December Celebrations- Have a Hanukkah Dinner

Okay- here’s the first non-Christmas December celebration.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is observed for 8 nights, so there are lots of chances to get together and and enjoy the company of your loved ones. It celebrates the miracle of a single container (normally enough for only a single lighting of the eternal flame in the Jewish temple) of consecrated oil lasting for 8 days.  Because oil is an integral part of the celebration it is traditional to eat fried foods at Hanukkah- like blintzes, latkes (potato and other vegetable pancakes), and doughnuts.

For dinner, start with tray passed Mini Cheese Blintzes topped with Warm Blueberry Maple Sauce.

Then there’s nothing like a Slow Braised Brisket smothered with a mountain of deeply colored Caramelized Onions- you don’t have to be Jewish to love this special treat. Serve it with Potato Pancakes and Chunky Apple Compote, accompanied by Roasted Winter Vegetables.

End with desserts for the kid in all of us- Hanukkah Cupcakes, decorated with blue and silver sprinkles and Stars of David, and the updated version of jelly filled doughnuts, Beignets sprinkled with Powdered Sugar and served with a Tart Cherry Compote.

Yum!!!