And so it Ends

 All good things must come to an end. All bad things too. Also all mediocre things. Basically, everything has a finite lifespan.

My career as a New York City educator has been all of those. There were times when it was wonderful, horrible and meh. Those times, however, are just about over. This blog post is a series of reflections and recollections so it might be a bit long. I’ll try to keep it light … or at least mix in more light than heavy.

My path to my current position has been circuitous. I have 2 degrees in biology and none in administration or education yet here I am, 35 years out of college, having taught and administrated for three decades.

I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a classroom teacher, a test coordinator, an administrator, and a supervisor, sometimes all at the same time.

I’ve had colleagues (and students!) give birth and pass away.

I’ve run after school programs and worked Saturdays. 

I’ve seen the best and the worst that this school system has to offer. I try to focus on the best, but it is the worst that is causing me to retire now instead of later.

The New York City public school system serves roughly one million children. The support system that is the theoretical backbone of this system is broken. With every new Mayor comes new initiatives. The old ones are either entirely dismantled or deprived of resources and left to wither. New programs are started without regard to existing programs that already do what the new program is designed to do.

Schools are bombarded with the idea of the day to implement in their classrooms, without regard to yesterday’s idea, on which they are still working.

My favorite example happened many years ago when I was tasked with attending the monthly meetings for the coordinators of English Language Learners. (These students are currently known as Multi Language Learners, MLLs, or English as a New Language students, ENLs.) 

The first meeting I attended was great. I learned a lot about how their corner of the DOE worked and had my eyes opened to many things. The second meeting was also great. We were introduced to a specific theory of instruction and shown how this model could be implemented in our schools. Then we were asked to figure out how we would do it ourselves. I was all in. I brought the concept home and our school dove in and adopted this as a major strategy in all of our classrooms. Then I went to the next meeting, and the next … and so on and so on.

In each subsequent meeting we were introduced to a new philosophy of education for ELLs and asked how we would implement it.

Now remember, my school and I wholeheartedly bought into the first strategy so we were not looking for another. We had purchased books and sent teachers to off site training. Why were we being asked how we would implement the next five programs? How many programs can a school run for one set of students? (No sarcastic answers, please, I probably have them all on the tip of my tongue.)

Wash, rinse, repeat. This is how my 30 years have gone. One initiative after another without giving the first one enough time to prove itself. Mandates from the city, state and federal levels, some of them contradictory.

Meetings upon meetings without meaning.

Another year I was given the responsibility of supervising physical education (yes, gym). I took it seriously and set out to learn all I could about effective p.e. instruction. I learned from my own staff and from more senior p.e. supervisors. And, I attended monthly meetings. Unlike the ELL meetings, the p.e. meetings taught me little that I had not already learned on my own. These meetings were painful. The person who ran them would tell endless tales about himself, repeating the stories over and over each month. When I called him on it after the 5th month of this I was told “not everyone has been here before.” Yup, he was retelling these pointless stories about himself because he thought he had a new audience (he didn’t, it was the same group from all the other meetings). I was told that if I didn’t like it, I could leave. I did just that and never returned. Later I apologized to my principal for opening my mouth and getting thrown out of the meeting. She, fortunately, laughed.

Do I know how to fix it? Nope. And, I admit, I am tired of fighting it. I am tired of being told that we have to do it “this” way. That my way, though more efficient and logical, is now how they want it done. I am tired of people building careers on the backs of our city’s children and breaking the backs of our educators.

The system is broken and, before you tell me that it is my responsibility to try to fix it, stop. I’ve tried. I’ve tried, my colleagues have tried, my husband has quite literally fought city hall.

Long gone are those days when I played school with my friends. When I created “worksheets” of math problems for my dolls. When I saved copies of old biology tests for “when I became a teacher,” and then later, actually, for the next year’s class.

In the rearview mirror are the days of budgeting with “units” instead of dollars (yes this was a thing in NYC and it kind of made sense, of paper report cards and cardboard train passes. The Delany card (almost exclusively a NYC thing) has been replaced by electronic attendance systems and does anyone even use chalk any more?

The dreams have been broken but I am emerging whole with a desire to do good things but, in another space. Time for the next chapter.

Comments are encouraged! I would love to hear your thoughts on these issues and how you are dealing with them in your part of the world! Comment here or email me at squid.knits@gmail.com.

Latkes!

 I take a modern approach to cooking -- I let my husband and son take care of it. Except, except for certain holiday foods.

For Chanukah I firmly take the frying pan in hand and make the latkes.

Latkes, for those of you not in the know, are fried potato pancakes and one of two traditional foods during Chanukah. (The other food is jelly donuts, I buy those.) Every family has their prefe
rred latke recipe and by recipe I mean "loose set of steps" by which they create these oily delights. 

Some put in an egg or two, others include matzo meal, flour, or other starch. Yet others choose to purchase theirs, ready to reheat for a crowd. There is no right or wrong way to make latkes. But mine is the right way -- at least for my family.

This morning I woke to a message from my daughter asking what the ratio of potatoes to onions was and, do I use salt and pepper. After I finished my first draft of this post I was asked "how many potatoes per person." I laughed.

I thought for a moment and replied (8 hours after the message was sent) 3:1 ish, and yes.

That's it folks, that's my latke recipe. Roughly 3 potatoes (medium size) to one similarly sized onion. I think. Then grate them all using your preferred grating method (I use the large hole grating disk on our food processor) to create large, wide, shreds, place in a strainer or colander to drain for a bit (10 to 30 minutes) sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper and fry.

To fry, heat about a quarter to a half inch of oil (1 cm for my friends who use the metric system) and take a generous pinch of the mixture (I use the tips of all fingers and thumb) and drop in the oil. Repeat. Leave enough space between the latkes so that the pan isn't too crowded. Do not press. Fry until the latkes release easily from the bottom of the pan and flip. (The latkes, not your body, that would be dangerous in a kitchen with hot oil on the stove.) The latkes are roughly 2 inches in diameter and about a quarter inch thick. (5 cm and 1 cm)

When the second side is nicely browned, remove the latkes and drain on a double layer of paper towels. Keep going until either you are tired of frying or you run out of the source material.

Eat with sour cream or apple sauce and try not to think about the layer of oil spatter in the kitchen.

Happy Chanukah!

Joy!

My current status is causing joy among my friends and that makes me happy.

Last night I joined fellow educator-knitters in our weekly, virtual, EduKnit Night, hosted by the fabulous teacher-librarian, Lisa Noble. When I entered the chat I was immediately queried “How many days?!” Following some quick and verbalized math … “what’s today … o.k., 31 minus today plus another 31 … 49 days.” Lisa quickly realized “one less than fifty,” and Melissa countered with “exactly 7 weeks.” Again Lisa, “it’s a perfect square!” All three of us were laughing and smiling as the next member joined the chat.

“Joy, we are bringing Joy today,” Melissa shouted out as each new person joined the chat. And as the group grew, the recitation of: “49,” “perfect square,” “one less than fifty,” and “seven weeks” became a chorus, with me laughing, almost hysterically, in the background.

In a year in which classrooms all over are tense and tight, the educators in this lovely little community chose to take a night to embrace Joy.

“If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'.” Lina Lamont, Singin’ in the Rain: 

Counting Down (reprise)

 I know, I know, it's been a while since I've blogged. Life took over and, when life is on the tougher side, I tend to not want to write publicly. The fear that I will say something that will upset someone is ever present so, when my brain is in a somewhat negative space, I try to avoid sharing.

I also prefer to write in the morning when, warmed up by the shower, my thoughts are flowing most freely.

Usually I do not have the luxury of writing in the early hours so the words go unwritten.

Today, however, is the exception and, I hope, soon to be the rule. You see, I am counting down.

In a little under three months I hope to be retired. A lady of leisure, a lady who lunches or, at least, a lady who doesn't commute and follow someone else's rules and requirements all day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year.

