Chanukah Menus?
I'd love to know what any participants here who celebrate it are doing for Chanukah. Tonight is the first night. Any special dishes - family favorites? Care to share any of the family history of favorite recipes?? I want details! Ingredients...Shopping...Cooking...Catastrophes...Especially significant years (i.e. "daughter's first Chanukah" or "first year I had a grandchild at the table") - the works!
For those who celebrate... Happy Chanukah!
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10 Comments:
I usually use the channukah tradition of cooking foods in oil to eat things I would not normally eat. I've been experienting with my new deep fryer and have made deep fried miniature candy bars which are a huge hit and ricotta fritters. If you want to go more traditional, I love latkes made with various root vegetables, like sweet potatoes and carrots, and making homemade jelly doughnuts with really good jam.
Also, fyi, the first night of Chanukah is tomorrow, December 5th.
srbrooklyn at 12:06PM on 12/04/07
I thought Chanukah officially stating tonight, December 4th, at sundown?
missus_p at 1:34PM on 12/04/07
Whose calendar are you looking at, srbrooklyn? Among many others, chabad.org says it is tonight. They are keeping track for sure. :-)
I just got back from Whole Foods (I needed some specific things I knew they'd have; Toronto to be specific) and while they had matzo meal and all the other stuff I wanted, the only peanut oil they had - tastes the best for latkes - was ten bucks for a small bottle. Makes me cranky. Got the canola for $3.49.
I am married to a Catholic so we have all sorts of new traditions, like the dreidels on our Chrismukkah tree. But the most important think is that for the latkes, there must be both sour cream AND applesauce. Neither is good enough for me on its own. Is this a Northeast thing (grew up in Boston) or does everyone eat them that way? The rest of the meal is flexible - we have had them alongside his family's Christmas ham, which is delicious, if a little weird.
wellred at 1:41PM on 12/04/07
But both the ham and the latkes go well with champagne...
I'm not cooking much, but plan to have some fried artichokes, fresh beignets (so much better than the bakery doughnuts), and hopefully some good sparkling wine. Mmm, makes me smile.
hreisig at 2:37PM on 12/04/07
Our family usually celebrates on the weekend of Hanukkah. So, this year, we're not celebrating with our whole family until Sunday. We'll light the candles tonight, maybe make some latkes but the real thing won't be until then. We'll order in a tray though probably and my aunt will be making the latkes...I'm so excited! Latkes are a personal favorite.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 3:49PM on 12/04/07
Well, I'm in bed with a flu, so it's nothing today, but I hope to be able to get on my feet and whip at least one batch of latkes. It's not Hanukkah without latkes! (I like mine with sour cream). Last year I also made home-made doughnuts (not at all that difficult and very rewarding!) and my stuffed potato kugel (one of my best inventions that I also had the sense to write down the recipe for:-)). When I lived in Israel, I couldn't resist buying a freshly baked doughnut from one of the "street" bakeries every day during Hanukkah, luckily they make really small sufganyiot there, so I didn't feel that guilty. My favourite filling was Dulce de Leche (one of the reason I made home-made doughnuts last year - I had the worst craving for a Dulce de Leche doughnut!) All these memories almost make me feel good enough to go down to the kitchen and start cooking:-) Happy Hanukkah!
brooke29 at 4:45PM on 12/04/07
I can imagine how yummy things can be fresh fried like that. Hope your holiday is great and keep me posted on what you do for the rest of the (per Adam Sandler) Eight Crazy Nights :D.
@wellred - your Chrismukkah tree reminds me of the holiday invented by Dawson's Creek: Christmachanukwanzaa.
chiff0nade at 8:31PM on 12/04/07
just came home from our annual celebration in crown heights. we had potato latkes with sour cream, homemade applesauce, and a big green salad. i had brought tangerines, chocolate coins and a chocolate cake but no one touched any of it -- we all concentrated our efforts on the latkes. i'm a little sick now. it was fun.
cybercita at 12:39AM on 12/05/07
@chiff0nade - I am embarrassed to say that I think Chrismukkah was coined by "The OC" which I have only watched once; the term was popular a few years ago when that show was on, but I hung onto it because it suits my personal situation. Especially when the two holidays are concurrent - this year it is easier.
wellred at 8:31AM on 12/05/07
I usually go to my son's inlaws for a Hanukah party. They make the latkes, and typical dinner fare. I bring the dessert, as I love to bake. I'm thinking of a making a babka. I have a few recipes, but I was wondering if anyone has a tried and true recipe you love? My closest friends are a mixed religion couple, so we have a combo party with them. Let's face it, it doesn't matter what you celebrate, as long as you are with people you love!!!
Mich23 at 9:20AM on 12/05/07