The Food We Miss

Avery Lieb and Julie Lui, students at The Thacher School in Ojai, are collaborating on a unique cookbook: Recipes of Thacher: The Food We Miss transcends tradition by pairing recipes from the Thacher boarding school community with stories that delve into cultural significance and personal connections. Through a blend of cooking, culture, history and community, this collection offers diverse perspectives on the intertwining elements of food and life. Get ready to savor not just the flavors, but the rich stories behind each dish.

TOVA’S “RUGELACH”

Submitted by Sarah Sonenshine

What is the food you miss the most? Describe it.

This recipe is a food that I started making for my family, especially my grandpa and dad. Baking rugelach became a really fun thing for us to make and share wholesome memories. Rugelach is a traditional Jewish cookie … at least that is what the “normal” recipe is supposed to be. My specific recipe is not traditional because my grandmother was very old at the time we transcribed it from her. The instructions aren’t very clear and we had to figure it out for ourselves.

Who made this food?

My great-grandmother, Tova Sonenshine, who I call Tova, originally made this version of rugelach. The traditional rugelach can be found in Jewish delis or bakeries. I like to make Tova’s version with my family at gatherings when I am home from boarding school.

What does this food make you think of?

My family! And my connection with people I love and can share this beloved cookie with.

Why do you miss this food?

Whenever I have this food at home, I make it with my family and bring some rugelach over to my cousin’s or to my grandparents’ house. So, I guess I associate this food with being with my family.

The Origins

Traditional rugelach is a baked confection made in the form of a crescent, essentially a miniature croissant posing as a cookie. Its dough is usually made with cream cheese, cold butter and sour cream with a cinnamon walnut-raisin filling. Its origins can be traced back to medieval times in Eastern Europe, specifically within Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Poland. According to some sources, rugelach is said to have descended from the Viennese kipfel, a similar crescent-shaped pastry that commemorates the lifting of the Turkish siege in the Battle of Vienna.

The name rugelach is Yiddish, the historical language of Ashkenazi Jews. It directly translates to “little twists,” a reference to the shape of the pastry.

FIND THE RECIPE HERE.

PAP PAP’S DRINK

Submitted by Maria Galgon

What is the food you miss the most? Describe it.

It’s essentially warm milk with maple syrup and vanilla. And it might sound a little basic, but it is important to me. My mom always told me stories about how her dad, my grandpa Pap Pap, would make it for her at bedtime. When she talks about Pap Pap, she describes how he worked a lot and was not home very much. So, this was his way of showing love. Now, my mom makes it for me, and whenever we visit my grandparents, they always make it.

Who made this food?

My grandpa, who we called Pap Pap, made this drink. I don’t know if this recipe was specifically his idea … but I do know he grew up in Pennsylvania, on a ski resort, and this drink was a nice way to stay warm.

What does this food make you think of?

This food definitely makes me think of Pap Pap, who passed away a few years ago. He was always such a gentle person. He was very tall. He was always very gentle with all of us. And this drink also always makes me think of my grandparents’ kitchen, which is a Hungarian, Bavarian-style sort of cabin. I also think of the sweet taste, and how if you put in too much maple syrup it’s too strong, but if you get the correct ratio it is delicious.

Why do you miss this food?

I miss this drink because it represents the simple act of slowing down and taking time at the end of the day to spend time with family and showing that love for others. Because we’re so gogo- go here at boarding school, you don’t really have the time to sit down at the end of the day with your family to debrief. I think I just miss that comforting feeling.

FIND THE RECIPE HERE.