I could give you a number but by the time you read this, the number will have changed, shorten, shrunk and maybe disappeared all together. And all that follows is fresh content.

Fingers crossed!

Counting Down

I have a friend who is always counting down. She has count down calendars for everything including, I think, her retirement which is still a few years away.

As a general rule I don’t count down. It isn’t usually productive for me and often serves to reinforce just how much longer I have to go making me that much more depressed. So, I am not counting down to retirement. At least not actively. As of this writing it is a little over 10 months away. That’s as close to a count down as I am getting right now. A lot can happen in 10 months, including a shortening or even lengthening of this timeline. So, not counting down.

I am, however, counting toward other goals. 

After each rowing session I estimate how many more sessions I will need to get to 600,000, 750,000 and 1,000,000 meters. As of today the counts stand at 2, 23 and 59.  All of these counts will shrink as I get closer and … might even shrink more than one session at a time depending on how many meters I row each class. (Counts estimated based on a minimum of 7,000 meters per class.)

I am also kind of, sort of, counting down (up) to my 500th class at Bar Method Noho. For all the years I have been doing Bar Method, this is the closest I have come to 500 classes at a single studio. My count as of today is 431. A rough, in my head, calculation has me taking my 500th class sometime this summer.

These are positive goals. They are measuring my pleasure. My strength. My aspirations. They are goals that can be reached sooner rather than later and can be sped up if I so desire.

Here’s to counting the positive and (trying to) ignoring the negative.

Now to accomplish some sewing goals!

Making Mistakes

 Making mistakes

As a general rule I am not afraid of making mistakes. Whether it is a cooking mistake, a sewing mistake or a knitting mistake, I take it with aplomb and the attitude that it wasn't a mistake, it was a learning experience. (Except for cooking, I don't view those mistakes as teachable moments but rather excuses for why someone else should cook for me.)

Take for example my latest scarf project. I joined the "As You Wish" mystery knit along because it was from a designer I like and paired with yarns from a dyer I adore. I cast on Tuesday night and over the course of the next few days made a fair amount of progress. I also made a fair number of mistakes. 

The first mistake was not watching the video for the first special stitch. I got cocky and figured I was doing it correctly from the written instructions. Feel free to laugh.

I persisted, however, figuring that no one really looks too closely at the stitches.

Finally, a couple of inches later and an entire color change, I gave in and watched the video. Oops!

Did I rip out my work and redo it? Nope. I soldiered on using the galloping horse theory of crafting.

Then I started the next section and immediately messed up the stitch count. 

Did I stop and rip it out then? Nope! I just fiddled with increases and decreases figuring I’d get the correct number eventually.

This morning I spent a delightful couple of hours on this new section. I did watch the video for the newest stitch (wasn't going to make that mistake again) and kept going. Lost in the book I was listening to, trying not to cry, I knit and knit, changing colors and slipping stitches like a pro.

And then I actually looked at the front of the piece.

D'oh!

Did I rip then? Sort of. I started pulling back a few rows, determined to not start over. But the yarn was sticking to itself and eventually I came to the realization that if I was ripping back this much, I might as well start over. 

And this is why my new scarf looks like this (not a spoiler).

Time for lunch.

I'll start over later.

Sewing for My Siblings

 Sewing for My Siblings

As you might have figured out by now, I am a little obsessed with sewing. 

When I sit down with a pattern it becomes a puzzle which I have to figure out. Knitting fills the same need but more slowly. The speed at which I can finish a project is just so much faster with sewing.

And this is where I ran into a problem. My dresser is full. But I still want to sew!

So (sew?) I turned the problem over to my family and offered to sew for the cost of the fabric. I sent a few links for fabric out to my siblings and my oldest nephew and told them to go for it.

(I sent a similar message to my kids but it just said to choose what they wanted without cost. Yes, I still feel the need to (mostly) clothe my adult children.)

The first one to take me up on the offer was my brother Mike. (Yes, I married a Mike and have a brother Mike. Yes, it makes things a little confusing at times but such is life.)

