Amelia Saltsman

Oh, Hanukkah — I adore you. Always have. Even as a kid, I drew to the warmth of the hanukiyah (holiday menorah) as though to a cozy fireplace. Little did I know I was tapping into the very heart of the holiday. And that is the inspiration for this simple and hearty make-ahead Hanukkah dinner menu.

French macarons may be all the rage, but don’t dismiss the humble macaroon, which is derived from marzipan — a smooth paste of blanched almonds and sugar that, when mixed with egg white and baked, turns into chewy little gems. And macaroons are a heck of a lot easier to make than a DIY Ladurée project. It wasn’t always so simple. My aunt Hanna once told me a story about the massapan that her mother, my Iraqi grandmother, use to make.

Salads are the unsung hero of my winter. Often overlooked — it’s too cold for salad! There are no tomatoes! — a winter salad challenges my creativity; surprises me with possibilities; and lifts my spirits on short, gray days and long winter nights. Yes, we have those in California where I live. Truth is, a refreshing winter salad is the essential counterpoint to hearty soups and braises.

This hearty winter braise is inspired by two of the most beloved dishes my safta (grandmother in Hebrew) used to make: kubbe — miniature meat-filled semolina dumplings simmered in a vegetable or meat stew — and long-cooked green beans, variously known as loubia or fasoulia. Here, herb-flecked semolina dumplings capture the flavor and nubbly texture of my safta’s original recipe without all the work.

What’s happened to Brussels sprouts may be one of the best food moments of the 21st century. No more boiling them into cabbage-y oblivion. We love roasting them, for good reason — time in a hot oven reveals Brussels sprouts to be remarkably nutty, earthy, sweet, and versatile. If you’re like me and can’t get enough roasted sprouts, you already know how great they are with balsamic vinegar. Meet my new best friend: pomegranate molasses, the Middle Eastern equivalent.

Parsnips — sweet, citrusy, spicy, and starchy — make a crazy-good latke. What? You thought latkes were only made from potatoes and only for Hanukkah? Let me explain. Latkes — typically potato pancakes — are a traditional European side dish that the local Jewish (Ashkenazic) population adopted long ago as their Hanukkah treat.