2 Haroset recipes (chopped apples, nuts & cinnamon)

Haroset is a food traditionally enjoyed on the Jewish holiday of Passover. My mom's side of the family is Jewish, and this year I was asked to make the haroset- it's like I've finally entered adulthood! During the Passover meal (called a seder) each food that is eaten has a meaning and a significance related to the story of Passover- the Jews being enslaved in Egypt, and Moses parting and crossing the Red Sea, and the plagues that descended...it's a nice children's bed time story :)

At any rate, the Haroset represents mortar, because the Jews were required to do a lot of grueling physical labor, like laying bricks, building things, etc. You can think of that story when you prepare this recipe, or you can just think of haroset as a delicious way to prepare apples; your choice. Haroset is traditionally eaten with matzah. Recipes found here.

                                                            Traditional American Haroset

Ingredients:

6 large apples
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ cup sweet wine or grape juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
nutmeg & ground cloves to taste

Directions: 

• Peel & core the apples, cut into small pieces
• Put apples in the food processor with remaining ingredients.
• Process in pulses, leaving a bit of a crunch to the mixture.
  

                                                                 Greek Haroset with Dates & Oranges

Ingredients:
1-¼ cup dates, finely chopped
1 large orange
½ cup honey or sugar
cinnamon to taste
nutmeg to taste
ground cloves to taste
½ cup almonds, finely chopped
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
5 ounces sweet red wine

Directions:

• Peel the orange and cut it into pieces. 
• Remove the seeds, add the chopped dates, and add to the food processor. 
• Using the "chop" or "mix" setting, process the oranges and dates for 1-3 minutes, until both ingredients are incorporated together.
• Put the paste in a bowl, and add honey.
• Set up either a double boiler (if you have one) or a sauce pot on the stove, with an equal sized bowl balanced on top of the pot. 
• Gently simmering water in the pot, and set the bowl containing the date and orange mixture on top of the pot. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon for about 10 minutes or until it is quite thick. 
• Add the cloves, cinnamon, wine, and simmer until very thick. 
• Remove from the heat, stir in the chopped nuts, and turn out into a large bowl to cool.

Serve and Enjoy, and Happy Passover!