From my Table: Linzer Torte Cookies

Before I started, I made a list of some neighbors, a few friends and family members, and added a hefty handful of extras to my final tally — you know, just in case.

Purim came, and about three-quarters of the way through the day, I paused, genuinely confused as to why my extras hadn’t disappeared. I’d been calculating like an adult, following what I’d seen my mother do for so many Purims and preparing extras as if we had a revolving door. I can laugh at it now, but it took me a minute to unthink the popularity-
contest Purim mentality.

If I can steal a line from the Kichels, our Purim “Humble-Brag” is often the number of mishloach manos we make. We all know at least one someone who says, “Oy, I have to make a hundred of them!” But there are so many people who make multiple shalach manos yet are still lonely, and people who make just a few yet feel complete. The numbers are irrelevant; we just need to power through the prep to get to the point of all of those packages lined up at the door.

We have lots of good ideas for you this week, some sweet, others savory, others a shalach manos/seudah food hybrid. Perfect for any number of people on your list — and don’t count the extras, just enjoy them.