Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

HAPPY HANUKKAH (Chanukah)
CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Dec. 18, 2003 | Carlo3b Dad, Chef, Author

Posted on 12/18/2003 6:30:28 AM PST by carlo3b

HAPPY  HANUKKAH

". . . and May This Festival of Lights bring Blessings
upon you and All Your Loved Ones for Happiness,
for Health, and for Spiritual and Material Wealth,
and May the Lights of Chanukah Usher in the Light of Moshiach
and a Better World for All of Humankind."

The Victory over Antiochus

More than 2000 years ago, the land of Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a tyrannical Syrian king. Even today, people fight wars over their gods, despite claims to value "religious tolerance." But a couple of thousand years ago, religious tolerance didn't exist at all. Religion was as good an excuse as any to oppress a people.

That's precisely what Antiochus did to the Jews: he forbade them to observe the Sabbath or study their religious text, the Torah, and he erected a statue of Zeus in their sacred temple of Jerusalem. Many Jews followed his decrees, because they had no choice; those who resisted were executed.

In 167 B.C., the Jews -- driven to desperation -- rose up against Antiochus. Mattathias, a well-respected priest, gathered together an army and put his five sons in charge. Judah and his brothers wanted a name for their battalion that would signify force and strength; "Maccabee", meaning "hammer", fit the bill. It took three years of fighting, but eventually the Maccabees drove the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the temple in Jerusalem.

Naturally, the Maccabees quickly got rid of the statue of Zeus. Then they cleansed and purified the temple, and rekindled the menorah, a candelabra that symbolized God's Divine Presence. Oddly enough, although it only held enough oil to burn for a single day, the menorah burned for eight. This was the miracle.

 HANUKKAH CUSTOMS: THE MENORAH

About the Menorah
To Jews and non-Jews alike, the menorah, or Hanukkiya, is the most recognizable symbol of Hanukkah. It's usually a nine-branch candelabrum whose candles are lit by a "shamash" or service candle which then takes its own place at the centre of the menorah. The menorah itself is placed in a window or anywhere it can be seen by passers-by.

Lighting the Menorah
On the first night of Hanukkah, a single candle (or oil wick) is lit on the far right side of the menorah. A candle is added, from right to left, each night, and the newest candle is always lit first. Ideally, the candles should be lit as soon as stars become visible in the night sky, but they can be lit late into the night. While the candles are being lit and the blessing given, the whole family and any guests gather to witness the ceremony; everyone is encouraged to participate. By the eighth night, with all eight candles lit, the menorah makes a spectacular sight. And as they did the previous evenings, the candles will continue to shine until they burn themselves out.

The Blessing
The first blessing thanks God for the commandment to "kindle the Hanukkah lights."

  Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-olam Asher Kidshanu B'mitzvotav V'tzivanu L'hadlik Ner Shel Hanukkah.
Blessed is Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, by whose Mitzvot we are hallowed, who commands us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

The second blessing praises God for the miracle the candles symbolize; it's said as the candles are being lit.
  Baruch Atah Adonia Elohenu Melech Ha-olam She-asa Nissim L'votenu Bayamim Ha-hem Ba-ZmanHa-zeh.
Blessed is Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old, at this season.
On the first night of Hanukkah the "shehechiyanu" blessing is included, to signify that this is the first time the Hanukkah lights have been lit this season.

 Hanukkah is a "Festival of Lights" to celebrate the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Syrians, and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The holiday also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.



TOPICS: Announcements; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Unclassified; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: chanukah; hanukkah; hebrew; kosher
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-166 next last
To: bentfeather
Good Morning Sunshine.. Today is a perfectly sunny chrisp day in the Lone Star State. I hope you are staying warm..

Chanukah Gelt Double Fudge Chocolate Layer Cake

You don't see cakes like this every day. Easy, moist, high, non-dairy, flavorful. Stays fresh for days, can be frozen for months. For a bakery store look, garnish sides with chocolate sprinkles and plant one solitary cherry in the center. If you do not have cola on hand, you may substitute warm mild coffee.

