The Second Night: Apple Latkes

There is definitely a certain perfection to the potato latke.  We're talking about a starchy vegetable, chopped up with some onion, and deep fried to a crisp.  It's basically the definition of comfort food.  But is it the definition of Chanukah?  Certainly it's not the potato that carries the symbolism.  We're celebrating the miracle of a one-day supply of consecrated oil burning for eight days; it's not the miracle of the long-lasting potato.

And so we can fry anything to fulfill the custom of eating oil-laden foods on Chanukah (I'm pretty sure it's not a commandment).  Why should potatoes have all the fun?  If you really think about it (or ask anyone at a county fair), anything can be fried, and pretty much anything is delicious in such a state.

By making a latke out of fruit, we move out of the appetizer category and into dessert (or, dare I suggest it, breakfast).  Sour cream balances out the sweetness, but my wife happily smothered these in apple sauce, so feel free to do as you like.  Ice cream?  Caramel?  But try to take it easy; we have six more days to go, folks.

Apple Latkes
Makes about 10

1 lb firm cooking apples
1 T lemon juice
6 T flour
1 T sugar
1 t baking powder
1/2 t cinnamon
2 eggs
butter (about 2 T)
sour cream for topping

Grate your apples using the largest holes on a box grater.  You can peel and core them first, but I just want for it.  I like to keep skins in my dishes whenever possible.  Place grated apple in a clean dishtowel and wring out the juice.  If you'd like to keep the juice for later, wring over a bowl.

Mix apple with lemon juice, flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon.  Beat eggs and mix into apple mixture to form a batter.

Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat and melt butter.  Drop spoonfuls of batter into skillet, and flatten them with a spatula.  Fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes, and flip.  Fry the other side and remove from skillet.  Repeat with remaining batter (you can keep the first ones warm in a barely heated oven if you'd like).  Serve with sour cream (or whatever).