The Season For Potato Pancakes

Winter is here with December first and that usually means hearty comfort food. I can think of no better one than potato pancakes. These seem to usher in the time of year when hot tasty treats are appreciated. These goodies can be eaten for lunch , dinner or even as a snack after a day of shopping or sledding. They're easy to make and even beginners can have success with them.


Almost every European country has a potato pancake recipe. In Ireland they're know as boxties in the Eastern European Jewish culture , they 're called latkes. German, Poles , Russians and Czechs also make them. They were part of my Swabian heritage growing up and there wa s nothing like the homemade kind serve with a side of chunky applesauce. These were called kartoffelpuffers. Nowadays people even make potato pancakes with sweet potatoes which have a sweeter, richer taste.

Potato pancakes are relatively easy to make. Regular potatoes will do just fine. Add one onion for flavor.usually three beaten eggs and flour. The mix is them spooned into a skilled with heated oil or butter in it and fried. For extra crispy pancakes, use only a small amount of the batter and flatten out. For thicker ones, ladle in heaping tablespoons of th e mixture. Fry on both sides. Potato pancakes are good with a side of both applesauce and sour cream. I usually like mine with just the sour cream along with a sprinkling of sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

This is the kind of weather that calls for hot treats like potato pancakes. Start December off with a dish of this well loved comfort food. They're perfect antidote for the hectic , crazy days ahead of us.