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Posts tagged ‘Chanukah’

How to Play Dreidel: A Complete Guide

The History of Dreidel

A dreidel is a four-sided top usually made of wood or plastic, but it can also be clay, brass, or even glass. Over two thousand years ago, When the Syrian Greeks ruled over the Holy Land, they outlawed many Jewish practices, such as circumcision, Shabbat observance and Torah learning. So, when soldiers passed by their homes, Jewish children would spin dreidels to hide that they were studying in secret. In Hebrew, a dreidel is called a sevivon (spinning top). Each side is engraved with one of four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Hey, and Shin, which stands for the phrase: Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “A Great Miracle Happened There.” In Israel, Po, which means “here,” is substituted for Sham.

Gimmel = everything
Hey = get half
Nun = nothing
Shin = put back one.

How to Play

  1. Sit on the floor or at table in a circle. Give each player an equal number of nuts, raisins, pennies, or chocolate candy coins wrapped in gold foil (gelt).
  2. Each player places one item from their pile into the center-“the pot.”
  3. Before each turn, place a piece into the “pot” and then spin the dreidel. When it stops, look at it.
    • If the dreidel lands on Nun, you get nothing.
    • If it lands on Gimmel, you get everything.
    • If it lands on Hey, you get half the pot.
    • If it lands on Shin, you have to put another item in the center.
  4. The game is over when one player has everything.

Category:

history, Seasonal, winter

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Delicious Carrot Latkes Recipe


The picture shows carrot latkes on a plate
CARROT LATKES 
These are good anytime. 
Ingredients:
  • 3 eggs
  • 2c. grated carrots (6-8 carrots)
  • 2 c. breadcrumbs or flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • oil for frying
Directions:
  1. Put eggs in bowl and beat with fork.
  2. Wash and peel carrots, and grate into bowl or place in food processor and process until mostly shredded.
    The picture shows the carrots in a food processor.
  3. Add rest of ingredients and mix well.
  4. Heat oil in frying pan.
  5. Form batter into patties and fry on both sides until brown (about 3 minutes each side).
    The Picture shows carrot latkes frying in a pan.
  6. Drain on paper towels.
Serves 4-6

Category:

Latkes, Recipes, Seasonal, winter

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Delicious Homemade Donuts Recipe


The picture shows various donuts in a fry basket.


The Picture shows Donuts on a Plate
 
Ingredients:
  • ½ c. water
  • 1 stick of butter or margarine (1/4 cup)
  • 4 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 pkg. dry yeast
  • 3-4 C. flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • Dash of salt
  • oil for frying
  • 1/2 C. Sugar
Directions:
  1. Combine water, butter, and 4 Tbsp. sugar in small pot.
  2. Heat to melt butter.
  3. Cool to lukewarm.
  4. Add yeast, 3 c. flour, and beaten eggs.
  5. Knead until smooth, adding more flour if necessary.
  6. Cover with damp dish towel and let rise 30 minutes.
  7. Punch down.
  8. Divide into portions the size of a golf ball.
  9. Shape into balls, rings, or braids.
  10. Let rise 30 minutes more.
  11. Heat 1 c. oil in frying pan.
  12. Fry donuts, turning to brown on all sides.
  13. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  14. Put 1/2 C. Sugar in paper bag and shake warm donuts to cover (optional). Serve warm.
Makes 12-14
 

Category:

bread, Recipes

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Easy Cheese Latkes Recipe for Hanukkah

CHEESE LATKES (Fried Cheese Patties)
Ingredients:
  • 1 c. ricotta cheese (works best, but any shredded cheese will do)
  • 4 eggs
  • 3c. flour
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Cinnamon and sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. margarine or oil for frying
Directions:
  1. Put cheese and eggs in bow and mix well.
  2. Add flour and salt and mix again.
  3. Heat oil or margarine in frying pan over medium heat.
  4. Carefully spoon batter by tablespoonfuls into pan.
  5. Fry on one side until pancakes bubble. Turn and fry on second side until brown.
  6. Drain on paper towel. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Serves 3-4

Category:

Latkes, Recipes, Seasonal, winter

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Easy Apple Latkes Recipe: Delicious & Simple

This is great for breakfast. 
 
Ingredients:
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 3 cups chopped apples (about 3 apples)
  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 1/2 cup oil for frying
Instructions:
  1. Cut the apples with an apple cutter.
  2. Place the apples into a food processor and chop.
  3. Put the eggs, sugar, cinnamon, apples, flour, and water in a bowl.
  4. Mix well.
  5. Heat, over medium heat, about 2 Tbsp of oil in a frying pan.
  6. For each latke, spoon about 1/4 cup batter into hot oil.
  7. Fry until the edges are brown. Turn and fry on the other side. 
  8. Remove from pan and let drain on a paper towel.
  9. Sever while warm.
Notes:
I bought my chopper about 2 years ago. I use it at least 3 times a week. It is still going strong. My husband does sharpen the blades about every 3 months. Here is the link to where I got it. Food Chopper.
Quick and Delicious Cooking Ideas

Category:

Hanukkah, Latkes, Recipes, Seasonal, winter

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