Two weeks from now, I will be lighting the third candle on the menorah to commemorate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. A festivity typically paired with Christmas due to the time of year, this eight-night ritual recalls upon the miracles that continued our Jewish heritage; and it, more importantly, points to the power of light, even in a dark and distressed world.
Having relished in the Hanukkah traditions as the rabbi's daughter, I coveted the game of dreidel. It's competitive and crafty, and, more importantly, it involves candy. The "traditional" candy given to the winner of dreidel is a rather tasteless piece of chocolate wrapped in gold foil.
Inspired by one of my favorite bloggers Molly Yeh and prompted by my partner Whole Foods, I took it upon myself to recreate the chocolate prize. Here's #MyHolidayTradish for December: A gelt upgrade.
You can consider this glorified gelt a valuable (and gluten free!) option during a holiday cookie swap; or if you feel inclined to make a traditional cookie, reconsider the shapes by finding a dreidel cutter.
This gelt recipe is simple...almost too simple.
1. Gather your toppings. I selected raw pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, shaved almonds, dark chocolate shavings, and candied ginger.
2. Heat semi-sweet chocolate chips over a double-broiler, stirring until melted and smooth.
3. Carefully drop a spoonful of chocolate on a piece of parchment paper. Swirl to create a 2-inch diameter circle. Immediately add a pinch of your favorite topping.
4. Allow to rest for at least 30 minutes. Package in an airtight container, and they'll last in the freezer or fridge for weeks!
So, what’s your Holiday Tradish? Join me in sharing yours with the hashtag #MyHolidayTradish. Whole Foods Market customers will have a chance to win groceries for a year for you and a friend (yes, you can nominate someone to share the gift with you!) by participating in the #MyHolidayTradish contest. Enter here.
This post is brought to you by Whole Foods Market. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors.