The actor playing Snail, along with a few more characters, in A Year With Frog and Toad wants to share. Growing up, Ari Weinberg loved Chanukah. Here is his favourite memory and recipe!

“My favourite holiday tradition is my family Chanukah party. Every year, we congregate the party room at my grandparents’ apartment building. We’re a large family: my grandparents, their 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, plus partners and spouses. We eat latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts because fried foods are the traditional Chanukah eats, and play the dreidel game. It’s an afternoon and evening full of laughter and family, a great way for us all to come together.” — Ari Weinberg

A  SIMPLE LATKE RECIPE:

Latke (pronounced LOT-kah) is Yiddish for “pancake.” On Chanukah, it is traditional to serve latkes (most often potato) fried in oil to celebrate the Chanukah miracle, which involved the oil of the Temple menorah lasting for eight days instead of just one.

Ingredients:

5 large potatoes, peeled

1 large onion

3 eggs

1/3 cup flour

1 tsp. Salt

¼ tsp. pepper

¾ cup oil for frying

Use: 10-inch skillet

Yields: 4 to 6 servings

Directions

Grate potatoes and onion on the fine side of a grater, or in a food processor; or put in a blender with a little water.

Strain grated potatoes and onion through a colander, pressing out excess water. Add eggs, flour, and seasoning. Mix well.

Heat ½ cup oil in skillet. Lower flame and place 1 large tablespoon batter at a time into hot sizzling oil and fry on one side for approximately 5 minutes until golden brown. Turn over and fry on other side 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil. Continue with remaining batter until used up, adding more oil when necessary.

Serve with applesauce on the side.

Variation: Zucchini or Carrot Latkes: Substitute 5 medium zucchini or 5 medium carrots for potatoes.