Oy am I tired...

So I have not been sleeping well. Maybe it is jetlag, maybe it's the cats fighting outside my window, maybe it's something else like anxiety and nerves or maybe it's that I am so exhausted when I go to bed that once I am not as tired, I wake up. At least the not sleeping so much makes it easier to skype with people in the states.

I have also been very busy. Today, I walked to Ben Yehuda and the shuk with YC. I had my first shwarma since getting to Israel too! Turns out that you can buy almost anything at the shuk! If you happen to be missing your TV remote, they have those too!

I bought myself my second immersion blender today at the shuk so that I can make sweet potato/leek soup for shabbat/chag. Not only did I need (ok- wanted) to get an immersion blender, I also went to 2 supermarkets (once through the line twice because I forgot something) and to a few of the stands at the shuk. At least I remembered to look up the word for leek before leaving for the shopping- K'reisha. That, salad and beer bread should make a great lunch. I hope that you enjoy too!

SWEET POTATO/LEEK SOUP RECIPE
3 TBSP olive oil
3 leeks- chopped and rinsed
1 1/2 small onions- chopped
2 stalks celery- chopped
2 small carrots- chopped
3-4 sweet potatoes- diced
3 Lg garlic cloves
4 c veggi stock (box or 3-4 cubes mixed into water)
1 (1/2) c OJ
1 TBSP cinnamon
salt and pepper
1/4 c honey or maple syrup
dash cayenne

Heat oil in heavy large pot
Add leeks, onion, celery, carrot, sweet potatoes, and garlic
Saute until brown (although I never wait that long- I wait until the
veggis start to get soft)
Add stock and OJ. bring to boil
reduce heat and simmer until tender
add cinnamon, honey/syrup, salt and pepper, and cayenne
puree and serve Hot!

BEER BREAD
1 1/2 c white flour
1 1/2 c ww flour
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c brown sugar
12 oz can or bottle of beer
*(optional but recommended) 1/4 c butter

preheat oven to 350, grease 9x5 loaf pan
mix dry ingredients, pour in beer and stir
scrape dough into pan
pour melted butter over the top
bake 50-60 mins, test with toothpick


On other notes, I finally got restitution for a coffee goof over the summer. GC and I were working at Ramah in the Poconos and on a day off we went to NYC with others from camp. I bought GC coffee, as he requested and forgot the milk and sugar. This goof became a big joke against me as it became a tri state coffee- coffee purchased in NY, sugar obtained in NJ and finally milk added in PA. So after many good hearted laughs, I was able to get all of the ingredients together and have GC make his own perfect cup of Joe while visiting my apartment in Jerusalem.


In the morning, I buy a pot and make soup. Then in the afternoon- off to see Hannah. Very excited. Getting to Israel and seeing both of my sisters within a week. Also excited to deliver all 29 shirts that I schlepped...LOVE YOU HYMK!