Hannukah, or the Festival of Light, is a celebration starting this year on Nov. 28 and lasting eight nights. There are several important aspects to celebrating Hannukah, including lighting a menorah, reciting prayers, and exchanging gifts. One of my favorite aspects about celebrating Hannukah is the special cedar that my mom would prepare for the first night of Hannukah. Though there are no specific requirements for this meal, we often have brisket, jelly doughnuts, and most importantly, latkes! Latkes are fried potato pancakes and are a staple for any Hannukah cedar.  

In order to make latkes you need:  

4 large potatoes, peeled 

1 medium onion  

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley  

1 large egg  

1 teaspoon salt 

¼ teaspoon white pepper  

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

½ teaspoon baking powder 

½ cup vegetable oil (for frying)  

To begin, grate both the potatoes and onions. After, transfer the grated potatoes and onions to a colander and squeeze the mixture to eliminate as much liquid as possible. Put those in a large bowl and mix in parsley, eggs, salt, pepper, flour, and baking powder.  

To fry the latkes: heat the ½ cup of vegetable oil in a heavy 10-inch skillet. For each latke, add approximately 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the pan. Flatten the mixture with a spatula and cook at medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, then flip over and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes. When they are done cooking, they should be crispy with a golden-brown color. Once they are done cooking, drain them with paper towels to remove extra oils.  

Remember to stir the potato mixture before you put each batch in the oil. Once they are done, serve with apple sauce, compote, sour cream, or sugar, and enjoy!