The YADA YADA

Celebrations and Recipes

By Neta Jackson

 

 

Contents

 

 

What Does “Yada Yada” Mean?................................................................................. 1

Introduction................................................................................................................ 3

 

 

SECTION 1—Celebrations through the Year

 

New Year’s Eve......................................................................................................... 6

A Watch Night Celebration......................................................................................... 7

Chinese New Year Celebration................................................................................. 10

Purim—The Feast of Lots......................................................................................... 12

  Sidebar: Jewish Holy Days and Festivals................................................................. 12

The Lenten Season................................................................................................... 13

Passover.................................................................................................................. 14

A Christian Seder..................................................................................................... 15

Juneteenth................................................................................................................ 20

Fourth of July........................................................................................................... 22

Rosh Hashanah—The Jewish New Year................................................................... 24

Yom Kippur—Day of Atonement............................................................................. 25

Sukkot—The Feast of Booths................................................................................. 26

Mexican Independence Day Fiesta.......................................................................... 29

Hallelujah Fest (Halloween Alternative) ................................................................... 32

Celebrate Thanksgiving............................................................................................ 35

A Family Advent Celebration.................................................................................. 38

  Sidebar: The Christmas Holiday Season................................................................ 39

Hanukkah—The Festival of Lights........................................................................... 42

 

 

SECTION 2—Anytime Celebrations

 

Celebrating Milestones.............................................................................................. 44

Naming and Blessing................................................................................................. 46

  Sidebar: “Coming of Age” Celebrations.................................................................. 51

The Quinceañera...................................................................................................... 53

A Friendship or Wedding Quilt................................................................................. 55

A House Blessing...................................................................................................... 58

Hospital Hospitality................................................................................................... 62

Family Reunions........................................................................................................ 64

Starting a Yada Yada Prayer Group.......................................................................... 70

 

 

SECTION 3—Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group

 

About Book One...................................................................................................... 72

Jodi’s No-Fail Chicken-and-Rice Casserole.............................................................. 73

Stu’s Ramen Noodle Salad ....................................................................................... 74

Avis’s Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese......................................................................... 75

Florida’s Quick Catfish Dinner.................................................................................. 76

Chanda’s Jamaican Rice and Peas............................................................................. 77

Ruth’s Cheese Blintzes.............................................................................................. 78

Yo-Yo’s Brothers’ PB&Js (What?) .......................................................................... 80

Adele’s Foot-Stompin’ Greens.................................................................................. 81

Delores’s Mexicali Soup............................................................................................ 82

Nony’s Swazi Butternut Soup.................................................................................... 83

Edesa’s Mama’s Mango Salsa................................................................................... 84

  How to Cut a Mango............................................................................................... 84

Hoshi’s Japanese Spring Rolls.................................................................................... 86

 

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down

 

About Book Two........................................................................................................ 88

Edesa’s Easy Enchiladas............................................................................................. 89

Jodi’s Pasta with Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce ............................................................... 90

Jodi’s Red Velvet Cake............................................................................................... 91

Stu’s Cranberry Bread................................................................................................ 92

Delores’s Pan de Polvo (Mexican Wedding Cookies) ................................................. 93

Jodi’s Green Beans and Brown Butter Rotini *............................................................ 94

 

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real

 

About Book Three..................................................................................................... 96

Delores’s Easy Carnitas............................................................................................. 97

Jodi’s Cheese Soufflé with Mushroom Sauce ..............................................................98

Stu’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara................................................................................. 100

Jodi’s Chicken Breasts in Mango Sauce....................................................... ........... 101

Jodi’s Lemony Bundt Cake..................................................................................... 102

Delores’s Homemade Salsa *.................................................................................. 103

Yo-Yo’s Lentils with Honey and Bacon * ...............................................................  104

 

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough

 

About Book Four................................................................................................... 106

Seven-Layer Make-Ahead Salad............................................................................ 107

Jodi’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce.................................................................................. 108

Hamburger Vegetable Soup.................................................................................... 109

Dressy Bow-Tie Pasta Salad................................................................................... 110

Nony’s Sugary Lemon Bars *................................................................................. 111

 

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught

 

About Book Five..................................................................................................... 112

Becky’s First-Ever Chocolate Cake......................................................................... 113

Adele’s Southern Fried Chicken.............................................................................. 114

Mom Jennings’ Christmas Cinnamon Rolls .............................................................. 116

Denny’s Summer Mint Salad *................................................................................. 118

Jodi’s Classic Lasagna............................................................................................. 119

Lemon and Thyme Chicken Breasts........................................................................ 120

Flo’s Mustard Potato Salad *................................................................................... 121

 

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling

 

About Book Six...................................................................................................... 122

Jodi’s Lasagna Spinach Roll-Ups............................................................................ 123

Chanda’s Easter Buns (Hot Cross Buns) ................................................................ 124

Jodi’s “Tunnel of Fudge” Chocolate Cake .............................................................. 126

Jodi’s Calico Beans................................................................................................. 127

Estelle’s Peach Cobbler........................................................................................... 128

Jodi’s Three-Bean Salad *....................................................................................... 129

Ruth’s Matzo Ball Soup.......................................................................................... 130

 

Recipes from The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out

 

About Book Seven.................................................................................................. 132

Jodi’s Hungarian Chicken and Dumplings.................................................................. 133

Estelle’s Orange-Smothered Pork Chops..................................................................134

Ruth’s Potato Latkes............................................................................................... 135

Jodi’s Flaky Pie Crust............................................................................................. 136

Florida’s Sweet Potato Pie...................................................................................... 138

Estelle’s Holiday Corn Puddin’............................................................................... 139

US to Metric Conversion Table............................................................................... 141

Recipe Index.......................................................................................................... 142

 

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* Bonus (not previously included)