Try These Hanukkah Recipes During the Festival of Lights

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8 and ends on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16.

In Winchester, Temple Shir Tikvah is holding its usual schedule of services and special Hanukkah events, including:

• Bringing Jewish Holidays to Life on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m., at the Ambrose School: Rabbi Lev Baesh will uncover and explore meaningful and relevant ways to bring Jewish holidays to life for your family. With rabbinic teachings, biblical stories and our imagination and group conversation, you will find ways to connect and celebrate these holidays in ways that are just right for your family and in line with Jewish history and tradition. Free of charge. 

• Family Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m., at the temple.

• 3rd Grade Pot Luck, Service and Chanukah Candlelighting on Friday, Dec. 14, at 5:45 p.m., at the temple.

• Shabbat Service with Chanukah Candlelighting with Rabbi Rim and Beth on Friday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the temple.

For more information on Temple Shir Tikvah events, see the temple’s calendar.

Observing the Festival of Lights goes hand-in-hand with making special Hanukkah foods. Before you light the menorah, make sure you have all the ingredients for some great brisket, latke, and sufganiyot. Although there are many recipes, below are a few to try during the eight nights.

Hate cooking? Here are some kosher establishments nearby:

• Dushez Kosher Catering, 385 West Cummings Park, Woburn

• LaRonga Bakery, 599 Somerville Ave., Somerville

• Donuts with a Difference, 35 Riverside Ave., Medford

Potato Latkes

Ingredients

• 3 medium/large potatoes - washed, peeled and grated
• 1 egg for every 3 potatoes
• Approximately 1/4 cup of flour per every 3 potatoes
• 1 TBS onion powder per every 3 potatoes
• 1 TBS garlic powder per every 3 potatoes

Instructions

• Grate potatoes, drain off excess juices, add egg(s), flour, onion and garlic powders.
• Mix well.
• Place enough oil in a large frying pan to have approximately a half-inch of oil, or enough to cover the bottom half of the potatoes. 
• Take a heaping soup spoon full of potato mixture and place in hot oil and flatten to make a pancake, approximately a quarter to a half-inch thick. 
• Cook on medium heat and watch carefully as they go from being done to burnt very quickly. 
• At medium heat, cook approx. 4 - 5 minutes on each side. 
• Remove from pan when a medium to dark golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels then remove to plate. 
• Best to use tongs to turn the latkes, so oil doesn't splatter. 

Once they are ready to eat, try them with some apple sauce mixed with sugar & cinnamon, sour cream or just a sprinkling of salt.

Brisket

Ingredients

• 1 Brisket any size
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 can jelled cranberry sauce
• Orange juice

Instructions

• Line deep baking pan with foil.
• Place brisket in pan.
• Dice up cranberry sauce and place on top of brisket.
• Sprinkle onion soup mix on top of brisket.
• Pour in enough OJ to cover brisket about half way.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 until you can stick a fork in it and the fork slides out easily.
• Approx. 1 hr. per pound.
• Let cool and cut on the bias

Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) from chabad.org

Ingredients

• 2 packages yeast
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 or 5 cups. flour
• 3 egg yolks
• Jelly of your choice for filling
• Powdered Sugar

Instructions

• Mix water, sugar, juice, and yeast.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• Melt margarine and add to yeast mixture.
• Beat in eggs and salt.
• Add flour, mixing and kneading by hand to form a soft dough.
• Let rise 1-1/2 hours.
• Roll dough 1/4 inch thick and cut circles (approximately 2 inches).
• Let circles rise 1/2 hour.
• Deep fry at 400° F about 3 minutes, turning once.
• Pipe in jelly and roll in powdered sugar.

TELL US: What are your favorite things to eat during Hanukkah? Do you have any special or traditional Hanukkah recipes in your family?