High Maintenance Mom

Yesterday my kids and I went to the Matzah Factory at our synagogue. A local rabbi came in with an oven, rolling pins, and wheat. We talked about how when the Jews left Egypt, they had to leave quickly so their bread didn't have time to rise. Then we all got to thresh the wheat (we rolled our small piece on the table) and then added our seeds together. My youngest helped grind the wheat, which was then passed around for everyone to see. Afterwards, we mixed store bought wheat with water and then had 18 minutes to roll it and bake it...

We loved seeing the wheat and rolling the dough. I was told you can find wheat at craft stores or farmer's markets. If you are making your own matzo (matzah) for Pesach, you will want to use kemach shel matza shamura, flour that has been watched from the moment of harvest to the moment of packing to make sure it has not come into contact with any moisture (for a cute book, see The Mouse in the Matzah Factory). I plan to use matzo meal. The trick is to mix, knead, roll, and bake in 18 from the moment the flour comes in contact with the water so it doesn't ferment and rise.

Instructions for making matzo

These instructions assume your house has been cleaned for Pesach. For more detailed instructions and to learn more, please see Matzah Baking, an 18-Minute Project.

Ingredients

• kemach shel matza shamura, Matzo meal, or regular flour if it's not Pesach
• water
• timer
• fork or other utensil for poking holes in the matzo

Instructions

1. Wash hands carefully
2. Make sure your oven is at the highest temperature before you start.
3. Mix 1 1/2/ cups of flour with 1/2 cup of water (3:1)
4. Start timer - you have 18 minutes to finish the project.
5. Knead the dough well and give each helper a palm sized piece. No dough can sit on the table.
6. Knead each ball six times
7. Push the ball down on the table with your palm and start rolling it.
8. Pat the dough in flour if the dough sticks.
9. Roll the dough as thin as you can.
10. Poke holes throughout the dough with a fork or other utensil to prevent the matzah from rising.
11. Add the matzah to the oven and cook for about a minute. Flip and cook for another minute.

If you need to roll more matzah, you will need to clean everything in between. Make sure the entire cycle is completed in the 18 minutes. You can also make a project one that does not have holes to show how the bread rises. Any matzah that has folded or is not cooked to make the crunch noise when you eat it, is considered chametz, and can not be consumed during Passover.

Also see Planning a seder for kids for more Passover ideas including watching The Seder on Planet Matzah Ball.