You ain’t seen nothin’ yet:

In 2016, Chanukah will begin on sunset December 24th, and we will light the final candle on the evening of December 31st, officially ending the holiday at sunset the next day, January 1st.

That’s right; this year, Chanukah falls exactly from Christmas to New Year’s.  The same week that your gentile colleagues will be in full celebration mode, so will you. “Christmas for the Jews” is now an actual Jewish holiday (if you don’t count Nittel Nacht), that will continue all the way until the next Federal holiday.

We look forward to seeing the hipster Jewish recipes and all, but there’s a bigger question we need to resolve now, months in advance: What remains is what the portmanteau will be.

Chrismukkah (not endorsed by Jewcy) is already the fusion of the two holidays in interfaith homes, not Chanukah that happens to fall at a certain time. So… Chanukas? ChaNewYearkah? Perfect-Winter-Break-for-Jewish-Kids-Blessathon?

Of course, New Year’s is also a celebration of Jesus’s circumcision, so… Chanubrismas? Yeah, we’re going to go with Chanubrismas until we get something better.

Please tweet us your ideas so that #Chanubrismas doesn’t have to go viral. And remember: you heard it here first. And only 152 shopping days left till, well, whatever this is.

Image credit: Circumcision of Jesus by the workshop of Giovanni Bellini. Via Wikimedia.

The post FYI, The Timing of Chanukah is Bananas This Year appeared first on Jewcy.

Are you feeling those post-Thanksgivukkah pounds? Luckily for your waistline, you won’t have to deal with those two highly caloric days overlapping for another 70,000 years. But currently—you are likely dealing with a little excess. You might have some leftovers on your hips, or maybe it all goes to your arms. Wherever the latkes are lying on your body, it’s time to reboot. You want to look and feel your best at all the upcoming ugly sweater parties, and of course, the infamous New Year’s Eve party.

Here are some tips that will allow you to manage your weight and health during the upcoming weeks:

MINDFUL EATING

Mindful eating is the practice rooted in Buddhism that focuses on expanding consciousness while consuming meals. Mindful eating is essentially recognizing when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full. This all comes from being in tune with your hunger and satiety cues in order to guide you from eating that last jelly doughnut.

Before reaching for food, first ask yourself if you are physically hungry or if you just feel bored. Maybe there is something bothering you. Become aware of it, and then direct that energy to something more constructive than mindless eating.

BREAKFAST

Make sure to start the day with a breakfast that includes both carbohydrates and protein. The combinations will jumpstart your day and kick start your metabolism. Skipping breakfast will cause your body to hold on to excess fat, making it harder to lose weight, even if you’re hitting Soul Cycle or the yoga mat. Some healthy ways to start the day:

– oatmeal with Greek yogurt and a banana

– whole grain toast with almond or peanut butter (or you can even spread a 1/2 of a ripe avocado and drizzle some olive oil)

– an apple with walnuts and goat cheese

– cottage cheese & berries

– egg whites with a piece of toast

People who eat breakfast in the morning are less likely to impulsively eat later in the day. If you are in a rush, or absolutely hate eating in the morning, at least make sure to have a piece of fruit or a cold pressed juice.

Speaking of cold pressed juice…GO GREEN

Cold pressed green juice will increase your energy during this busy, and likely draining, time of year. Green juice aides in absorption, digestion, and decreased bloating. Even better–it’s low calorie, but still full of nutrients that will make your skin glow sans Insta-filter.

You can check out a juice bar such as Organic Avenue or Juice Press, or you can always blend your own. It’s important to have a vegetable based juice as opposed to fruit based. Fruity drinks are normally very high in sugar and calories; although of course, a fruit or two CAN be added to balance the bitterness of the vegetables. Beets and apples usually do the trick. Also, ginger and lemon create a balanced taste. Ginger is especially useful during this time of year, because it decreases gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, bloating and stomach pain. Lemons are a natural diuretic promoting detox–you may need this the morning after! The Vitamin C in lemons will boost immunity to avoid coming down with a cold during this busy time.

Some good mixes to start with:

– 5 handfuls of spinach, 3 kale leaves, 3 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 lemon and 1 red apple

– 6 swiss chard leaves, 1 cup of green grapes, 1/2 cucumber, 1 green apple, 1 piece of ginger

– 4 handfuls of spinach, 2 cucumbers, 2 red apples

SCHEDULE ACTIVITY

The key to staying motivated and efficient with anything in life is to have a schedule. In the beginning of each week when looking at your iCal or calendar (if you’re old school), make yourself block out time for exercise. If it helps, go out and purchase a new workout top in a color you like. You make think it’s silly, but I know from experience, it helps. Aim for at least four active days–whether that means a walking around the Central Park loop or kickboxing with your roommate.

Intervals are ideal for this time of year. When on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike, alternate intensity and speed every two minutes to achieve maximum calorie burn.