Mike and his wonderful wife Maria immediately had a challenge for me. They want a golf cart seat cover. They sent a wonderfully detailed schematic, told me that terry cloth would be great, and then chose some fabric for golf clothes – a shirt for Mike and a matching skirt for Maria.

My youngest sibling, Amanda, piped in with a desire for some workout gear and ultimately chose a pair of shorts in a stretch woven.

My daughter asked for a couple of boat necked, long sleeve, tops to go under her new her-made sweaters. When asked, my son said “sure” to getting a couple of new tee shirts in the same fabric.

And so it starts. I spent Saturday and Sunday making up the Be Dreamy dress for Batya and it is hanging out, waiting for her to come over so I can hem it. (This was already in the planning stages and the fabric had been sitting around for a few weeks.)

Last night I did the math and made a plan for the golf cart seat cover, figured out the right size shirt for my brother and bought the pattern. Now I have a polo / henley / tee shirt pattern in my stash which my spouse is eyeing.

Today is a lovely federal holiday and I plan on sewing all day long. My plan coming into the weekend was to get all of the “have to do” stuff out of the way so that today could be a “me” day.

That included not leaving the house. I may revise that because the weather is wonderful so I might get out for a walk.

But maybe not.

**Definitely not as evidenced by this completed golf cart seat cover. Fabric is Camel Bamboo Terry from Knitfabric.com. **

Darn!

 

Fast fashion is not my thing. 

My wardrobe is fairly limited and contained. No, I am not a fashion minimalist but I am a deliberate shopper. As a general rule I only go clothes shopping when I need something specific. Then I go in, find what I need and get out -- as quickly as possible. I do not bargain hunt, but rather, keep fewer items in my closet. I tend to buy classic styles that I can wear year in and year out. Where I veer from this path is in my hand made clothing. Here I will be a bit more daring as I try out patterns, often, to just learn a new skill or method of construction.

When things wear out I try to repair them but some things are not worth the time. Socks for example, I never catch my socks in the wearing out stage but only seem to realize there is a problem when a big hole has appeared. By then, the effort involved in repairing it is almost as much as the effort that goes into knitting a new pair of socks. I tried darning socks for a few months but after repairing one pair of socks only to immediately burst through them in another area, I went back to the Yarn Harlot's method of darning socks. I hold the sock over the trashcan and say "Darn!" as I drop it in.

Sweaters, however, are another story.

My son wears handknit wool sweaters 12 months of the year. Don't judge. He's an adult and knows what he needs to wear to be comfortable.

All of this wearing leads to the inevitable wear and tear. Mainly the elbows. These I mend.

The most recent victim of elbow wear is his Dust Puppy sweater. Originally knit for my husband, Dust Puppy has been around for probably about 20 years in it's current incarnation. (It was originally knit several sizes larger but Mike then lost a lot of weight and I reknit it.)

All that is to say that it's kind of surprising that the elbows are just wearing out. One sort of gave way a year or two ago and the other one I noticed just before Thanksgiving.

Usually I do my best to just duplicate stitch over the worn areas and bring them up to strength that way. I keep some left over yarn from all of my hand knits just in case I have to do a repair. Unfortunately, Dust Puppy was knit so long ago that I no longer have the yarn I made it with.

So I got creative. Follow along on my darning tutorial to see how!

---

Step one, identify the worn area.

 

Step two, out line the area to be darned. Usually I use the same color yarn but, as I said, this time I got creative. I used a blackish sock weight yarn left over from a sock weight sweater. I also usually darn in a square but circles are good too!

Step 3, run "warp" lines vertically from one edge of the outline to the other. This provides a matrix for what comes later.

Fill in any gaps that seem to be too wide. (This is a personal decision.)

Step 4, duplicate stitch over as many of the encircled stitches as you can. I either work vertically or horizontally or ... both. Yup, I play fast and loose here and just go into the next stitch that feels right at the time. Use the warp threads to help you figure out where missing stitches should go.

Step 5, once you get to an area with actual missing stitches, start weaving. Using your needle, go over and under the warp threads, filling in the area until you have a nice dense patch over the sweater wound. (O.k., it looks like I didn't get those photos so please use your imagination.)

