this post was created in partnership with bed bath & beyond.

i think we're all murmuring with slight anxiety/disbelief: it's december already, and feeling those go, go, go holiday vibrations. there's a very present buzz in the air this time of year, and i find myself taking those few extra deep breaths in a given moment to try to let it all go. i'm not a huge holiday shopper, the crowds and hubbub and music and lights can be overwhelming. so, when i do venture out, i have to make a concerted effort not to be overstimulated by everything that's surrounding me. and that means finding effective and efficient ways of going about shopping and preparing for holiday get togethers. like this latke party!

lists are my favorite way of getting organized. i usually start out with ideas on my notes app on my phone. from there, there's likely another rough draft, but written on paper. if i have the time, i'll go over my list again, and write a final copy. that might sound like a lot of time spent on lists, but it's done over a few days when i can squeak in a minute or 2 to jot an idea down. another thing that helps me streamline is going to one store for everything. and since the holidays are gearing up, i needed to add some dinnerware pieces to our very minimal assortment of all things entertaining.

but if you had told me i could find everything i needed for this latke party at one store (that i would have actually liked), i would have laughed at you. turns out that was totally a possibility. bed bath & beyond has a huge selection of items to choose from, but i found so many things that were totally my style and complimented other pieces i already had in my possession. i already owned some of their pieces from the Artisanal Kitchen Supply collection and love them. so, i decided to go with more of the same dinner and salad plates. because it was an easy-breezy latke party, i wanted the table to be minimal, but still really inviting, and candles usually set that tone without having to think much about a centerpiece. i went with these (baby-safe) electric wax candles that i never thought i would love, but totally do! and because much of the food was going to be brown (potatoes, on potatoes, on potatoes), i used light and airy colors to keep things glowing - whites, light grey, muted green, and these blushy pink napkins. everything came together so much more beautifully than i could have imagined. one stop shopping, truly at its finest :)

these latkes are a bit lacey and delicate, and super crunchy and craggy. they're my great-grandmother, nana helen's recipe that has taken on minor iterations throughout the years, but the core ingredients always stay the same. russet potatoes, onion, enough baking powder and cream of tartar to cover the tip of a butter knife (as per my great nana helen), some salt, and an egg. easy-peasy. a lot of times you'll find horseradish or herbed sour cream to serve with latkes, but i love how those light flavors pair right alongside the potatoes, so i added them to the mix and served them with traditional applesauce, and a (dairy-free) garlicky yogurt sauce, so good 👌🏼 so whether you're making your traditional latkes, my nana helen's latkes, or something else entirely, enjoy the sweet moments with the ones you love.

big huge hanukkah hugs! xo

horseradish, shallot & herb latkes | gf

if you don't like horseradish/or just want a more simple latke, omit the horseradish all together. i call for avocado oil and ghee for cooking the latkes, both have high smoke points so they're great for frying.

| serves 4-6 |

3 russet potatoes, scrubbed and dried
4 large shallots
1 large pasture raised egg, whisked
3-4 tablespoons jarred horseradish, drained
3 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill, plus more to serve
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
pinch cream of tartar
avocado oil
ghee (optional)

to serve alongside:

unsweetened applesauce
garlicky yogurt sauce (i doubled the recipe)

latke pie

i used this recipe, swapping q potato out for 3 small (or 1 large) parsnip

method

using the course section of a box grater, carefully grate the potato and shallot. using a dishtowel (or cheesecloth) squeeze as much liquid as possible from the potato mixture. place the potato shreds in a large mixing bowl and mix in the egg. then add 3-4 tablespoons horseradish (depending on your preference), herbs, salt, baking powder, and cream of tartar and stir until combined.
heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. while it's heating, line a large plate or baking sheet with paper towels, rip a few extra paper towels and set aside to drain the oil from the latkes as you cook.
add 1/4-inch of oil to the hot skillet, add a little knob of ghee if desired (the ghee adds a bit of buttery flavor). once the oil is hot, use a spoon to drop heaping tablespoons of latke mix into the hot skillet, use the spoon to spread the mixture a bit. cook 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crisp. transfer to paper towels to drain, and repeat with the remaining mixture.
eat right away or keep warm in the oven. serve with more chopped dill (optional), and sour cream and/or applesauce.