Pitcha Recipes

PETCHAH (CALF'S FOOT JELLY)

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse calves feet with water and place in a stockpot with enough water to cover.
• Bring the vessel to a boil and remove any scum that appears on the top.
• Drain the calves feet and cover again with a change of cold water. Bring to a boil again.
• Lower the burner to the lowest setting possible. Add the diced carrot and onion, salt and pepper. Cook on the lowest possible heat for a minimum of six hours, preferably overnight until any adherent meat, cartilage, tendons and ligaments separate easily from the bones.
• Reserve everything but the bones and discard the bones. Taste the broth and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
• Chop the meat, cartilage, softened tendons and ligaments into small pieces (being careful not to miss any bone fragments and to use only those pieces that can be easily cut with the knife) and mix with minced garlic. Alternatively, take the larger pieces and put with cloves into a food processor and process until well incorporated and a ball of lumpy paste is present in the food processor.
• Place the sliced eggs neatly in the bottom of a rectangular glass or enameled baking dish.
• Over the eggs, evenly distribute the meat/garlic mixture.
• Over this, pour the broth including the onions and carrots. Depth of the broth should be no less than one inch though an inch and a half is ideal.
• Allow mixture to cool on the counter or stove top briefly and then place on a shelf in refrigerator to sit, undisturbed, until the mixture solidifies. Any fat coming to the top of the mixture may be removed by skimming with the edge of a knife after mixture gels firmly.
• Following solification, the mixture should be cut into squares. It is served cold as an appetizer or as a cool snack. Garnish with a slice of lemon wedge which may be squeezed over the aspic for additional flavor.

HOT SPINACH SPREAD WITH PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly., Meanwhile, cut each pita bread into 8 wedges. Place in two 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Combine the butter, lemon pepper, cumin and garlic salt; brush over pita wedges. , Bake for 7-9 minutes or until crisp. Serve with spinach spread.