Monthly Archives: December 2012
THE EIGHT NIGHTS OF CHANUKAH
On the first night of Chanukah, my Jewish mother said,
“You’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the second night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the third night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the fourth night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Taste my sugar cookies,
here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the fifth night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“YOU’RE GETTING FAT!
taste my sugar cookies,
here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the sixth night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Don’t you like the doughnuts?
YOU’RE GETTING FAT!
taste my sugar cookies,
here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the seventh night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Take another brownie,
Don’t you like the doughnuts?
YOU’RE GETTING FAT!
taste my sugar cookies,
here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
On the eighth night of Chanukah, my mother said to me,
“Try my home-made strudel,
take another brownie,
Don’t you like the doughnuts?
YOU’RE GETTING FAT!
taste my sugar cookies,
here’s your chocolate dreidel,
have a few more latkes, but
you’d better lose some weight or you’ll be dead.”
CRISPY POTATO LATKES
CRISPY POTATO LATKES
Published November 1, 2012. From Cook’s Illustrated.
For truly crisp latkes, we had to eliminate the one thing potatoes are loaded with.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
We wanted latkes that were light and not greasy, with buttery soft interiors surrounded by a shatteringly crisp outer shell. To achieve all of these goals, we needed to remove as much water as possible from the potato shreds by wringing them out in a kitchen towel and to minimize the release of what remained by microwaving the shreds briefly to cause the starches in the potatoes to form a gel. With the water taken care of, the latkes crisped up quickly and absorbed minimal oil. (
SERVES 4 TO 6 AS A SIDE DISH
We prefer shredding the potatoes on the large holes of a box grater, but you can also use the large shredding disk of a food processor; cut the potatoes into 2-inch lengths first so you are left with short shreds. Serve with applesauce and sour cream.
INGREDIENTS
• 2pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and shredded
• 1/2cup grated onion
• Salt and pepper
• 2large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2teaspoons minced fresh parsley
• Vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position, place rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees. Toss potatoes, onion, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl. Place half of potato mixture in center of dish towel. Gather ends together and twist tightly to drain as much liquid as possible, reserving liquid in liquid measuring cup. Transfer drained potato mixture to second bowl and repeat process with remaining potato mixture. Set potato liquid aside and let stand so starch settles to bottom, at least 5 minutes.
2. Cover potato mixture and microwave until just warmed through but not hot, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring mixture with fork every 30 seconds. Spread potato mixture evenly over second rimmed baking sheet and let cool for 10 minutes. Don’t wash out bowl.
3. Pour off water from reserved potato liquid, leaving potato starch in measuring cup. Add eggs and stir until smooth. Return cooled potato mixture to bowl. Add parsley, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and potato starch mixture and toss until evenly combined.
4. Set wire rack in clean rimmed baking sheet and line with triple layer of paper towels. Heat 1/4-inch depth of oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking (350 degrees). Place 1/4-cup mound of potato mixture in oil and press with nonstick spatula into 1/3-inch-thick disk. Repeat until 5 latkes are in pan. Cook, adjusting heat so fat bubbles around latke edges, until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and continue cooking until golden brown on second side, about 3 minutes longer. Drain on paper towels and transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining potato mixture, adding oil to maintain 1/4-inch depth and returning oil to 350 degrees between batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
5. TO MAKE AHEAD: Cooled latkes can be covered loosely with plastic wrap and held at room temperature for up to 4 hours. Alternatively, they can be frozen on baking sheet until firm, transferred to zipper-lock bag, and frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat latkes in 375-degree oven until crisp and hot, 3 minutes per side for room-temperature latkes and 6 minutes per side for frozen latkes.
MAJCO Communities to Light Menorot Together at Capitol, 12 Noon, Monday, Dec 10, 2012
From: Joshua Burnim
Date: December 3, 2012, 4:41:53 PM MST
Dear Montana Jews:
For the fourth year in a row, the Montana Association of Jewish Communities (MAJCO) is sponsoring a Chanukah Menorot Lighting event with Lt. Governor Bohlinger. We hope to again have all nine communities of MAJCO light a Menorah (one each). This will be our last year lighting the candles with Lt. Governor Bohlinger as a new administration takes over in January. Let’s use this opportunity to come together as Montana Jews and celebrate the light that we all share.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Monday, December 10
12:00 p.m. Lighting Ceremony with Lt. Governor Bohlinger; Please arrive at 11:30 a.m. to set up.
The State Capitol in Helena; the Rotunda Room which is below the Large Dome of the Capitol
Photo of State Capitol: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/205168
Parking: Park in the lot that is on the north side of the capitol or park on the streets all around the capitol. There should be plenty of parking, but please allow time to find a space and walk to the Rotunda. 1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT
The nine communities of MAJCO, listed from East to West based on town/city of location, are:
- Congregation Beth Aaron, Billings
- Chabad Lubavitch of Montana
- Congregation Beth Shalom, Bozeman
- Congregation Aitz Chaim, Great Falls
- The Jewish Community of Helena
- Congregation B’nei Israel, Butte
- Congregation Har Shalom, Missoula
- Congregation Bet Harim, Kalispell
- Synagogue of the Northern Rockies, Whitefish
At 11:30 a.m., we will meet to setup tables, tablecloths, Menorot, signs, and any info you bring about your community. Each community should bring their own Menorah and candles. MAJCO will provide extra candles and Menorot if needed, small signs for each community, and a program that includes contact information for each community. Communities are welcome to bring Chanukah foods to share.
MAJCO President, Josh Burnim, will welcome the crowd and introduce the Lt. Governor and the Rabbis. Rabbis Barbara Block, Chaim Bruk and Ed Stafman will speak on Chanukah. (Rabbi Allen Secher is not able to attend.) Lt. Governor Bohlinger will address the crowd. Then, we will all light our Menorot together and sing the blessings and Maoz Tzur. After the ceremony, we will share Sufganiyot and other Chanukah treats. The ceremony should only take 30 minutes, but we encourage all to spend some time before and afterwards with each other.
At 1:00 p.m., MAJCO Officers and Delegates will meet upstairs for a business meeting. All are welcome to attend.
I hope many of you, and at least one representative from each MAJCO community, will make the trip to Helena to share in this statewide Jewish event, building ties with Jews from across the state. Please share this email with other members of your Congregations and Communities.
Shalom,
Josh Burnim
MAJCO President
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note the change in date, time, and venue for the annual community Chanukah party.
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
- CHANUKAH: The first bulb of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukiah will be lit on Saturday, 12/08/2012, at 5:30 P.M. at The Civic Center, as will each remaining bulb on all successive nights.
The annual community Chanukah party will be held at the YWCA, 220 2nd Avenue North, on Sunday afternoon, 12/09/2012, at 2:30 P.M. We will adjourn at 5:00 P.M. or so and shift the party to the Civic Center to light the Channukiah. Please bring something yummy and milchig (dairy) to share, and a healthy hankering for latkes.
- PURIM: Sunday, February 24, 2013. Plans, if any, yet to be announced.
- PASSOVER SEDER: Tuesday, March 26, second night of Passover, at Clark and Lewie’s.
- STUDENT RABBI Miriam Farber returns to Great falls April 19-21; May 10-12.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 