of a fish (the ram), and other foods.
On the second night, we are eating a new fruit.
We pray at the freshwater (a short prayer called Tashlich) were cast off our sins, and ask for atonement.

Three Reasons to Love Rosh Hashanah

What does any of this have to do with shirts? Nothing. We always talk to you about our Daddy's and Mommy's Little Apples and Honey onesies and kids' tees on Instagram and Twitter. This blog isn't for selling shirts -- it's for spreading a little bit of knowledge and joy to our fellow MOTTs (Members Of The Tribe). Read on for a little info about the three things we love, and a recipe for apple-infused kugel.

Apples and Honey

There's nothing like smothering your succulent fruit in sweet, dripping goo. But why on Rosh Hashanah? Our Hebrew school teachers told us it symbolized making the new year sweet ("metukah"), to fulfill the saying "L'Shanah Tovah u' Metukah."

Shofar Blowing Contests

According to Shabbat.com, the longest shofar blow comes in just under 2 minutes. That's one hell of a Tekiah Gedolah. Listen to it here:

Dinners With Family

Of all Rosh Hashanah traditions, this is the one I love most. It's simple: spending time with loved ones. Gathering Jews to celebrate a new year, a new lease on life, and all the beautiful things we all have to look forward to.

And now….Our Favorite Apple Noodle Kugel for Rosh Hashanah.

Kugel. KOOO-GELLL!

The Jewish standard for Ashkenazi Jews. Think of the BEST baked pudding or casserole you can imagine. Made most often with egg noodles and sweet with a touch of savory. Try it and see why it is under the "comfort foods" category. It's delish!!

We invite you to try this kugel recipe and make your Rosh Hashanah a little extra special.

Recipe type: Side dish, dairy, vegetarian Cuisine: Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 1-hour Total time: 1 hour 20 mins Serves: 16 (get your portion fast before someone goes for seconds)!

Ingredients:

One package (12 ounces) wide egg noodles (like Manischewitz or Streit's) • ¾ stick of butter (= 6 tablespoons), divided
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced small.
8-ounce block of cream cheese, melted
1-3/4 cups milk, 4 or 2% fat, warm
8-ounce small curd cottage cheese (small container), regular or low-fat • ¾ cup granulated sugar
Two teaspoons vanilla extract
¾ teaspoon cinnamon, divided
Six large eggs, beaten

Instructions

Place a rack in the oven center, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Use a small amount of the butter to grease a 9 x 13 inch Pyrex glass pan or ceramic casserole dish.
Cook the noodles in salted boiling water for 5 minutes. Put a few drops of cooking oil in the boiling water to prevent the noodles from sticking together. Noodles should be softened but still a little firm. Drain and set aside.
Prep all ingredients: peel and dice the apples; melt the cream cheese and remaining butter in the microwave; warm the milk, and beat the eggs.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, milk, and butter. Add in the cottage cheese, sugar, vanilla, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and beaten eggs. Stir to combine well. Fold in the noodles and apples until evenly distributed.
Pour the mixture into the baking pan and sprinkle the remaining ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon on top. Check at 40 minutes to see if the top is brown enough. If so, cover with foil and continue cooking. Bake for about 1 hour total or until the center is set, and the top is golden brown.
Cool at least 10 minutes. Cut into squares to serve. Serve warm.

For night before- Prep

Option 1: Assemble and refrigerate overnight. The next day leave out for a half-hour, then bake.
Option 2: Assemble and underbake (cook about 45 minutes). Let cool and then refrigerate before serving warm in the oven for 30 minutes.

Apple Noodle Kugel for Rosh Hashanah