A Night of Two Miracles

Acclaimed New York chef Mark Bittman presented a marvelous alternative to potato latkes – a potato nik. The grated potatoes, onion and egg mixture simply fill a large non-stick pan (with 1/8″ of healthy safflower oil), cook for 15 minutes, flip and voila – done! The customary sour cream accompaniment met a new partner this evening. Instead of apple sauce, I made a persimmon sauce. My recipe creation included persimmons, Muscat raisins (thanks to Tory Farms), a cinnamon stick, honey and lemon.OMG – delicious, Miracle #1! Filet Mignon and artichokes, grilled stovetop, completed the entree. A velvety Alexander Valley Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon on this second night of Chanukah was Miracle #2!

Christmas on the 5th Day of Chanukah

 

The inspiration for our main dish on this covalence of holidays was Mark Bittman’s potato latkes (pancakes), presented on NBC’s Today Show December 22. You can see the painstaking process of their creation by clicking on the YouTube video below! My husband was the catalyst and co-chef in the peeling and cooking, as well as the producer of the iMovie. The latkes were served with the traditional applesauce and sour cream, purchased at Safeway. Wild Cohoe Smoked Salmon from Trader Joe’s  and deep purple radicchio from the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market topped with lovely green artichoke hearts from Costco completed the meal. Rose’ wine from Lioco paired perfectly with this food. Our table setting was graced by a beautiful poinsettia (a gift from our friend Janey), a Christmas card from PeeWee Herman and the same menorah I have been using since childhood. Happy Holidays indeed!

[https://youtu.be/oYRQsdkC9Q0]