A Colorful Feast for Hanukkah's Festival of Lights

The star of your Hanukkah feast? A towering pile of golden-brown latkes.

While the latkes fry, keep little hands busy and hungry tummies happy with these oven-baked kale chips, made with heart-healthy olive oil. (Foods made with oil are traditional Hanukkah staples.)

For a pretty first course, serve this warming green soup, which is finished with an olive oil drizzle. (More traditional oil!) The basil provides a complex herbal note to please adults, while the smooth, kid-friendly texture will keep young celebrants happy.

Some combinations are classic: think peanut butter and jelly, cake and ice cream, and bagels and cream cheese. On Hanukkah, though, there's one classic pairing that beats out the rest: latkes with apple sauce. And making your own chunky-style apple "smash" couldn't be easier. (Have a tub of sour cream on hand, too, to avoid a revolt.)

Fill your plates with this hearty pot roast, a make-ahead cold-weather entr?e prepared in the slow cooker.

Mandelbrot is a traditional Jewish cookie very similar to Italian biscotti. Cap your holiday meal with these festive fruit- and nut-studded sweets. Offer little ones mugs of warm milk for dunking, and grown-ups cups of strong espresso.

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