Gapfit and Gapbody are great choices for affordable, comfortable, and cute work out clothes. The GapFit Breathe long-sleeve T is perfect for this time of year. It keeps you warm, but is also available in bright colors to boost your mood.

I’ve found their Pure Body leggings to be perfect for yoga and pilates. They are super soft and sustain in sweaty times.

Athleta is another great brand. They offer petite, tall, and plus sizes. The Tinker Tank is perfect for those days when you don’t feel your best. Its slightly relaxed fit allows for comfort, but also a full range of movement.

PRE-EAT

Have a snack before leaving for parties–that way when the egg nog and black & white cookies come around, you won’t go wild! Safe choices for snacks are:

– wholegrain english muffin with 2 tablespoons of unsalted peanut or almond butter

– two Laughing Cow cheese wedges and 1/2 cup of grapes or a medium sized apple

– 3 ounces of hummus with baby carrots or 10 whole grain crackers

CHOOSE YOUR VICE

Would you rather a glass of Cabernet or a sugar cookie with frosting? Before you bite off the reindeer’s head, decide to make it an alcohol night or a sweet night–not both. Low calorie drinks include vodka and club soda with lime juice, Prosecco, Cava, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot, or a light beer such as Amstel. Stay away from dessert wines or anything with simple syrup, muddled fruit, or juices. Forget screwdrivers! The sugar in the orange juice DOES and WILL add up. As far as desserts–if there is a pure chocolate option, definitely choose that. Chocolate contains antioxidants and will give you a boost of dopamine, the hormone responsible for feelings of pleasure.

Happy Holidays!

(Photo by Chris Gramley/Vetta)

The post Post-Thanksgivukkah and Pre-New Year’s Diet Tips appeared first on Jewcy.

When it comes to the latke, the thought “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind. From the first crunch until the rewarding warm soft gooey inside hits your taste buds, you become that much more thankful for the miracles which took place during these times generations ago.

Handed the task to reinvent the latke for Thanksgivukkah, I found myself scratching my head, and stumped by the latke’s sheer beauty. How does one reinvent one of their favorite traditional dishes?

I’ll tell you my secret, you don’t.

Instead of trying to create a new deep-fried patty that fixes the original latke’s nonexistent flaw; I decided to pay homage to the dish we all love: the latke, with a new French twist.

The galette is a traditional French potato dish nearly as old as the Ashkenazi classic, the latke. Both dishes are rich in heritage and flavor. Thin, crisp, fatty, and starcharific, these two are classics for a reason.

When recreating the standard latke, I came up with only one major flaw: it’s way too small. The latke/galette fusion solves that. The potato galette is almost like one large latke, but even better considering the first ever Thanksgivukkah, it’s a fancy gigantic latke.

Follow this recipe, and you’ll have one tasty and large latke that can be sliced and served to your family while looking as elegant as your holiday table.

Not Your Bubbe’s Potato Latke Galette
Serves 8

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of olive oil
6 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (diced)
2 medium leeks (sliced into thin circles)
3 tablespoons dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly crushed black pepper
3 lbs. of Idaho potatoes (sliced into thin circles)

Directions:

1. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium pan over a medium low heat

2. Add your garlic, rosemary, leeks, white wine, sea salt, and pepper to the pan.

3. Let them cook for about 12 minutes or until the contents of the pan have softened considerably. By then most of the liquid in your pan should have evaporated.

4. Slice your potatoes with either a food processor or a mandolin.

5. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

6. Generously spray a 10-inch spring fold pan.

7. Fill the bottom of your spring fold pan with overlapping layers of potatoes. Try to use approximately 1/3 of your potatoes.

8. Sprinkle 1/3 of your cooked leek mixture on top of your potatoes.

9. Now spread an additional 1/3 of your potatoes on top of your leek mixture, creating an overlapping pattern.

10. Sprinkle another 1/3 of your leek mixture on top.

11. Now spread the final layer of potato slices on top of your galette before sprinkling the final 1/3 of the leek mixture.

12. Bake your galette in the oven for about 40 minutes, or until the top layer of potatoes slices begin to turn dark brown and wilt slightly.

13. Now cover the spring fold pan for 10 minutes with aluminum foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes before serving.

14. Serve immediately, with or without apple sauce!

Previous: Not Your Bubbe’s Stuffed Challah French Toast

(Photo by Aviv Harkov)

The post Not Your Bubbe’s Potato Latke Galette appeared first on Jewcy.

Drew Lerman is a writer and cartoonist living in Miami. Zeke Turner is a freelance reporter based in Berlin. They met in college after Drew published a controversial comic in the student newspaper and Zeke wrote a column in his defense.

The post Eight Days of Leftovers appeared first on Jewcy.