Then I got creative. Using a sparkly black sock yarn I crossed over the area, back and forth on the diameter. I started dividing it like a pizza and then kept splitting the pieces until there was no evidence of the original grey yarn.

The end result ... a mini Dust Puppy (rear view).

Thank you for joining me in my first, rather scattered, tutorial. Tune in next week for more fun!

Leggings: A Learning Journey

Eight Ten pair of leggings (workout style). (Pattern links at bottom of post)

That's how many I have made since my love affair with me-made workout gear began.

With each pair I have gained valuable skills and confidence.

Some have provided valuable lessons.

Yet others have shown me the risks of choosing colors on line while still knowing that I do not have the greatest color sense in the world.

And another two pair taught me that workout tights can also be skirts! (There are attached bike shorts under the skirt.)

And yet others have proven that it is difficult to know what a fabric will feel like when bought on line. (The pair below are not my faves when it comes to working out.)

It was this pair (below) that convinced me that it was time to start learning how patterns are actually drafted.

They look good and feel great (fantastic workout fabric)  but I have some issues with them. First off, they are a little to long and hence a bit baggy at the ankle. This was my fault as I went for the "tall" version of the pattern without reading carefully and looking for what height the regulars are drafted for. Turns out I am kind of in between the two. Figures.

Second, when working out, they gather in ways that I think might be a result of a fit that is not perfect, and while I am happy wearing "not perfect," I still want to get closer.

---

Several weeks ago I reunited with a a workout buddy who has problems getting workout gear that fits correctly. I took this as a challenge. Asking if she would be my test subject, I got some basic measurements and, using the pattern I'd purchased for the Kracken tights, gave it a couple of tries.

On the first attempt I over thought it and
used some basic knowledge gleaned from the Made to Measure leggings class to try to adjust the purchased pattern. The end result was too small. Then, comparing the basic measurements to the actual pattern I decided to make it up in the smallest size. Too big.

Finally, I decided to try actually drafting the pattern using the Made to Measure leggings class. Since I am still waiting for my friends measurements I decided to give them a go with my own.

Not too bad.

The fabric is not something I would choose for leggings -- it is a bit too thin and has a bit too much stretch (100% horizontal and 50% vertical) and, using the yoga waistband, they were way to big at my waist -- matching my actual measurements instead of being more compressive, something that does not work in this fabric even with a compressive lining. I took a dart in each side of the waistband and will give them the workout test this morning.

My next steps will include making them again in a more suitable fabric (the first attempt was meant to be just that, an attempt using left over fabric from another project (yes, I over ordered and got a pair of "mommy and me" dresses (for me and my adult daughter!) out of the fabric before making the leggings).

I also want to compare my drafted pattern to my purchased patterns and see how they compare. The ultimate goal is to use my personalized pattern to alter purchased patterns and learn how to make the correct alterations. 

Once again, a learning process.

Pattern Links:

First, Second and Third Attempts -- Inspire Tights

Pockets!  -- Spark Tights

Sports Skirt -- Rally Skirt

Kracken Tights -- Simpaticos

Made To Measure Leggings Class

Kracken Fabric - Sew Dynamic Fabric

Slowing Down

 Slowing Down

I have a hard time holding back when I get an idea I really want to try.

For example, last week’s post. Go back, read it, comment and then return. I’ll wait …

I want to do it. I want to try to start my own semi custom, small batch, sewing business.

Now! 

Friday I was *this* close to stopping at the Spandex House (yes, it is a real place) and getting fabric for a sample first make.

Fortunately I got distracted and went home instead.

I need to slow down. I know that I do. My retirement plans are still up in the air and things at work are changing rapidly due to our new Mayor and Chancellor.

Also, I need to build my skills. I’ve only been at this clothing sewing thing for about a year and I know I still have a lot to learn. Yesterday, for example, I finally managed several good hems with a twin needle. (You know, the double line of stitching on the hem of your tee shirt – that. It’s not as easy as it looks.) I used some cool Kracken fabric from Sew Dynamic to make tee shirts for Mike and Natan and tried the twin needle out on them. Not perfect but not bad either.

