For those who are feasting on Hanukkah treats, here are a few fun and easy recipes from the Food Network's website to put some excitement into the holiday spread.

Potato and Carrot Latkes

Ingredients:

• 1 (24-ounce) bag shredded potatoes for hash browns
• 1 large carrot, peeled
• 1 medium onion, peeled
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons matzo meal, cracker meal or all-purpose flour
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 cups chunky apple sauce
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions:

• Heat ½-inch oil in a large skillet over medium to medium high heat. To test oil, add a piece of bread to the pan — it should turn golden brown in about ten seconds. Adjust heat, as necessary.
• Place potatoes in a large bowl. Using a hand grater, grate the carrot and onion into the bowl. Add eggs to the bowl. Add salt and baking powder, then sprinkle in meal or flour. Combine vegetables and meal with a wooden spoon.
• Drop mixture into oil in 3-inch mounds, press down gently with spatula to form patties. Fry in batches of 4 to 6 patties depending on the size of your skillet, 1-inch apart, until golden, about 3 minutes on each side.
• Put chunky applesauce and the cinnamon stick in a saucepan over medium heat and warm for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain latkes on paper towels or parchment lined tray. Serve with warm applesauce and sour cream.

Cinnamon Doughnut Holes

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup instant mashed potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs plus 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:

• Combine 1/2 cup water, the butter and vanilla in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer, stirring to melt the butter. Remove from the heat and stir in the flour, instant potatoes, 1/2 cup sugar and the salt. Return to medium heat and stir until the dough is tight and doesn't stick to the sides of the pan, about 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to a stand mixer or a medium bowl; cool for about 10 minutes.
• Beat the dough with the paddle attachment on medium-high or with a wooden spoon; add the eggs and egg white one at a time, beating until each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Once the eggs are mixed in, beat until smooth and glossy, about 1 minute. Set aside for 1 hour.
• Combine the remaining 1 cup sugar and the cinnamon in a shallow dish. Place a tall heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and fill it about one-third of the way with oil; heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340 degrees. With a small ice cream scoop, drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough into the oil (in batches). Fry, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer the doughnuts with a slotted spoon to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and roll to coat. Serve warm.

Noodle Kugel

Ingredients:

• 1 pound wide egg noodles
• 5 extra-large eggs
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup golden raisins

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 10 by 13 by 2 1/4-inch baking dish.
• Drizzle some oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Cook the noodles for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Drain.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir in the ricotta and raisins. Add the drained noodles.
• Pour the noodle mixture into the baking dish. Place the filled dish in a larger pan and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the sides. Cover the entire assembly with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 45 minutes, or until the custard is just set.