HANUKKAH EDITION – Tropical Latkes

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“The proper response, as Hanukka teaches, is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle.” Irving Greenberg

Hi there,

My friend Dolly at Kool Kosher Kitchen shared with me this story about Hanukkah and recipe. I know you will enjoy it.

Hannah did not have potatoes.

Chanukkah is coming, and kids are looking forward to stuffing their faces with latkes – potato pancakes. When I was growing up, we had all kinds of latkes on Chanukkah, and sometimes my grandmother skipped the deruny (potato latkes) altogether because of the variety of other, more interesting ones: carrots with apples, zucchini with raisins, and my father’s favorite rechene (buckwheat) latkes. When a guest inquired about the missing “traditional” kind, she would say, “But Hannah did not have potatoes.” Two burning questions of my childhood were: who was Hannah and why, oh why, couldn’t she get potatoes?

This is the story I put together at the age of about four. In the ancient times, there was a mean king who didn’t want anybody in his kingdom to be Jewish. He sent his soldiers to the Jewish Temple (Temple? we had a Temple? where?) and ordered them to bring him anything that was valuable (like grandmother’s silver candlesticks?) and throw away everything else. Bear in mind that World War II ended only ten year ago, and Stalin (may his name be erased forever) died only two years ago, so evil kings, looting, and destruction of property was familiar territory for every child.

Then, like in every story, there was a good guy, a true hero, Yehuda Maccabee, who, together with his brothers, started an uprising, defeated the huge army of the bad king, and liberated the Temple. Also pretty normal to every child in communist Russia. Now comes a miracle! When the Maccabee fighters entered the Temple, they found a total mess!  An eternal light had to be going non-stop, but they found only one sealed cruse of pure oil that could be used for it. That was enough for only one day, but it would take the priests a week to prepare more oil! Nothing to do but use what they had, and so they did, and miraculously, that one little cruse of oil lasted for eight days. That’s why we celebrate Chanukkah for eight days, and each day we add one more light. Also, that’s why we celebrate not only the miracle of a small band of rebels defeating a mighty army, but also the miracle of oil, the holiday of Light.

But who is Hannah, why do we eat latkes, and what about those potatoes? The way my four-year-old brain processed bits and pieces of adult conversations, Hannah was Mrs Maccabee, the mother of Yehuda and his brothers. She made another miracle happen when she used a few drops of leftover oil to make latkes for the whole gang.

There are two different stories that had converged in my head at that age, and given that even discussing religious holidays was dangerous in those times, I haven’t unraveled the truth until much later. During the Syrian rule over Judea in 2nd century B.C.E., a Jewish mother and her seven sons were brought in front of the king Antiochus Epiphanes who commanded them to bow to idols. When they refused, the sons were cruelly tortured and killed in front of the mother, one by one. After the death of her sons, the mother also died. This tragic incident is discussed in many sources, but not until 12th century the name of the woman is given as Hannah, or Channah (The Book of Josephon). Even though in the earlier sources she is sometimes called Miriam, and sometimes Solomonia, from this point on, the story has spread as “Hannah and her seven sons.”

What does this have to do with the Maccabees uprising? Nothing, other than both occurred during the same times of the same evil king when Jews suffered the same persecution. We don’t even know the name of the real “Mrs Maccabee” (Maccabee is not a name anyway, but a nickname that means “a hammer” and an abbreviation of a Hebrew phrase Mi Kamocho Ba’eilim Hashem, “Who is like You, O G‑d.”). But one thing is certain: my grandmother was right, and Hannah did not have potatoes – they were not brought from the new world until mid-16th century. So why do we eat latkes? Why do we eat sufganiot – jelly donuts? The answer is simple: there are no traditional Chanukkah foods, but to remind us of the miracle of oil, we invent all kinds of fried-in-oil delicacies.

We love these latkes with a tropical twist – a combination of carrots and bananas. I prefer to use overripe bananas that I save in the freezer for just such occasions. Defrosted, they don’t look pretty, but don’t judge them by appearance. Mash them up with a potato masher and mix them with grated carrots.

I make my latkes with soy flour, to avoid carbs and to add some protein, but you can use almond or coconut flour instead. For a vegan version, you can use aquafaba (liquid left after cooking chick peas) or any other egg substitute instead of real eggs. The most important ingredient is prostokvasha, or homemade clabbered milk (for recipe, click here). I always have it around, but if you don’t, you can use any non-dairy kefir or yogurt. Add a little agave for sweetness, a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of pepper, and you are ready to fry.

