WINES 101 with Patricia Cornwell

JANUARY 2012:

NEW YEAR'S LATKES With Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's

Mimosa: 3 parts sparkling wine
          1 part orange juice
Orange
In a champagne flute pour sparkling wine and top off with orange juice. Garnish with 1/4 slice of orange.

Bloody Mary: 3 parts bloody mary mix
   1 part vodka
                                       celery, spanish olives, lemon, lime
Fill glass with ice. Add vodka and bloody mary mix. Stir and garnish with celery stalk, spanish olives, lemon and lime.

RECIPE: NEW YEAR'S LATKES

INGREDIENTS: About 12 latkes

2 cups grated potatoes
3 eggs
1/4 cup grated onion
1 1/2 Tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
canola oil

PREPARATION:

Prepare and mix all ingredients before peeling and grating the potatoes, as they will turn grey quickly. Although it doesn't alter the flavor, it lacks presentation.

Preheat large skillet to med-hi with about 1/4" oil in pan. Too low a temperature will cause pancakes to absorb oil.

Grate and add potatoes and mix thoroughly. Best way to mix is with your hands but a wooden spoon works too. Shape into pancakes about 3" diameter.

Place pancakes in pan. Usually 3 at a time works. Fry until golden on one side. Flip pancake and repeat on the other side.

Serve with sides of sour cream and apple sauce.