Oh Latke, how we love you…..

On December 20, 2011 By thestampsinmypassportIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

For several weeks now, everyone is gearing up for the holidays that are upon us this coming week. Whether you are putting up your tree, or finding your lights to your menorah, it is a frenzy state of preparing. It really doesn’t matter if you are preparing for your Christmas dinner or making your reservation at your favourite Chinese food establishment, we are all looking forward to celebrating this week.

This past weekend was the start of what can be deemed Latkefest 2011 (sounds good, doesn’t it). Many people celebrated this past week with their friends and family for the start of Chanukah which begins officially tonight.

The latke….a potato pancake….and round patty of yummy goodness of fried potato and onion. The treat that we all love, that is time consuming to make, but tastes and smells oh so good. How could something so good, be so bad (because it is fried). And yet….everyone partakes because it is tradtion. Traditions are the fabric of our lives.

How you make them is interesting as well….some puree the potato, and others shred the potatos by hand (my way). But no matter how you make them, they taste oh so good.

For those who have been asking for the recipe I use, here it is:

Potato Latkes:

(yields about 2 dozen)

6 Potatoes, grated (pureed, whatever your pleasure)

1 small onion, grated

3 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 c. flour

1 tbsp. oil

2 tsp. baking powder

Oil for frying

Grate potatoes and drain well. Blend in remaining ingredients. Drop from a spoon into hot oil and brown on both sides, turning only once.

**NOTE: depending on where you are from, you may opt for different toppings – apple sauce, sour cream, salt and pepper. You could be a traditionalist and eat them plain. Usually the one who makes them has to “taste” a few as they come out of the skillet. (wink wink)

No matter what you are celebrating this week and the weeks to come, enjoy. It is a time for family and friends and we should always remember that.

So put on your yarmalke, it’s time for Chanukah….Chag Samach everyone!!!

turn up the volume and enjoy your music video of the day!

Paying it forward…the follow up story….

On December 20, 2011 By thestampsinmypassportIn Donations, Gift cards, Sick Kids FoundationLeave a comment

Back in November I wrote a post about paying it foward at this time of the year. I told you about an idea that a friend of mine had about collecting gift cards for the Hospital for Sick Kids so that parents/children could benefit in a different way than recieving a toy or a financial donation to the hospital.

My Hadassah chaper embraced the idea and at the annual Chanukah party and gift exchange we received $140 in gift cards to give to the hospital.

One of the chapter members happens to be going to the hospital this wednesday and wanted to bring the cards there and asked if I knew where they could be dropped off. Seemed easy enough to find out….or so I thought.

That started me on a two hour mission to find a LIVE person to speak to at the hosptial. I was finally able to reach someone in that division and when I told her what we had done and what we wanted to bring to the hospital she thought it was an amazingly gracious gesture.

She actually said, “we have SOO many toys, and this is something that there is a need for, and people don’t think about doing something like you have done”.

I told her that I wasn’t worried about the holiday crunch time, because our donations were a year round benefit and she agreed.

If you know any business or organization that is looking to do some sort of fundraiser during the year, think outside the box, a little goes along way!

happy holidays everyone!!

Lisa and the magic tree

On December 15, 2011June 16, 2014 By thestampsinmypassportIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Do you remember the story of Jack and Beanstalk? How Jack threw the magic beans out of his window and the next day the beanstalk appeared at his window? The tree at 30 Rock was like my magic beanstalk.

We were in a cab on our way to the tree and we were coming across 49th street and almost at Rockefeller. The traffic was very heavy and there were people everywhere. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the glow of an angel. I am not making this up, the sky was glowing from the brightness of the tree and the angels that are all over Rockefeller Center.

I said to the driver – STOP HERE! So we paid and hopped out of the cab. As I walk towards the glowing light, I was almost nervous about seeing it. And there it was…..

I was without words. Yes, the person who always has a story, a thought or an opinion, was without words. I was actually choked up. It was so beautiful, that there isn’t a picture that could do it justice. You just have to see it once in your life. I just stood there and took it all in. The briskness of the winter air, the glow of the angels, the lights, the size of the tree. It is 75 feet tall. So, if you live in a house with 10 foot ceilings, look up, look way way up and you can imagine how tall the tree is.

Of course, me, Pam and what felt like the whole universe was trying to have the same experience that I was having, so taking photos was very difficult to do. I did what I could, but I will also tell you that the memory will last for a very long time.

We lingered with the crowds, being bumped and pushed around so that everyone can try to capture the same shots. It is like a bob and weave between people trying to take pictures. We looked at the line of people waiting to skate, and then we got up close to the tree. Standing and looking up at it was again another perspective of its beauty. From far away it was like an oasis, and from close it was a giant. A giant beauty. Long beautiful branches with twinkling lights all over, and a star as bright as can be at the top.

On Monday morning we went back to 30 Rock to see the tree in the daytime. It was equally as awe inspiring in the day light as it was at night. And once again, I was choked up by the experience. Thankfully, the crowds were not as crazy in the daylight so picture taking was much easier!

As I have said before, my professional life has allowed me to create amazing life experiences for myself. This past weekend was one of those life experiences.