Hanukkah and Latkes with Applesauce

Happy Hanukkah! I have to hand it to my mother again. Growing up, it was not unusual to have a lesson on Hanukkah and latke-making from some of our Jewish friends. We grew up celebrating Hanukkah in our Christian household, learning to appreciate the Festival of Lights and its beautiful origin. Later I gained a greater appreciation for the meaning of the holiday, while living in Jerusalem as a study-abroad student. I'm just kicking myself for not buying a dreidle when I was there! That's why I have to post these cartoon dreidles, and not my own lovely wooden dreidle.

Hanukah commemorates a battle for religious freedom that took place over two thousand years ago. The Macabees reclaimed a temple that had been usurped by the Greeks. The Macabees were able to rededicate the temple by lighting the Menorah with only a small amount of oil that miraculously burned for eight days. Jewish families still light the menorah during Hanukkah and give thanks to God for their blessings. After the Menorah is lit, games are played, including the spinning dreidle game. I'm so mad at myself for not getting a dreidle in Jerusalem, but that hasn't stopped us from playing the game. I made myself a ramshackle little paper dreidle and wrote the characters on the side. It's such a humble little squished-up construction paper dreidle, that just this moment, I've decided to buy a dreidle on line. Today. On with the game: To play, you'll need a bowl of pennies or little candies. Divide them evenly among the players. To start everyone should put a candy in the bowl. Whenever a player takes a turn, no matter the outcome, each player will add another candy to the bowl. If the a player lands on Shin.... he will put an extra candy in the bowl. If a player lands on Hay....he will take half of the candies in the bowl. If a player lands on Nun...he will do nothing. If a player lands on Gimel...then he takes the entire bowl. Remember to have each player add a candy to the bowl on every turn. The game is over-kind of like Monopoly-when there is nothing left or else everyone is bored of playing.
And the best part of Hanukkah, as everyone knows, is the crispy potato pancakes-"latkes," covered in warm apple sauce and sour cream. As an added bonus, they are about the most inexpensive holiday food that you could ever make. I like to add green onion and grated carrot to mine for color and texture. Be sure to hand grate your potatoes for a truly authentic latke. If you have time to make homemade applesauce, they'll be even better. Happy Hanukkah- starting tonight!

Hanukkah Latkes

Estimated Cost: $2.00 for 10 latkes

4 medium potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated

1/3 cup onion, finely chopped

1 small carrot, coarsely grated (optional)

2 green onions, cut into matchstick pieces (optional)

1 egg

1 tablespoon flour or matzo

1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

about 1/3 cup vegetable or olive oil

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onion, carrot, green onions, egg, flour, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium high heat. Using hands shape mixture into 3 inch pancakes. Place in frying pan. Cook each patty about four minutes per side, or until golden brown. Repeat with all latkes. Serve with sour cream and apple sauce if desired.

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Christmas Cupcakes, Butterscotch Pudding, Christmas In Italy...and not necessarily in that order.