December is a period for coming together and enjoying the company of loved ones. This celebration may vary in appearance among households based on religion, culture, and geographic location.
In today’s society, with families blending and merging, winter traditions can become a delightful mix. However, despite the variations, food remains a common bond.
With that said, let’s talk about the different ways you can enjoy the holidays with family with food and activities.
Celebrate this holiday season with Hanukkah and Christmas culinary delights.
Elegant Meals
If you’re hosting a formal dinner party to mark your holiday, consider including both Christmas and Hanukkah dishes on the menu.
Get ready for your classic Christmas turkey feast, but instead of serving mashed potatoes, why not make some traditional Hanukkah Latkes to bring a unique twist to the meal? Get the new Manischewitz Frozen Latkes, which are easy to prepare, crispy, and flavorful—perfect for anyone looking to enjoy this classic treat without the mess of frying from scratch.
Whether you’re enjoying the crispy perfection of potato latkes or exploring creative ways to incorporate those flavors into your meals, Manischewitz offers the perfect products to inspire your culinary adventures. These recipes blend timeless traditions with modern flair, making them ideal for holiday gatherings or any time you want to savor the richness of Jewish cuisine.
Try this twist on Mozzarella Sticks: Latke-Coated Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- Oil for frying
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 egg
- 1 (6-ounce) box Manischewitz Potato Pancake Mix
- 8 ounces of string cheese
- Toscanini Crushed Tomatoes, for dipping
Directions:
- Put enough oil in a large frying pan and heat it to 365°F.
- Beat the egg and milk together in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, empty the latke mix.
- Cut each string cheese stick in half. Dip each piece into the egg mixture, coat it in the latke mix, then repeat the process for a double coating.
- Fry the sticks in batches until the crust turns golden brown, about one minute.
- Remove from the frying pan and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Serve warm with Toscanini Crushed Tomatoes for dipping.
Are you concluding your formal dinner with some dessert? Combine a wonderful blend of Christmas and Hanukkah tastes. A Yule Log cake and Cheese Blintzes topped with fruit are served to conclude the formal meal. This is the ideal way to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah with a sophisticated dining experience.
Stylish Appetizers for Holiday Party
A great way to celebrate your holiday is by incorporating appetizers that blend Christmas and Hanukkah. Keep things informal and offer plenty of convenient snacks. Put them in the kitchen for the family and guests to come and choose.
Here are a few fantastic appetizer suggestions that incorporate the festive holiday season vibes:
- Manischwetiz cookie kits – creative options like the Ugly Sweater Chanukah Sugar Cookie Kit and Ready-to-Decorate Pre-Baked Cookie Kit, which bring fun to the kitchen for kids and adults alike.
- Sliders made with Coca-Cola-infused brisket
- Cheese Balls
- Tarts with cranberry and brie filling
- Shrimp wrapped in bacon
- Salmon rolls made with smoked salmon
- Small bites of brie cheese with cranberry in them
- Christmas wreath made with Caprese ingredients.
- Bites of Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato
- Skewered Appetizers
- Goat Cheese Balls with Cranberry and Pecan, Mini-sized
- Cranberry BBQ Meatballs cooked in a slow cooker.
- Hanukkah Gelt Homemade
- Sweet Latkes
- Sufganiyot
- Rugelach
- Cookie Butter Blossoms that do not require baking
- Cookies with a crackle texture coated in cinnamon sugar.
- Cheesecake made with eggnog
- Donuts flavored with Egg Nog
A Nightly Rotation of Flavors
One more great way to commemorate Christmas and Hanukkah as a family is by enjoying different dinners each evening. One evening, enjoy a Christmas dinner with your family’s special customs, and another evening, savor a Hanukkah dinner with its distinct traditions. This is an enjoyable way to mark the occasion with the children while making special memories for each holiday in their unique manner.
Celebrate your Holiday through Christmas and Hanukkah Activities
Enjoying the holiday season involves having a good time with loved ones and there are numerous enjoyable activities that you can partake in as a family.
Creating a festive atmosphere for the holidays
Having two separate advent calendars or holiday countdowns will bring excitement to the whole family as you kick off the festive celebrations. If you are unable to purchase any, you can always make these yourself at home. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the holiday as they count down 30 days until its arrival. When creating your own Hanukkah Advent calendar, consider using Hanukkah Gelt instead of regular chocolate as it is the customary Hanukkah treat.
Making gingerbread houses is an enjoyable activity that the entire family can participate in. A wonderful suggestion is to create two gingerbread houses, one for Christmas and one for Hanukkah.
Engaging in crafting activities as a family is an enjoyable way to bond and make personalized decorations for Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations. Create homemade Hanukkah-themed Christmas tree decorations. A reindeer adorned with a menorah as antlers, a Christmas tree featuring a Star of David at its peak. Christmas tree decorations work well for the Christmas tree, but by incorporating a Hanukkah element, you can celebrate both holidays.
Creative Imagination on Christmas and Hanukkah Ways
The Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition that encourages children to behave well and has captured the imagination of kids everywhere. The elf roams the house, observing the children and relaying messages to Santa Claus at the North Pole. Let’s incorporate some Hanukkah elements and introduce the Mensch on the Bench into the mix.
Change the placement of the elf on the shelf throughout the house so that he can keep an eye on the children from various angles and occasionally engage in mischievous acts. Similarly, move the mensch on the bench to look after the Elf on the Shelf and perform acts of kindness to demonstrate to the kids that good actions are recognized and rewarded.
