by Shelley Civkin Richmond Public Library

Xmas with Martha, Hanukkah with Bubbe

What do most people think of first when they think of holidays? Decorations and food, right?

Well, it seems like Christmas and Hanukkah just sort of snuck up on us this year. Some might say that it's too late at this point to start baking, cooking and decorating, but I say, 'Bah, humbug! If not now, when?'

For everything Christmas, I defer to the Queen of Entertaining, Martha Stewart, herself. Now, I know that some of you have defected from the 'fold' as a result of her nasty little scandal with insider trading.

But for those of you who have stuck by her through thick and thin, I bring you Christmas with Martha Stewart living. Parties and projects for the holidays by the doyenne of decorations.

Browsing through this colourful book, I came upon one of the most novel uses for my grandmother's old baking pans. According to Martha, these make fabulous wall sconces that will assuredly be the talk of the town. Clip on a candle to these textured beauties, and voila, you've got yourself a hip little holiday light fixture.

Or how about making miniature trees out of coloured gumdrops, Styrofoam balls and ribbon?

If cooking is your thing, then give Martha's menu items a try. Perhaps you could start with little sun-dried tomato palmiers, some choucroute garni or maybe rugelach fingers (now there's a word I understand!). If you find those items far too prosaic or proletarian (hah!), then I challenge you to make Martha's appetizer of smoked scallops, beets and endive leaves. Or...if you just get too darn frustrated by the whole holiday thing, then go directly to page 127 and try the Holiday Bloody Mary recipe (and double the amount of vodka...but don't drive). It's a good thing.

If, on the other hand, you celebrate Hanukkah, then go to Bubbe's kitchen. A collection of more than 300 recipes from the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Vancouver Section, this cookbook is chock full of old fashioned recipes like Bubbe used to make. Well, not my Bubbe, but others.

While not limited to just Hanukkah foods, Bubbe's Kitchen does include traditional holiday foods such as potato latkes and sufganiyot (jam or jelly-filled doughnuts).

For those of you unfamiliar with this celebration, Hanukkah is an equal opportunity 'fress-fest' where practically anything goes. But latkes (potato pancakes) are absolutely non-negotiable. So are sufganiyot, if you're from Israel. Otherwise, it's open season on brisket roast, salmon, roast chicken or lamb.

And believe me, nobody's going to try to pull one over on you by making a tofu turkey! It's meat and poultry, or it's nothing!

The recipes call for lots of high-calorie ingredients, with the requisite schmaltz (chicken fat) in great abundance.

Like every ethnic cuisine, some Jewish foods are an acquired taste. But just try to resist brisket and prune tsimmes, zhug, or kreplach. I dare you!

Whatever you do, just remember the famous Jewish injunction to "Eat, Eat!"

Shelley J. Civkin is the Communications Officer at the Richmond Public Library. For other popular reading suggestions, check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks.