Happy Purim, Harry Potter!

Jerusalem Purim 5769

Wednesday I was accosted in Jerusalem by a crazy man, dressed in funny-looking clothes, and waving a stick in my face. He made a few deliberate motions with his stick, appeared to chant some lines of some sort in a language I did not understand, and then explained to me that if I did not deliver this package for him to Harry and Ginny Potter by sunset, I would receive such a curse that I would live to regret it.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Affixed to the package was the following note:

Dear Harry & Ginny,

Please find enclosed the following items to remind you of your adventures:

* Canned Mushrooms
* Salmon (Spread)
* Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans
* Licorice Wands
* A Chocolate Frog
* Bread
* Necklace (De-cursed)

Happy Purim

from your friend

Jack Trapp
(The Trouble-making Wizard)

"Trouble-making" was an understatement, I'd say. Fortunately, I did make it to the distant location by sunset. So, I did not have to risk experiencing whether this nut job actually had the power to curse me.

Whew! What a Purim!

*********

After searching the Net, I have found that Britta Peterson has the best Harry Potter ideas and recipes, perfect for a gift basket. She includes all of your favorites, and more:

* Treacle Tarts * Pumpkin Pasties * Chocolate Frogs * Licorice Wands * Peppermint Toads * Cockroach Clusters * Cauldron Cakes * Acid Pops * Pumpkin Juice

* Butterbeer * Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans * "Official Hogwarts Brie in Puff Pastry" * Fortress du Fromage with Magic Wands * Parchment Scrolls * Herbology Fruit * Herbology Crudites

That post was made before the final installment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Jack's mishlo'ah manoth () above reflects the content of the full series. But, here are some additional ideas for next year:

Fried Egg Sandwich or Spaghetti Bollanaise (in a jar) - recalling one of Hermione's most successful meal preparations.

Something similar to Kreacher's Steak and Kidney Pie could be included, as could Harry's 17th "Snitch" Birthday cake. I'll bet doughnut holes with gold icing and plastic wings would do the trick there.

If you have any guesses or questions about where Jack's food items came from, please leave them in the comments section below.

*********

Photo credits: "Sophomore 74 Studios"