the making of yummies

so

in addition to taking photos
of things I cook before eating them
to torture yall with

recently
I have been more interested
in taking photos along the process

so

I give you

( the making of a veggie stir fry )

looking at life through many colored glasses

[started last night & finished this morning]

my shabbos ritual mostly complete and halfway through a comforting bottle of rapel valley merlot
my thoughts turn away from the physical and the immediate

wait

perhaps I should back up here a bit

as a jew, my shabbos [sabbath for you gentiles] starts at sunset on friday and continues until an hour after sunset on saturday. Those of you who have been along for much of this lj journey will recall that with regards to god and religion I have not always had exactly the easiest time. But I have noticed over the past few years I have slowly been gravitating back to my roots. I was raised as an orthodox jew and while I do not in all honesty see myself returning to that life. I envision something fairly close, what we yids now refer to as conservadox perhaps, it seems to be working well for my sister anyway.

So since I have been here I have been attending synagogue for prayer services. Not regularly perhaps but far more than I ever have since I left home so many years ago.

more out of understanding of necessity than any real drive of my own

in judaism, ten men are required [a minyan] for certain parts of the prayer service to be conducted
I have put myself on a list for last minute call ups when they need a minyan in a way it is more community service than religious observance on my part
but as life happens something of a pattern has occurred so that my friday seems fairly regular

I meet a few friends in the afternoon for a couple [five, six] drinks come home give my cats their weekly treat [tuna fish] and head to synagogue
[or on nights I do not go, take a long bath]

you see while shabbos is a religious holiday it isnt really about god
it is designed and practiced for you, not for god

it is a day of rest, a day for taking care of yourself
your wife if you have one and your family

something that has always amused me is that among the orthodox friday night is called "mitzvah night"
a mitzvah, is a kindness, a good deed, something along those lines
so why would friday night be called mitzvah night?
because you should perform kindnesses?
surely
but in this case it is a tongue and cheek remark
as there is a specific kindness to which it refers

you see according to tradition
friday night is when married couples are supposed to have sex
[assuming the worst case scenario that they havent had sex all week]
friday night is set aside as a specific time not only for sex and physical affection
but for the husband to ensure his wife has an orgasm

hence the mitzvah

you see shabbos is all about harmony and in my granted fairly limited experience
when it comes to serious relationships there is little that brings more harmony to a relationship
than making sure she gets her cookies

well other than washing the dishes for once

*wicked grin*

actually that is my entire strategy with long term relationships
keep her having orgasms to distract her from the whatever she is mad at me for
and considering I have never been dumped
[which is a miracle in itself all things considered]
I would say it is a resounding success.

anyway shabbos is a time for relaxing taking care of yourself and your family
so for my part my shabbos ritual has been fairly simple

a nice dinner
candles
maybe a bottle of wine or a cocktail

I generally play a CD by a jewish group called "beat a'chon"
they do a capella versions of many of the songs I grew up singing with my family as a child
so it reminds me of purer times and I relax with my kitties

tonight I took it easy reheated some leftover veggie stirfry
whipped up a black bean sauce
[see previous post for a photo]

added a bottle of red wine and a salad
illuminated by two candles

it was quite peaceful and exactly what I needed

( but it started me thinking )