Make Latkes!

Latkes are a treat at any time, but I especially love to have them when my neighbors are celebrating Chanukah. It's my own downmarket version of holy envy.

I was intimidated about making latkes for years. It helped when I figured out they're not much different than hash browns.

I grate a potato or two per person having dinner. I put the gratings in a bowl of water as I work, to keep them from discoloring. I like to put a little vinegar in the water, but then I think vinegar is the universal seasoning.

Then I put the grated potato in a clean tea towel and squeeze all the water out. (This does produce some good quality potato starch water, which I always intend to use in baking or something, but so far I never have.)

I put the drained and mostly-dry gratings in a bowl. I add one beaten egg per 3 or 4 potatoes.

(Ages ago, before I was always making these for kids, I put chopped onion in as well.)

I heat oil in a frying pan--enough oil to cover the whole bottom of the pan. Olive Oil is always delicious, but I tend to use a more ordinary, less delicate, vegetable oil. Except this year I ran out of ordinary oil (how ironic!) and had to go with the virgin olive oil.

I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop potatoes into the pan, pushing them down in the middle so the middle's not the thickest part.

I flip them when the down-side is starting to color golden.

I stack them finished ones on papertowels on an oven-safe plate, and keep them in the oven (on the lowest temperature, or "warm") until I've made all the latkes. I like to have two pans going, so I can get them all finished more quickly.

Serve with applesauce and sour cream.