Kid's Korner Special Edition-Happy Thanksgivukkah

Gobble Tov! It’s Thanksgivukkah time!

This year, Thanksgiving and the first day of Chanukah both fall on November 28, making the special holiday of Thanksgivukkah. The two holidays won’t coincide again for 79,000  years so what better way to usher in this once in a lifetime event than with some special Kid’s Korner projects! 

We all know I love doing handprint art projects so what better way to start than with our 

Thanksgivukkah Menurkey

Thanksgivukkah Menurkey
Materials:

• A child (any age) willing to let you trace their hands.
• Construction paper or paint
• Glue Sequins and/or other embellishments

1) Take a sheet of construction paper and trace your child’s hands on it.  Painting your child’s hand also works but a bit messier. You’ll want to the fingers to be slightly apart to look the most turkey-like. Cut out the handprints.

2) Put the two-handprint turkeys together so that the thumbs/turkey heads come together in the middle to create the Shamash, or “helper” candle that is used to light the other candles on the menorah each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.

3) Glue the two handprints to construction paper.

4) Add candle flames. Here you can see that lots of sequins were used, but lots of other things would work, too. For interactive fun, you can have kids add one more flame each night to the menurkey throughout the holiday.

Here the menurkey is shown lit for the second night of Hanukkah, which is also Thanksgiving.

If you want to add more detail to your turkeys, you can add eyes and a red waddle.  googly eyes,  a red sequin in half for the waddle, and used crayons for turkey legs and a “Happy Thanksgivukkah” message, but whatever you have in your craft stash would work just as well.

Want to use paint instead? Here's a variation using painted hands instead of construction paper ones

Want to make a menorah that can actually be lit each night as well as serve as you Thanksgivukkah centerpiece? Try this simple, but easy to make 

Pumpkin Menorah.

 It’s easy to create a fun twist on the traditional Hanukkah menorah using materials you have on hand (well, most of them!). This homemade menorah uses pumpkins to bring a seasonal vibe to your holiday table and is a great way to have fun with the entire family.

MATERIALS

• Eight mini pumpkins and one medium pumpkin (for the Shamash, or helper candle)
• Tea Light Candles
• Hanukkah Menorah Candles (these will be easier to use for lighting the tea lights)
• Hand or electric drill fitted with 1 ½-inch-wide paddle bit 
• Paint and brushes or paint pens
• Other decorative materials of your choice (sequins, beads, buttons, gems, glitter, etc.)
• Newspaper to protect your work surface

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Kids: Remove the stems from pumpkins. 
2. Adults: Using a drill with a 1 ½-inch-wide paddle bit, drill holes in the tops of the eight mini pumpkins. A hand drill will allow you to hold the pumpkin in place with one hand. 
3. Adults: For the pumpkin that will hold the Shamash candle, use a regular drill bit and make a hole large enough for your Hanukkah menorah candles.
4. Kids: Decorate the pumpkins. I used glitter paint pens, sequins and beads, but you can use any craft materials you have on hand. Be creative!
5. Kids: When the decorated pumpkins are dry, line them up to create a menorah.

Kids and adults: Use your Thanksgivukkah menorah as you would any Hanukkah menorah, replacing the tea lights and Shamash candle each night. 

Looking for the perfect centerpiece for you Thanksgivukkah table? How about this quick and easy cornucopia filled to the brim with Hanukkah gelt!

You can’t have Thanksgivukkah without having latkes.  What’s a latke you ask-it’s only the best potato pancake you’ve ever had and a staple for every Hanukah celebration. Here’s how to give it a Thanksgivukkah twist!

Potato Latkes with Cranberry Applesauce

Makes 10-15 latkes

INGREDIENTS
2 ½ cups diced onions, divided
1 large egg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 pounds Russet potatoes
Vegetable oil (for frying)

Sour cream (garnish)
Cranberry Applesauce(garnish)

Special Equipment
Food processor with grating attachment

Deep-fry thermometer

PREPARATION

1) Line a colander with a smooth kitchen towel or cheesecloth. In a large mixing bowl, combine half of the diced onion (1 ¼ cups), egg, flour, salt, and baking powder, and mix with a rubber spatula just to combine.

2) Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes, working quickly so that the potatoes don’t brown. Using the grater attachment of a food processor, grate potatoes and remaining 1 ¼ cup diced onion. Pour the potato-onion mixture out into the towel or cheesecloth set over the colander, wrap the towel around the mixture, and wring out as much liquid as possible. The potatoes should release at least 1 cup of liquid. Discard liquid.

3) Add dry potato mixture to the egg/flour mixture, making sure to scrape all potato starch off of the towel and into the mixing bowl. Stir until batter is combined and sticky.

4) Preheat oven to 425°F. Set a wire racks inside a baking sheet and place it on the counter next to your stovetop.

5) Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Oil should be hot but not smoking, about 375°F. For each latke, take about ¼ cup of batter and flatten it in your palms to about a 2-inch disk. As you do this, squeeze out excess liquid, then place the disk into the oil with a heatproof spatula. Cook latkes about 4 minutes each side, until golden brown. 6) Cook in batches of 4-5 latkes. Between batches, use a slotted spoon to strain any leftover bits of potato mixture out of the oil. 7) Add more oil as needed, making sure to let the oil reheat before dropping the next potato mixture in. Transfer fried latkes to the baking rack, and place in the oven for about 8 minutes, until crispy and deep brown.

8) Garnish with sour cream and cranberry applesauce.

CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE

Serves 10-12

INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ cup sugar
½ cup Grape Juice or Grape Wine
4 large Granny Smith apples

PREPARATION

1)
In a medium sauce pot, combine cranberries, spices, sugar, and grape juice Bring mixture to a boil, then reduces heat and simmers 20 minutes. 

2) Peel and core apples, then cut them into large chunks (approximately ½-inch cubes), and add to the cranberry mixture. 3) Cover sauce and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If sauce begins to stick, add water.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before serving.

For your placemats for your Thanksgivukkah table, children young and old will delight in these free online downloadable coloring pages.

And to commemorate the this once in a lifetime holiday take a plate made from Commack and paint your own Thanksgivukkah Menurkey.

No matter how you ring in the holidays at your house, from all of us to all of you happiest of Thanksgivings and a joyful happy Hanukah. Gobble Tov! 

Gayle is a Disney Gal that loves churros for breakfast, still gets giddy with delight at the first sight of the “Disneyland next exit sign”, loves the overwhelming emotions and memories that come with each and every return to the Happiest Place on Earth and dreams of one day being the Captain of the Jungle Boat. To learn more about Gayle, click here