Hanukkah begins on December 18 through December 26. Families can add these festive ideas to their list of ways to commemorate the Chanukah season.
BIMUELO
An easy Hanukkah treat to make with Kids (courtesy of pjlibrary.org)
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 egg
1 cup of milk
Vegetable oil for frying
Optional: honey, maple syrup, or powdered sugar
for dipping or topping your bimuelos.
Directions:
Kids can help with making the dough, rolling batter, and choosing toppings. Grown-ups should handle all of the frying.
1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
2. Add the egg and milk, then stir until batter forms.
3. In a frying pan, pour in your oil (about two inches high) and warm your oil to about 365 degrees.
4. Drop the batter by tablespoons into the oil.
5. Fry the bimuelos until they are golden on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Use a slotted spoon to transfer your finished bimuelo to a paper towel lined plate to cool and allow the oil to drain.
7. Enjoy
A Lava Lamp For Hanukkah 
According to PJ Library, the creators, “This upcycled art piece is also a mini lesson in density—and since it uses oil and light, there’s a very lively holiday tie-in. This Hanukkah themed activity is also a fun science experiment. This funky craft is a great addition to a night of enjoying foods fried in oil – and bonus, it also embraces the Jewish values of curiosity and learning. Plus at the end, you’ll have a wonderful set of groovy “lava lamps” (or calm down bottles) – a great way to facilitate shalom bayit or peace in the home.” (Courtesy of pjlibrary.org)
What do you need:
Funnel
Water
Various types of oil (olive, vegetable, even baby oil)
Food coloring
Rinsed and empty drink bottles
from the recycling
A drop cloth
just in case things get messy
Directions:
1. Spread out your drop cloth and open up your bottles
2. Using a funnel, pour a small amount of oil into one of the bottles
3. Remove the funnel and add a few drops of food coloring
4. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water, stopping at ¾ of the way to the top
5. Put the cap back on very tightly
6. Gently shake the bottle
7. Observe what happens
8. Repeat the experiment with a new bottle, but try reversing when you add the oil and water