Chanukah ~ Hanukkah

....is fast approaching....and the brightly colored lights are going up on the rooftops! Helium Snowmen and Santa Claus' are all around us and we try so hard not to sing that jingle that we have grown up with!

Chanukah is an eight day holiday which begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. It marks the miraculous victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against Greek persecution and religious oppression. In addition to being victorious in war, another miracle occurred: When the Maccabees came to rededicate the Temple, they found only one flask of oil with which to light the Menorah. This small flask lasted for eight days. In order to commemorate this miracle, we light a Menorah for the eight days of Chanukah.

This year (5772 / 2011-2012) Chanukah begins at nightfall of December 20, 2011, and ends on December 28, 2011. On the evening before each one of the days, the corresponding number of Chanukah candles are lit.

It's time to celebrate! So - since this is a time especially for children - here are a few recipes that my grand daughters enjoyed!

Jelly Doughnuts - Sufganiot

Source: "The Israeli Cookbook", Molly Lyons Bar-David

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cup - Flour
2 cups - Hot milk
2 pkg. dry yeast
1/4 cup - Lukewarm milk
6 - Egg yolks
2/3 cup - Sugar
1 tsp. - Vanilla
Rind of 1 lemon or orange
1/2 cup - Butter
Jam - for filling
Oil - for frying
icing sugar (powdered sugar)
Directions:
Sift one cup of flour into the hot milk and beat until smooth, then allow to cool. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk, add to the flour mixture, and set aside for about half an hour. Mix the egg yolks and sugar with the vanilla and rind, and add to the dough. Add the remaining flour and the butter and knead. Allow to rise until double in bulk (about 45 minutes). Roll out on a floured board to a thickness of 1/2 inch, and cut into rounds. Put a teaspoon of jam in the center of one round, and cover it with another round. Press the edges together and allow to rise again in a warm place. Fry in hot oil, drain, and dust with icing sugar.

Pumpkin Latkes!

The word for pumpkin is "qara" which means "to call out." This recipe will definitely have people CALLING OUT for more!

Ingredients:
2 pounds (1 kilogram) fresh pumpkin
1 1/2-2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs, beaten
oil for frying
Preparation:
1. Place pieces of pumpkin into a large pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil. Lower flame. Cook until pumpkin is tender enough to mash with a fork.
2. Drain pumpkin. Cool to room temperature.
3. Remove peel. Mash with a fork. Squeeze out excess water.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt with beaten eggs. Mix in pumpkin. If the pancake mixture is too thin, then add more flour.
5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
6. Carefully drop tablespoons of pancake batter into skillet. Flatten (to make thin pancakes with well-cooked center). Fry until golden brown on the bottom. Carefully turn, and fry on the second side until golden brown.
7. Drain on a paper towel. Serve warm.

Games

Here are a few links to get you started!

• Primary Games
• Chabad ~ Hanukkah/Chanukah
• Torah Tots
• Online Games
• The Kidz Page
• The Knowledgehound