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Latkes, Potato Pancakes...
Latkes
known, as little potato pancakes are a traditional Hanukkah food,
serving as a reminder of the food hurriedly prepared for the Maccabees
as they
went into battle, along with the oil they are fried in as a reminder of
the miraculous
oil. Other traditional foods contain cheese to celebrate Judahs’
victory.
Hanukkah
originated when
Judah the Maccabee and his followers reclaimed the temple in the
village of
Modi'in from Syrian King Antiochus IV. The temple was cleansed and
prepared for
rededication. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication."
You will also see this holiday spelled
“Chanukkah” due to different translations and customs. When the
sacred
temple Menorah (candelabra) was relit, there was only enough sacred oil
to burn
for one day. Yet, according to tradition, the oil miraculously lasted
eight
days until more purified oil could be found. In remembrance, a
candle is
lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah.
Latkes or Potato Pancakes are great any time of the year and are limitless to your creativity.
Try these two recipes and let us know what you think.
 |
| Sweet Potato Latkes made by Meal Makers Inc. |
Sweet Potato Latkes
Yield:
4 servings (serving size: 2 latkes)
-
1 pounds Sweet Potatoes
-
1 small onion (about 6 ounces), peeled
-
1 egg
-
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
-
Pinch ground Cinnamon
-
4 tablespoons canola oil, divided
Preparation
1. Peel and
par-boil the potatoes. Shred the sweet potatoes and onion using the
shredding
blade of a food processor.
2. Combine
egg, flour, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, stirring with a spatula
in a
medium size bowl. Add egg the potatoes
to the mixture and, stir well to combine.
3. Heat a
12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons
canola
oil to pan, swirling to coat. Using a tablespoon, make patties and add
to the
pan. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove latkes
from
pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil
and
remaining potato mixture.
Serve with
sour cream or apple sauce.
Cheese
Latkes
Serving
Size: About 15 Silver Dollar size
Ingredients
-
1 potato Idaho small, boiled (3 -4 oz) peeled
-
1 tbsp butter
-
1/2 lb farmer cheese
-
2 tbsp flour
-
2 egg yolks large
-
(see note for sweet version)
-
2 egg whites large
-
1/4 tsp cream of tartar or salt
-
1 tsp salt
-
1/2 tsp pepper white
-
Canola oil for frying
-
sour cream
-
apple sauce
Preparation:
1. In a 2 quart bowl with a
flat bottom mash the hot peeled boiled potato, salt,
pepper and butter, using a hand masher. Add the farmer cheese and mash
some
more until uniform. Then add egg yolks and mix smooth. (If you are
making the
sweet version, add the sugar, cinnamon and vanilla along with the
flour.) Add
the flour and mix smooth and uniform.
2.Beat the egg whites to soft peaks, add the cream of tartar or salt,
and
continue beating till medium peaks.
3.Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the cheese mixture to soften it. Then
fold the
remaining egg whites into the cheese mixture. This should give you
a
mixture that is firm enough to fry.
3.Heat canola oil
frying pan to 325 F. Drop rounded
tablespoons of the batter onto
the pan, using 2 tablespoons, one to lift and one to push off the
batter. When a brown and crispy, turn it over gently using
a spatula and a fork,
and gently pat down the top of the pancake to spread it a little.
Serve with sour cream
or apple sauce.
Note: Sweet version.
You can also make these sweet. Add 1-2 tbsp sugar and a few drops of
vanilla
extract, and a shake or two of cinnamon after the yolks.
Nuts May Be the Fountain of Youth
In the largest study ever done on the relationship between eating nuts and longevity, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School looked at nut consumption and deaths from all causes among 76,464 women participating in the Nurse's Health Study and 42,498 men involved in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study,as reported by Time magazine.
They asked the participants how "nutty" their diets were -- including how many almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts they typically ate. They found that those who reported regularly consuming nuts were less likely to die from a variety of diseases -- most significantly cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases.
Overall, people who ate nuts seven or more times a week had a 20% lower death rate after four years than individuals who did not eat nuts at all. Nut eaters also tended to be healthier people: leaner, more physically active and non-smokers.
Nuts are high in unsaturated fats, protein and vitamins, as well as antioxidants that are thought to be linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
Previous studies have found similar connections between nuts and longevity, but the large size of this study gives the association more support, according to Time.
Disclaimer: The study was partially funded by the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization representing nine tree nut industries. However, the group played no role in the research or results, according to Maureen Ternus, executive director. It was also partially funded by the National Institutes of Health.
It's unclear exactly how many nuts it takes to extend a person's lifespan. And the researchers say the findings don't show a cause-and-effect relationship between nuts and later death, just an interesting correlation that should be explored further.
But nuts are OK with public health officials. In their recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the NIH advised that adults eat about five to six ounces of protein a day, which could include nuts.
photo credit: s58y via photopin cc