A Bite of Laney

If I may, a personal statement before my blog article. I have spent years reading and researching the Holocaust. How did the (250,000) of displaced people after surviving the concentration camps only then to be faced with “displacement?” I do not want to minimize the hell they went through-nor do I want to maximize what our congregational family is now facing. Of course there is no comparison at all. However, I feel as though I am possibly going to go through a “displacement” also. I don’t want to be displaced without a Temple Home. I never even thought that a Temple could be “disowned.” I, like all of you will survive somewhere, somehow but not without the fear that this can all happen again. Any religious entity is the same as a business. Each will face many obstacles and perhaps eventually have to go out of business. My opinion now knowing that our Temple may not exist much longer as it is now I say do what we can to survive. If we must change our name so be it. If we must have a location which doesn’t have the look or feel of a Temple then we have the wrong conception of what belonging to a congregational family is all about. My personal thank you to all out there trying to keep us together. I know none of you asked my opinion but if you are reading this – thank you. Now for a little different sweet for Passover that I have been making for years! Laney’s Caramel Matzo Crunch. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Then I line a cookie sheet with foil and put parchment paper over it. Believe me you will be glad to do it once you see how sticky this recipe becomes when baking. Now take 4-6 matzoh boards cutting odd shapes to fit every inch of the pan. All you see now is matzoh and no pan! Combine 1 cup unsalted butter or unsalted Passover margarine with 1 cup brown sugar in a 3 quart heavy bottomed pan. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Cook another 3 minutes and remove from heat. Good part is next- pour the mixture over the matzoh. Place in oven and reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake 15 minutes checking every few minutes to make sure the mixture is not burning. If it looks to be browning too quickly remove from oven and reduce heat to 325 degrees. Replace in oven. When you remove it immediately sprinkle top of matzoh with chocolate chips. Let stand for 5 minutes then spread melted chocolate. While it is still warm cut into squares or any shape preferred. Chill in refrigerator until set. This makes a great hostess gift if joining others for your Seder. My hope to each of you is for a memorable and wonderful Pesach; that it is not the last congregational gathering AND Please G-d let this too, PASS OVER.