One of my favorite parts of the Passover Seder is getting to dip stuff in the charoset. There's just something about a combination of fruits and nuts, as well as a mix of apples and cinnamon. Throw them all together with a bit of honey and, well, yum.
Charoset is a ritual food that's supposed to remind us of the mortar used by our ancestors in building pyramids and other things for the Egyptians. It's also supposed to temper the bite of the maror, the bitter herbs (usually strong horseradish), that we eat to remind us of the bitterness of slavery. The traditional ingredients, at least in Ashkenazi households, are chopped apples, walnuts, cinnamon, honey and a little sweet kosher red wine.
For the last few years, I've started spicing up my charoset a bit. I don't really have a recipe, I just add stuff until the taste and consistency seem right. This year I put in some bits of dried cranberries, apricots, dates and almonds. And I snuck in just a pinch of cardamom, as well. I think it's a winner.
To all of you who are celebrating, may you enjoy a sweet, joyous Pesach.
Chag sameach.
