RFCJ RECIPE ARCHIVE
Posted by : Lita Lotzkar Cookies: Sesame Seed - pareve
In order to keep the dietary laws while she was married to King Ahasuerus of Persia, Queen Esther ate a vegetarian diet. The seeds in these cookies symbolize the seeds on which Esther subsisted during her three-day fast while she prayed that the decree against the Jews in Persia would be repealed. Makes about 20 cookies. These cookies are easy enough to make in large quantities to use for shalach manot. Just double or triple the recipe. * 2 eggs * 1/2 cup sugar * 4 tablespoons olive oil * 1/2 teaspoons baking soda * 1/2 cup sifted flour * 2 cups sesame seeds Blend eggs, sugar and oil. Sift together baking soda and flour and add to egg mixture. Blend in the sesame seeds. Roll mixture into small balls. Spread across a greased cookie sheet, pressing each cookie down with your thumb. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Source: Virtual Jerusalem web page Archivist's note: "Shalach manot or mishloach manot simply means sending portions of food to friends. Mordecasi said in his letter, 'Each person should send portion' to his friend to commemorate the day. The Rabbis interpreted this to mean a minimum of two items, either of baked good or cooked foods or sweets or fruit or drink, although some sources interpret it as requiring at least one baked good in the package." Blu Greenberg "How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household"
