Grownup Applesauce

As a kid I loved Mott’s sweetened applesauce.  Of course, in those days grilled cheese meant white bread with American “cheese food” and Campbell’s soup reigned supreme in our house.

Now I make grilled cheese with thick sourdough bread and sharp cheddar and it’s been years since I’ve had Campbell’s soup.  My applesauce tastes have changed too.  From pale and processed, I've moved to homemade, rosy, and tastier .  Sometimes I make it chunky and add cinnamon, other times I throw in a bit of sugar flavored with vanilla or ginger.  But best of all this time of year, I make it simply, as topping for latkes.

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Latkes for Chanukah

Updated on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 8:44AM by motherwouldknow

The traditional Chanukah foods are fried, typically potato pancakes known as latkes and doughnuts.  (The 30-second version of the Chanukah story is at the end of this post.)  I love sweets and dream of making doughnuts someday.  But latkes are the Chanukah ticket as far as I’m concerned.  With applesauce and sour cream, a perfectly fried latke can transport you to places that French fries with ketchup never reach. 

I use a basic recipe, fry the latkes, and revel in the results.  As far as I’m concerned “no muss, no fuss” has no place in the lexicon of latke-cooking.  Latkes definitely create mess, and you’ll have to fuss.  But the results are worth it.  A Chanukah latke fest is not supposed to be a fancy affair. I like to keep the rest of the meal simple. Stone Soup works well, especially because you can make it ahead and just heat up when you're doing the latkes.  Add a salad, a couple of accompaniments for the latkes (applesauce and sour cream are traditional) and let the latkes take center stage. 

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Cool gifts Under $50

The holiday gift-buying time is in full swing, with Christmas and Chanukah just around the corner.  Over the past week, I’ve given you ideas from Hill’s Kitchen for gifts under $10, and gifts for the cook, novice or not.  This is the wrap-up, cool gifts under $50.  (OK, that pun was bad, but I couldn't resist.)  These presents are practical, but also beautiful or whimsical enough to have caught my attention as I walked through a store filled with goodies.  And as always, we’ll end with a couple of mitzvah gifts – good deed presents that make a corner of the world better while you honor a friend or family member.

Marble cheese board & slicer

This nifty and beautiful board almost made my “cute-and-under-$10 list.”  At $11.99, it is affordable, but it has the look of an expensive gift.  Plus it’s small enough to give someone without much storage space.  This board would work well for meat or vegetable paté (using a small knife instead of the slicer), as well as cheese. 

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