Happy Chanukah!!!

We spent our morning shopping for food in Brooklyn and then hit the road to head home for the first night of Chanukah. (That is why Shalom spent the day in his pjs - his preferred travel attire.) While on the Eastern Shore of MD, we watched as the sun sunk into ground and our day turned into night. As soon as it was dark, Shalom made a big announcement that it was now Chanukah. Still being on the road, there wasn't much we could do to celebrate other than break in out in loud "Happy Chanukah" cheers - which we did with great gusto.

We finally arrived at home at around 7 pm..and having been in a car for my entire day, I suddenly found all sorts of energy. As Levi set up the Menorahs, Shalom and I danced around the house singing Chanukah songs! (So that you won't wonder - Mushky is far, far away having a blast in sleep over camp in Arizaon!) Once the Menorahs were lit, we did some more singing and dancing - and then we sat down for an unusual game of Dreidel. We decided to tally up our Gimmels - and whoever had the most after 15 minutes would win the prize...Shalom won by a landslide getting a Gimmel almost every time he gave the Dreidel a spin - Levi and I didn't even come close!

Next, I decided that it wouldn't be Chanukah without latkes...and I opted to do a little experiment and make Zucchini-Potato latkes (well, mostly zucchini). They turned out to be delicious - and when I told Shalom that I put zucchini in them, he tasted them and made sure to let me know that they were perfect and were just as good as "regular ones".

Happy Chanukah everyone!!

(PS...if you are in the 757 - make sure to come to the GIANT Menorah lighting in front of Waterside in Downtown Norfolk tomorrow night at 5:45 pm...lots of Chanukah fun to be had!!)

Zucchini - Potato Latkes


1 sweet onion
2 large zucchinis, unpeeled
2 medium size Russet potatoes
2 eggs
1 cup flour
A tiny  bit of white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying


Peel onion and grind in a food processor fitted with a chopping blade. Pour onion into a mixing bowl. Remove the chopping blade and set up the food processor with the shredding/grating disc. Grate the two zucchinis  and add to the bowl. Switch the blades and put the chopping blade back in (of course you could do the potatoes first to avoid all the switching - but I wanted to do them last to keep my potatoes from turning grey.) Grind the potatoes until finely ground and add to the bowl. Pour in a tiny bit of vinegar - to help keep the mixture nice and white. Add in the eggs, flour and salt and pepper. 


Heat oil in an electric skillet (more even frying experience!) and drop the batter in by the spoonful (I use a small ladle.) Fry until crispy on one side and then flip. Remove to platter and enjoy!

Lots of Latkes

Simply put - I love Chanukah! Our home truly fills with a warm glow when we all gather around to light the Menorah. As the beautiful flames on our Menorah dance happily I am filled with a wonderful warmth and happiness. I savor the moments my family spends together singing and enjoying the Chanukah spirit.
When the flames twinkle and shed light upon my home I am reminded that a simple bit of light, or a simple bit of kindness, can truly light up our world.

Of course Chanukah also means that my electric skillet is about to get quite a workout. When Chanukah rolls in I get to make lots and lots of latkes. I don't know about you, but I can't resist a soft on the inside, crisp on the outside latke!

Get brave this Chanukah (after all the Maccabees were brave!) and make your own latkes!

Before I get to the recipe here are just a few notes about the way I make latkes.
-My latkes truly resemble pancakes, meaning that I use the chopping blade in my food processor as opposed to grating my potatoes.
-It is best to fry your latkes in an electric skillet. The electric skillet has the ability to maintain a set temperature which ensures that your latkes will fry more evenly.
-A trick for making latkes in advance - don't drain them on a paper towel after frying them, rather set them on a cookie sheet. Freeze the latkes on the cookie sheet. When they are frozen you can store them in Ziploc bags. When you have your Chanukah dinner/party all you need to do is set the latkes on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven on 350 until they start to sizzle - they will taste like they were just fried.


Potato Latkes

5 medium potatoes

1 medium onion

2 eggs

1 tablespoon oil

2 cups flour

Sprinkle of lemon juice or vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil for frying

Peel potatoes and cut into large chunks. Peel onion and chunk as well. Place potatoes and onions in food processor bowl fitted with metal chopping blade. Process until potatoes and onions are smooth. Place mixture in a mixing bowl and immediately add a sprinkle of lemon juice or white vinegar to stop the potatoes from getting grey. Add eggs, oil, flour and salt and pepper. (You may find that you need to adjust the amount of flour.) Mix well. 

Heat oil in an electric skillet, or in a frying pan. 

Place batter in the hot oil by the spoonful. When the latkes bubble it is time to flip them over.

Yield :Approximately 30 Latkes