Spinning the dreidel is definitely something fun to play on Hanukkah! But if you need something new, you can try Hanukkah Bingo from Jewish Holidays in a Box! It's just like regular Bingo, but instead of numbers, the cards are filled with images of latkes, gelt and candles. So dance the hora, light the menorah and then call out "Bingo!"

Jewish Holidays in a Box will be giving away one Hanukkah Bingo set! To enter to win, please comment on this blog post letting us know who you would give your game to if you win. It's OK if it's for you! One winner will be randomly chosen on November 10, after 10:00am PST/1:00pm EST. Good luck!

Posted by Rachel Teichman

I am really not one who has jumped on the bandwagon that is apps. But what I do like is taking photos on my phone. And I like sending them to people. And I like emoticons. And I like collages. And I like pictures of treats. And now I like the new Moonfrye App! It is there where I can combine all of these things that I like, and create collage images of my photos with cute icons and text. And then I can mail them to people. It is so easy, and you can edit all along the way. I whipped up this cute collage for my niece's third birthday tomorrow. Just have to keep her from seeing this post until then. Please share your Moonfrye App creations with us!

There is also one real craft project idea that you can try out that matches each theme!

Posted by Rachel Teichman

We still have such fond memories of the Chanukah projects we made last year with the Handmade Hanukkah kit from Kiwi Crate! I was so impressed that all of the materials we needed came inside the box. And that the box was even something we needed to keep the dreidel spin art from getting messy! Using their dreidel to make art really does work. And the menorah comes with enough parts for all kids to decorate as many candleholders as they want! I am glad to see that this kit is being offered again this year. If you have this kit, or get it this year, please share your project photos with us!

Posted by Rachel Teichman

Now through Thanksgiving is when you are going to consume your pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice quota for the year! So how about a dip that works great for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any time you need a snack? A little pumpkin and spice make this dip nice to try!

Pumpkin Pie Spice Dip
Ingredients
3/4 cup whipped plain cream cheese
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 cup pureed canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped sugared pecans, other nuts, toffee pieces, chocolate chips or sprinkles

Directions
Whip together the cream cheese and sugars. Mix in the pumpkin and spices until smooth. Then stir in the nuts or other add-ins. Serve with sweet potato chips, Graham crackers, cinnamon sugar pita & pretzel chips or apple slices. 

Posted by Rachel Teichman

This fall we need a new snack mix to eat while watching football and playing dreidel! By combining equal parts of any of the snack foods below, you can create your own mix to capture the flavors of Chanukah and Thanksgiving, or Thanksgivukkah!

Fall Snack Mix Ingredients
Potato sticks           Sweet potato chips
Dried apples            Dried cranberries
Chocolate gelt         Dried green beans
Pecans                    Dried strawberries
Yogurt chips           Corn Nuts/Corn Chex
Cinnamon sugar     Pumpkin pie spice

Posted by Rachel Teichman

If only the Pilgrims had landed at Plymouth Rock a few days earlier, and the Maccabees hadn't found such miraculous oil, we wouldn't be where we are today. We would have to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Chanukah separately, just like we will for the next tens of thousands of years. 

But it seems the stars have aligned just so, and we get to combine not only the actual celebrating, but the cooking and eating that are integral to these two holidays since Thanksgiving falls on the first day of Chanukah this year, giving us Thanksgivukkah. 

Below is a list of the traditional foods for each holiday, and some ideas on how to combine them if you wish. Please share your recipes too! 

And whoever designed this Latke Pie Server must have just been waiting for this day to arrive! 

Make a wish on that wishbone, spin the dreidel, and have a great day!

Thanksgiving Foods
Turkey
Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Brussels Sprouts
Cranberry Sauce
Gravy
Rolls
Corn bread
Ham
Turducken
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie Spice

Thanksgiving Activities
Saying What You Are Thankful For
Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Watching Football
Playing Football
Wishbone Wishing
Napping!

Chanukah Foods
Potato Latkes
Cheese latkes
Apple sauce, plain and with cinnamon
Sour cream, plain and with sugar
Brisket
Cheese Blintzes
Jelly Donuts
Chocolate Gelt
Cheesecake
Oil

Chanukah Activities
Lighting the Menorah
Singing
Presents
Playing Dreidel
Telling the Chanukah Story

Combos
Deep Fried Turkey
Applesauce Stuffing
Donut Stuffing
Deep Fried Stuffing Patties
Deep Fried Mashed Potato Patties
Sweet Potato Casserole with Chocolate Gelt
Latkes with Cranberry Sauce
Latkes with Gravy
Latkes with Pumpkin Butter
Olive Oil Dressing Over Brussels Sprouts
Pumpkin Pie Spiced Apple Sauce
Pumpkin Pie Spiced Sour Cream
Green Bean Casserole Topped with Crispy Latke Pieces
Cranberry Sauce Chocolate Gelt Bread Pudding
Fried Pies 
Doughnuts Filled with Cranberry Sauce
Buttermilk Pie
TurLatNut: Jelly donuts stuffed with cranberry sauce, stuffed into a turkey along with latkes.
Gluten Free Turkey Sandwich: Two Latkes with Sliced Turkey & Cranberry Sauce in Between!


Posted by Rachel Teichman

This will be a real treat for the Shabbat which falls the day after Thanksgiving (Thanksgivukkah) and also on the third night of Chanukah! 

Cranberry Chocolate Gelt Bread Pudding
Ingredients
3 cups challah, in bite size pieces
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup cranberry sauce
14 medium size pieces of gelt
Pecans, optional
Directions
Mix the eggs, milk, cinnamon and sugar. Pour over bread in a bowl. Allow to soak for five minutes. Mix in the 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce. Mix in seven broken pieces of gelt. Pour into a greased 8x8" baking dish. Top with 1/2 a cup of cranberry sauce. Sprinkle with seven more pieces of broken gelt, and the optional pecans. Bake on at 350º for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy warm with whipped cream, sweetened sour cream or ice cream. It can be served cold as well. Great for dessert or breakfast!


Posted by Rachel Teichman

It's part turkey and part menorah! Make a paper turkey using rectangular shapes as the candles/feathers! Yellow feathers on the ends double as flames! Number each flame, and write something you are thankful for on each candle during each night of Chanukah, including Thanksgiving night! Thanksgivukkah is coming!

Posted by Rachel Teichman