fbpx
[additional-authors]
December 18, 2014

The lattke is the first dish that I am presenting in my Take Back December campaign, my small but sincere attempt to take a part of December back for Chanuka from another holiday that shall remain nameless. (Although I did name it in my post from yesterday.) The lattke, a combination of espresso and the latke, is perfect for today's Jews on the Go. Since the tradition of lighting candles for Chanuka takes place at night, the caffeine in the lattke assures that participants will be sufficiently alert to pay attention to what is going on during the ceremony. This is good not only for religious reasons, but for safety, because all of those skinny candles burning so close together with oil from the latkes flying everywhere can be a hazard. Careful not to overdo it on the caffeine, though, because with too much, it can start to look like you have three times as many candles as you really do.

You may be thinking that if this is such a great idea, why hasn't it been tried before? To that I say, better lattke than never. Or, to paraphrase Clint Eastwood, when I invented this dish, I was feeling lattke. I appreciate your hearing me out on this, and thank you a lattke. Ok, I'll stoppke.

On a more serious note, the lattke may be a bit before its time, but the recipe below, which a teacher of mine gave to me,  makes very tasty traditional latkes:

4 Idaho potatoes (about 20 ounces)
2 eggs
1 medium onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup matzah meal
Olive oil

Peel and grate potatoes and onions. Mix everything together. The mixture should not be too loose. Shape latkes. Preheat pan very well with olive oil and fry latkes on a medium flame until they become golden brown.

Happy Chanuka!

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

AJU’s Ziegler School: Growth and Transformation

The challenge is how we can reinvent rabbinical training so that it’s not clinging to models that no longer work, is sustainable, and addresses the needs of today and tomorrow’s Jewish community.

Celebrate National Hamburger Month

While there may be limitations on how to enjoy burgers due to the laws of kashrut, it just means Jews have to get a little more creative.

An American Shabbat

When I travel in America, I love being invited to observe Shabbat building bridges – uniting tribes – among Christians.

The End of an Anti-Israel Propaganda NGO – More to Come?

Perhaps this also signals a belated reckoning for other false-flag NGOs claiming to promote human rights. The damage from terror-supporting propaganda will take many years to reverse, but at least further abuse can finally be prevented.

Shavuot: Return to Sinai

Shavuot is that moment in the year where all becomes one – People Israel, Torah, memory and the Divine – a unification begun at Sinai.

A New Jewish College

This idea is not just about fleeing antisemitism, nor proving native loyalty. It is about experiencing life from a different angle than the coasts.

Two Down, One to Go

So now, for my wife and me, it’s time for the mezinka, an Ashkenazi Jewish wedding custom that is observed when parents marry off their last child.

AIPAC and Israel Are Good for America

Emphasizing Israel’s value to America must become a community-wide effort. From the ADL to the AJC to the Federation system to Hillel and every pro-Israel activist group in the country, the collective priority must be to strengthen the U.S.—Israeli relationship.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.