First Day of Chanukah

This recipe is courtesy of Annabel Cohen:

Latkes  
2 pounds Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled or not
1 cup chopped yellow onions
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. flour (more if needed)
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil for frying

Make latkes: Coarsely grate potatoes by hand (with a box grater) or in the food processor. If using right away, in a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onions, eggs, flour, salt and pepper. Mix and let stand for 10 minutes before frying.

If using later:
Transfer to a colander in the sink and allow the shedded potatoes to sit until they turn reddish-brown, about half and hour. Drain the potatoes in a colander and rinse well with cold water until the potatoes are white again. If the strands of potato are too long (as sometimes happens with a food processor), chop them slightly.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onions, eggs, flour, salt and pepper. Mix and let stand for 10 minutes before frying.

In a large skillet, heat 1/8-inch of oil until very hot but not smoking. Make a test pancake by dropping a heaping tablespoon of the potato mixture into the skillet. Using a spoon or spatula, form the mixture into a circle shape. Don't worry if your pancake is not a perfect circle. Cook 3 minutes or so on each side until the pancakes are golden and cooked through. NOTE: As latke batter sits, it becomes more "watery." Stir each time before you use the batter.

Drain the latke well on paper towels or on flattened, paper grocery bags placed over baking sheets. Taste for seasoning, adjust salt and pepper and make the latkes until the potato mixture is gone. If you must add more oil, do it when the skillet it empty, never pour new oil onto cooking latkes, it makes them greasy. Serve with lots of applesauce or sour cream. Makes 8 servings.

Microwave Applesauce
Easy enough to make all the time and far superior to the commercial stuff. If I keep the skin on, the applesauce is pinkish.

3 pounds cooking apples, such as McIntosh (about 8 - 9 medium fruit) cored and quartered, peeled OR unpeeled
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and cook on high for 10 minutes. Stir with a fork and mash slightly. Cover again and cook in 5-minute increments until the apples are quite soft. Allow to cool slightly before pureeing in with an immersion blender or placing the mixture in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process until smooth, but still a bit lumpy if you like. Serve the applesauce warm or chilled. Makes about 4 cups of applesauce.

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