How Do You Make Your Latkes?

I love Hanukkah, and not just for presents. I love latkes. I do. I adore them. I love them enough to grate my fingers while grating the potatoes, cry over the onions, and duck when the oil pops. I even bought a food processor to protect my fingers and a splatter screen for the pan all for the love of latkes. I didn’t know people ate anything else for Hanukkah until my aunt served brisket. Wonderful brisket, so wonderful it almost overshadowed the latkes and that just won’t do. Simple foods to eat on the side of the latkes make me happy because the latkes is the star. Oh sure, I’ve seen recipes for alternatives to latkes, even a fig cake that used a healthy dose of oil but I thought “Why? Why fix something that isn’t broke? Why reinvent the wheel when the wheel works?" 

Well, I never gave latke making another thought until someone on the EtsyChai team asked for suggestions to “jazz latkes up.” Hmmm, maybe it is time for me to take a second look at my beloved latke. A bit of brainstorming ensued and here’s what we’ve come up with.
Add grated daikon radish to the potatoes.                                                                                      
Add a little sour cream or cheese like gorgonzola or feta to the potatoes for a  little zing.
Add feta cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola to the sour cream, or maybe some garlic, chives, or onion.
How about Greek yogurt instead of sour cream? Maybe add Romano or parmesan
cheese?  
Make a balsamic vinegar reduction to serve with the latkes.
Make a mixed fruit sauce or pear butter instead of apple sauce.

By the way, here’s Grandma Freida’s recipe, at least how I remember it.
6 large russet potatoes, peeled      2 large onions
2 eggs                             1/2 cup matzo meal
salt and pepper
oil for frying

Grate the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a strainer and let them drain for about 15-30 minutes. Place the potatoes in a bowl. Grate the onions and add to the potatoes. Add the matzo meal, salt, and pepper and mix. Heat the oil in a skillet (approx 350 degrees). Using a large spoon, place the mixture into the oil and flatten each pancake. Fry on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain. Serve with apple sauce.

Now that’s Grandma’s recipe but you can use any of our ideas. Let me know how it comes out.
Enjoy, or as Grandma would say, Es gesunta hait!
Post by Eileen Patterson aka Goofing Off.
GoofingOff Sewing Supplies, that is.

Hanukkah Chanukah Candle Lighting Website - Live 12/20

Hanukkah starts at sundown on 12/20. If you're still looking for gifts, see our team shops and ask the owner to expedite the order.

Happy Hanukkah

This is a press release from the Israeli Ministry of tourism.

Website visitors can light candles, learn about Israel
and win a free trip 

New York - December 14, 2011: To mark the upcoming Chanukah holiday, which begins on the evening of December 20, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is re-launching its popular Chanukah microsite where visitors can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday, also known as the "Festival of Lights." The site was developed in 2009 to gauge the interest of online users. The Chanukah website was developed in cooperation with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and will "go live" at www.goisrael.com/Chanukah on December 20, 2011. The landing page is up now where participants can register and learn more.

With each candle "lit," visitors to the Chanukah website will be able to access more information about travel to Israel, with a particular focus this year on Israel's diverse museums and major cultural institutions. And at the end of the holiday, site visitors who have lit all eight candles will be entered to win a free trip to Israel aboard EL AL Israel Airlines, to experience the country's many areas of cultural, religious and historical interest for themselves.

"The site is much more than a way to win a trip to Israel--it provides a unique tool for visitors to learn more about exciting sites in Israel, as well as the history and meaning of Chanukah," says Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America. "And we are delighted to have the backing of the Conference of Presidents, as well as EL AL, for a promotion that links celebrating Chanukah with vacations in Israel."

For more information, please visit: www.goisrael.com.

Received by email - posted by Linda B, lindab142.etsy.com