Almost September

What is it about September? September is always a big deal for me....when I was young it was the first day of school and all that goes with that....the new clothes, school supplies, and meeting new people.

My sisters and I. I'm the one in the middle...with the necklace. Oh, so fashionable.

It was, and is, the anticipation of the Jewish New Year....wearing your best and getting together with family.....and hearing the shofar blown at the synagogue.

Man blowing shofar 

In NY September is the return of cool air and the smell of apples in the air as the first of the apple crop came in from upstate.

NY State produces lots of apples, like Cortlands and MacIntosh, two of my favorites and they are very good for you. Love them.

It's still special now. The kids are back in school and the buses are on the road with their precious cargo.

First day of school courtesy of School Bus Driver.org

 It's hurricane season in this part of the world and the hubby watches the weather faithfully (old fisherman).

The remnants of Tropical Storm Erika....we dodged that one. Good thing because we've had a lot of rain....almost over the road. Picture courtesy of the Weather.com

So...Halloween is about 2 months away and the 5th Annual Costume Sewing Pattern Sale starts Tuesday. All costume sewing patterns at GoofingOff Sewing will be 40% off for the month of September. There's over 100 to choose from with more being listed. The patterns will already be marked down.
See, September is still a special month.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing.
Make Magic with Every Stitch

Get an additional 10% off your purchase with the coupon code BLOGGIN

Eggplant Caviar

Eggplant caviar. You're probably thinking, "what in the world?" I did, too when I first heard the phrase. This is one of my tried and true recipes handed down to me from my grandmother Freida.

Most folks have special memories of their grandparents and I am no exception. I loved being around my grandmother. She was an amazing woman who could knit, sew, and cook anything, at least in my opinion. She was a fiery redhead with green eyes and a thick-as-pea-soup Brooklyn accent (she wasn't known as the Redhead from Carnarsie for nothing). She taught me fabulously useful things things like extending a meal from 4 to 8 servings with appetizers and bread, how to budget, and how to fix seconds from the knitting mill. She also taught me to cook and try some of the most unusual foods I ever imagined. One of these foods is eggplant caviar.

Ingredients:
1 large or 2 medium sized eggplants
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Set the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the eggplant in half lengthwise. Coat the skin side with a small amt of oil. Place on a cookie sheet cut side down. Bake for 30 minutes or until soft. Remove from oven and let cool
Scoop out the eggplant "meat" and place in a bowl. Add the onion and oil. Mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This dish makes a good dip or appetizer. Serve with crackers.

Pretty easy, low fat, low calories depending on how many crackers you eat. Goes with milk or meat dishes. Perfect for the Break the Fast meal after the conclusion of Yom Kippor although I think it's perfect to eat anytime a nosh is in order.
Enjoy!

Post by Miss Eileen aka GoofingOff MissEileen vintage
Goofingoff Etsy Judaic fabrics, sewing patterns
GoofingOff Artfire Sewing patterns, plus size patterns
Metal Woods N Water unusual stuff and metal work

L’Shana Tovah Happy New Year Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks 9.23.11

Morning all! Welcome to Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks for September 23, 2011. Next week starts the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the High Holy Days starting with Rosh Hashanah. Please join me in welcoming in the new year.
Traditionally we welcome in the new year by blowing the shofar, or ram’s horn, eat apples and honey for a sweet start to the new year, pray at a body of water, and pray some more. My family would get together at Grandma’s. She would serve chicken soup, followed by a salad, then roast chicken.  She always served in courses with lots of bread on the table. She said it filled people up that way and stretched out the food. For some of us, especially my sister, the bread was the best part. She would serve Challah, bread made with so many eggs it was yellow, and then braided before going into the oven. For Rosh Hashanah, the challah would be round, and sometimes there would be raisins in it to make it that much sweeter.

                             L’Shana Tovah Tie Dye Rosh Hashanah Greeting Card by AnjaliCreations

                            Apple green Peridot with medium purple Amethyst dangle earrings in 14k gold filled  August birthstone by TatianaG

                                   Honey Bee Earrings by JOsephines

                           Jewish High Holidays theme silver charm necklace Judaic jewelry by RachelTreasures

                                                                             Large Lace Fruit Bowl/Bread Bowl by NingsWonderWorld
                                South Texas Mesquite Serving Platter- Cutting Board – Bread Board by Jennifer and John

                       Timber Post on the Dunes at Peregian Beach by Philltography

                               Chai Judaism Multi Color Stained Glass Hanging by Goldsmith Glass

OK, there’s my picks. What do you think? Got a favorite or two? Now it’s your turn to vote for the one you think is the best.
Voting starts as soon as this post goes up, winner gets a feature interview by me, Miss Eileen.


Children's Costume Pattern - Simplicity J0786 sizes 3-8

Don’t forget the Halloween sewing pattern sale going on NOW in the GoofingOff Etsy and Artfire shops…..40% off all costume patterns but you must use the coupon code HALLOWEEN to get the discount. The patterns are going out the door so if you see one you like it might just be a good idea to grab it while you can.
Also, I still have skulls, bones, and all that weird stuff at MetalWoodsNWater. Think of the awesome Halloween decorating you can do. Nothing like scaring the little ones, just a little bit.

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Post by Eileen