Crispy Potato Latkes Basic Easy Recipe

Celebrations

Making Latkes is Easy 


Each night of the eight nights of Hanukkah I'll be sharing a new homemade latke potato pancake recipe that I've created for this Jewish holiday.




Tonight, for the first night of Hanukkah, I made these homemade basic Golden Brown Crispy Potato Latkes with hand grated potatoes. If you've only made this traditional Chanukah dish with the store-bought mix before, you should try these instead -- likely you'll never make that other fast food variety of latkes again.


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Really. These are so good, so easy to make, require just a handful of ingredients and on top of it all they'll be the best tasting potato pancakes you've ever had. What's more is if you make these for your family and guests they will most definitely be impressed with your cooking skills.

I made the potato latkes you see below with my OXO Vegetable Spiralizer





1st Night Golden Brown Crispy Potato Latkes

by Janis Brett Elspas, Mommy Blog Expert

8 peeled potatoes
1/4 of a yellow onion
3 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
Olive oil for frying

1. Preheat a large frying pan lightly coated with olive oil over medium heat.
2. Immediately after peeling potatoes immerse them in a pot of cold water to keep from turning brown.
3. Spiralize potatoes with the OXO Spiralizer or use a food processor with grating attachment
4. Finely chop onion.
5. Mix all ingredients together, except the oil, in a large mixing bowl until blended.
6. Turn heat up under frying pan to high and spoon potato mixer into hot oil flattening each latke slightly. Do this carefully so oil doesn't spatter. Also don't crowd latkes in pan to ensure the best result -- instead cook in batches.
7. Fry to golden brown then gently use spatula to turn and brown the other side.
8. Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.
9. These are excellent plain, with a little applesauce or with a spoonful of sour cream on top.
10. Most important of all serve hot and enjoy!

Serve on a festive Hanukkah Platter with a Latke Server





DISCLOSURE: As a member of the Amazon Affiliate Network program, I receive a small bit of compensation (without extra cost to the consumer) when you click and buy a product(s) through referral links included within MBE posts.

FREE Digital Comic Books 12 Days of Frugal Gifting 12/7-18 Christmas Holiday Gift Guide

Technology




Yesterday MommyBlogExpert announced an awesome giveaway for a vintage old school Marvel The Amazing Spider-Man Comic Book that's signed by the superhero's creator Stan Lee on my blog. For comic book lovers of all ages I have something just as special to share with you today: A really fun holiday hi tech 12-day digital comic book gift subscription that is free not only for yourself but to give to your family and friends! 


1st Free Comic Book in 12-Day Series, Image from ComiXology
This is perfect for the 8-night celebration of Hanukkah starting this Saturday night, December 8th. It's also a clever idea as a pre Christmas present to entertain you and also give as presents to all your friends that they can enjoy right now, too -- and it won't cost you a penny. Talk about thoughtful, but frugal gift giving. ComiXology is offering a special series of online comic books from a dozen of its publishing partners for its 12 Days of Gifting Giveaway -- with another surprise comicbook each day. 

The futuristic digital comics platform is designed to run on the iPhone, iPad, Android, KindleFire, Windows 8 and the Internet. Today's FREE world-class ComiXology comic book is Avengers vs. X-Men and is available ONLY today at no charge. Then for the next eleven days another prestigious digital comic book title will be offered absolutely free for just one day. 

You're invited to sign up now to start celebrating Hanukkah or the 12 Days of Christmas -- whichever you celebrate -- and gain access to a new comic book each day from December 7 through December 18 at Comixology.com. To "give" this as a present to others, all you have to do is pass along their URL to those you want to gift -- share it on all your social networks too, including Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other online places just like I'll be doing and spread good cheer to everyone you know. 

About ComiXology
Founded in 2007, this hot company crested 100 million downloads of comics and graphic novels this past October. ComiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at home, work or on the go -- anywhere you happen to be. Regularly ranking as a top grossing iPad app in the iTunes App Store, this tech media distribution firm provides the most digital comics on the most devices.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was received for this post, opinions are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

The Amazing Spider-Man Movie DVD Bluray

Movies


I'm a Baby Boomer so I remember when the original fictional character Spider-Man burst onto the scene in Marvel Comics Amazing Fantasy #15 comic book created and written by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko back in 1960s. In fact this 
spider-like building-climbing superhero good guy is one of the most well-known of all, having since scaled countless walls and skyscrapers not only in comic strips and in live action and animated TV series but also in film after film and even on Broadway.
 

Yes, I remember when comic books sold for only 12 cents! 

Vintage Mom Kids Old Faithful Yellowstone Park
Me in the mid 1960s with mom at Yellowstone Park

MBE partnered with Sony Pictures, post contains affiliate links

Looking at that vintage family picture again made me think of the good old times just about a half century ago. Way back in those pre high tech days instead of video games and Facebook that's what us kids did for fun: read Spiderman comic books and of course watch cartoons on television! 

Earlier this year the latest big screen movie The Amazing Spider-Man from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures thrilled faithful fans and newbies alike in theaters worldwide.
The great news is that The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), the same movie that ran in theaters starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, is now available for home viewing on 4K Ultra HD DVD and Blu-ray DVD 3-Disc Combo. Rated PG-13, this animated super hero adventure would not only be fun to own to entertain your family and friends during the holiday season, it would also make a great stocking stuffer or gift for fans of all ages.


Amazing Spider-Man Movie
Amazing Spider-Man DVD Blu-ray Combo

The Amazing Spider-Man DVD Special Features
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary by the Film Makers
  • Stunt Rehearsals
  • Art Gallery
Since The Amazing Spider-Man dynasty has had such great longevity and multi-generational appeal, I'm excited to announce the latest MommyBlogExpert giveaway giving readers the chance to own a piece of history! Read on for details on what vintage and new prizes Sony Pictures is providing and how to enter to win.


The Amazing Spider-Man
Signed Vintage Comic Book
and
T-shirt from the Movie
GIVEAWAY
Ends 1/15/13

Vintage The Amazing Spider-Man Comic
Marvel The Amazing Spider-Man signed comic book prize

The Amazing Spider-Man T-Shirt
Official Spider-Man T-shirt from the Movie
The Amazing Spider-Man Prize Package includes
  • 1 Vintage Spider-Man comic book signed by creator Stan Lee
  • 1 Official The Amazing Spider-Man Movie T-shirt
HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends January 15, 2013 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive The Amazing Spider-Man prize pack that includes a vintage Marvel Spider-Man comic book signed by the character's creator Stan Lee and an official T-shirt from the movie. Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what why you'd like to win this prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter 
2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook
3. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Pinterest
4.
 Follow official Spider-Man Movie on Twitter
5. Like official Spider-Man Fan Page on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet to copy and paste:

Vintage Marvel The Amazing Spider-Man comic cook signed by Stan Lee + official Movie T-shirt @Sony GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/ayxty2z 

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE


More Spider-Man News To Come
Stayed tuned for more MommyBlogExpert posts about The Amazing Spider-man soon including all the details on a brand-new app that was just launched that is associated with the movie that you can use when you watch at home.


MBE participates in the Amazon Affiliate program and we receive a small bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when purchases are made through the Amazon links on this post.


FTC Disclosure: Sony Pictures is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway. However, thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

4 Extraordinary Childrens Christmas Books + a Book on Tape - Holiday Gift Review


Books


 

For those who celebrate Christmas there are some wonderful choices for children's books and a book on CD this holiday season. Titles that truly engage whole families, getting moms and dads to bond with your kids. Among Mommy Blog Expert's best Christmas book picks this year are Sad Santa, The Night Before Christmas in Africa, and The Christmas Web. For great holiday books on CD it's The Night Before Christmas in Africa - Gullah Night Before Christmas.


MommyBlogExpert's Best Christmas Book Choices
Sad Santa by Tad Carpenter, Sterling Children's Books, Hardcover $14.95

Santa is anything but sad in this charming book with a modern twist that also harkens back to the old-fashioned publishing days when only a handful of colors were used in illustrations. As the tale goes, on December 26th Santa is hit with a case of post-Christmas let down, that party's over feeling that can sometimes make you feel a little blue.
This story could be a downer. But instead it is all about how the not-so-jolly old fellow looks inside that dark cloud of sadness to find a silver lining to cope with the fact that it's another whole year till he'll be delivering presents again to children around the globe. An upbeat book with a lesson for kids to always think positively and look on the bright side because things can and will get better. 

Peek inside this cute book's pages

 

More information sterlingpublishing.com or SadSantaBook.com


Image from Pelican Publishing
The Night Before Christmas in Africa by Carroll Foster, Pelican Publishing, Hardcover $16.99

It's no wonder that this book was selected as A Favorite Thing for Christmas by the South African Edition of O, The Oprah Magazine. This is an African adaptation of the classic Twas the Night Before Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore that tells the fantastical story of Christmas on the Africa plain where it never snows. 

Perhaps what's most important in the storyline is the Shangaan tribe and how they receive a simple gift, something much more precious than material things. Vividly illustrated by Jean Christodoulou, a well-known South African artist, in the native folk art style of her homeland, children are in for not only a fun story but also a visual treat. Best of all, every book sold supports disadvantaged and learning-disabled children at Sparrow Schools in Africa. 

More information Pelicanpub.com

Image from Pelican Publishing
The Night Before Christmas in Africa - Gullah Night Before Christmas Book on CD, Pelican Audio, Hardcover $15.95

As a companion to either hardcover book of the same title or alone, kids with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads will also enjoy listening to this reading on CD that runs 32 minutes and includes both stories. The first story (see review of that title above) is told in the baritone voice of Sibusiso Victor Masondo and features sounds of thunder as lightning flashes across the African plain sky as well as traditional songs performed by the Sparrows Schools Children's Choir. 

The other story in this recording is Gullah Night Before Christmas which is also inspired by the classic. The tale, authored by Virginia M. Geraty, Ph.D. the world's foremost authority on the Gullah language, takes place in a coastal South Carolina town and involves a rabbit that delivers presents to well-behaved boys and girls, interweaving Gullah traditions. 

More information Pelicanpub.com
Outside Gift Box, Image from The Christmas Web

The Christmas Web by Kerry Grinkmeyer, Best of Us Publishing, Gift Box Hardcover Set, $39.99

If there's a new tradition to start with your family this Christmas it has got to be The Christmas Web. This engaging present comes in a huge 11" x 14" x 3" gift box shaped like a book. Inside the ready to give packaging you'll find a hard copy of The Christmas Web 47-page illustrated storybook that tells kids how the tradition began alongside three 12" tall red, yellow and green wands, each with 70 feet of yarn so you and your kids can spin your own webs for Christmas.

Inside Gift Box with Book & 3 Magic Wands of Yarn
Inside The Christmas Web Book
Here's how this works. After the kids are snug in theirs beds on Christmas Eve, parents unwind the spools twisting and turning the yarn through the house on doorknobs, window sills and other places you think of to create a web. Then in the morning when the kids get up, each follows his or her designated yarn color winding it back onto the spool as they go until it leads them to the special gift from the elves. 

This is sure to be a blast for young and old, so have your still and video cameras ready to capture all the hilarity and action as the children navigate a new, non-electronic sort of web. Available at Barnes &  Noble, Amazon, Hallmark Store, Toys R Us, Learning Express and other book, toy and gift stores nationwide. Free shipping when you order on Amazon or ChristmasWeb.com when using code Kobie1944.

Take a look at this YouTube to see how fun The Christmas Web is



More information and to order additional magic wands  ChristmasWeb.com

Any or all of these books will be a welcome alternative to the electronic gifts many children will be receiving this season. What's more is that each of these will help instill a love of reading in kids as well as create wonderful holiday memories for both you and your children that can be captured and passed generation to generation.

FTC Disclosure: I received the books and CD featured to facilitate this post but did not receive any payment. Thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Hanukkah Menorah DIY Easy Crafts for Kids

Celebrations


Hanukkah Menorah DIY Projects for Kids


Since menorahs are the most often associated symbol of this holiday, I'd like to share twelve of the most wonderful do-it-yourself menorah craft ideas. Any of these will be loads of fun for both kids and grownup big kids to create either alone or together -- depending on their ages and abilities.





Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is among the most celebrated of Jewish holidays world wide. Contrary to popular belief Hanukah is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. Jews light the eight branched menorah candelabra each of the eight nights of this celebration every year to recall the single vial of pure olive oil found following the Greeks rampage through the Temple in Jerusalem. Miraculously that tiny bottle of oil burned for 8 days and nights. 


Eco friendly cork menorah Tierra Sur design

On the first night of Hanukkah, which this year falls on Saturday evening December 8th, using a helper candle called a shamash, the first candle will be lit. Each night thereafter, an additional candle is added in Jewish households on every continent around the globe until on the last night of the celebration when all eight flames will be burning.



