Congratulations! Mazel tov! Approximately 8 cups of wine, 10 plagues x 2, and your weight in matzah later, you made it through!
You can pick up your box of handmade matzah as a reward on your way out. *Ba dum chh*
As much as that would make me laugh, you probably already have a matzah surplus in your house. While cleaning the pantry this year we actually found a couple of boxes left from the year before. Rumor has it that the stuff never goes stale….
Once you’ve celebrated how far you’ve come, don’t forget that you’ve still got 6 more days to go. Here’s the very simplified lowdown– Pesach has 2 sets of ‘yom tov’ (Sabbath-like days) that sandwich ‘chol hamoed’ (intermediate days).
Damn. Now I’ve got grilled cheese and egg sandwiches on my mind.
Alas, they’ll have to wait, since there’s no ‘chametz‘ (barley, rye, oats, wheat, or spelt mixed with water and leavened). Instead, we overdose on potatoes and matzah, which most people complain about endlessly.
I used to tell people that I thought matzah tasted like cardboard too, just so that I’d fit in. Truthfully, though, I think it tastes kind of good. There isn’t much to complain about when you’re crunching on glorified crackers. Luckily my older, slightly more adult self got over that real fast, meaning that this week’s #ToastTuesday is going down Pesach style.
OG Hillel Sandwich
Perhaps you’ll recognize this from your seder, or maybe you’re scratching your head and thinking say what. This is my favorite part of the Pesach meals, what I look forward to most every year. Crunchy matzah topped with a fresh piece of romaine lettuce, sharp horseradish, and homemade charoset. Each bite is sharp and sweet, not to mention colorful. My hands and plate are always stained purple from the horseradish by the time I’m done.
Lox to My Schmear
This one falls somewhere near the top of the list of classic Jewish sandwiches, along with deli concoctions. First, spread a generous layer of cream cheese. Make sure to use extreme caution here to prevent the matzah from breaking into a million crumbs that you’ll be stuck sweeping off the kitchen floor. Next, heave a sigh of relief that your square is still whole. Top it with some sliced red onion, juicy tomatoes, and the lox.
Breakfast Deluxe
Eating egg and avocado toast really makes me feel like I’m owning my millennial self. Putting it on matzah puts my own stamp on the popular combo. The bright yellow eggs scream GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE so loudly that you’re forced to rub the sleep out of your eyes. I softboiled 2 eggs and then had more fun than I expected mashing them to a soft and fluffy pile. Keep the spices simple (salt, pepper, garlic, and onion flakes). Finally, top it with half of an avocado for the ultimate creamy toast.
Ashkenazi-Style Mac & Cheese
Inspiration can come from anywhere, and in this case it’s from ‘lokshen mit kaese,’ the mac and cheese of my Eastern European roots. Growing up, we always had noodles with cottage cheese, sugar, and cinnamon. The sugar was eventually phased out and the pasta replaced with fruit, for a healthier take. I often have it with a chopped apple or handful of blueberries for breakfast or a hearty snack. Putting it on matzah has a double advantage. More interesting texturally and one less bowl to wash.
I hope that these ideas get your mental wheels turning! Matzah doesn’t have to taste like cardboard; in fact, it cleans up pretty well. Even if I can’t convince you, then at least you have 4 toast combinations for your back pocket.
If you make this recipe, I’d love your feedback. Leave a comment below, save it on Pinterest, or tag #lensesandlentils on Instagram so that I can see your creations!
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