Hanukkah Party Theme – Windy City Novelties
Hanukkah Holiday – Festival of Lights – Windy City Novelties
Bonus Video: Hanukkah Party Setup
5 Best Unique December Holidays
0Everyone is always excited for the December holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. What about the rest of the month?
There is a holiday almost every day of every month that most people don’t even know about! Wouldn’t you want every day to be a holiday?
Here is a list of the 5 best unique December holidays!
1) December 7th: National Cotton Candy Day
Celebrate this delicious day by stuffing your face with this sweet treat! Celebrating candy is the best kind of holiday, don’t you think?
Cotton candy used to be called fairy floss, because it is made from Flossine sugar! The Cotton Candy machine was patented in 1899 by William Morrison and John C. Wharton. Now it is a popular snack at amusement parks, circuses, fairs, and sports events!
2) December 12th: National Ding-A-Ling Day
A holiday for the crazy people out there is almost here! On this day, even your most laid back and conservative friends may be a bit more wacko than you are used to!
Many say this day is only for people who are off their rocker, but others just use this holiday to let loose a little! Celebrate by doing something you normally wouldn’t do, or just give your brain a rest and act like a ding-a-ling!
3) December 18th: Bake Cookies Day
This holiday is perfect for December! Besides making your home smell of cookie goodness, you can use this time to bond with family and friends!
Invite over friends, or teach your kids how to bake some delicious cookies! You can always save the leftovers for Santa Claus!
Get in the holiday spirit and make extra cookies to bring over to neighbors houses!
4) December 20th: Go Caroling Day
Caroling is always talked about, but how many people actually go caroling if they aren’t part of some group? Not many, so this year take your family and friends out around the town!
If you are really in the caroling mood, set up a time to go to nursing homes or hospitals to sing to the patients! They, more than anyone, will appreciate the wonderful Christmas songs you sing for them!
5) December 21st: Look on the Bright Side Day
Around this time of the year, people can turn into Debbie and Danny Downers. Maybe they spent too much money on Christmas presents, or ate too much food during the past couple of months and feel guilty.
Who cares? This day is about being happy and having no worries! Think about the good things in your life that you live for. Tell the people you love that you love them! If you can’t seem to get the bad thoughts out of your mind, use this day to figure out solutions to turn those problems around!
Picture This: Menorah Pictures
0Lighting the menorah is a major Hanukkah tradition. Traditional menorahs are great, but why not change it up a bit?
Here are some menorah pictures that will blow your mind! This collection displays items made of various styles and designs, which are all handcrafted by leading Jerusalem artists!
The Elephant Menora by Michael Ende
Wave Hanukkah Menorah by Yair Emanuel
Kinetic Hanukkah Menorah by Adi Sidler
Puzzle Menorah by Benny Dabach
Family Tree Hanukkah Menorah by Tzuki
Dreidel Menorah by Avia Agayof
Travel Magnet Hanukkah Menorah by Laura Cowan
Check out more of these creative and mind blowing menorah designs here!
3 Fun Recipes for Latkes!
0
Holidays are always a time for great foods and Hanukkah features some of the best, including everyone’s favorite: Potato Latkes.
A good potato latke is usually something easy to find. After all, it doesn’t take much to make those delicious treats. BUT, if you’re setting out to make your own latkes for the first time, a little guidance can go a long way.
To help you make the delicious potato latkes you know and love, here are three recipes sure to satisfy!
.
3 Potato Latke Recipes
.
1. The Original
No need to make any changes to a classic. These are the latkes you know and love.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound potatoes
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 250°F.
Peel potatoes and coarsely grate by hand, transferring to a large bowl of cold water as grated. Soak potatoes 1 to 2 minutes after last batch is added to water, then drain well in a colander.
Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Transfer potato mixture to a bowl and stir in egg and salt.
Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 4 latkes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn latkes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep latkes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven.
.
2. Cajun Potato Latkes
If you do want to break from the traditional flavor, this recipe is a good way to go. Add a little spice to your Hanukkah celebration!
Ingredients
- 2 cups peeled, shredded potatoes
- 1/4 onion, shredded
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, or to taste
- 1 cup canola oil, or as needed
Directions
- Place the potatoes in a cloth, and wring them to remove as much moisture as possible. Mix the potatoes, onion, green onion, eggs, flour, and Cajun seasoning together in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers (oil should be about 1/3 inch deep). Drop about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture per patty into the hot oil, and flatten the potatoes to make the patties 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick. Brown the patties in the hot oil until golden and crisp on the bottom, about 5 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side. Drain the latkes on paper towels, and serve hot.
.
3. Ricotta Latkes
Say cheese! This latke recipe is an absolute dream come true. Combining the great taste of latkes with the unmatched flavor of ricotta cheese is a tastebud’s dream come true.
- Ingredients
- 1 15- to 16-oz. container part-skim ricotta
cheese - 4 large eggs or 1 cup egg substitute
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 to 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- FOR FRYING
- Butter or margarine or canola oil
- Instructions
-
- In a food processor fitted with a steel blade (or in a blender in batches if necessary), put the ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract. Process until combined. Add the melted butter, and process briefly. Add the flour, and process until the batter is very smooth, like thick cream. Scrape down the sides of the container a few times during processing. (The batter will be thinner than most pancake batters.)
- Preheat a griddle or shallow skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat (not hotter). An electric frypan set at 325 degrees also works very well. Lightly grease the griddle. (You can use a stick of cold butter to make 3-inch circles on the griddle.) For each latke, spoon a 1 1/2- to 2-tablespoon measure of batter (no more) onto the greased preheated griddle. The batter will spread to form an approximately 3-inch-diameter latke. Keep the latkes at least 1/2 inch apart from each other.
- Cook for about 3 minutes, or until a few bubbles have risen to the surface of the pancakes, the tops are beginning to look dry, and the bottoms are golden brown in a sort of “splotchy” pattern. The latkes will not rise at all. Carefully use a pancake turner to turn the latkes once. (If the bottom of the latkes brown before the tops are dry enough to turn them, the heat is too high.) Cook the latkes briefly on the second side just until they are golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is used, greasing the griddle between batches.
Recent Comments