Program Highlight —
                     Cooking With The Bible

Are there any recipes in the Bible? Why did Yael give Sisera milk when he asked for water? What did Boaz offer Ruth at the grain field? What is “honey” in the Bible? Is “milk and honey” a blessing or a curse?

All of these topics are explored “in the field” during Neot Kedumim’s special program Cooking With The Bible

What is biblical food?
Banana? Tomato? Avocado?
An introductory discussion will deal with the foods that were (and weren't) eaten in ancient Israel .We'll illustrate various biblical stories through the foods associated with them.

At the beginning of our history our ancestors were shepherds.
We'll try our hands at leading a flock of sheep and goats. In "Abraham’s Tent," we'll learn about the shepherd's life and follow an ancient field recipe to make instant cheese, churn butter, and taste our handiwork.

When we became farmers, our lifestyle changed and with it our food.
We'll follow the story of Ruth and Boaz in the barley and wheat fields. What did Boaz offer Ruth in the field (Ruth 2:14)? We'll learn about aviv, roasted grain (kali), and prepare our own to munch in the threshing floor.
The vineyard was a major component of agrarian life and many biblical homilies are associated with grapes and grapegrowing. The fruit of the vine and the wine press became symbols of plenty and prosperity. At an ancient wine press, we'll drink grape juice and offer a toast.
Optional addition: We'll plant a grapevine on a restored ancient terrace.  

Both farmers and shepherds used wild vegetation as an important addition to their diets. During times of hunger, these wild plants became essential. We will “Search for (edible) Roots” – as well as seasonal flowers, leaves, and stems, while learning the legends and homilies associated with them.
What is the hyssop that is “crushed by everyone” (Midrash Hagadol, Metzora 14)? Learn about characteristics of this important herb and grind it in a mortar and pestle in preparation for the meal.

To learn more about Neot Kedumim’s Biblical Cooking Course, please send an email to
gen_info@neot-kedumim.org.il.
Telephone in Israel : 08-977-0777

Three Recipes From the Bible

Fig-Branch Cheese
“…and cheese of cows’ milk for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat…” (II Samuel 17:29)

Ingredients
• 1 liter milk
• 1 freshly-cut fig branch
• cheesecloth for straining

Preparation
• Pour the milk into a pot and add 5 drops of the white sap from the cut end of the fig branch.
• Heat the milk to the boiling point while stirring with the fig branch.
• Let the curdled milk cool and strain through the cloth.
• Season to taste.

Pita
“And Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread, and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar…” (Genesis 21:14)

Ingredients
• 1 kilo flour oil
• Water salt

Preparation
• In a large bowl, mix the flour with a generous pinch of salt, a little oil, and enough water to form a smooth but not sticky dough.
• Knead the dough until the texture is uniform and elastic.
• Form thin circles the size of an open hand. Spread each circle on a heated saj or upside-down wok, remove when browned.

Date Honey
“...a land of wheat and barley and grapevines and figs and pomegranates, a land of olives for oil and honey.” (Deuteronomy 8:8).

Ingredients
• 1 kilo dried dates
• 4-6 cups water
• cheesecloth for straining

Preparation
• Pit the dates, cook with the water 20-30 minutes, until the dates disintegrate.
• Strain out all the liquid.
• Simmer the liquid, uncovered, until thickened.
• Cool, store in a clean jar in a dry place.