Mention the Jewish holiday 'Hanukkah' and the typical response is "that's the one close to Christmas, right?". Right.
But although Christmas is a huge event for Christians and in much of secular society, Hanukkah is more of a blip in an action-packed Jewish calendar.
For my family, Hanukkah doesn't rate nearly as well as (aka, Passover), while other major holidays include Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, held in October) and Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year, held in September). But what Hanukkah has that these other holidays don't have is an abundance of fried foods.
I often refer to Hanukkah as 'doughnut time' because one, I love doughnuts, and two, I am a . But before we can focus on the doughnuts, it's important to understand what Hanukkah is about.
One of the most important symbols of Hanukkah is the menorah.
Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday, which I believe is far too long to be celebrating any one thing. It's held on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the third month of the year on the Hebrew calendar.
, which sounds lovely but is, in fact, a remembrance of (yet) another period of turmoil for Jewish people. In about 200 BC, Jewish people were forced by Greek-Syrian Antiochus IV Epiphanes to abandon their faith and instead worship Greek gods. A rebellion forced the king and his soldiers out of and the Second Temple was cleansed and rededicated.
HANUKKAH FARE
Chocolate gelt crinkle cookies
To celebrate this re-dedication, Hanukkah was born and this year it's held between December 7 and 15.
I've never celebrated Hanukkah for the whole eight days - in the wise words of Kimberly "Sweet Brown" Wilkins - "ain't nobody got time for that".
My Hanukkah celebrations are more of a "greatest hits" approach, which jams in all the elements I prefer - all killer, no filler. Those elements are food, singing and games, and religious rituals.
I take the food part very seriously. Oil is the key theme for this holiday, as a crucial part of the Hanukkah story is the miracle of how one day's worth of oil for lighting candles on the nine-forked menorah, lasted for eight days. Thus, the eight days of Hanukkah, although that has not been tested in either a court of law or Judge Judy.
For me, Hanukkah is about making and sharing food that symbolises the Jewish people surviving (yet) another attempted elimination.
I often invite non-Jewish friends to Hanukkah dinner, because more is merrier. I also love introducing Jewish food to gentiles, because it's too good not to share and I enjoy making them try to pronounce the names of the dishes in just one go.
Alana Schetzer explains why Hanukkah may not be one of the most important events on the Jewish calendar, but one of the tastiest. Source: Supplied
Every year I switch up the main. This year I plan to roast a chicken that's marinated in lemon, garlic, rosemary and truffle oil. And because there is no such thing as too many latkes, I take leftover shredded potatoes and line mini-muffin tins with them to make a potato cup, which I fill with roasted carrots.
There's always a big serving of challah bread, which is a sweet, egg-based bread that's braided. I prefer it just on its own but it can be served with spreads like honey, jam or chocolate and hazelnut.
One of the most important symbols of Hanukkah is the menorah. Each night, one extra candle is lit until all candles are blazing. It also doubles as a fabulous self-defence weapon.
I like to serve dessert while the candle is being lit, and I always serve two desserts - the aforementioned doughnuts, stuffed with hot raspberry jam and cinnamon, and apple cake that's drizzled in honey.
Other than fried foods, there's lots of flexibility in what foods can be served; preferences will depend on what denomination of Judaism is being followed, what country you're in, or simply what you personally prefer.
JEWISH SABBATH BREAD
Challah bread
Personally, no Jewish holiday - or any week, goes by without slurping up some matzo-ball soup. I love a salty, faux-chicken broth with plenty of broccoli added. Even in summer, it's a light and refreshing meal, and matzo balls are one of the most moreish foods I've ever had.
Dinner is only finished after the menorah has been lit and I make my friends recite a prayer in Yiddish, which they always make a mess of, but that's the fun of it.
The Festival of Light is always brighter when humour, friends and doughnuts are added to the table.
