Latkes, or potato pancakes, are the traditional Hanukkah dish for Eastern European Jews. But the Hanukkah isn't in the potato; it's in the oil the latkes are fried in. When the Jerusalem Temple was recaptured and reconsecrated by the Maccabbees, only one night's worth of oil remained to light the temple. Miraculously, though, the oil lasted eight nights, or enough time to make more oil. That's the miracle of Hanukkah. This makes about two dozen small latkes.
Instructions
1. Grate the potatoes and the onion. The weak can use a food processor.
2. Mix the grated potatoes and onion, beaten egg, salt and pepper, and matzo meal or flour in a bowl.
3. Heat a skillet over a medium flame.
4. Film the skillet with 1 to 2 tbsp. oil.
5. Form the potato mixture into small cakes - 2 to 3 tbsp. of potato per cake. Don't make the cakes too big; they're easier to turn when small.
6. Flatten the cakes slightly with a spatula.
7. Cook until the cakes are nice and brown on the bottom, then turn and cook the other side.
8. Repeat with the remaining potato mixture.
Tags: Make Potato, Make Potato Latkes, Potato Latkes, potato mixture, potatoes onion