Retirement Yenta

Dear Readers, Retirement Yenta has a brilliant idea that she would like to share with you: throw a latke party! Mother Yenta was a consummate entertainer and your dear Retirement Yenta continues to try and live up to Mother Yenta’s crafty ways of throwing a good Chanukah party. The trick to a good Latke Party is getting EVERYONE involved in the making of those oh so tasty pancakes of potatoy goodness. The first thing you need, dear Readers is a Latke recipe. Retirement Yenta does NOT sanction the latkes that are in the freezer isle. These need to be made from scratch! Don’t worry…you won’t be working alone…that’s part of the party. Your little Yenta has tried many-a recipe and she really likes this Latke recipe at epicurious.com. Now that you have your recipe, dear Readers, run out and buy the ingredients…double or triple or quadruple the recipe according to the number of people you are inviting. OR, list the ingredients in your invite and let people bring their own (so they can have plenty to take along home after the party). Other party purchases should be:

1. Wines and Cheeses of the World (don’t forget the crackers!)
2. Other favorite snacks to munch on while in the throes of cooking
3. Your best Chinet (or disposable plate of choice) and solo cups (while red is the traditional solo cup choice, RY recommends blue for the holiday!)
4. Flowers for table decoration
5. Ziplock (or other brand) of disposable storage devices for your partiers to take a latke or two home with them

Now, dear Readers, you have the makings of a perfect party. DO NOT make anything in advance. Well, maybe put your cheese  on a plate. Put on some good music, eat, drink, chat until the majority of your partiers arrive…then put your partiers to work! Grate the potatoes, and make ‘em up as a group. Eat and drink some more–try out some of your handiwork. Socialize, Festive-ize, and to summarize: Have Fun. You will find that a Latke Party will provide a “Latke Laughs.”