This Thanksgiving, Randi Zuckerberg wants you to unplug. That’s right. Sister of Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg suggests you stop updating your Internet life and attempt to engage with actual life. That means talking to people in your family and stuff. Ugh, how awkward…

On her Dot Complicated blog, Zuckerberg urges readers to enjoy one-on-one time with their families and friends rather than Instagramming the turkey, referencing her own social media mishap last Thanksgiving. She also took the opportunity to promote her new book on web addiction.

Before you point out the hypocrisy of Little Miss Facebook proposing a social media ban, you may want to take a look at the post. She kind of has a point:

Yes, I do mean eating your Thanksgiving dinner instead of live-updating from the table. And calling or Skyping a loved one directly instead of shouting “Happy Thanksgiving” to your followers. This year, let’s take a day off from sharing our every thought and feeling with the world. Give thanks for the people in your life by giving them your undivided attention. The most meaningful thing we have to give is our time. Stop broadcasting and start listening.

All things in moderation, of course:

Initially, I was going to suggest a total Internet black-out for Thanksgiving, but a tech boycott isn’t the answer. Our devices and our social networks do keep us connected, when we use them thoughtfully. It’s pretty amazing that I can see a relative’s face from across the country, or see photos instantly from a special event I wasn’t able to attend. Tech connects us when we use it mindfully.

So what if her bro’s company was kind of what started this mess? So what if the Zuckerbergs seem to have conspired to create the most brilliant business model ever? So what if while one Zuckerberg sibling entraps us with apps and ads and photos of our cousin’s neighbor’s husband’s dog, another is promising to free us from the dizzying loop of technology?

Previous: Mark Zuckerberg’s Sister Writes Children’s Book About Going Unplugged

(Photo by Waytao Shing/Getty)

The post This Thanksgiving, Put Down the Smart Phone, Says Randi Zuckerberg appeared first on Jewcy.

There’s less than one week until the day we’ve all (I guess) been waiting for: Thanksgivukkah. It’ll come, we’ll talk, we’ll eat, and then there’ll be thousands of insufferable online statuses about how full everyone is. With all the hype, we figured you’d want another parody video— you can even link to it when you complain about your tryptophan/heartburn hangover: “I’m soooo full. Don’t think I can eat for another 70,000 yrs! #Thanksgivukkah #full #Jewishpeopleproblems.”

By BuzzFeed Video, here’s another annoying Thanksgivukkah parody.

The post Another Thanksgivukkah Parody Video appeared first on Jewcy.

Jewish parody videos are nothing new. In the beginning, God created the Maccabeats’ Candlelight video set to the tune of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite,” perhaps the catchiest Hanukkah anthem ever. Then, Agent K Media graced us with a raunchy LMFAO spin, informing the interwebs that “he’s Jewish and he knows it.”

But this year, the Jewish holiday parody is back with a vengeance. Sick and tired of Hanukkah being perpetually outshone by Christmas, the Jews are finally getting theirs: a once in a lifetime, super-holiday, Thanksgivukkah. And we will not shut up about it! Those shopping mall carols have got nothing on the overload of irritating Thanksgivukkah parodies that are spamming up Facebook newsfeeds everywhere.

Here is a Jewcy countdown for the Top Five Most Annoying Thanksgivukkah Parodies:

1. “Oils,” a play on Lorde’s hit, is a great way to immortalize the fantastical holiday. And, it comes at the heels of the slightly creepy pro-circumcision spoof, “Mohels.” Now you’ll never get that damn song out of your head.

2. In this video, you will see Benji Lovitt’s singing head superimposed on Star Wars characters, Popeye’s Olive Oyl, some pilgrims, and the cast of Eight is Enough, as he tells the Thanksgivukkah story to the tune of Don McLean’s “American Pie.” You’d better watch it because he’s “about to cry from Jewish and American pride.”

3. Then there is that epic Manischewitz Thanksgivukkah rap battle. A classic, in which Hanukkah and Thanksgiving face-off for sovereignty over November 28th. Cute, Manischewitz, but that still doesn’t change the fact that your wine tastes like cough syrup.

4. The puppet band, Buba Myses, explores what happens when a non-Jew accidentally happens upon a Thanksgivukkah celebration and is bombarded with dreidels, latkes, and singing puppets in an adaptation of Will.i.am and Britney Spears’ “Scream & Shout.” YOU CAN’T LOOK AWAY. Trust me.

5. Finally, this parody is closer to resembling what many of our Thanksgivukkahs will actually look like. This sweet crooning couple (Gil and Margie Brodsky) could easily be your parents, and that menorah, with the turkey tangled in its branches— a likely Thanksgivukkah centerpiece.

Sing it with me, now:

Thanksgivukkah, Thanksgivukkah,
Come light the menurkey
Let’s have a party
With latkes and turkey
Maccabees and Pilgrims
Americans and Jews
Thankfulness and freedom—
The lessons we choose.

Take that, Baby Jesus!

The post The Top Five Most Annoying Thanksgivukkah Parodies appeared first on Jewcy.