January 2009 Archives

So get this: the other day, Zeke is getting ready for bed, and he asks for cookies. These are little cookie monster cookies about an inch on a side, so he can eat several. Here is a recounting of our conversation.

Z: I want cookies
J: How many cookies?
Z: How about six cookies.
J: Well, Zeke, that's too many cookies. What would be a better number?
(pause)
Z: How about NINE cookies?
J: No, what about three cookies?
Z: How about FIVE cookies?

At this point, Rori agreed and I gave him five cookies. I really think, though, that I could have worn him down to four.
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Adobe finally killed Bridge Home. It's sad, because in CS3, it was a great resource that I was sure to show at every event and training that I did. In CS4, it was nothing but a placeholder, and Adobe killed it today. Once again, the useful succumbs to the realities of big business. If only Internet Explorer could die as well.
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Rabbi Herzfeld organized a group of students from Brandeis, Bowdoin and Bates to come visit the Shul this weekend. It was great to have so many young people in the service, and also to get them thinking about places off the beaten path like Portland for settling down after grad school. We're going to Hockey tonight: Pirates vs the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Sieve, sieve, sieve...
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I had Time Warner business class cable telephone (4 lines) and Internet (5 static IP addresses) installed at the office today. The process was painless, and the switchover took about 30 seconds. Prior to the change, with Verizon/Fairpoint, long distance calls were often very staticy, and we had trouble sending FAXes out of the local area. This afternoon, calls were crystal clear, and we'll test FAXing on Monday, I'm sure.
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My lovely wife, Rori, suffered a rib injury in a car accident in October. She's been in physical therapy ever since. We shared lunch today, which was nice, until she started choking. Wary of the rib, I let it go as long as I could before I had to "do the Heimlich." The sound of the rib cracking still makes me shiver many hours later.
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My second Total Training series is now available: Total Training for InDesign CS4 Essentials

It is longer than Acrobat, and should help a lot of new users get started with InDesign.
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Despite my general reluctance to use social networking sites, I signed up for Facebook this week in support of some other efforts. I must say that it has been fun to reconnect with so many people in such a short time. Of course, I used to get things done before Facebook...
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Brr!

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We arrived home from our annual trip to Long Island, New York, to find that the furnace had run out of water earlier in the day. 41° F in the house at 8:00PM. Right now, it's 49 and rising.

Did I say Brrr?

Top Latke Recipe

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Here it is, the Top Latke recipe as much as I can remember. The ingredients are right, but the quantities may be subjective.


7 lb or so white potatoes, washed but not peeled

3 large sweet potatoes, washed but unpeeled peeled

2 large onions

2 jars prepared horseradish

9 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil (if deep frying, omit oil)

1 1/2 cup matzoh meal

Some Kosher salt

Some ground black pepper


1) Into a large bowl, shred 6 lb of white potatoes and 2 of the sweet potatoes. I like to do it by hand, but you can use a food processor.

2) Into the same bowl, grate the remaining potatoes and sweet potatoes.

3) Sprinkle mixture generously with salt, but don't overdo it.

4) Mix the potatoes and salt and allow to stand 10 minutes.

5) Transfer potatoes to second large bowl, leaving water and starch behind. 6) Add pepper and matzoh meal to potato and salt mixture.

7) Mix.

8) Crack eggs into bowl, discarding shells. If frying on a skillet without deep oil, add oil at this point. If frying in a deep pan in oil, do not add oil.

9) Add Horseradish.

10) Mix.


Use a fork or spoon to transfer mixture to hot pan. Cook until potato mixture turns brown on the edges, then flip. Cook to taste, and it's OK to err on the side of crispy. 


I prefer a crispy pancake that holds together. You will want to experiment with cooking times and temperatures. We had good results pre-baking the pancakes on a greased cookie sheet or baking stone in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes prior to frying. This reduced the frying time and allows for a less crispy although golden brown pancake that is cooked through and through.

About this Archive

This page is an archive of entries from January 2009 listed from newest to oldest.

December 2008 is the previous archive.

February 2009 is the next archive.

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