Going Through the Archives

I'm a big fan of Google Reader, but one of the big problems with having all the useful features of RSS aggregation is that, if I want to comment about something, instead of merely sharing the LOLcat or missive from America's Beef Producers in the little widget box on the right, I have to "star" it and remember to look into my "starred items" folder later.

Which I don't do often enough.

Anyway, this will be the first in hopefully a series of posts where I clear out all the stuff I've been telling myself I'd blog about but haven't really.

LATKES
I am Jewish, therefore I blog about latkes. Haven't eaten any this season, because everyone around me is afraid of the demon fat and will not fry.

• Lots of movement on the internet about latkes. THe most interesting development was the concept of beetroot latkes with goat cheese, pioneered by the blog Eat Like a Girl. The goat cheese used is not the usual chevre, but an Irish goat milk brie. I'm not sure, if your local Teet does not carry brie made from Irish goats' milk (although what grocery doesn't, these days?), whether you should substitute real brie, chevre, or something else, like camembert.
• The Epicurious weblog had a round-up of many other latke blogs out there, which allowed me to consider a blog post about latkes without more of my usual manic searching for links. The best? A recipe on how to make latkes in the oven, which eliminates the oil which makes latkes ceremonially important, but is marginally healthier (if you can afford the carbs; for those who fear Demon Carbohydrate, this latke recipe is for you; if you want your latkes only marginally healthier, here are some tips to avoid common latke perils).
• Ms. McLellan at Slashfood realizes that one must alter the recipe slightly for sweet potato latkes.
  
• If you're taking this Hanukkah as an excuse to relive the famous DeLaurentis/Flay vs. Ray/Batali Iron Chef battle in your own home - Battle Cranberry, as we all remember - I would suggest this latke dressing from Two Fat Als. The Food Network has its own cranberry-themed latke, but I distrust it slightly because anyone who gives so much airtime to Paula "lard" Deen, Rachael "let's put the bacon on the challah" Ray, and formerly Emeril "andouille in everything" Lagasse can't take Jewish food seriously.
  
• Finally, the Jones Soda Company, who sell out their turkey-flavored soda every year despite it, well, being a kosher diet turkey-flavored soda, have a Hanukkah pack with latke-flavored soda. Use your best judgment.