Guest Blog by Andrea Marks Carneiro: Hanukkah, Food, and Flourless Latkes

December 7, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

Below is a guest blog, from Andrea Marks Carneiro.  Enjoy!

Over the past few months of promoting my book, Jewish Cooking Boot Camp: The Modern Girl’s Guide to Cooking Like a Jewish Grandmother , I’ve been asked by reporters and readers alike what my very favorite holiday is. My instant answer is always Chanukah…but not for the reasons you might think. Let me explain.

For my family holidays have always been more about well…family than anything else. While the years have seen our temple attendance slow and our gatherings tend more towards toddlers than adults, we nonetheless never skip a holiday celebration—whether that means elaborate dinner, bagel break-the-fast, traditional seder or simple brisket. But for some reason all of that simplicity and kid-friendly planning goes out the window when December rolls around. In fact, for the past ten (or more…oy!) years my parents have played host to an influx of northern guests during what’s become a yearly Marks tradition: The Chanukah Party.

It all started when I was living in Manhattan and would come home for the holidays bearing gifts, wild stories, and a gaggle of girlfriends who would effectively take over my parents home. We would spend all night on South Beach and all day alternating our time between the pool, the sun and the kitchen. My mom would make a huge (HUGE) dinner of brisket, veggies, salad and more latkes (potato pancakes) than we could ever possibly consume, we would make pitchers of drinks (Cosmopolitans one year, sangria the next…) and we would all sit around my parents dining room table and talk and laugh and eat and drink. It was the best part of our vacation.

I eventually left New York to return to Miami.  My friends… well they never stopped coming for Chanukah. Even today they return every year (actual Blackberry Messenger message I received this morning: “Is Roz making latkes for us?”), and every year we return to my parents’ house for brisket and latkes and drinks and fun. We’ve added husbands and boyfriends and babies, but the silliness and sharing and love never leave. Forget the material gifts, we now leave those for the babies anyway. The best gift I get every Chanukah is the time I get to spend with my best friends. And that’s why I love it.

Since my friends’ devotion to these latkes was truly what sparked the book, I’ve shared the recipe below. Happy Holidays!

Flourless Potato Pancakes
Serves: 10-12 people (or more)
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

12 –13  medium Idaho russet potatoes
1 large onion
4 eggs
Vegetable oil
Salt

Peel potatoes .
TIP: Keep potatoes in ice cold water to keep them from turning brown.
Grate the potatoes in a Cuisinart.
Grate the onion in the Cuisinart.
Mix together and add 4 eggs.
Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet, enough to fill the pan about one-eighth of the way up the sides. Heat the oil over medium-high heat.

TIP: Splash a drop of water into the oil, if it sizzles the oil is ready!

Drop the potato mixture (one large tablespoonful per latke) into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crisp (about 3 to 4 minutes per side). Cook 3 or 4 in a batch.

Always make sure you have enough oil in the pan. After about 2 batches you will probably need to add oil.
When browned and crisp remove the latkes and place them on a brown paper bag to drain excess oil.

Sprinkle with salt to taste and serve.

If made a little ahead of time place on cookie sheet in oven at 400-425 until ready to serve.

TIP: The ratio of eggs per potatoes is 2 eggs for every 6 or 7 potatoes. If making for smaller group use 5 or 6 potatoes, 2 eggs and ½ of a large onion or 1 small onion.

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