Year 2, Day 47: Return Home

Another day in New York and another 20 minute loss of life's magic time as we sit in yet another parking lot of highway. We remember why we don't live in New York, though proximity to the world's best fill in anything you want is tempting, and of course Broadway. Eager to hot-foot it back to Boston we pack the car and I make a brief stop to see a friend who's recently lost his father, and coincidentally lives on the way to the Englewood home for Balthazar Bread. Now, it's Passover, but I think it's OK to buy bread if I promise not to eat it till Passover is over. I know that's actually contrary to the laws, but I was never very observant about that one. I think ridding yourself of awful high-carb, high fructose corn syrupy white bread or fake wheat bread is great, but ridding yourself of Balthazar bread just because of a holiday is just flat out wrong.

Breakfast
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter
1 Banana
Coffee with Milk

Car Ride
Chicken Breast
1/2 of a Cheese Stick
1/2 Matzoh Board

Arrival Snack
Salad with Red Cabbage and Romaine
Feta Cheese
12-14 Jalapeno Chips (Whole Foods)

Dinner
Emily's Tilapia
Emily's Stir-Fry Cabbage
Some of Magnolia's Hot Dog

Now in retrospect, I think corn chips are not "Kosher for Passover" because they are made of corn which is one of the things, also called kitnios that we are forbidden to eat. Interestingly, not all Jews are forbidden to eat corn; Sephardim can eat them all day, but not Ashkenazim. However, I challenge anyone to sit in a car for a long period of time with a bag of chips and have them resist. Come on, I dare you!

Apparently, there is a wave coming where new and interesting foods will be available during passover, even those that are leavened (this is because they can be made with baking soda or baking powder, which does not ferment). According to one rabbi, the laws say if one of the five grains – wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt – sits in water for more than 18 minutes it becomes chametz, and one may not eat, derive benefit from or own it on Pesach. Sure makes it hard to find something yummy to eat.