Hamantashen

These triangular-shaped treats are eaten at the festival of Purim, which celebrates the story of Esther, Mordecai and Haman. Their shape represents the hat of Haman, whose plot to exterminate all the Jews of Persia was foiled. These a Shkenazic Pastries originated in the 11th century in Eastern France (the home of the great commentator rashi). They can be made with a cookie dough or a yeast dough and with various sweet fillings, including poppy seed, prune, apricot, fig or almond.