Night number 6: Hannukah!

Hi!

So today I'm participating in something really cool:

Basically, there's this amazing writer/blogger, Amy -->
and she has just written a book, Three Fallen Women, that sounds so great (and I have yet to buy, but am very curius about... I'm thinking, maybe after today's final is over I can actually read it!!)

Anyway, so I have been tagged for the sixth night of Hannukah, tonight. So there are five other bloggers tonight that are also responding to these questions. It should be interesting!! (You can check previous nights or Amy's blog at: http://bigmouthindeedstrikesagain.blogspot.com/)

1. Quick! You must turn a plate of latkes into an upscale gourmet delight
(as if they aren't already?). What would you add to them to dress them up,
flavor and/or garnish them?

I would place them in a nice plate (like my cool black and white square ones, yey) and add one latke, one spoonful of sour cream with a little parsley on top, and a trace of apple sauce... Some pepper on top of the latke... and well, if it looks pretty and there's barely enough food, it must be gourmet, right?

I don't really do anything extra special with latkes. I've had to make A TON of them once for a Hannukah party at my old Hillel, and we didn't do too much to them. Although, I think we did spice things up a bit, because we had a student chef help us out... but of course I have no idea what we did differently... there was just a lot of potato shredding involved.
This year-- I bought a box, and have yet to open it and make some (I've basically been living in the library for the past four days... fun fun).

2. What is the dumbest thing you've ever heard anyone say about Chanukah?

Um, well, specifically about hannukah, I don't know. But, one of my classmates just recently found out that Jews don't believe in Jesus... a big!! shock to the poor southern boy. And at out Thanksgiving feast, he did the prayer, and now aware that people believe in different things, asked, does everyone here believe in God? The nice thing was he did the prayer just saying a generic, God thank you for.... Because I always feel awkward when they say something about Jesus in the prayer... silly me, I guess :)

3. What's the best possible use for olive oil?

Olive oil is the most awesome thing ever... The last thing I used it for was a mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich... squirted some olive oil on the bread and it was great!! However, olive oil, garlic and toasted bread makes yuummmy garlic bread.... that may be my favorite use!

4. Settle it once and for all. Latkes or hammentaschen? Which to you
prefer? What about pitting the winner of that contest against sufganiyot?

Hammentaschen! Maybe because they bring back memories of grade school in Paraguay, and my mom learning the recipe, and we trying it at home... My mom was way more involved in judaism back then, some PTA-esque thing I think, but it was tres cool (my mom's not Jewish... but was very much involved in my jewish grade school... and likes hammentaschen very much herself).

Plus, I don't think I've ever had sufganiyot... though even I find that hard to believe. I must have at some point...

5. What's the best way to mix up a game of dreidel?

Good friends, good chocolate, good wine... a round table... and there goes 2 hours of spinning... I guess that's not mixing it up...

It's funny to play with people that don't know hebrew... though they learn faster than I did the first time (what each letter means, I mean).

6. My novel, Three Fallen Women, shockingly enough, is about the lives of
three women. Which three women would you like to have over this year for
latkes and why?

I would like to have my old mora, Sara... which I totally have lost track of, but gave me my hebrew name Ada (I totally thought of her now that I think about hammentaschen!). I think I wrote her a mini-letter in hebrew once--- when I actually knew enough hebrew to do so. In any case, it would just be cool to do so.

My friend Caroli, which I haven't seen since 2001, when I left Argentina... I've known her since we were 3... she now lives in Israel... I miss her!

My friend Laila from Argentina. We've lost touch in all these years (again 2001 was the last time I saw her). It would be great to see what she's up to... she's probably a Dr. by now!

These are women that I haven't seen in a while... but there are quite a few that I'll see in a few days... so maybe I can really have latkes with them!!


7. Other than Three Fallen Women (har har), what book do you think would
make a great Chanukah gift this year? What book would you like to receive
as a gift this year?

Actually, I really want The Devil Makes Prada... I don't know, it just sounds like a great holiday break kind of book... very superficial, I know... If not, cookbooks would be great! I'm very into cooking lately...

A book I'd recommend: 100 years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I read it in Spanish, but I'm sure it's just as good in English :)


8. What bloggers didn't participate in Chanukah Blog Tour 5767 and you
think should have?
(link to them)

Um, I'm thinking maybe Marie although I did send her an email about it (so maybe she signed up). And I only know of another jewish blogger, that I read, Sara, but I don't know if she actually reads my blog.

Anyway, that was fun! Thanks Amy for putting this together!! When I find out who the other candles for tonight are, I'll include them here. (this probably won't happen until after my final, that ends at 5pm EST).

Ok, here are the other five "candles": Everyone needs therapy, minor fast day, Anthropologist for Corporate America, Jewbiquitous
, and Nani
Happy Hannukah!