This is Mama Miche, and today, in my magic kitchen: Applesauce

With Hanukkah starting in two nights, all Jewish households will smell like oil—deep-fried goodness. There will be a lot of food cooked in oil. One of the most popular Hanukkah offerings is the potato latke. The latke is traditionally served with sour cream and applesauce. Everyone has a preference except for those special people who love it with both toppings. I'm special! If you want to level up, combine them. Sour cream AND applesauce on your latke. Thank me later. Anyone who has made latkes knows it is a labor of love. It takes hours to make, but it's worth every minute. If you're putting in all that work to make a homemade latke, isn't it worth having delicious, homemade applesauce? It takes no time compared to the main attraction, but it will make it much better than any store-bought applesauce could. You can make it up to a couple of weeks before. I make homemade applesauce all year, but it's extra special at Hanukkah.

This is Mama Miche, and today in my magic kitchen: Sweet Potato Kugel

Aaah Kugel! There aren't that many foods that are more Jewish. As Jewish? Maybe. But not more. If you're not from a Jewish community or a community with no Jews, and they do exist, it's a foreign word and food.

This is Mama Miche, and today in my magic kitchen: Lamb shanks

There are certain foods that will forever evoke memories. Everyone has them. Just the smell can take you back to another place in time. Lamb, any cut, takes me to my Momster's kitchen and makes me think of her. She made a great leg of lamb and Shepherd's Pie with the leftovers. Her lamb chops were perfection. But her lamb shanks were the best I've ever had.