Inter-Food Dialogue

"Shaved terrier is kosher, right?

While thinking of ideas for the commemoration of Sarah, I wondered why it was so hard to find traditional activities and meals associated with the Old Testament saints.  After some research, I learned the Old Testament "saint days" were not observed by the Western church until the Reformation.

This reminded me (there's a point to this post, I promise) of an employer I had in high school.  I worked for a Muslim veterinarian, and he and his family often stayed in an apartment attached to the clinic.  One day his wife brought him some mid-morning food, and he very excitedly explained to me that it was a traditional dish Muslims ate to commemorate Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son (Ishmael, not Isaac, according to Islam).  He offered me a bowl.   "Food offered to idols" popped into my head, and almost simultaneously, "to the pure all things are pure."  I did try some, and it was very good (a sort of runny rice pudding called Seviyan).*

So I decided to see if I could find a traditional Eastern Orthodox dish inspired by Sarah and Abraham hosting the three guests.  I even tried some Jewish sites.  Did not find anything.

That is why I made a meal on January 20 inspired by the meal described in Genesis (beef, bread, curds and milk).  I then went through some of the OT patriarchs/prophets/kings/priests commemorated in the Lutheran calendar and thought of meals or dishes based on Bible passages.  Just because no one else has done it before, doesn't mean I can't start my own family traditions.  Here's what we're going to do (I'll post recipes as the days approach):

Elijah--bread made from oil and flour (poor widow's miracle)
Sarah--meal prepared for angelic visitors
Joshua--milk, honey-cakes, grapes (for entering the Promised land)
Daniel--vegetarian dinner served with water ;)
David- raisin cakes (like those Abigail brought him, interceding for her husband)
Jacob-- lentil stew he traded for Esau's birthright
Jonah-fish and figs
Peter-- a Gentile dinner ("do not call unclean that which God has made clean"); since Peter shares his feast with Paul, maybe a discussion of the First Council of Jerusalem and the Jewish/Gentile Christian controversies would be relevant.

Any other ideas?

*[Don't worry. This blog won't be promoting Muslim holidays or an inter-food alliance, union, or "potbless"]