It’s that time of the year again, where the pounds we gain is most definitely not the amount of money in our bank. That doesn’t mean we can’t lavish a little of our spending with my favorite kind of a waste of money…. Food. Or in this case, specifically, holiday traditional foods( from around the world). Because of the diversity of food, we can see that although many significant holidays, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year, are celebrated in countries all over the world, food customs fluctuate. So with five specific places to visit, * Comme avec moi autour du globe!

1. Latkes- Europen Countries

We begin our journey in Israel, where we sample latkes.
This is a traditional Hanukkah dish. Finding joy in eating crispy, cooked, slightly oniony potato pancakes during the Jewish holiday symbolizes endurance. Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah or the “Festival of Lights”) is a Jewish holiday commemorating a miracle described in the Bible’s Old Testament regarding one night’s worth of oil lasting longer than expected for eight nights. This is why a lot of the food served during Hanukkah is fried in oil, such as potato latkes. Jelly, various fried goodies, and Israel’s favorite, apple sauce are all staples to consume with latkes.

Recipe:https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a29994/potato-latkes-hanukkah-rec
ipes/

2. Gumbo- East Africa

Because Kwanzaa was a holiday influenced by sub-Saharan African harvest feasts, finding a precise item to acquire for this food was challenging. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili (East African) phrase matunda ya kwanza, which translates to “first fruits of the harvest.” To make my quest for Kwanzaa food easier, I discovered that anyone can make Kwanzaa cuisine. The menu has frequently been able to vary widely depending on individual family traditions, ranging from basic African-American soul food to African delicacies. Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Cameroons. With that mindset, I decided on creole shrimp/okra gumbo.

Recipe: https://southern-bytes.com/marys-creole-seafood-gumbo/

3. Songpyeon- Korea

We’ve had enough gumbo and have decided to travel to Korea. Because of the Korean celebration known as the Harvest Festival, ( Chuseok) visitors from all over the world get the opportunity to feast on many different things like Galbi-jjim, jeon, and japchae ( beef short ribs, savory pancakes, and a glass noodle dish.)One of Korea’s most cherished holidays is the Harvest Moon Festival, also known as Koren thanksgiving or Chuseok (or ‘Autumn Eve’). It takes place on the 8th lunar cycle’s 15th day. It’s a time for families to get together, eat, and celebrate the harvest season. Songpyeon, or rice cakes loaded with chickpeas, is a Korean celebratory food made to honor the crop(s) harvested around that period.
Recipe: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/songpyeon

4. Champurrado Mexico

You can never have too many chickpeas, however here’s to our second to the last journey to Mexico. We were served a variety of dishes in Mexico, but a specific chocolatey smell drew us in right away. Champurrado is the name of the small beverage in question. Champurrado is a hot Mexican drink or atole made with masa, water, and milk, scented with a cinnamon stick and vanilla, and sweetened with piloncillo. And, as the phrase goes, “a little goes a long way” when it comes to this. This is the drink to make if you’re seeking a festive option for hot chocolate over the holidays.
Recipe:https://www.goya.com/en/recipes/champurrado

5. Jollof rice -Nigeria ( & CO)

We decided to end it big and with that in mind we landed in my favorite place. Nigeria! This food has created debates all over Africa, the reality is that we have the best of this food and that is Nigerian Jollof rice! Jollof is said to have been popularized with the Wolof people of West Africa’s Senegambia region, where it is also known as ¨benachin¨. Jollof rice is produced by boiling plain (long-grain) rice with tomato-stained grains in the same pot as peppers, tomatoes, spices, and meats, then covering it for a bit to lock in the richness. Jollof rice is most popular in Nigeria, Ghana (they say their rice is better), Togo, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Liberia.
Recipe: https://cheflolaskitchen.com/jollof-rice/

Thank you for joining me, and I wish you a wonderful and pleasant holiday season!
Lmao I’m not even in a French class anymore, but I still attempt to speak french occasionally, so
here’s a dictionary for every time I went back to junior year French.
● Comme avec moi autour du globe!- Come (take a trip) with me across the globe!