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Tips for Hanukkah

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days.

Hanukkah Holiday Dates 2006-2016

2006: Dec. 15

2007: Dec. 4

2008: Dec. 21

2009: Dec. 11

2010: Dec. 01

2011: Dec. 20

2012: Dec. 08

2013: Nov. 27

2014: Dec. 16

2015: Dec. 06

2016: Dec. 24

*All Hanukkah dates begin at sundown

It's time again to bask in the warm glow of the menorah––and in the light of our loved ones’ eyes as they gather around for the holiday meals. Here are a few illuminating ideas to bring new flair to your Hanukkah dinner table this year:

A Dreidl Sealed with a Kiss

Give your guests a tiny treat by placing a homemade chocolate dreidl at each table setting. An easy way to make them is to use chocolate kiss-shaped candies as a starting point. Simply remove the foil they come in, rewrap them in colorful foil wrapping paper, and shape the foil to resemble a dreidl. For added interest, tie a tiny ribbon around each dreidl’s "stem."

A Present for Every Plate

Another way to delight guests is to place a small gift at each plate. For the adults, consider giving small gourmet food items such as apple butter,orange blossom honey, or chamomile tea. Make your table even more resplendent by wrapping each gift in a creative way. It’s a gesture everyone’s sure to love.

A Menorah that Takes the Cupcake

Cupcakes are at the forefront of food fashion. Stores specializing in cupcakes are being stampeded. Towers of cupcakes are replacing the traditional wedding cake and food journalists are hailing the fine art of frosting. So why not finish your Hanukkah meal with a nice cupcake menorah? It couldn’t be easier. Just line up 8 decorated cupcakes on a rectangular platter, prop a ninth one between the center two, and place a candle in each one. Your guests will think it’s simply brilliant!

Hanukkah Latkes

In honor of Hanukkah, we hereby present you with a little enlightenment about latkes.

Latkes are traditionally made from grated potatoes mixed with eggs, onions, Matzo Meal, and seasonings fried in oil.

It's customary to eat latkes on Chanukah to celebrate the oil that lasted a miraculous eight days in the Holy Temple.

To add a little pizzazz to your latkes, try frying them in flavored oils such as Hot Roasted Pepper Oil or Garlic Basil Virgin Olive Oil.

The word “latke” has Yiddish origins. It’s also related to the Greek word “eladia,” plural of “eladion,” which means “little oily thing”.

The potatoes in Manischewitz® Homestyle Potato Latke Mix are grated by hand just like your bubbe would do it.

Scholars have been debating whether latkes are better than hamentashen since 1946. Who could choose?

Here are eight ways to wrap your Hanukkah gifts this year––one for each day of the festivities:

1. Use pretty cloth napkins, kitchen towels or vintage linens secured with hat pins–an especially clever idea for wrapping cookbooks.

2. Decorate plain craft paper or a brown paper bag using a rubber stamp for a rustic, retro feel.

3. Make colored copies of the knit in your favorite winter sweater at the copy store and use it as wrapping paper. Tie the gift with pretty yarn.

4. Start with a plain white shirt box, use a sharp crafting knife to cut out the shape of a menorah or dreidl from the top of it, and use pretty blue tissue paper inside the box to highlight the cutout.

5. Wrap a gift in velvet from the fabric store and embellish it with baubles such as costume brooches or fake pearls.

6. Accent the pattern on store-bought wrapping paper with glitter glue, sequins or beads.

7. Cut out poems, illustrations or classic passages from bargain books and use as wrapping paper–a beautiful option for booklovers.

8. Repurpose wine-sized gift boxes for odd shaped gifts other than wine, such as dolls or olive oil.

Hanukkah Shopping List:

1. Chanukah Candles

2. Potato Latke Mix

3. Chocolate and Chocolate Coins

Source: Manischewitz.com