Lessons learned from these shirts: 1. I need a little more than a yard of fabric to make short sleeve tees for each of my guys. I thought I had enough for Natan’s sleeves and discovered, after I had cut them and was ready to attach, that one was missing the top part. I improvised a fix and moved on. Mike’s shirt has contrasting sleeves and neck band. 2. I need more practice on twin stitching the neck band down. 3. I need to check each piece for issues before I sit down to sew it up - turns out one of Natan’s sleeve was missing its top. I sewed another piece of fabric on and made it work. Now I have ideas for color blocking sleeves!

In addition to needing time to build skills, I have several projects that I have fabric for and need to make up. These include, but are not limit to, a long black dress for Batya to wear for performances (Riverside Orchestra), multiple camisoles for me from the left over fabric from the quartet of tee shirts I made for Natan a few weeks ago and … pillow cases.

For the master bedroom we own two sets of bed clothes. That translates to two fitted sheets, two duvet covers and a passel of mismatched pillow cases. When one sheet wears out I replace it with the least expensive, same fabric content, option I can find on Amazon. That means that my bed is a mixture of different colors. No, I do not care if everything matches.

What I do care about is the fiber content. Many years ago I bought a set of linen sheets on sale. I never looked back.

So, when one of Mike’s pillow cases wore out last week, I decided it was time to make my own. We went to Gray Line Linen and purchased enough fabric to make a few pillow cases. In a color which neither clashes nor matches the rest of the bedding.

So, to summarize, I have plenty to keep me busy. And yet I am anxious to get started with the next part of my journey through life.

I am going to do my best this week to focus on what I have now instead of what I think I want next. Next is still far away and I need to live in the here and now.

Let’s see what happens.

Post Script: Here are three of the five pillow cases! Now to cast on a sweater …

What Next?

Sometime in the next 18 months I will be retiring. It might be this June, it might be next January or, at the latest, the following June.

The details of how I will make my determination are the subject of another, probably never to be published, post. (More of an internal dialog put in writing.)

The question of the day is: what next?

It is on this question that I am hoping for some feedback. Keep reading to see what I think might be possible.

For as long as I have been able to control my fine motor skills I have been crafting. My endeavors have provided years of blog fuel (go back to when this blog was last active) and I get great satisfaction from my hobbies.

As long as I have been crafting there have been those who have said “you should sell this,” about whatever I was making at the time. Up until now that was simply not feasible. The amount of time that I put into a hand made garment is significant and the cost / time ratio just did not allow any significant hourly wage.

Sewing, however, is a different beast. I can make a good looking pair of workout tights in a day. A tee shirt in a unique fabric in an afternoon and a pretty dress in a pair of days.

But I don’t want to make stuff at random and have inventory to deal with.

What I would like to do is:

• Pick a pattern

• Pick a couple of different fabrics

• Put up the garment for pre-orders

Garments would be made to the client’s measurements and in the fabric chosen.

Price would be based on fabric cost plus time estimated to make the item and would be pre-set at time of ordering with the costs averaged out to accommodate all sizes (larger or smaller quantities of fabric) and assuming the same amount of time for construction of each garment.

Is this feasible? Would you or people you know be interested in this?

Please comment either here or on the social media site that led you to this post.

Thanks!

Hand Crafted Memories

Mike and I are about to embark on our first long vacation since summer 2019. We are heading to San Diego for a week -- a week during the school year. This is a first for us. For the last 30 plus years we have been constrained by the academic calendar and have had to put up with crowds and higher prices for traveling during peak times. 

This trip is only possible because, while we are both still in academia, Mike is on a college schedule and it is currently intersession, and I now have a year round role in a Central office, not in a school and can take my vacation time with more flexibility.

When we travel I always bring my knitting with me. Always. 

Often I come home with more yarn than I left with and, I usually come home with at least one pair of socks finished on the road. Sometimes they are even on my feet!

