Latkes

Potato pancakes are traditionally served at Hanukkah.  

Jews eat foods cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah.  

After the desecration of the the Temple there was only enough oil left to light the menorah for one night. 

Then a miracle happened there (Israel) and the oil lasted for eight days. 

Potato pancakes are a staple for many different cultures, especially in Eastern Europe.  

I grew up eating these as a quick and easy meal.  

During the year we often make 'fritki' (Polish for Hash browns) and really it's the same recipe.  

There are many variations, this is the one I use:

5 potatoes

1 onion

1 cup of flour

1 teaspoon of salt

dash of pepper

2 tablespoons of matzah meal

2 eggs

oil for frying

Peel the potatoes

Grate the potatoes and onion

mix up the eggs

Squeeze as much of the liquid as possible out of the potatoes-

this makes them crispier

Add all the dry ingredients then mix in the eggs

Fry them up

Eat them- or quick freeze them on a cookie sheet then transfer to an air tight container-

Traditionally they are served with apple sauce and sour cream.

Our family tradition is to have a Latke Party where we blast Hanukkah tunes construct an assembly line and make several batches (over a hundred) then freeze them so they are ready to bake and serve when we host our Hanukkah parties. 

I generally serve them as an appetizer as well as a 'kids meal' option during our annual bash.