During Passover, leavened grain and bread products are replaced with matzah, an unleavened flatbread. The story behind this practice can be found in the Book of Exodus in the Torah.
Thousands of years ago, the pharaoh in Egypt enslaved Jewish people and forced them to labor. The prophet Moses was sent by God to convince the pharaoh to free the Jews. The pharaoh refused and God sent ten plagues into the pharaoh’s land. The Nile River turned to blood, then came infestations of frogs, lice, and flies, followed by a livestock pestilence, then boils on both man and beasts, hail, locusts, and darkness.
Before the last of the ten plagues, the Jews were asked by God to sacrifice a lamb or goat, then smear its blood on their doorposts to indicate that their house was Jewish. The first-born son of every Egyptian house without the blood on their doorposts was killed while the Jewish homes were passed over.
The pharaoh set the Israelites free, but they had to leave quickly, and didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise and bake. They threw provisions for the long journey through the desert, including their dough, in their packs. It baked in the packs on their backs in the heat of the sun into a flat, cracker-like substance. Matzah is called the bread of affliction in order to commemorate the Israelites experience, but it is also called the bread of freedom, representing the end of their slavery.
Making it into a treat for Passover is a wonderful way to recognize the Israelites suffering and their journey to freedom.
Crystallized Ginger and Orange Matzo
Crystalized Ginger & Orange Matzo (adapted from marthastewart.com)
Active Time: 10 minutes, Setting Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers
- 2 sheets matzo
- 2 tablespoons (about 1/2 ounce) finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave at half power in 30 second intervals, until melted. Spread the chocolate evenly over the matzo sheets, spreading it to the edges.
Melt the chocolate and spread it over the sheets.
Sprinkle the chocolate with the ginger and orange zest.
Top the chocolate with the ginger and orange zest.
Let the chocolate set until hardened, at least 1 hour.
Allow the chocolate to solidify.
Break the matzo sheets into pieces and serve. Store the treat in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Break into pieces and serve.
Chag kasher v’semeach! ~Linda
Crystalized Ginger & Orange Matzo (adapted from marthastewart.com) Total Time Required: 70 minutes, Active Time: 10 minutes, Setting Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers
- 2 sheets matzo
- 2 tablespoons (about 1/2 ounce) finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave at half power in 30 second intervals, until melted. Spread the chocolate evenly over the matzo sheets, spreading it to the edges. Sprinkle the chocolate with the ginger and orange zest. Let the chocolate set until hardened, at least 1 hour.
Break the matzo sheets into pieces and serve. Store the treat in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.