The report:
It was a great evening. More social than cultural, religious or culinary.
After being greeted at the open door by a naked toddler, and the first offering of "Gin, gin with ice, martini with gin, wine, or gin without spam" I knew I wasn't at the seder some of you were warning me about.
Turns out it was a mixed couple hosting, he was the only jew in the room, and, even before my few days of speed learning, I'd somehow absorbed more kashrut.
He did a great job for the kids (pyjamas on by now). Even though they could barely talk, they repeated the questions and prayers in hebrew. GF, who works at a museum, started to argue about archeological evidence that jews even existed, but we defused that. In all, questions were asked and answered, wine was drunk, bitter herbs were eaten and expalined. This may be my favorite holiday (since halloween has been commercialized and until someone invites me to purim). I'm thinking about hosting a secular version with an overt political slant. I've got a year to think about it.
The food:
a goy's first Seder drifting OT 4035Margaret Suran Yes you do too need to worry... don't bring any food unless it's packaged and marked "Kosher for Pbuttover". You can bring packaged chocolate, if it's marked...
As I said, not really a cullinary event.
My asparagus was nixed at the last minute - the host was grilling some. So now, there is more for me at home.
Also grilled a rack - tasted like meat.
My eggs and beets seemed to go OK (Canned pickled beets with added brown sugar, cider vinegar, garlic, onion , jalepeno, clove)
GF's grape leaves - rice, raisins, pine nuts, not sure what else
I was dissapointed with the glazed carrots, but people ate them. They didn't seem to be really "glazed". I did do them in a rush, but I'll try them again with real butter, more honey and some tweaking. (steamed baby carrots, with butter, honey, orange zest and juice, dill)
The shame of a pot luck - I took home some of the experimental roasted veg dip. Can't blame them. Good engredients aren't enough. It was bland (eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, other veg and small leafs) and my usual emergency kick of lemon and garlic didn't quite do it.
Haroset - not what I expected. I thought it would be chunky, like halva, but our host's was like a dip. Tasty, though.
Thank you all
bulka
