Like the majority of North American Jews, my family is made up of Jew and non-Jews: Italians, Colombians and a slew of Ashkenazi Jews. We celebrate different holidays, and of course there are many things that are different, but there are several key cultural things we have in common. We are all loud. We all love celebrating stuff, no matter the occasion or holiday. And we all adore delicious food. I embrace opportunities to celebrate the diverse cultures that have influenced me, and there is no greater time to celebrate and embrace diversity than when holidays coincide. And really any excuse to celebrate with delicious foods.
Here are a few of my top picks for delicious ways to celebrate the holiday season:
Malanga fritters from The Cuban Reuben
Red and green latkes from InterfaithFamily.com
Sweeten the New Year for The Nosher. From apple kugel to the perfect round challah, The Nosher helps you cook your way through the holidays. Donate today and help us keep the kitchen humming and the smiles coming.
Red and green caprese latkes from The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Italian wedding matzo ball soup from A Day in the Life with Liz (leave out meatballs if you keep kosher)
Pumpkin bimuelos from Kitchen-Tested
Mint chocolate cookies & cream donuts from Lil Miss Cakes
Gingerbread sufganiyot from InterfaithFamily.com
Eggnog fruitcake challah from What Jew Wanna Eat
Tahini sandwich cookies from The Forward
Chocolate peppermint rugelach from Kveller
Blue sparkle Hanukkah kiss cookies from Kveller
Hanukkah peppermint bark from The Kosher Tomato
Ashkenazi
Pronounced: AHSH-ken-AH-zee, Origin: Hebrew, Jews of Central and Eastern European origin.
challah
Pronounced: KHAH-luh, Origin: Hebrew, ceremonial bread eaten on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Hanukkah
Pronounced: KHAH-nuh-kah, also ha-new-KAH, an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December.
