Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the Trees, is just around the corner, and so I’ve put together a number of recipes involving dried fruits that are perfect for serving on the holiday. On Tu Bishvat, which falls exactly 60 days before Seder night, we celebrate the Jewish people’s connection with the Land of Israel. Even in Jewish communities outside of Israel, Jews make blessings over, and are supposed to eat samples of, the Seven Species of the Land of Israel.
Seudat Yitro is a Tunisian custom that takes place on the Thursday before Parashat Yitro is read in the synagogue. This Torah portion includes a recitation of the Ten Commandments. The festive meal, which is supposed to be the time of year the young boys should be able to read the Ten Commandments on their own, involves lots of sweet and savory dishes, including dried fruits, halvah, special holiday cookies and candies shaped as children and animals. After, a festive meat meal is served.
