Hanukkah in Sydney

Hanukah has arrived down under. Well, actually it arrived yesterday, but I figured the days wrong and am now a day behind.  So, tonight we have our first night of Hanukkah here in Sydney and I am preparing a mini-feast.

First on the menu is potato latkes.  Mmmmm. I woke up early this morning and made a few batches which are waiting in the fridge to be reheated at dinner time. I was not able to find true applesauce here (everything has a "hint" of something in it).  I bought some applesauce with a "hint of strawberry," but for some reason can't use it. So, at the suggestion from my mom, I am now cooking up a batch of homemade applesauce. I have never made applesauce before and it is not really apple season here, so we will see how it turns outs. Smells wonderful!!

Latkes Recipe

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/classic-potato-pancakes.aspx?nterms=53256

I mixed up a batch of Bimuelos, which is a Sephardic Hanukkah doughnut.  The batter is rising (super easy) and we will fry them up for dessert. These have to be eaten HOT!  We will dip them in honey and/or sprinkle them with powdered sugar.  They probably would be good with the applesauce as well.

Bimuelos Recipe

http://herbivoracious.com/2010/11/bunuelos-bimuelos-donuts-hanukkah-sephardic.html

Note:  If you are wondering what "Sephardic" means here goes my very simple explanation-- there are "Sephardic Jews" and "Ashkenazi Jews."  Sephardic Jews are descendants of Jews who lived on the Iberian Peninsula before the Spanish Inquisition.  Ashkenazi Jews are descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany.  Today, Jews from Western and Central Europe are called, Ashkenazi.  My family is the later. Simple enough?

Back to Hanukkah....

Next on the menu, the main course- chicken.  I will put the chicken in the oven to roast in about 15 minutes. It will cook for about 2 hours in a bed of onions, carrots, celery, garlic and sweet potatoes.  And that is our mini-feast.

After dinner we will open gifts.  Cooper is getting a new guitar (he broke his old one) and Tucker is getting some musical instruments. They are also getting some books and Legos/Duplos.  We are supposed to wait until sundown to light the Hanukkah candles, but may have to break that one rule.  The sun doesn't set here until almost 9:00 pm and that is a little late for the boys.  So, as my sister said, "It will be dark somewhere." and so we will pretend we are there, where ever that may be so we can all enjoy the Hanukkah lights.

Another note-- these are not my photos. My photos will follow. :)