Oil played a significant role in the Hanukkah story—the small jug of oil that miraculously provided fuel for the Temple Menorah for eight days. It is a Jewish tradition to eat foods that reflect the significance of a holiday and Hanukkah is no exception. For at least the last thousand years, Jews have traditionally eaten oily foods on Hanukkah.
Among the most popular Hanukkah dishes are potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiot (deep-fried doughnuts)
LATKES (potato pancakes)
Ingredients:
- 4 medium Idaho potatoes
- 6 tablespoons canola oil or olive oil
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons matzoh meal
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- Applesauce or sour cream (optional)
- Peel and grate the potatoes.
- Add eggs, matzoh meal, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Drop 6 to 8 spoonfuls of mixture into hot oil.
- Using the back of a spoon, pat down each latke to flatten it.
- Put as many as you can in the skillet without crowding.
- Fry 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp around the edges;
- repeat procedure until finished with all the batter.
- Blot excess oil with paper towels.
Serve warm with applesauce or sour cream, if desired.
DONUTS
Doughnuts, or Sufganiyot for Hanukkah, are an old-fashioned treat, and are never quite as good when store-bought. Try them homemade!
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ ounces fresh yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup non dairy creamer
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
- 6 to 7 cups of flour
- Also: Oil for frying and Confectioners' sugar
Use: 2-quart pot
Yields: 5 to 6 dozen doughnuts
- In a large mixer bowl: place eggs, oil, sugar, nondairy creamer, vanilla, and grated lemon peel.
- Add yeast mixture; add flour until soft dough is formed. (Dough need not be dry; it should be softer than bread dough.)
- Knead for a few minutes.
- Cover and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1-½ hours.
- Roll out dough ½-inch thick on floured surface.
- Cut out circles with a doughnut cutter.
- Place 2 or 3 inches oil in a 2-quart saucepan and heat over a medium flame until hot.
- Place four doughnuts at a time in the oil.
- Brown on one side and then on the other.
- Remove with slotted spoon.
- Drain and cool on paper towels.
- Dust with confectioners' sugar.
A few other ideas to celebrate Hanukah:
- Make sugar cookies. Roll out the dough and use Hanukah shaped cookie cutters.
- Set a timer or time limit, or the children will play with the donut-filling syringes or sprinkles forever.
- Make chocolate coins. Buy the chocolate/ candy molds and melt chocolate.
Article provided by Gan Camarillo Preschool conveniently located in the heart of Old Town Camarillo in California, at the former Kindergarten site of the Los Primeros School. You may contact the school at leahlang@gmail.com or visit Gan Camarillo Preschool on Facebook. Visit their blog at www.GanCamarilloPreschool.blogspot.com .
