It's an enjoyable holiday, and there are lots of festivals and happenings hosted by agricultural settlements (kibbutzim and moshavim) , agricultural schools, and other places.
posters on agricultural themes
In May 2011, I attended a big Shavuot happening at the Green Village (Hakfar Hayarok), not far from my hometown. I then wrote a little post and created a video about it (please type Shavuot in the search box and enjoy!).
It is said that the late president Gerald Ford used to eat the same meal each day - cottage cheese with a dollop of... ketchup.
the milk giver (cow) doesn't look happy
white, soft, spreadable cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is offered with different fat levels: low-fat (1%), medium -fat(3%,5%), high fat (7%, 9%..)
I usually buy the 1% fat, 62 cal. per 100g. One cup (250g) provides 157 calories. Good for weight-watchers.
Tnuva 1% fat , 250g cup - my favorite
It should be emphasized that this product is packed with nutrients (protein, vitamins, minerals), can be eaten by itself, or mixed with spaghetti, used in pancakes and various desserts, added to veggie salad, fruit salad etc...A very versatile food item! Put in a warm pita pocket with veggies - it becomes a delicious snack!
pita pockets straight from the taboon oven
"On this holiday it is customary to eat dairy products."
ReplyDeleteI did not know about this custom! I love all things dairy. :-)
Well, now you know, Sandi. There are a number of reasons for this popular custom, all tied to the giving of The Torah by God and to kashrut laws.If you're interested in the subject, you'll find a lot of info on the internet.
DeleteInteresting.I too like and find cottage cheese versatile.
ReplyDeleteVery versatile indeed! Personally, because I'm interested in watching my weight, I eat it mostly as is, added to fruit/veggies, or attached to the newly discovered 'skinny pasta' for a low caloric dish. Portion size is also important.
DeleteI do enjoy your posts. Such a different life, really interesting. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Life everywhere is dictated by climate, health, traditions, the physical and social surroundings. So, it differs according to personal and general parameters.
DeleteThere is only one brand of cottage cheese I eat and its fat free; I don't have it too often but enjoy it for breakfast with a hard boiled egg and fruit. My husband, on the other hand, eats the lowfat cottage cheese almost every day with his homegrown sprouts. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen fat free around for years. I used to buy it for my Mom. Maybe there's no big profit in it, so the dairy producers stopped supplying it.
DeleteAnyway, cottage cheese goes well with anything, including sprouts, boiled eggs and fruit.
Our end of harvest festival is in August after the wheat is harvested from the fields.
ReplyDeleteI don't eat dairy, but I've noticed that some of the anticancer diets include eating tons of cottage cheese mixed with grind flax seeds and some other things. It is apparently enough to keep you nourished but not enough to feed the cancer cells. Some doctors also recommend cheese with a bit of cinnamon instead of eating sweets. For me, banana does the trick when I want something sweet :)
I wish the citizens in my country would start rioting and boycotting producers when they up the prices... sadly, we're not on that civilisational level, even foreign producers bring higher prices here than in the West, we're like sheep :(
I'm really impressed by your knowledge in nutrition matters.
DeleteCheese with a bit of cinnamon sounds like a good idea.
I like bananas too. I believe eating a banana close to bed time, helps with sleep.
The 'cottage protest' of 2011 has become a subject of study and conferences at schools and universities.
I always learn something new and interesting here. I didn't know about this feast -- or of a smooth cottage cheese!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you do. I also learn things from other blogs, including yours, and that's always a pleasure for me.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this post and learned a number of things I didn't already know. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angelina. That's what blogs are for: to read, learn and enjoy.
DeleteThis celebration reminded me of similar farm and harvest festivals we would attend when living in Virginia. The area we lived in was largely agricultural with farms and chickens. I enjoy cottage cheese with fresh fruit, but do not like the low-fat varieties which often are not as tasteful at least to me. Also I have noticed that many low-fat products contain more sodium than their counterparts.
ReplyDeleteSodium is indeed a problem. Taste -you get used to it, and you can combine it with fruit, so no problem.
DeleteLow fat, low carb, low calorie - all these low-s are important if one wishes to watch one's weight, and I wish that.
I like cottage cheese with peaches. I didn’t know it was connected with this holiday....
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. Peaches are a delightful fruit, and greatly enrich the cottage portion with the right taste and flavor.
DeleteWow.... must try that .... cottage cheese with a dollop of ketchup.
ReplyDeleteDo try that, why not. I would prefer fresh tomatoe slices instead of ketchup(not fond of ketchup).
DeleteWe have decided to keep our two cows and to invest in a simple mini dairy....which means I can make our own cottage cheese!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Nothing better than homemade products.
DeleteIn Israel, there are a lot of mini dairies and it also exports dairy technology to the world.
I used to love cottage cheese. I wish I wasn't allergic to it now.
ReplyDeleteSadly, many are allergic to dairy products. Others, for some medical reason or other, are told by doctors to eliminate them from their daily menu.
DeleteLove Cottage cheese, but without ketchup!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Me too. I prefer to eat the cottage cheese with radishes or tomato slices - to ketchup.
DeleteLove your Shavuot post and I also love cottage cheese! The dairy products in Israel must be amazing, as it is the land of milk of honey!! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!! I took a little blog break over the Shavuot holiday and days leading up to it. Enjoyed dairy foods like kugel and blintzes and still have some cottage cheese in the fridge!! Interesting to hear that cottage cheese is a staple food in Israel!! Its getting more common in Japan but still not available everywhere. Blessings and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteOur dairy products are not bad. Even the chinese have confidence in them as they bought the controlling share of Tnuva, the main dairy complex.
DeleteJudging by your photos, you don't have any weight problem, so you can indulge in eating kugel, blintzes and whatever you fancy.
Thanks Duta! I also just remembered as I had it this a.m., one of my favorites with cottage cheese is scrambled eggs with cottage cheese!
DeleteMelon with cottage cheese also is up there!! Have a blessed day!
Delicious mixes! Eggs and fruit enrich any dish.
DeleteThat plate of cottage cheese looks delicious! I remember growing up at my maternal grandmothera home when we visited, the aunts would sit all of us children at the table and we would all get a plate of beans right out of the pot with a dollop of cottage cheese. No one asked us if we wanted it or if we were lactose intolerant, we just ate it! It is one of the best memories of my childhood. Great post and so glad that you got to partake of this great festival again.
ReplyDeleteThose were the days...kids ate what they were offered to eat. Beans and cottage cheese is delicious, and makes for a sweet memory.
DeleteI used to eat cottage cheese. Putting it in pancakes sounds like a good idea!
ReplyDeleteA good idea indeed. In fact, I don't know of anything that wouldn't be a great idea when combined with cottage cheese - except of course, meat products.
DeleteI don't mix dairy with meat, not only because our religion doesn't favor that, but also because I've found out it's not healthy.
This is interesting! I wouldn't have thought a pita pocket! What a good idea! I used to take those for lunch when I was working! STuffed with sprouts, too!
ReplyDeleteThe bread versions of 'pita' and 'laffa' are very popular in the Middle East countries. Nowadays, there are even whole wheat/ low calorie options. One can stuff/wrap them with anything one wishes.
DeleteYour posts are always interesting, DUTA...and this one is no exception. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lee for your kind words. I'm glad and flattered that you like them.
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