Tu B'Shevat originally marked a new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing but now serves as a way to celebrate the gifts of the natural world in general and trees in particular.
In the 16th century, Kabbalists created a seder for Tu B'Shevat modeled after the seder for Pesach that offers a means for discussing and contemplating the spiritual aspects of the day.
And for eating fruit.
I like trees, I like fruit, I like having people over, so I invited a couple dozen people to a Tu B'Shevat Seder Potluck. Last year, I had the brilliant idea to make Moosewood's Enchanted Broccoli Forest, which is essentially a rice pilaf with a few broccoli spears arrayed on top. I didn't care for the rice pilaf recipe, though, so I swapped in a different pilaf with various nuts and dried fruits instead.
I had planned to make the same dish this year, but I decided to try a recipe that I had made years ago for Thanksgiving and longed to serve again: a Polenta Dome with Balsamic Marinated Roasted Vegetables. This recipe comes from my favorite Moosewood cookbook, Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates. The dome is created by cooking polenta on the stovetop, folding in shredded cheddar and butternut squash sauteed with onions, garlic, and sage, and placing the mixture into a wide bowl to cool. This dome is then inverted onto a baking tray and baked for half an hour, at which point it emerges golden and delicious, the perfect complement to a bevy of savory roasted vegetables.
Well, that was the theory, anyway. And that is indeed what happened when I made the dish for Thanksgiving about five years ago. Unfortunately, after I doubled the recipe and left it in the oven for nearly an extra 30 minutes, the dome collapsed. Oh, well. I spooned the thick polenta (spackled it, really) onto a bed of steamed spinach and stuck blanched broccoli trees and carrot flowers on top.
At this point in the evening, 15 guests had arrived, more were calling on the phone every few minutes, and we were trying to get through the seder, so it's not so surprising that I forgot to take pictures of the roasted vegetables that accompanied the dome. Normally, they'd be served surrounding the base of the dome for an impressive centerpiece, but there wasn't enough room on the serving dish.
I did get a nice picture of the dates someone brought during a less hectic point in the evening, though.
And one of the tables awaiting its guests (and additional chairs).
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