Cake:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup cocoa - measured then sifted
  • 1 1/2 cups warm, flat, cola
Icing:
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips - melted and cooled
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter or unsalted margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup cocoa - measured then sifted
  • 3-4 cups confectioner's sugar - measured then sifted
  • 1/2 cup water, cola, or half-and-half
Garnish:
  • Gold chocolate coins (20 to 30)
  • Color jimmies or cake sprinkles
  • Miniature decorative plastic dreidels


Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C). Lightly grease two 9-inch layer pans and line with parchment paper circles.
In a large mixing bowl, blend sugar and oil. Add eggs, vanilla and mix until thick. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and cocoa. Fold dry ingredients into wet and mix, drizzling in cola as mixture blends. If using an electric mixer, use slow speed for about 3 minutes, scraping sides and bottom once to incorporate all ingredients evenly. This is a thin batter.
Bake, on middle rack, 35 to 40 minutes, until cakes spring back when lightly touched.
For Icing: Cream melted chocolate, shortening, butter and vanilla with cocoa and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar. Add remaining confectioner's sugar and whip on high speed, adding in a bit of water, cola or half-and-half to get a light, fluffy consistency. If not using right away, re-whip before using. Add additional warm water to get correct consistency (a tablespoon at a time).
Decorating: Place one layer on a cardboard circle. Ice this with about 1/2 inch of frosting. Place top layer and ice cake - sides first. Coat sides with colored sprinkles. Garnish bottom edge with coins. Garnish top with coins - placing them either flat on top of cake or standing up (you may cut some of the coins in half to garnish border of top layer). Place a couple of miniature dreidels in center if desired or Chanukah candles (can be lit when menorah is lit).
Serves 12.

The Baker Boulanger - Seasonal Table, by Marcy Goldman.


21 posted on 12/18/2003 7:03:44 AM PST by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: USAF_TSgt
just look at your tv...be it local stuff or network/cable stuff....over 60 % of the on air hairspray folks and the producers/writers are jewish. Now add that of this group
most are ultra liberal types....you know, the type who told America that a BJ is not sex....
22 posted on 12/18/2003 7:08:46 AM PST by cars for sale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: carlo3b; 1bigdictator; 1st-P-In-The-Pod; 2sheep; a_witness; adam_az; af_vet_rr; agrace; ...
Please don't forget the Chanukah classic -- Sufganiyot! (jelly doughnuts)

What recipes do you have for us former chocoholics who are doing the Atkins "recovery" program?

Did you try my low-carb "latkes"?

23 posted on 12/18/2003 7:12:28 AM PST by Alouette (To a bear, a PETA activist is junk food.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy
Thank you for this blessing of a post.
24 posted on 12/18/2003 7:13:23 AM PST by bsaunders
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: USAF_TSgt
Here's to you Sgt.. Carlo USAF.. :)

Polish Holiday Babka

This is a great Bread Machine Recipe

Get a head start by starting preparation several hours ahead or even the day before.
This traditional bread-like cake originally hails from Poland.

Dough:

  • 1 1/4 cups (3/4 pound) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon rum extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast


Filling:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup raisins or currants (or combination of both)
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries (optional)
  • 1 cup chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts
  • Egg Wash:
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 to 2 tablespoons milk

25 posted on 12/18/2003 7:13:38 AM PST by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
url?

what are they, turnip latkes?
26 posted on 12/18/2003 7:14:58 AM PST by adam_az
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cars for sale
"just look at your tv...be it local stuff or network/cable stuff....over 60 % of the on air hairspray folks and the producers/writers are jewish. Now add that of this group
most are ultra liberal types....you know, the type who told America that a BJ is not sex...."

That still doesn't mean that 95%+ of all Jews are liberal, it means that a certain liberal profession has an overrepresentation of people who call themselves "Jewish", but most of them are not really Jewish (not by faith, maybe by family). I know a lot of atheist Jews (yes, it is possible), and there are a lot of folks who make decent Jews look bad (George Soros, Joe Leiberman, William Shatner -- and most of the people in Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song" -- ha!).
27 posted on 12/18/2003 7:15:57 AM PST by USAF_TSgt (Eyes on MSgt in 2005)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: cars for sale
over 60 % of the on air hairspray folks and the producers/writers are jewish

Proof please.

28 posted on 12/18/2003 7:17:02 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: carlo3b; OldFriend; Lauratealeaf; Exit148; Coleus
All Jewish holidays in a nutshell.
THEY TRIED TO KILL US. WE WON. LET'S EAT!!!
29 posted on 12/18/2003 7:17:26 AM PST by Betteboop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bray
I predict that Bush will get the biggest percentage of the Jewish vote next year that a Republican has in a long time. Perhaps not a majority, but a far larger percentage than what people have become accustomed to.

Happy Hannukah to all the good Jewish Freepers!

30 posted on 12/18/2003 7:20:54 AM PST by jpl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy
Oh, you know there can't be any proof, but it makes for good "Jews control the world" conspiracies. In fact, I saved my "Don't go to work at the Pentagon on Sept 11" fax I got from the Massod, even though they said to destroy it right after it was sent. </sarcasm>

But I'm interested to see what cars for sale has to say.
31 posted on 12/18/2003 7:21:46 AM PST by USAF_TSgt (Eyes on MSgt in 2005)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
what are they, turnip latkes?

