Chanuka, oh Hannukkah

Yes, it’s that time of year again — glowing lights, fried foods and sweet little presents.  To help us get in the mood here is the latest collection of Chanuka videos going viral this year.  Who’s your favorite?  Those sweet-toned YU boys in the Maccabeats, or the cool kids in the Fountainheads ?  Or maybe you have another favorite?  Check them out and let me know.

So which one did you like best?  Let me know in the Comments section below.  And if you’ve got a favorite that I’ve missed, post the link!  Like latkes, there can never be too many!

So that’s the glowing lights taken care of (sort of), now on to sweet little presents.  For my birthday this year Ju-Boy gave me an eight session stitch and b*tch at my local pusher — The Gourmet Yarn Shop.  We’re working with the book One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant.  So… in spite of the fact that Chanuka weather in Ra’anana is not exactly frosty, I’ve been knitting fingerless mittens for my girls.

What’s left?  Fried foods!

Each time I start a diet I always like to do it on the same day (Tomorrow).  While I do plan to have some fried foods this year (I am rationing myself to one sufganiya, maybe two…), I’m going to be baking latkes for the family in an attempt to keep the calories burning in the candles, not settling on our hips (dream on, Miriyummy, dream on).

Chia’s Baked Latkes

Photo by Mikekey of Recipezaar.com

I grew up eating my mom’s latkes, either fried in butter or in shmaltz.  Needless to say, back then my metabolism was a little bit more cooperative than it is today, and I could eat a plateful with impunity, with tons of sour cream (for the dairy version) or sprinkled with salt and black pepper for the meaty version.  Pass the applesauce, pass it right by me, none for me, thanks…  These days we are all a little more diet-conscious, and Chia’s recipe, originally found here at Recipezaar, may help you believe you are not totally overdoing it this Chanuka.

• 1 kilo (2 pounds) potatoes (shredded or grated)
• 1 onion (shredded or grated)
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup matzo meal or 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• nonstick cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 220 degrees C (425 F).
2. Drain excess liquid from potatoes.
3. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray them with the cooking spray.
5. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop out some mixture and plop it on the parchment paper.  Using the bottom of the cup, flatten it into a latke shape.
6. Bake 15 minutes, flip latkes and bake 10 minutes longer.
7. Serve with applesauce (if you must) or sour cream.