A whole lotta latke-lovin’ is cookin’ up on the Web

Chanukah is almost here. And to celebrate, it's time to pay tribute to the wonderful and tasty latke. Today, sample the potato latke and its many oily variations on the World Wide Web. (My apologies to all Chanukah doughnut fans out there. Sufganiot will get their due recognition another time.)

When he appeared on "Good Morning America," Rabbi Marc Gellman shared a classic latke recipe (potatoes, onions, eggs, oil) with a little twist: nutmeg. The rabbi also gave advice about the latke's faithful companion, applesauce: "Core but do not peel about eight Mutsu or Rome apples. Cook with 1/4 cup of apple cider and cinnamon stick." His recipe has been posted at http://www.wchstv.com/ gmarecipes/potatopancakes.html

What to do if you love latkes but not the fat? The American Institute for Cancer Research suggests trying a no-oil Lean Latke. To make the pan-roasted latke, coat a skillet with cooking spray and smooth the grated potatoes into a large plate-sized pancake. One serving contains 162 calories and less than 1 gram of fat. The site adds that if a Chanukah latke just isn't a Chanukah latke without oil, then go ahead and add a tablespoon! You can find directions at http://www.aicr.org/smddec98.htm

If you ever tire of the traditional potato latke, don't despair. The Jewish Food LATKE archives have more than 100 varieties to tempt you: everything from brandied apple, beet, cheese, chickpea and sweet potato, cod fish, savory meat, Viennese layer to zucchini with garlic and yogurt-mint topping at http://www.jewish-food.org/ recipes/latindex.htm

If that's not enough, then hop over to the RFCJ Recipe Archive for apple-cinnamon, chestnut flour, risotto, mushroom pecan, brain (!) and more than 90 others at http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/rfcj/ category.cgi?category=HANUKKAH

There are many sites that give recipes but I particularly like one that spends more time on how to make a great latke. At the All Recipes site, there are tips about what kind of potatoes to use (russet), how to keep them from turning pinkish-brown (keep them under water) and how to make sure they don't fall apart when you're frying them (squeeze the potato mixture in a cheesecloth). It can be found at http://www.allrecipes.com/ cb/w2m/seaspec/holiday/jewish/latke

I never would have imagined that there was an entire sub-genre of latke humor out there! In the "Ritual Slaughter of the Latke," -- http://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/yiddish/homent.html -- Raphael Finkel elucidates the intricate (and phony) Jewish laws that ensure that latkes are kosher. For example, just as kosher meat must be salted, Finkel says we must "Remember to salt the potato and leave it to drain for at least 24 hours. We do this in memory of Lot's wife Latke, who was turned to salt. Use a lotta salt, in memory of Lot's daughter, Lotta."

For real Jewish passion, check out the food fight over which really is the tastier treat: latkes or hamantaschen. It is located at http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/comm/csj/970404/food.html And don't miss "The Scientific Method and the Latke-Hamantash Issue" by Edward W. Kolb, who really is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago, http://home.fnal.gov/~rocky/ latke_2.pdf (You'll need Acrobat Reader to view.)

If your kids love latkes and you want to keep them out of the kitchen, here's a solution. Have them create a "Magical Latke" using a paper plate, tape and brown paper -- http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/thisparticcraft.cfm?CraftID=602

Unfortunately, this food wasn't so pleasant for Jill Fenton. When she was challenged to spell "latke" during the final day of competition at the National Spelling Bee, the seventh-grader from Central Christian Middle School in Kidron, Ohio, spelled the food as "lotka." (That enabled Sean Conley of Shakopee, Minn., to walk away with first prize when he correctly spelled "succedaneum.") The story is at http://www.ohio.com/bj/ news/2001/June/01/docs/020031.htm

But I'll leave the last word to writer Marjorie Ingall, whose wishes for a modern-day Chanukah miracle are probably shared by latke fans everywhere: http://www.cuisinenet.com/ cafe/you_gonna_eat_that/1997/00009-1.shtml

"My hope is that a miracle will occur and the calories of eight days will count as the calories of one."

The writer is a Toronto-based television producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. His columns alternate with those of James D. Besser. Mietkiewicz can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)