Turnip and rutabaga (rutabaga--you know, that purple and beige wax-covered round thing)

Deep fry in lots of olive oil, drink a little mashka (OK drink a whole lot of mashka) and you'll never be able to tell it from the real thing! ;)

32 posted on 12/18/2003 7:22:19 AM PST by Alouette (To a bear, a PETA activist is junk food.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
What recipes do you have for us former chocoholics who are doing the Atkins "recovery" program?

Hahahhahahha, you want LowCarb Chocolate stuff and you want to know where my SUFGANIYOT'S are.. I love my FReepers.. HUG!!

I am going to make your wonderful low-carb "latkes" this weekend. I have a Low Carber visiting my daughters house and I am the chosen cook.. SURPRISE..  LOL

Happy Holiday my dear FReeper FRiend, from my family to yours.. :)

JELLY FILLED SUFGANIYOT

Sufganiyot (plural of "sufganiyah") are an  Israeli jelly-doughnuts traditional for Hanukkah. Fried foods are traditional at Hanukkah to commemorate the provision of the oil in the rededicated temple.

Ingredients:

  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 3 eggs (separated)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup of milk or liquid non-dairy creamer
  • 1/2 cup of melted butter or margarine
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup of jelly 
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. (15 ml) grated lemon rind or 1 1/2 tsp. (5 ml) cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. of vanilla (optional)
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • Confectioners sugar
1) Prepare dough In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and stir in 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and a tsp. of salt.  2) Blend in the milk, butter and egg yolks and two cups of flour.
3) Add lemon rind or cinnamon if you like. Beat in the rest of the flour until it forms a soft, smooth dough.
Cover the bowl with a dish towel and let it rise for about an hour and a half or until it has doubled in size. Punch the dough down and knead it about 12 times until it is smooth and elastic.
4) Cut circles  Roll out the dough with a flowered rolling pin until it is about 1/4" thick.  Use a biscuit cutter or drinking glass to cut the dough into circles about 21/2 or 3 inches in diameter.
5) Add filling Drop about one tsp. of jelly into the center of each of half of the circles.
6) Brush the edges of the dough circles with egg white, then lay another dough circle on top.  Pinch the edges together to seal them.
7) Rise Place the filled circles on a lightly flowered cookie sheet and cover with a dish towel.  Leave it for about an hour to rise, or until the circles have doubled in size.
8) Deep fry in oil.  Heat about two inches deep of vegetable oil over medium heat until it reaches 370° F.
Carefully lift a few of the uncooked doughnuts with a spatula and drop them gently, top side down, into the hot oil.  Let them fry for 3 or 5 minutes until uniformly golden brown.  Turn them as necessary to cook evenly.
Remove and drain on paper towels.
9) With a slotted spoon, remove the doughnuts from the oil and place them on paper towels to dry. Repeat steps 5 and 6 as necessary until all doughnuts are done.
Watch that the oil temperature doesn't drop below 350° F.
Dust the sufganiyot with confectioners sugar and serve!
YIELD: 14 to 16 doughnuts

33 posted on 12/18/2003 7:28:09 AM PST by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
Does anyone have a recipe for baked (as opposed to sauteed) latkes? I made them once and they were good and not as oily, but lost the recipe.
34 posted on 12/18/2003 7:28:29 AM PST by SFmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: I_Love_My_Husband
Noodle Kugel with Cinnamon

35 posted on 12/18/2003 7:34:30 AM PST by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: carlo3b
Happy Chanukah and a Merry Christmas to the many talented Freepers who continue to amaze me daily!
36 posted on 12/18/2003 7:38:46 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Betteboop; carlo3b
All Jewish holidays in a nutshell.
THEY TRIED TO KILL US. WE WON. LET'S EAT!!!


LOL!!! Now that's a doctrine I can understand.

(Carlo: I just remembered that I forgot about you ... temporarily. You mentioned you DID try to find my Mountain Dew recipe -- THANK YOU!!! I read that message and then my ISP went down for awhile, which I chose as a good time to reboot, and I STILL haven't returned to finish reading that thread.) ;)
37 posted on 12/18/2003 7:40:03 AM PST by Fawnn (Official Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: carlo3b
HAPPY HANUKKAH (Chanukah) and thanks for the great history lesson!
38 posted on 12/18/2003 7:42:09 AM PST by Grampa Dave (George $orea$$ has owned and controlled the Rats for decades!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SFmom
Grated Baked Latkes

39 posted on 12/18/2003 7:42:28 AM PST by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
Hannukah Sufganiot. They're low carb, I promise:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4413-2003Dec16.html
40 posted on 12/18/2003 7:43:44 AM PST by Catspaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-166 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson