Latkes – Stella S.

Latkes are a beloved symbol of Jewish heritage and the holiday of Hanukkah. Latkes are fried potato pancakes seasoned with onions and salt, topped with various sauces such as apple sauce and sour cream. Typically, latke preparations vary between families, and unique recipes hold deep personal meaning. 

Recipe: 

Our student prepares her latkes using a standard procedure of potatoes, flour, eggs, and onions, along with a unique dipping sauce. She wrote that she doesn’t usually fry them herself, as she has the help of her family, but she knows they use a fairly simple recipe: mixing shredded potatoes, flour, eggs, and onions, and frying them in a pan. To top off the dish, she creates a unique sauce consisting of sour cream, dill, and lemon juice, adding a zesty spin on the more standard sour cream. The latkes are served hot and are paired with the cool sauce to make a warm, comforting dish.

Egg Fried Rice – Madelyn F.

Egg fried rice is a dish with various versions originating from China, and it is also prepared in many areas of East and South Asia. Fried rice is usually made with older rice and various kinds of proteins and vegetables, yet it can be prepared in many different ways depending on the family. The dish has a salty and umami taste that brings comfort to anyone who tries it.

Recipe: 

The recipe from our student uses garlic, shallots, soy sauce, spring onions, eggs, and leftover rice. The ingredients are placed into a large wok with vegetable oil, starting with the garlic and onions, followed by the eggs, and finishing with the rice and soy sauce. To add a bit of flair to the recipe, she also adds extra green onions on top, along with sesame, chili oil, garlic, and soy sauce to provide a more diverse mix of flavors to the dish.

Crepes – Grace M.

A delicious, sweet, or savory treat from France, crepes are thin layers of cooked batter served with many kinds of toppings. When served sweet, the crepes tend to have fruits, chocolate, sugar, cream, or cinnamon, making this a warm food to be eaten on the go or at a restaurant. When savory, crepes often include cheese, meats, eggs, vegetables, and various sauces, and they are more commonly served at a sit-down restaurant. 

Recipe: 

The dish from our student is made of a simple batter, cinnamon, and sugar. First, the batter is cooked in a pan into a very thin layer, carefully made so as not to burn any portion of the crepe. Next, once it is finished cooking, the crepe is topped with cinnamon sugar and served warm with any kind of fruit, specifically bananas and strawberries.

Eggplant Parmigiana – Alessia S.

Eggplant Parmigiana, not to be confused with Parmesan, is a dish of layered eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese originating from Southern Italy. The delicious, hot, and savory dish is often made similarly to a lasagna, using various herbs to enhance the flavors within the recipe. The amazing dish is a great comfort food that could make anyone feel right at home. 

Recipe: 

The way our student’s family makes the dish is by using eggplant, tomato sauce, zucchini, herbs, basil, and cheese. The eggplant and zucchini are dried out to better absorb the other flavors when put in the oven, and are both cooked slightly beforehand. She then adds layers of vegetables, tomato sauce, and cheese, mixing in herbs and basil throughout the dish. Finally, once the tray is taken out of the oven, she likes to pair it with a bread, specifically focaccia, to add a different texture to the parmigiana.