Purim with a taste of Italy was also so much fun! It was delicious food, including foccacia, meat sauce, vegetarian sauce, pesto pasta, ceasar salad and cupcakes and hamantashen.
The tables were so much fun and we raffled off the center pieces for added excitement!
The best part was the ‘Purim in Italy’ quiz (see attachment) that was in everyone’s place…we got loads of comments!
Mishloach Manos came from an idea I saw from another Shlucha (I apologize I don’t know who posted but let me know who you are so I can thank you!)…the ‘green’ eco friendly …very Californian style!….it was so easy and fun
Enjoy these ideas!
(If you would like me to personalize this Italy Quiz for you, if you do not have Adobe Acrobat, I’d be happy to make the changes for you for $25.)
Foccacia Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons rapid-rising dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Cornmeal for dusting
Toppings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 10 Kalamata olives, pitted and quartered
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan (if making for a milchig event)
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
Directions
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, proof the yeast by combining it with the warm water and sugar. Stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. Turn mixer on low and slowly add the flour to the bowl. Dissolve salt in 2 tablespoons of water and add it to the mixture. Pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.
Turn the dough out onto a work surface and fold over itself a few times. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn’t form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or other warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
Coat a sheet pan with a little olive oil and corn meal. Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about 1/2-inch thick. Lay the flattened dough on the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, coat a small saute pan with olive oil, add the onion, and cook over low heat for 15 minutes until the onions caramelize. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Uncover the dough and dimple with your fingertips. Brush the surface with more olive oil and then add caramelized onions, garlic, olives, cheese, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Bake on the bottom rack for 15 to 20 minutes
12 Responses
This looks amazing!!! Thanks for all these great ideas. I was wondering, what was your program/ entertainment for this event? thanks
Thanks! I had a Magic Show that we had used before and was a HUGE draw and very successful! So I went with what I already knew would be a winner!
When we did Purim in Italy I made spumoni ice cream, and the people are still raving about it.
I have my personal ice cream recipe, but you can use any. Each layer has a different fruit and nut added to it (i.e. chopped dried apricots, rum soaked raisins, craisins; walnuts, almonds (in the green almond flavored layer,) another nut. Layers are choc, strawberry, green.Cut in squares or scoop it up.
Can you please post the recipe or send it to me: Devora@ChabadDB.com (a picture might help too:) Thanks.
thank you for the great label source
Your are very welcome!
Chana, looks great! I’m doing Purim in Italy this year and using lots of your ideas! Just wondering, were the “green” mishloach manos Italian themed? Also, did you give these out to Baalei Batim or just used them for the party? Thanks!
thanks! The mishloach manos were not italian themed but fit our location and community so i just made them look nice to fit the decor…so using neutral colors instead of something bright.
We did use these for our baal habatim although I added home made cookies or hamantashen.
best,
chana
hi. We are doing Purim in Italy as well. Just wondering what you are having for entertainment? we had no luck with glass blowers/torching, gondolas..
we are giving it a shot with a pizza man that could possibly do some tricks..still to be seen.. any cute ideas for costumes?
thank you!
We used a magician that we had used before that is very popular here so I knew it would be a draw! I dont always match my entertainment with the theme because if I know something is a ‘win’ , I’d rather go with that then spend on things I’m not sure about…
Just a thought:)
As for costumes, we didnt do anything connected to Italy but it would be cute for everyone to be an Italian Chef…with chef hats…
hatzlocha!
Thank you for sharing these great ideas! We are using your quiz this Purim, and I am planning to make the foccacia!
Thank You!