December 27, 2011
FW: 8 Easy Hanukkah Holiday Ideas
Kid-Friendly Dreidel Garland
Dress the staircase with a colorful dreidel garland – a kid-friendly craft the family will enjoy making together. You’ll need scrapbooking paper, pencils, scissors, stencils and glue. String shapes on clear craft or fishing line and tie ends onto a staircase banister. The garland also adds a festive holiday touch to decorative shelves or the mantel.
Festival of Lights Invitations
Scrapbooking paper is the perfect medium to create Star of David cards or dinner invitations. Fold blue paper in half. Trim to size using scissors or a paper cutter. Cut two additional pieces of paper (dark blue and white) to layer on the front cover. Punch the corners of the dark blue paper with a decorative puncher; trim the edges of the white paper with edger scissors. Using glue stick and positioning to allow space for text, adhere a Star of David, cut from plain paper, to the dark blue paper. Glue dark blue paper to white paper; glue white paper to front cover. Add glitter, sequins or other embellishments. Add text with a glitter gel pen.
Festive Paper Menorah Tablecloth
The buffet table is elegantly topped with sheer linen and embellished with a paper menorah. To make the menorah, download this pattern and cut coordinating pieces of paper to add dimension and color. Attach the menorah to the linen fabric with scrapbook glue-dots. Winter daylight passes through the gauzy fabric, revealing a silhouette effect.
Chocolate Gelt Name Cards
Replace traditional place cards with white salt cellars. Fill each dip with gelt coins and place a name sticker on the front side to direct guests to their seats at the dinner table.
Colorful Paper Dreidel
Cream-colored dinner plates offer quiet relief for colorful paper dreidels. To make, cut and trim scrapbook paper, then decorate the design with strips of patterned paper. Number the back of each dreidel with a number that corresponds to a small token gift for the evening.
Quick and Easy Potato Latke (Makes 9 latkes)
Ingredients
- 1 (30-ounce) bag unflavored, frozen shredded potatoes
- 1 cup finely diced Vidalia or Texas sweet onions
- 2 eggs, beaten (use as much as needed, mixture may not require 2 whole eggs)
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- 2 to 3 tablespoons flour or matzo meal
- vegetable oil for frying
- sour cream, for topping
Directions
Defrost grated potatoes in a medium-size bowl. Immediately add onion, eggs, salt, pepper and flour. Mixture should be thick and hold together when pressed.
Meanwhile, pour about 3/4 inch oil into a heavy-bottomed frying pan. Heat slowly until oil reaches approximately 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with multiple layers of paper towels and preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
To check the temperature of the oil, make a test pancake. Be careful not to spatter oil. Place about 2 tablespoons of potato mixture in the palm of your hand and form into a 2-1/2 – to 3-inch-wide and 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick pancake — similar to a hamburger patty — and place carefully into oil. The first side should be golden brown in about 3 minutes. Turn carefully and fry other side. If pancake browns faster than 3 minutes per side, reduce the oil’s temperature. If pancake takes more than 3 minutes per side to brown, increase oil’s temperature. Repeat with remaining potato mixture.
Place pancakes on paper towels. If not serving immediately, place pancakes on paper towel-lined pan and keep warm in a preheated oven for up to 1 hour. Serve with room temperature sour cream and applesauce.
Star of David Cupcakes
Round out your celebration with an easy, delicious dessert. Nestle cupcakes in unique serving vessels like julep cups or pewter drinking glasses. Ice each with blue frosting. To make easy edible star embellishments, melt white chocolate and spoon into a sandwich bag — with the tip of one corner cut — and pipe the star shape on top of each cupcake.
Celebrating with Jelly Donuts
Store-bought jelly donuts are easily heated in the oven and tossed in fine sugar for a final flourish. Serve immediately for instant applause.
Great food, beautiful decorations and place settings, and treasured guests add up to a special Hanukkah celebration — one that honors the significance of the holiday and helps create lasting memories for all.