Garlic Lovers Latkes - First Night

On Saturday, we decided we would make homemade latkes... We had six big potatoes just for this adventure...

For the past 13 years, I have host a fantastic chanukah party (although last year it was really really toned down and was a toddler chanukah party?!?! - before that it was a latke vodkah party). In years past, I would make about 10lbs of homemade latkes for it... This year we are not having the annual party - first time in the 14 years I have lived here in Washington DC - I am not hosting it - but we are having "play dates" over for many of the nights.  As they say in mindfulness, it is good to just be in the moment and enjoy it - I am not in a place to host such a big party this year - but we are celebrating our "candles" off each night!

On Saturday night it was going to be just us and Auntie Chris to start off the holiday -  I made a meatloaf, big salad, orange carrots and Jonah, Vera & I were making the latkes.

We started.  The grating of the potatoes in the food processor went really well.  Then I realized I did not have an onion... so I kaleidoscoped up a plan to use onion powder... but none of that either... then I figured we'll just use garlic powder.  I got it out and went to get the salt at which point Jonah & Vera dumped most of the garlic powder from the shaker bottle into the potato mixture... and were hysterically laughing...

At that point, I figured we didn't need to add any salt or pepper.  I wiped away some of the garlic powder but it was in the pot with the eggs, potatoes and matza meal...

Let's fry them up!

We talked about the Maccabees and the story of Chanukah and the oil.  Jonah did some frying and Vera cheered.  They came out looking perfect!

And guess what?  they tasted really good!  not exactly how I expect my latkes to taste but like fried garlic mashed potatoes!  My kids are chefs!

YUMMY!

Leave it to the Latkes!

A week or so ago, we were having a slow, maybe even a little off, kind of morning. 

Nothing much was going on and I am pretty sure I was tired... although it seems I am ALWAYS tired.

I had no idea what to feed the kids for lunch. (I never have any idea what I am going to feed the kids... for any meal) It was 11:30 and they were both hungry.

I stood staring at the fridge and pantry, and I am sure I had a blank emotionless stare on my face.  I had a sudden thought to pack the kids in the car and drive however long it would take to the nearest McDonald's Drive Thru... but then I quickly snapped myself out of it... (I have no idea where such a Drive Thru might be and I can't even remember the last time we went to a McDonald's... "not that there is anything wrong with it" - Seinfeld reference here - but we keep kosher for god's sake...) I stared again at the meager food choices both cold and boxed while my son who never eats whined, "mommy I am so hungry my tummy hurts..."

And there it was... the box of instant Streits Potato Pancake (Latke) Mix!!!  Left over from Passover.  A gift from the Mommy Goddess I tell you!  Looking at the box through my kaleidoscope, it was gorgeous!  It was lunch and a project all rolled up into one!

MOMMY:  Jonah do you want to make special lunch pancakes, and you can do the cooking?

JONAH:  YEEEESSSS!!!!  Please mommy, mommy!  Special Lunch Pancakes made by me!!!

MOMMY:  alrighty then!

So we made potato pancakes (latkes).  We ate them up with applesauce and humus and carrots.  And finished it off with some Mandarin oranges and peaches.

Sometimes you just need a little box of potato pancake mix to "grease" up your day just right!

Today was sort of a slow, off day too with the added benefit of lots of rain.  But today, we had a leftover pizza for lunch.  And then later the babysitter showed up...  There is always some way to get through the day! (insert favorite food and alcohol references here as well...)

mixing it up

put it in the pan

flipping it too!

I am making my own in my kitchen!

Jonah!  These are yummmy!

lip smacking good!

If Jonah doesn't finish his... I'tt take them!