Rocking Around the Etz Hayim Tree, It's a Happy Holiday!

It was a great holiday dinner at Etz Hayim Synagogue, with Rabbi Levy and Amy Dattner-Levy singing Christmas carols, accompanied by a lively crowd.  Folks told us they had a great time and we did too.  Dinner was also terrific:  eggplant parm, scalloped potatoes, pumpkin and banana bread, chocolate cake and apple pie, and THE MOST ADORABLE gingerbread cookies lovingly made by two of our teens, Kayla and Eliana.  Please join us soon!

"Oh!"

We lit the Chanukah menorah.

There was plenty of good food from which to choose.



There's Barry, a key volunteer, and our Rabbi (in cap), being helped to some delicious eggplant by volunteer Lenny.

Everyone's happy.

And smiling.

The man in the picture got to take home a whole apple pie,
so he is VERY happy.

She got a terrific new hair cut.

And here are some new friends.



We sang Christmas carols before saying goodbye for the night. 
Click below for a snippet of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

 

 

 



Soul Food: Save the Date for Interfaith Guitars.

 

In addition to fantastic food, our December 21st Elijah's Table will feature one or two songs by Etz Hayim Synagogue Rabbi Levy and Church of the Transfiguration Reverend Bonin.  So, please save the date.

And, in the meantime, if you are looking for a real Thanksgiving dinner ON Thanksigiving, please join us at the Church of the Transfiguration.   The Community Meals Network will be serving dinner there from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.  Please call (603) 432-2120 to ensure a seat.

See you soon!

Red Apples and Red Flannel. A Perfect New Hampshire day.

 

Although a bit chilly, it was a lovely New Hampshire weekend with trees in their full Fall bloom:  red, orange, yellow and, still, green.  To celebrate the season, we had the MOST DELICIOUS huge red apples,* freshly picked by one of the volunteers.  I've never tasted an apple so good.  And so, keeping with the Autumn-color theme, I will tell you about the gentleman in the red flannel.  He is a Korean war veteran and he had this to say to me:  "People say that Americans don't care, but you folks show that they do."  What a kind thing to say!   As for the woman in red, isn't she wonderful?  A lovely red blouse, a red thermos, and a red apple.  See you on Thanksgiving Day at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration. 

[*BTW:  we didn't JUST have apples.  We also had eggplant parm; pasta with broccoli; salad; green beans; home-made pumpkin bread; and for dessert:  chocolate mouse cake and apple pie.]



 

 

"Back to Old School"

Tonight's dinner was a "back to old school" meal, as it included some of America's favorite comfort foods:  mac and cheese, chocolate pudding with whipped cream, and pumpkin pie.  It's the sort of food you might have eaten and loved in grade school.  It's September, after all.  Some of our guests are actually in school and experiencing the thrill of returning to old friends after a long summer; crisp autumn air; and new books.  Some of us just have those great memories...and some of those memories include the warmth of mac and cheese and the sweetness of real chocolate pudding.   It was a wonderful night (and included door prizes, i.e., a gift card to Friendly's Ice Cream and tickets to a Boy Scout dinner).  Please join us in October for more good things.

"Yes, I remember chocolate pudding!" 

Mother and daughter.

He chose the pumpkin pie.

As did his wife.

Etz Hayim folk.

"Thumbs up" for a great dinner
(and this picture was taken BEFORE they won the tickets to the Boy Scout pasta dinner!)

Handsome couple.

Friendly guy.

Friendly guy and sweet daughter.

Flower girls.

"Being here is dessert enough."

I just got home from a lively Elijah's Table dinner.  Over 50 guests, tons of delicious food, and all of it gone by the end of the evening.  We had quiche, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, green beans, banana bread, chocolate cake, and ice cream.  We had bags of Turkish Taffy for door prizes, and a special "Happy Birthday" song for our good friend, Frank.  Oh, and one of the nicest things:  when we learned that a new guest also had a birthday, and asked if he wanted a special dessert, he responded, "Being here is dessert enough for me."  Wow, what a compliment!  Please join us in September.

 

"And heeeeerre's...salad!"

Can you find Frank in this picture?

"Yay, corn on the cob!"

Happy customers on line.

One of our photographers.



New friends.

Gold friends.

Me:   Would you like some dessert?
Customer:  "Being here is dessert enough for me."

Recipient of Turkish Taffy door prize.

Recipient of lucky sand dollar door prize.

 T

Girls bring Frank a happy birthday Klondike bar.

 

Yours truly with three cute girls and their "Thank You!" sign.
Yes, thank you everyone for helping us create a wonderful summer dinner.

Something Wonderful Happens in Summer.

Who can't recall summer nights as a kid, the sound of the ice cream truck and laughter, and running out to the street (for me, with my big sister) to get an ice cream.  At Etz Hayim's Elijah's Table, we've been serving ice cream cones and sandwiches for dessert (as we did on July 20th).  For August, I'm thinking of S'MORES.  I hope you will join us.  Something wonderful happens in summer, don't you think?

Press and Popsicles.

It was a glorious summer day and we had lots of guests, with quite a few new smiling faces, including some special guest stars, a woman from the Derry News and the Town Historian.  The musician we hoped would play for us was unable to attend due to illness, but it was great fun nonetheless, with lots of great food: noodle kugel, various fresh salads (greek salad, fruit salad, bean salad), egg salad, and ice cream.
It will be just as much fun next month, so please join us.
By the way, if you are wondering where you can get the cool sandal butter cookies, check out the Village Bean Coffee Shop in Windham, New Hampshire.

Dessert is Important.

Guest Reading the Printed Version of the "Free Meals in Derry" Blog.

Guest:  "Should I take off my hat for the picture?"
Photo-taker:  "Absolutely not!"

The Derry News, Checking Us Out!

Raffle Winner #1 with Butter Cookie Shaped Like Sandal.

Raffle Winner #2:  Blue Sandal.

Home-Made Green Bean Salad.  Gone in a Second.

Town Historian Comes for a Visit.

Guests, Smiling Warmly.

If Music is Food for the Soul, Sunday is going to be a Food-Fest!

This Sunday at Elijah's Table, we are welcoming our Summer menu and also a wonderful professional guitarist.  Please join us for enriching food for the body and soul.

Strawberries and Cream, Forever

What a lovely day it was yesterday!  We had gorgeous weather and wonderful young piano players from the Piano Keys Studio in Raymond, whose music was received with hearty claps and whistles.  For dinner, there was eggplant, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, loads of interesting green beans, garlic bread, fresh salad...and STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM on pound cake.  Please Join us in June!

Slicing Strawberries Can be Fun.

Sweet Marlene

Serving Food is Fun, Too!

Before the Show.

The Proud Teacher.

Before the Show, Too.

Just One of the Several Wonderful Piano Players:
Adding Joy to our Meal.