A Jewish friend of mine, who moved out of town long ago, used to hold a very eclectic and more or less vegetarian seder (not to say macrobiotic!). When she moved, I took over for a long time. Gradually, the whole thing has died down to just our family – Brian, Patrick and I. We have several different Haggadahs – the book that is read during Seder, which this year is coming up on Monday the 29th.
But the book I wanted to talk about is my friend Zell Schulman’s book, Passover Seders Made Simple. She’s even got a section on vegetarian seders. Plus she’s made shopping lists for us, with each different passover meal she’s describing. Too fun and easy!
Then I had to go to Kroger’s a couple of weeks ago to get currants for the Irish soda bread – next year maybe I’ll order them from Ireland. I hadn’t been to Kroger’s for about 2 years, and it was only currants that could make me go. Just doesn’t feel very good to me – no one seems happy (shoppers or employees), and I want my food to be around happy folk.
At any rate – I was in the City Center Kroger at Mitchell and Spring Grove – found the international section, and had a great time wandering around. Bought all kinds of great stuff for the seder. I had chosen that Kroger for the health food section I had heard mentioned. It was just plain pitiful. So hidden I walked by it twice, and had to ask a staffer. And they actually had Centrum vitamins in there. No health food store would carry such an artificial product. It was not a loved, energized or vital place. Prices didn’t seem different from the same brands at health food stores, and products were just the same. Just an Ugh! section. I also couldn’t find the organic produce, except for some lettuces. Maybe that’s all there was. It all just reminded me that I had made the right decision years ago. To shop where folk are happy and it all feels good.