It is vital that I have my knitting with me. Knitting makes me feel productive while enduring flight delays and give me an outlet for my nervous fidgets while making our way from here to there.

My knits also serve as a memory time stamp. For example, while on our epic trip to Harrogate, England I finished three or four pair of socks. Two pair, in particular, will always evoke memories of that trip. 

The socks at the top and bottom were knit with yarn brought from home. The pair in the middle, and a second pair (not shown) were knit with yarn bought in England. While both of my kids have socks knit in England from British wool, I have socks (top pair) knit en route from wool purchased in Lancaster, PA.  See, time stamps from two different trips combined in one pair of socks!

Mike's hat was made from yarn purchased in a lovely shop just outside of Leeds and knit here in NYC. 

This shawl was knit from wool acquired in Dublin in February 2020 while on a trip with my daughter. The wool is a rarity in that it comes from Irish Sheep, was dyed in Ireland and was started in Ireland on needles purchased along with the yarn. It was finished back here in NYC during the weeks following the start of the pandemic. Whenever I wear it I remember that wonderful trip and the fact that the yarn store was our very first stop after dropping our things at the hotel.

For this week's adventures I give you this!

A pair of socks with half of one foot to finish, The Russell Street Shawl, still in early stages, and a pair of socks in larval form. My thoughts are that I will work on the socks while waiting in the airport and the shawl while in flight. Sock knitting will be with me where ever we wander, ready to take out while visiting with friends, waiting for a meal or just relaxing after a strenuous day of sightseeing.

And, just in case you think I forgot about Mike, he is bringing his paints with him and will return with his own hand crafted memories.

Latkes!

 Latkes!

It’s that time of year again, Chanuckah. Actually, by the time most people read this Chanuckah 2021 (5782 in the Jewish calendar) will be over. If you want to know when Chanuckah is next year view this video: A Chanukah Song then come back.

So … Latkes.

As I type this the latkes are frying. 

O.k., not really, that would be dangerous. (Unless I wasn’t the one making the latkes, then it would be fine.)

Actually, I’m early in the prep stage. The potatoes are peeled and cut and soaking in a bowl of water and the onion is ready to be cut as soon as I am ready to grate.

Yes, I said grate.

There are many schools of thought as to what makes the perfect latke. There are those who coarsely chop their potatoes and then grind them up in a food processor, there are those who steadfastly use a box grater and then those, like me, who split the difference, grating the potatoes and onions using a food processor with a grating blade.

I grew up with both types of potato prep, first learning on a box grater and being taught that the best latkes always had a bit of blood in them. I passed that lesson on to my kids with the caveat that blood was not actually a secret ingredient and mechanical grating was perfectly acceptable.

In later years I learned the latkes could also be made using a food processor. Then I made up my own mind.

Back when Mike and I were young and adventurous we did a lot of cooking together (yes, I did cook once upon a time and I liked it). We were fans of many of the t.v. chefs and had shelves full of cook books. 

One of our favorite cookbooks was written  by Paul Prudhomme of New Orlean’s fame. We pored over his books and even made a pilgrimage to his restaurant in the Big Easy while on our honeymoon.

Chef Prudhomme had a recipe for cajun potato pancakes. I really don’t remember how they tasted but I do remember the texture and prep and adopted that for my own latkes.

The Prudhomme recipe called for potatoes, onions, salt, pepper and cajun spices. The potatoes and onions were grated, strained in a colander and mixed with the other components. They were then dropped in small dollops into a pan of hot oil until crisp on both sides and then drained on paper towels.

That is how I make my latkes -- minus the cajun spices. 5 ingredients. Potatoes, onions (roughly 2:1), salt, maybe pepper if I feel like it, and oil for frying. Fry until crisp and eat. Maybe with a dollop of applesauce, maybe some sour cream. DO NOT FREEZE.

My latkes have to be eaten hot and crispy. Almost right out of the pan. This is my idea of heaven.

Now to start frying!

Happy Chanuckah!