Who doesn’t love the holiday of Chanukah?  It is one that is filled  with memories of family, home, smells of latkas frying, kids playing dreidel and adults enjoying the fun as well. It’s a holiday we don’t have to miss work for!!!

Everyone has their own recipes of the foods we look forward to and I am going to share some of my favorite Chanukah ones as well.

Chanukah Cookies

1 ½ cups flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup margarine

½ cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp. orange juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350.  Lightly grease a baking sheet. I use parchment paper; it makes life so much easier.

Beat the margarine, with the sugar. Beat in one yolk at a time. Add the orange juice and vanilla.  Mix in the flour until just incorporated.  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared sheet.  Bake about 10-12 minutes.  When cool, ice them if you choose.

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 drop of lemon juice

Can color with food coloring if desired

Blend all of the icing ingredients together.

Home Made  Chanukah Gelt

1 lb. confectioner’s sugar

1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ tsp. salt

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

¼ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients on top of double boiler:

Place over simmering water, and stir until smooth.  Quickly spread on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Let cool and then cut into circles using a cookie cutter or you can try a bottle top if you want smaller ones.

Wrap in colorful foil or gold foil if you so choose. Keep refrigerated. The kiddies will love these!!!

Foolproof/Easy Latkas

4 large potatoes

1 large onion

2 eggs lightly beaten

1 tsp. salt

Dash of pepper

2 tablespoons of flour

Oil for frying

Grate potatoes and onion. Squeeze out half the liquid.  Add all the remaining ingredients except the oil to the potato mixture.  Heat oil in medium frying pan. Put about 2 tablespoons of batter for each latka, turning once. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.  This serves 4. Most people tend to triple this!!!!

By Gail Hochman