You have to mix it really well – you don’t want clumps of carrots or lumps of soy flour. Make it smooth! Meanwhile, preheat your frying pan and mist it with oil. Contrary to a popular belief, I don’t drench latkes in oil, and they still come out just fine.

Fry them on each side for about five minutes. You’ll know it’s time to flip them when they start plumping up and turning golden brown on the edges. When ready, remove them to a plate covered with paper towels, to blot out excess grease.

These fluffy and tender latkes are multi-purpose: they could be served for breakfast, lunch, appetizer, side dish, or even dessert. I would not recommend topping them with apple sauce as it will clash with bananas, but sour cream (real or fake), berries, maple syrup, or simply powdered sugar (in my case, xylitol) all work very well. My husband just smothers them with chocolate syrup. Whichever way you do it, you’ll have a real celebration!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup grated carrots (1 large or 2 medium carrots)
  • 2 frozen and defrosted or overripe bananas
  • 1 cup soy flour
  • 1 egg or substitute
  • 1/2 cup clabbered milk, kefir, or yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon agave
  • A pinch of cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

PROCEDURE

  • Preheat frying pan, lightly mist with oil.
  • Mash up bananas with potato masher. Add carrots, mix.
  • Add the rest of ingredients, mix until smooth.
  • Pour one tablespoon at a time onto frying pan. Fry on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove, blot excess grease with paper towels.
  • Serve with your choice of toppings.

Happy Chanukkah – enjoy! ( http://koolkosherkitchen.wordpress.com)

Talk soon, ❤️💕 Bernadette

22 responses to “HANUKKAH EDITION – Tropical Latkes”

  1. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    These look delightful and I love the story that comes with it. I love latkes! We had them year round as we always had plenty of potatoes, if nothing else!

  2. Jacqui Murray – Laguna Hills, CA. – Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Savage Land.
    Jacqui Murray says:

    I need someone to make these for me!

    • koolkosherkitchen – South Florida – I am a semi-retired educator. I love to cook and I love to write. I am trying to combine these two for no other purpose but to share some of my old favorite recipes, as well as some new inventions, and to exchange food ideas and opinions. Kosher food is just like any other food – fun to create and fun to experiment with, especially if you get kids involved! My book is found on amazon.com/author/koolkosherkitchen.
      koolkosherkitchen says:

      Dear Jacqui, my 9-year-old granddaughter just made them for the entire family – aren’t we lucky we have a budding chef in our midst!

  3. Time Traveler of Life – Where my Motor Home is! – Biography Creating worlds, characters, and wielding power like a madwoman, making my characters happy, sad, angry, and some of them with no redeeming qualities. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I sometimes laugh out loud when I am writing a scene, and I have been known to cry when one of my favorites has to die. I am a left-handed Gemini, what do you expect? Reading bedtime stories to my two children until they fell asleep or until they just told me to go away, was fun. Making up wild stories for my grandchild, and creating Halloween costumes from Cowboys to a Dragon, was another favorite thing to do. I missed that so much when they were grown, that I started writing. My yearly newsletters frequently were drafted third-person by my Love Birds, Miranda our motorhome, and by Sir Fit the White Knight, our faithful Honda. Throughout the years, some of my creative talents centered around writing letters of complaint expressing my displeasure with services or products. One crucial, at least to my Son, was a note to our local school bus driver petitioning her to allow him back on the bus. He was kicked off for making an obscene gesture at his buddy. I reminded her that it was not directed at her, and that “obscenity can be in the eye of the beholder,” kids use that gesture as a greeting. He rode the bus until he graduated. I loved driving my English teacher crazy. Leaving a “continued next week” at the end of my five handwritten pages required each week. He was one of many people that suggested I “do something about my writing.” I graduated from the School of Hard Knocks at the top of my class. After 30 years, in the trenches as a Real Estate Professional, I have found that truth is stranger than fiction. My books are filled with characters I met in that profession. Their names were changed to protect the guilty. Others were from people we met traveling around the country in Miranda, our Motorhome. I am married nearly 60 years to the love of my life, Shirl, and partner-produced two exceptionally talented children, and one grandchild who is our pride and joy.
    Time Traveler of Life says:

    Your post are wonderful! I love the stories that go along with a new recipe, I will admit I don’t always try them. We eat pretty simply, my days of making a lot of things are over. I used to make some pretty good doughnuts. I got the recipes from when Shirl’s aunt owned a bakery.

