Family Chanukah Party

Art, Dreidels, and Doughnuts

By Mindy Kobrin
Chanukah and Dreidel FunChanukah and Dreidel Fun

For a perfect family Chanukah party, I have three words for you: art, dreidels, and doughnuts. While the paint is drying, fry up some delicious doughnuts while the kids are spinning the dreidel.

Start by painting easy to remove fun and festive pictures on your windows.

Window Painting

You've heard of finger painting, but what about window painting?
Welcome Chanukah by painting a festive scene on your home's windows. Don't worry: The paint is easy to remove, and if you have a camera handy, you can capture your child's "stained glass" in photographs.

Holiday Window PaintingHoliday Window Painting

Materials needed:

2 tbsp. powdered tempera paint
1 tbsp. warm water
1 tsp. dishwashing liquid
Equal solution of vinegar and water
Old towel or rag
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Newspaper (to cover the floor)
Paintbrush
Clean Windows!

What to do:

Step One: Measure powdered paint into the mixing bowl.

Step Two: Stir in the warm water until the mixture is smooth.

Step Three: Next, add the dishwashing liquid to the mixture.

Step Four: Stir the mixture well, but try to avoid making suds.

Step Five: Now let your kids create their Chanukah scenes, menorahs, gelt, snowmen, dreidels on a window or two.

Step Six: The paint will dry in about 5 to 10 minutes.

Step Seven: To remove the paint, make a solution with equal parts of vinegar and water. One cup of each should be enough to remove the paint from one window with an old towel or rag.

Dreidel Game

Materials:
1 Dreidel
A bunch of small items to act as counters. Raisins, pretzel sticks, M&M's, chocolate coins, beans.

Game Play:
Divide the counters equally among the players.

Every player contributes one counter into a central pile. This becomes the "pot."

Players spin the dreidel in turn and contribute or collect items from the pot based upon which letter faces up when the dreidel stops its spin.

Nun - Nisht - the player collects nothing from the pot.
Gimmel - Gantz - the player gets it all.
Hey - Halb - The player collects half of the pot.
Shin - Shtel - The player sets one of his own items into the pot.

Winning:
The player who gains the most items wins.

Desserts

While your masterpiece is drying, admire your creation with some of the best hot chocolate and fried doughnuts gelt can buy!

Marie-Belle designer chocolates and Aztec hot chocolate will certainly compliment your window artwork. Stock up on this best-selling Aztec Original hot chocolate made from highly concentrated Venezuelan cocoa. Just add hot water or milk and stir! If there are more than just kids around, bump up the holiday cheer with some more of my festive cocktail and drink ideas.

Plump Chanukah Fried DoughnutsPlump Chanukah Fried Doughnuts
Each year many Jewish families celebrate Chanukah by serving Sufganiyot, fried doughnuts--a traditional holiday treat. These Israeli doughnuts, which are deep-fried in oil, commemorate the miracle of the burning oil lamps in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Plump up the doughnuts with your favorite fruit jams, and serve them hot, if possible.

For a wintry effect, sprinkle their tops with granulated sugar.

Sufganiyot-Plump Chanukah Fried Doughnuts

Ingredients

2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water, (100 degrees to 110 degrees)
1/4 cup plus
1 teaspoon sugar, plus more for rolling
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups vegetable oil, plus more for bowl
Almond Slivers

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine yeast, warm water, and 1 teaspoon sugar.

Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes. Place flour in a large bowl.
Make a well in the center; add eggs, yeast mixture, 1/4 cup sugar, butter, nutmeg, and salt. Using a wooden spoon, stir until a sticky dough forms.

On a well-floured work surface, knead until dough is smooth, soft, and bounces back when poked with a finger, about 8 minutes (add more flour if necessary).

Place in an oiled bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Set in a warm place to rise until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 2 1/2-inch-round cutter or drinking glass, cut 20 rounds. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise 15 minutes.

In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat oil until a deep-frying thermometer registers 370 degrees.

Using a slotted spoon, carefully slip 4 rounds into oil. Fry until golden, about 40 seconds. Turn doughnuts over; fry until golden on other side, another 40 seconds.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Roll in sugar while warm. Fry all dough, and roll in sugar then sprinkle with finely chopped almond slivers.


For more Chanukah ideas, check out my Eight Chanukah Party favorites and have a very happy holiday! Have you had delicious success with holiday cooking and entertaining? Share your Holiday and Party Ideas with us at Celebrations.

f you’re looking for inspiration this holiday season, visit our Holiday Party page to see a cornucopia of ideas or Ask Mindy for tips!

Forward this page to a friend