Celebrate Hanukkah with Latkes

Photo by Ray Kugler, Associated Press
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I didn't want today to rush by without wishing you a Happy Hanukkah. While the Festival of Lights is considered a minor holiday for the Jewish people, it has such a beauty of spirit - the rededication and the menorah's light in the darkness has always moved me.
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My memories of childhood Hanukkah's spent at my friend's table are everlasting. Much has been written of the Jewish-Maccabean victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C. But Hanukkah is not about a the military victory per se but about the rededication of the Temple and the miracle of the oil. Read more about it here.



Photo by Larry Crowe, Associated Press
Because of the significance of the miraculous oil, the Hanukkah table is graced with foods fried in oil. Hanukkah favorites are the latkes. Below is a listing of latkes for all tastes: the traditional, the sweet, the fruit, the oven-baked, the gluten-free.
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Apple Latkes - Smitten Kitchen has a sweetly-spiced version of latkes complete with a decadent caramel sauce

Baked Latkes - traditional but baked in the oven to a crsipy texture

Carrot latkes - an original featuring carrots and tomato sauce

Gluten-Free Latkes - A low-fat latkes recipe that replaces flour with potato flakes

Orange and Vanilla Sweet Cheese Latkes - part breakfast food and part dessert

Potato Latkes - the traditional, classic recipe

Ratatouille Latkes - the classic French recipe using eggplant, squash and peppers rolled into a latke

Sweet Potato, Oven-baked Latkes - uses sweet potatoes and baked in the oven for a more healthy latke

Vegetable Latkes -made with potatoes and colorful vegetables such as carrots and zucchini

Zucchini-Parmesan Latkes - Latkes go a wee bit Italian in this recipe

I usually opt for the traditional - I have a traditional gene that affects my choices. Not surprisingly, tonight I will be making the Zucchini-Parmesan latkes. Happy Hanukkah!

A Mandelbrot for Hanukkah

Menorah photo: AP photo by Larry Crowe

On Friday, December 11th, latkes will be fried, menorahs will be lit and at sundown the Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah begins. Growing up in New York City in the 60's, I hailed from a neighborhood of Jewish refugees from WW II, Italians, Greeks and a smattering of Chinese (fleeing the Cultural Revolution), African-Americans and Hispanics. My birthday parties often resembled a United Nations, Junior. I have poignantly sweet memories of spending Hanukkah with friends. While not one of the most significant of Jewish Holidays, the lit menorahs make it one of the prettiest.

Mandelbrots are a cousin to the almond biscotti. Oil is used instead of butter and chopped almonds replace ground almonds. Everything else is the same. And equally delicious.

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Mandelbrot Recipe

2 cups flour

1/4 t salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 t vanilla extract

1/2 t almond extract

1 cup coarsely chopped almonds

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Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl combine flour, salt and baking powder. In another large bowl (or stand mixer) beat eggs. Slowly add sugar to eggs and mix on high for about 3 minutes until mixture is thick and creamy. Add oil and extract and beat till combined. If using a stand mixer, change whisk attachment to dough paddle. Slowly add flour (in fourths) and then chopped almonds until mixture comes together. It will be thick.

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Put dough on baking sheet. Using lightly oiled hands, mold into a log - about 12 inches by 3 inches. Bake for 45 minutes till browned and bread-like. Cool for ten minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut log diagonally into 1/2 inch logs. Bake cut-side down for five minutes. Turn cookie over and bake for an additional five minutes. Cool on racks.

"To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle." Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

"I ask not for a lighter burden but broader shoulders." Jewish Proverb

"May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all of mankind." Author unknown.

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May your burdens be light, your shoulders broad and your life filled with light. As with the shammes (servant), the 9th candle used to light the other candles, may you know that giving light and love to others does not take away from your own radiance. Happy Hanukkah!