A Fun Session With the Yiddish Chefs: Mamelige and Popcorn

The Yiddish chefs of the Jewish Daily Forward have been entertaining us with Yiddish banter and cooking sessions ever since their Est Gezunterheit video series started in May 2010. 

We've tried to stay current with the videos, but somehow we missed the second episode, a session in which Rukhl Schaechter and Eve Yochnowitz prepare two corn-based dishes, mamelige (cornmeal mush, similar to polenta) and popcorn.

The popcorn is made the old-fashioned way. Not in a microwave, but in a plain pot with a little oil on the bottom, and shaken while over a low flame on the range. And as the video shows, a little dancing while shaking the pot doesn't hurt.

In the middle of the episode, they conduct an experiment, adding popcorn to a full-to-the-top glass of milk, and we watch the popcorn being absorbed by the milk without overflowing. As they mix the mamelige, they get carried away and sing Rumania, Rumania, the classic Yiddish theater song that includes a reference to mamelige.

As usual, we pick up a few new Yiddish words while we're watching.

Cornmeal mush = Mamelige 
Corn = Kukuruze
Rye Bread = Kornbroyt
Whisk = Schum Shlugger
Popcorn = Kakoshes
Popping = Knocken

Try the popcorn and milk experiment with your children and grandchildren, and enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)