    • Well it seems we are a mutual admiration society. I look forward to your tales too. How about you give me a story and the recipe about the doughnuts and I will use it for Fastnacht Day.

      • Time Traveler of Life – Where my Motor Home is! – Biography Creating worlds, characters, and wielding power like a madwoman, making my characters happy, sad, angry, and some of them with no redeeming qualities. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I sometimes laugh out loud when I am writing a scene, and I have been known to cry when one of my favorites has to die. I am a left-handed Gemini, what do you expect? Reading bedtime stories to my two children until they fell asleep or until they just told me to go away, was fun. Making up wild stories for my grandchild, and creating Halloween costumes from Cowboys to a Dragon, was another favorite thing to do. I missed that so much when they were grown, that I started writing. My yearly newsletters frequently were drafted third-person by my Love Birds, Miranda our motorhome, and by Sir Fit the White Knight, our faithful Honda. Throughout the years, some of my creative talents centered around writing letters of complaint expressing my displeasure with services or products. One crucial, at least to my Son, was a note to our local school bus driver petitioning her to allow him back on the bus. He was kicked off for making an obscene gesture at his buddy. I reminded her that it was not directed at her, and that “obscenity can be in the eye of the beholder,” kids use that gesture as a greeting. He rode the bus until he graduated. I loved driving my English teacher crazy. Leaving a “continued next week” at the end of my five handwritten pages required each week. He was one of many people that suggested I “do something about my writing.” I graduated from the School of Hard Knocks at the top of my class. After 30 years, in the trenches as a Real Estate Professional, I have found that truth is stranger than fiction. My books are filled with characters I met in that profession. Their names were changed to protect the guilty. Others were from people we met traveling around the country in Miranda, our Motorhome. I am married nearly 60 years to the love of my life, Shirl, and partner-produced two exceptionally talented children, and one grandchild who is our pride and joy.
        Time Traveler of Life says:

        I will work on that. Some of Shir’ls relatives were pretty interesting. He is writing his story and I am editing it. It will show up in chapters on my blog. His Aunt Hazel and Harold were characters.

  4. 💜 In “The Dark” I Draw Inspiration from Blind People EveryOne; for There ARE Many Ways to SEE (Soulful Emotional Energy) 🤔 Other Than Our Eyes 👀 😢 😉 😔 💔 😅 👀 Eyes which (WITCH!!! 🧙 🪄🧹) can Easily be Deceived, a Great Recipe for which (WITCH!!! 🧙 🪄🧹) I Only Require Hearing, Smell, Touch and Taste in The Absence of Sight

    …💛💚💙…

  5. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    What a fascinating story, and the recipe sounds delicious.
    Strange how many festivals fall around this time of year.

    • I read the other day that it is because of the lack of daylight this time of the year and people needed festivals to keep up their belief in the return of light. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

  6. koolkosherkitchen – South Florida – I am a semi-retired educator. I love to cook and I love to write. I am trying to combine these two for no other purpose but to share some of my old favorite recipes, as well as some new inventions, and to exchange food ideas and opinions. Kosher food is just like any other food – fun to create and fun to experiment with, especially if you get kids involved! My book is found on amazon.com/author/koolkosherkitchen.
    koolkosherkitchen says:

    Thank you for linking to my post, dear Bernadette!

  7. Thank you for this wonderful recipe, another thing I have never tried.

  8. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    the Painted Apron says:

    I always enjoy your stories Bernadette, and have never had a latke! They sound wonderful!
    Jenna

  9. Retirement Reflections – Vancouver Island, BC – Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.
    Retirement Reflections says:

    Wonderful story, and delicious sounding recipe. Thank you for sharing this.

  10. Latkes made with bananas??!! Now that is something new and interesting! My husband is Jewish and I make “regular“ latkes every year, and this year was toying with the idea of trying a different version with shredded plantains. I’m thinking your friend’s banana and carrot latkes are nudging me to give it a go before the eighth night. They sound great!

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