I made this Hanukkah Gingerbread House 

Arts and crafts are the perfect way to spend quality time to connect with your children and you'll be creating family heirlooms for future generations to enjoy. Don't forget to take pictures of your work at some of these will only last for one season. Keep in mind that except for those made with exclusively fire proof materials most of the menorahs in this post are for decorative use only and should not be used with an open flame.



My preschool son with bread, pretzel & raisin menorah

Here's a green way to use all those wine bottle corks you've been saving but don't know what to do with. Chef Todd Aarons at Tierra Sur, the only Zagat rated restaurant in Ventura County, California, created the original recycled cork menorah with his kids that you see pictured at the top of this post. Use a hot glue gun and follow the layout shown in the photo I took or create your own menorah style.


Purple Rhino Menorah, Image from Aunt Peaches

If corks aren't your cup of tea, maybe a glitzy Purple Rhinestone Rhinoceros Menorah craft by Aunt Peaches will do the trick. This will certainly put a smile on the faces of both kids and kids-at-heart alike and make building upon an oversized plastic animal toy that you probably having laying around your house if you have kids. It's unbelievably easy to craft and you'll end up with a fun, beautiful and unforgettable centerpiece for your Hanukkah celebration for sure. How to Make


Original 21" LEGO Menorah that my kids made 


For LEGOs fans comes this original menorah made designed and made exclusively from LEGO blocks by my own children. All you have to do is look at the photo up close to see how this was constructed and then start building. If you'd like to make this a permanent part of your Hanukkah memorabilia to use year after year consider using glue so that the blocks won't fall about when you box this up after the holiday.



Pixel Menorah, Dreidel Designed by my kids

If your child is into Pixels, then this colorful Pixel Menorah and Dreidel that my children made years ago for Hannukah might be a fun project for them to build. It's easy to build, just take a close look at the photo and get started.


My daughters painted the tall ceramic menorah when they were in grade school


Another idea is to go to a paint your own ceramics chain store like Color Me Mine which is where my girls went to make this heirloom quality ceramic menorah. They made this when they were about 8 years old but still use it every year even though they're teens in high school.



Image from Crayola

This eco friendly Birthday Candle Bowling idea from Crayola could be easily adapted into a Menorah Bowling Game for Chanukah if you use eight "candles" crafted from recycled quart size milk cartons. How to Make


I made this Menorah Challah Bread for Chanukah


This gigantic Menorah Challah Bread measuring about 18" tall that I baked is actually edible and fun and easy to make. Based on a traditional Sabbath Challah Bread recipe, watch for another Mommy Blog Expert post soon with the step-by-step directions to make this.


This MBE Gingerbread Menorah is edible


Another one of a kind baking project I made is this whimsical Chanukah House Menorah. This idea was inspired by the gingerbread houses that are so popular during the Christmas holidays and is as much of a blast to make with kids as it is to carefully break it up with a hammer to eat. Stay tuned, cause how tos are coming to this blog shortly for you to make this with your own family this year.


Image from Crayola

Don't you just love this clever and easy craft from Crayola -- a lit menorah that you can create with your child's handprints. If you have two colors of washable paint at home and a pair of little hands you can make this heirloom craft to preserve memories for years to come. How to Make



My triplets as preschoolers show off their Mommy's menorah face painting

Just about all kids like face painting, so why not decorate your children's adorable cheeks with menorahs like I did when my kids were preschoolers? You don't need to go out and buy fancy face paints for this easy project. All you need is some thinned out water based poster paint. You don't necessarily need to be a great artist, either, as these menorahs are painted on to little faces in just a couple of minutes, using a few simple straight and U-shaped strokes and dots to light the candles -- and you've created a menorah!



Image from Parents Magazine

This menorah from Parents Magazine is made from painted empty wooden thread spools, pencils and erasers. Definitely a really cute art project for kids to make at home or school. How to Make


Image from Martha Stewart


And what MommyBlogExpert Menorah Art and Crafts roundup would be complete without an idea from Martha Stewart? I just love this concept of using a branch to create a simple but very elegant Hanukiah which looks so beautiful painted silver and accented with silver Hanukah candles for a wonderful monochromic effect. How to Make


FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation for this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.