December 20, 2011: 1st Day of Hanukkah- Celebrating with Cake Doughnuts

Today is the first day of Hanukkah.

We're not Jewish, so our kids don't fully understand the significance of the holiday. Introducing Jewish culture, history, and traditions are an integral part of Christian culture and history, so it's important we learn.

We've field tripped at Jewish Cultural centers, studied Jewish history, and we're currently reading the Old Testament in the Catherine Vos's Children's Bible.  I feel like the Old Testament is often forgotten and emphasis on Christian living is often too focused on New Testament living.  Both should be combined in their entirety as God's story is woven through the pages of the whole Bible.

For a couple resources in teaching your children about Hanukkah check out the following links:

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson040.shtml

http://www.ehow.com/how_5890_teach-children-meaning.html

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/about.html

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/hanukkah/teacher-resources/6627.html

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/celebrate-hanukkah-israel

http://www.ehow.com/video_4984614_teach-children-meaning-hanukkah.html

Food For Hanukkah

Okay, if you know me or follow this blog, you know I love to teach with FOOD!  We manage to relate most unit studies, books, and lessons to food.  As a result we can't forget FOOD today!

Oil

Food prepared for Hanukkah has a similar theme.  It is fried in oil.  If you don't understand the importance of the oil, see the above links.

In searching for a fun food to prepare in celebration of the first day of Hanukkah I stumbled upon a number of donut recipes at www.chabad.org

We chose to make the Cake Doughnuts.  The recipe was missing a couple key words, so it was a little confusing for the kids.  The recipe I'll post should be clear.  Let me know if there are any questions.

These cake doughnuts are AMAZING!  I think I want to become a doughnut maker now!  Thank you so much www.chabad.org for posting this recipe.

Be careful if preparing these with kids.  Our kids made the dough, and I fried them. I don't allow them to be around hot oil.  It's just too dangerous.

Hot Oil...Danger!

Cake Doughnuts

Ingredients

2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup), melted

Vegetable/Canola Oil for deep frying

In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until thick and smooth.  In another bowl combine dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, spices and salt.  Whisk milk and butter together.

Add flour mixture and milk alternately to egg mixture, in about 3 additions of each. Stir to form a stiff dough.

Roll dough our to about 1/2-inch think.  Using a doughnut cutter or biscuit cutter cut out doughnut shapes.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 360 degrees.  Fry doughnuts in batches, turning several times, until golden all over.  Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove doughnuts to drain.  We placed ours on paper towels.

Sprinkle immediately with powdered sugar or cinnamon and sugar.

We made a Chocolate Glaze and I dipped our doughnuts in the glaze.

Chocolate Glaze

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (we used chocolate chips)
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

In a heavy sauce pan or double boiler, melt chocolate with butter.  Whisk in sugar, a little at a time.  Whisk in about 3 tablespoons water to thin to desired consistency. Glaze doughnuts immediately.

We sprinkled powdered sugar on the doughnut holes

Happy Hanukkah!