Jewish Joke of the Week: Cholent Wisdom
A young bride decides to make her very first cholent for her new husband. Wanting to get it just right, she calls her mother for the family recipe.
Her mother says, “It’s easy. Potatoes, meat, beans, barley, spices… and right before you put it in the oven on Friday afternoon, cut exactly two inches off the meat bone and throw it away.”
The daughter pauses. “Why do I cut off two inches?”
Her mother thinks for a moment. “You know… I’m not sure. My mother always did it. Call Grandma.”
So she calls Grandma.
“Grandma, why do we always cut two inches off the bone before making cholent?”
Grandma laughs. “I honestly don’t know! My mother always did it. You’ll have to ask Bubbe.”
So the daughter calls her 95-year-old great-grandmother.
“Bubbe,” she asks, “Mom and Grandma both say we have to cut two inches off the meat bone before making cholent. Is it a special family tradition? Does it make it taste better?”
Bubbe bursts out laughing.
“No! My oven was too small, and the bone wouldn’t fit in the pot!”
