Help with a dairy menu for a sat. night chanukah party!

[4greatkds]

I am hosting the family chanukah party this year, sat. night, milchig,ideas please! on what to serve!!

[Jeserf]

latkes, a dairy kugel, maybe a really nice frittata? roasted winter veggies...?

a butternut squash lasagna?

[cheesecake17]

start with a soup- something wintery and dairy- pumpkin or butternut squash. your guests can start with soup while you finish up the latkes.

main meal: latkes, dairy casserole or kugel, spinach salad (my mother adds strawberries, sauteed mushrooms, red onions, balsamic), fish (fried or baked fillets), roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes with feta. if you're having kids too, defintiely include some portatable items, because the kids might be too jumpy to sit still and eat a meal. you can add spinach tarts, mini pizzas, olive or cheese pastries, veggie cups in wontons, and shot glasses or mugs of soup.

for dessert- chanukah cookies or a cake in a chanukah shape. my grandmother usually serves homemade ice cream, but you can buy a few flavors and toppings and layer them in a trifle dish. also, if there are kids, set out undecorated cookes, some icing and sprinkles, and let them have a ball. the adults will love it too.

[Diane in Bexley]

I am assuing fish is OK since it is pareve. I don't like the idea of a heavy noodle kugel with latkes, carb overload! I would go for salmon, whitefish, halibut or some kind of "meaty" tasting fish. You can roast steaks or a whole fish with lemon juice, some dillweed, shallots and a mustard/mayonnaise sauce. With the latkes you will have sour cream & applesauce, I presume? A great veggie is roasted asparagus with sliced lemon, kosher salt and some EVOO (in keeping with the oil theme). For dessert, definitely some Chanukah butter or sugar cookies. If you have lots of kids, you can prepare small bowls of colored frosting, and have the kids decorate the cookies as an activity. Needless to say, you need chocolate gelt. A citrus fruit salad (oranges/clementines, grapefruit, pineapple, honey & cocnut) would complement everything, but not absolutely necessary