Chanukah (the jewish festival of lights)

1 servings

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CHANUKAH

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Chanukah, the Jewish Festival Of Lights starts at sundown today.

Many households will be celebrating with potato pancakes called latkes and jelly doughnuts.

A LITTLE HISTORY

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Chanukah celebrates a victtory over tyranny and the rededication of the ancient temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE. The temple had been defiled by the ancient Syrian-Greeks. When te Jews came to cleanse the temple, they found only one small jar of oil ++ just enought to keep the eternal light burning for one day. Miraculously, it burned for eight. To commemorate this miracle, a channukiah (candelabra) is lit for eight days, beginning with one candle on the first day and adding one more each evening.

TRADITIONAL FOODS

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Since the holiday is associated with oil, all sorts of food fried with oil are eaten at Chanukah, such as latkes and doughnuts.

LATKES

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~ Latkes are traditionally served at the Chanukah by Ashkenazi Jews.

~ The basic latke recipe includes grated potatoes, onions, eggs, matzo meal and salt. The batter is dropped by spoonfull into a hot frying pan and cooked until golden and crispy.

~ While easy to make, latkes are sold in many stores this time of year.

GRATE TRICKS

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~ Every type of potato, except baking potatoes, can be used to make latkes.

~ To increase the nutritional content of latkes, leave the peel on the potatoes.

~ Grate the potatoes into cold water to revent discoloration. Drain and squeeze potatoes before adding to other ingredients.

LATKE SIDECARS

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~ Latkes are traditionally served with apple sauce or sour cream.

~ They can also be served with more savoury accompaniments such as smoked salmon or as a vegetable with a meal.

~ Try them with sliced fresh fruit, yogurt, fruit compote, jam or creme fraiche.

JELLY DOUGHNUTS

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~ Jelly doughnuts, popular in Israel, are served at Chanukah by Shephardi Jews.

~ These doughnuts are filled with any type of jam (the jam is injected into the doughnut after it has been deep-fried) and dusted with sugar.

NUTRITION TIP OF THE WEEK:

Potatoes are packed with nutrients, Vitamin C and B6, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and niacin.

SOURCE: From column FOODsmarts by Madeleine Greey (Toronto Star - 17 December, 1995)

Transcribed By: Sam Lefkowitz

Submitted By SAM LEFKOWITZ On 12-18-95

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