Mmm, leftover latkes and red cabbage salad with raisins...

Last night emmett_the_sane and I spend the first night of Hanukkah with deedeebythebay and coyote3502 and their three wonderful daughters. It was a lovely night, with lots of good food and conversation and traditions.

deedeebythebay made a lentil soup which tasted awesome with challah bread, and she made as well some excellent flavorful red cabbage salad with red bell peppers, raisins, and a creamy sauce. I made 12 potatoes' worth of latkes, and gave many thanks for living in this modern world that allows me to use a food processor instead of elbow grease to shred all those potatoes.

Their eldest daughter A really enjoyed learning more about Jewish traditions and singing the Hanukkah songs and prayers. Their youngest, M, surprised herself by really enjoying the latkes - as I was frying the potatoes she'd wander by, look at the batter, and go "Eeewww!" "More for me!" I'd tease her back. At dinner she was brave enough to try one small bite - and then her eyes grew big as she found out how good it was, and all she could say was "More!"

After dinner we watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and then played dreidls, using peanuts for coins. Their middle daughter S sat to my right and kept passing me peanuts that she had shelled for me. "Why are we using peanuts for coins instead of chocolate coins?" asked A. "Because then we'll actually have enough coins left to play with," I told her, and she grinned. We did give them some chocolate gelt, too.

Thanks deedeebythebay and coyote3502 for a wonderful evening!

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