Eggs, salt, and sometimes a bit of green onion are added to the potatoes and lightly mixed. Most of us are familiar with the story of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which begins this year on December 24th. The batter may sit in the refrigerator for a while to allow the starch and eggs to hold the ingredients together. contributor for many years. The seeds are what make some cucumbers bitter. The downfall is that they are much more expensive than the average cucumber. Cheese-based foods are also common, and they represent another tale.For three months before slaughter, geese were slowly and methodically fed at increasing intervals and quantities to fatten them to excess. You will need the following ingredients: @snowywinter: There are about 100 different varieties of cucumbers. We have the story of Judith, a Jewish heroine who saved her village when she heard that General Holofernes was approaching with his army to annihilate the Jews.Generations later, in some parts of the world, our ancestors exploited this story to create simple foods that told a story - but fried foods are not traditional throughout the Diaspora. Next, the mix is patted into patties, usually approximately 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter. A salty cake such as this, along with an ample supply of wine, would certainly have caused any man, Assyrian or otherwise, to feel sleepy. honey, and 2 English cucumbers. She encouraged him to eat more and thus drink more (why do you think bars serve pretzels and peanuts?) Fry 4 to 5 latkes at a time, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side until deep red throughout and just lightly browned on the outside. The pancakes may then be patted dry to remove excess oil. First, the recipe was not created until the end of the 18th or early 19th century. Approximately 1/3 of them are used for pickling. Investigating the tales surrounding the origin of latkes is almost as delightful as eating the dish itself. Therefore, even though they are not prepared as in ancient times, potato latkes have a rich history as well. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently @momothree: My in-laws are Jewish and I have learned so many delicious recipes. December 18, 2016 | Sandra O'Donnell Ph.D. They are usually served hot, and may be accompanied with both applesauce and Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? It would take a miracle to end their exile and reunite them with their homeland. Transfer the latkes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. In fact, it was French Jews who were most influential in the foie gras industry because of this knowledge.The real reason for latkes is explained by the traditional activity of slaughtering the geese in early December.A great tale that is, alas, not age-appropriate for most religious school students - hence the popularity of the oil story!Judith created a plan to thwart his efforts. Now for the latkes. Even a poor person could find a potato in the field, an onion in the cellar, and some of the precious, newly-rendered goose fat to create the Hanukkah culinary story of So you think you know why we eat latkes for What is a good appetizer to serve with a Jewish meal? Latkes come from the story of Judith, a fearless woman who is known as a Jewish heroine for beheading the Assyrian army’s general, Holofernes.How did she do it? Legend has it that Judith cut off his head, placed it on a staff and presented it to the awaiting army, who became so fearful that they retreated and the Jews were saved.We do know that the Maccabees conquered the Temple Mount and secured fresh oil to rekindle the In warmer climates, Judith's story translates into cheese pancakes - some salty, and others sweet and delicate, like Italian Fast-forward to the Babylonian exile, a time when the rabbis were disconnected by centuries from the now-corrupt Maccabean dynasty, and dislocated from their religious homeland.