For the holidays: Recipe for Potato Latkes (Jewish Potato Pancakes)

Grandma Sara’s Secret Recipe for Potato Latkes (Jewish Potato Pancakes)

This is a secret recipe.  Nobody knows anything about it.  My grandmother was born in Roumania in the 1880’s and came to America in 1899.  She never spent a day in school; and, was completely illiterate, even in her native tongue.  She grew up on a farm and learned the ways about a kitchen that way – from butchering small animals, to cooking, to keeping a kitchen, to setting a table.  Being illiterate, all of her recipes were in her head.  Nothing was written down.  So this secret recipe was passed to me from my mother and I was instructed not to give it to anyone else.  But I will share it with you if you keep it a secret.  OK?

6 Medium potatoes (about 2-lbs) peeled

½ medium onion, grated  [Very important! Don’t skip the onion.  It’s for flavor.]

2-lbs flour

2 eggs

1-1/2 tsp salt

¼  tsp pepper & nutmeg [a secret ingredient]

2 tbsps chopped parsley [not found in all recipes; interesting for texture]

¼ cup shortening or oil for frying

[Check other recipes for ingredients – for fillings, seasonings, texture, etc.]

Put all ingredients except oil and potatoes in blender.  Add potatoes a handful at a time.  When last handful goes in, shut off quickly.  Put large tablespoon of potato mixture onto oil.  Brown and turn. Fry until golden to brownish, crisp on edges, soft texture for interior. 

Garnish with applesauce.

Makes 6 to 12 servings.

NOTE:  If you have boys in the house, you will need to make several hundred of these.  Nobody in my family was over-weight.

Is this Kosher?  This is a close to kosher as somebody is going to get with a name like Volpe, which is Italian for fox.