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- Jun 15, 2015
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It's that time of the year again where everyone says "Happy Holidays" but they're not quite sure why. Well, now is the time to say "Happy Chanukkah" and get all the looks that mean, "Hey, you're not being PC!"
Like every good Jewish holiday, as well as some in other religions, Chanukkah involves several nights of eating and drinking. Eight nights to be exact.
The traditional food for this holiday is potato pancakes called a "latkes," plural of "latke," pronounced "laht-ka" or "laht-kee" depending on who you ask. They are typically served with applesauce in my house, but really they're good with whatever you want on em.
I snapped a few pictures at dinner last night, when we lit the first candle on the menorah and served latkes. Didn't get pix of present opening though. I got a voucher for snow tires for my car, which were much needed and appreciated, but don't really photograph well
This is my mom lighting the menorah. Candles get added from left to right, but get lit from right to left. The idea is that you're lighting the candles in the direction that Hebrew is read, right to left, but also lighting the most recent candle first.

Here's the menorah all lit for the first night, with latkes in the background.

And then some latkes with applesauce. Yummy

Now, I know what you're all thinking: "Oh man, those look so good! But how do you make them?? Well have no fear, they are quite simple to make, and my dad has a great recipie!
The Best Simple Latke Recipie:
Ingredients:
2-3 large potatoes
1/2 to whole onion
1 egg
Dash of salt, and optional pepper
Oil of choice for frying (vegetable oil works fine)
Step 1: Peel the potatoes and use a cheese grater to shred them into a colander or pasta strainer. Rinse thoroughly. Transfer to large bowl.
Step 2: Peel the onion and shred it onto the bowl of potatoes. Use half an onion even if you don't like onion. You can barely taste it, but if you leave it out, your latkes taste like something is missing. It's important to add the shredded onion AFTER rinsing the potatoes. If you mix them then rinse, you wash away all of the onion flavor.
Step 3: Beat the egg with a fork, mix with your shredded potato and onion, plus salt and pepper. Press it all down in the bowl.
Step 4: Use the fork to scoop clumps into a hot frying pan with about a half-inch of oil in it. Squish clumps with your spatula to form little pancakes (think cookie sized, but it doesn't matter if they're a little bigger or smaller). Fry each side until golden brown.
Step 5 (optional but recommended): Remove latkes from pan and place on wire racks with paper towels underneath. Allow to drip for a minute or two. If making a large batch, put the drip rack on a cookie sheet in the oven, uncovered. They'll stay nice and hot until its time to eat, without getting all soggy.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy, preferably with applesauce
(Some like sour cream with theirs, so I've learned)
If you make them yourselves, make sure you post pictures or at least let me know how it goes!
(Edited for clarity and additional info)
Like every good Jewish holiday, as well as some in other religions, Chanukkah involves several nights of eating and drinking. Eight nights to be exact.
The traditional food for this holiday is potato pancakes called a "latkes," plural of "latke," pronounced "laht-ka" or "laht-kee" depending on who you ask. They are typically served with applesauce in my house, but really they're good with whatever you want on em.
I snapped a few pictures at dinner last night, when we lit the first candle on the menorah and served latkes. Didn't get pix of present opening though. I got a voucher for snow tires for my car, which were much needed and appreciated, but don't really photograph well

This is my mom lighting the menorah. Candles get added from left to right, but get lit from right to left. The idea is that you're lighting the candles in the direction that Hebrew is read, right to left, but also lighting the most recent candle first.

Here's the menorah all lit for the first night, with latkes in the background.

And then some latkes with applesauce. Yummy

Now, I know what you're all thinking: "Oh man, those look so good! But how do you make them?? Well have no fear, they are quite simple to make, and my dad has a great recipie!
The Best Simple Latke Recipie:
Ingredients:
2-3 large potatoes
1/2 to whole onion
1 egg
Dash of salt, and optional pepper
Oil of choice for frying (vegetable oil works fine)
Step 1: Peel the potatoes and use a cheese grater to shred them into a colander or pasta strainer. Rinse thoroughly. Transfer to large bowl.
Step 2: Peel the onion and shred it onto the bowl of potatoes. Use half an onion even if you don't like onion. You can barely taste it, but if you leave it out, your latkes taste like something is missing. It's important to add the shredded onion AFTER rinsing the potatoes. If you mix them then rinse, you wash away all of the onion flavor.
Step 3: Beat the egg with a fork, mix with your shredded potato and onion, plus salt and pepper. Press it all down in the bowl.
Step 4: Use the fork to scoop clumps into a hot frying pan with about a half-inch of oil in it. Squish clumps with your spatula to form little pancakes (think cookie sized, but it doesn't matter if they're a little bigger or smaller). Fry each side until golden brown.
Step 5 (optional but recommended): Remove latkes from pan and place on wire racks with paper towels underneath. Allow to drip for a minute or two. If making a large batch, put the drip rack on a cookie sheet in the oven, uncovered. They'll stay nice and hot until its time to eat, without getting all soggy.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy, preferably with applesauce

If you make them yourselves, make sure you post pictures or at least let me know how it goes!
(Edited for clarity and additional info)
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