, potato pancakes. >> at some point i'll have latkas for sure. >> reporter: because if latkas are important. >> i'd say they are probably parts of the holiday. >> reporter: why? >> it's an excuse to eat latkas. >> reporter: all of which brings us to little miss party planner who says she is going to show us the secret to making the perfect latka. >> it's a secret from my booby. >> reporter: she started by grating a potato and putting it in ice water, later when she removes it from the bowl it leaves a starchy residue. she says that is the secret. >> because the more potato starch you have, the crispier the latka you will get. >> reporter: next she adds her ingredients, potato, onions, egg, a quarter cup of beer, flour and salt and mixes vigorously. fry it up in a pan with corn oil on high heat for 4 to 6 minutes until it's golden brown. voila! scott rapoport cbs 2 news. >> and full disclosure, scott says the latkas were pretty awesome. >> there used to be a time when we got to sample these things. to have taken them all for himself. >> remember the ones we used to get in the newsroom, huge?

good friends and family here to try a latka recipe. we've got the latka recipe. [applause] ico's 97% customer satisfaction rating. 97%? helped by geico's fast and friendly claims service. huh... oh yeah, baby. geico's as fast and friendly as it gets. woo! geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more. [hold music playing] we at time warner cable, need to apologize to you. we no longer offer extended periods of free on hold elevator music when you call us. we're making a bunch of changes at time warner cable. including reducing how long you could wait on hold. now, we'll even call you back at a time that's convenient for you. but for those of you who miss our old on hold music, please check out twc.com/onholdhits people are shocked, that this process is so easy. every person that i helped, i wanted to help 10 more people after that. it just made me feel good. come into work everyday, and just knowing that i was going to make a difference in people's lives. come get health insurance, it's easy. i can help you. i just love helping people. i don't want anybody to

you need a quarter of a cup for each latka. once the latkas are brown give them a flip. >> give them another minute or we're ready to eat. after brown on both side place on paper towels. >>> wait and serve while still warm with apple sauce. that's what's cooking. >>> that's so good. i love that. >>> all of the food is delicious. don't forget hanukkah starts this sunday. you can find a list of event on our web site. at whdh.com. up next in "the buzz" cold play gearing up to play one of the biggest gigs yet. find out where they will rock out on sunday in february. >> clock ticking to finish this mornings. wonderful, crazy mornings. we figure you probably don't have time to wait on hold. that's why at xfinity we're hard at work, building new apps like this one that lets you choose a time for us to call you. so instead of waiting on hold, we'll call you when things are just as wonderful... [phone rings] but a little less crazy. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your l

. >> scott shows us how some are preparing and how to make the perfect latka. >> at the synagogue on the upper east side, the children are getting ready for hanukkah. hanukkah commemorates the rededication in jerusalem and how a small amount of oil meant to provide light for one day burned for eight. the festival of lights, as it's called, doesn't start until sunday night, but the kids are getting a head start. lighting the menorah. >> yeah. >> why? >> because i get presents. >> meantime here at the kosher market on the upper west side, shoppers are picking up food for the holiday. including a traditional hanukkah staple, latkas, potato pancakes. >> because if there's one thing we know, they are important. >> i would say they are the holiday. >> why? >> it's an excuse. >> all of which brings us to little miss party planner who will show us the secret to making the perfect latka. >> it's a secret from my grandmother. she starts by grading a potato and putting it in ice water. later, it leaves a starchy residue. she says that's the secret. >> because the more potato starch you have, th

german, excuse me, the start of hanukkah, this sunday, that sound amazing, latka-pal ooze a.kyw news radio" 10:60 a.m. on your dial. >> the latest on police officer hurt overnight by a suspected drunk driver. plus surviving mass shooting. it is on a lot of people's mind after the massacre in california. the simple advice that could save your life. >>> and, is your smart tv spying on you? how to keep your information private when you're watching television. we'll have the information on that story and more when we're back at the top of the hour. stay with us. this holiday, ford america's best-selling brand is giving you more. the ford holiday sales event... with 0% financing for 60 months on 2015 f-150 and focus and 2016 fusion and escape. plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on 2015 focus and 2016 fusion and escape. it's the best gift ever. now during the ford holiday sales event get 0% financing for 60 months plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on select vehicles. see your local ford dealer. >> from the cbs broadcast center in philadelphia. this is cbs-3 "eyewitness news"

we give out latkas. everyone that comes loves it, and the message really resonates with them. we hope they go home with this message and their lives become more light. >> why is it so important to have such a huge public demonstration like that? >> well, because this whole holiday is all about lighting the menorah and lighting up the darkness of the world. so we want to take this message and put it out there. we want people to look at it, to study about it, to live with it. and that's why this is so important to us. the bigger the menorah, the larger the crowd, the more publicity around it, the better chance someone will come and actually be inspired from such an event. >> we were talking just before going on the air here, you're a dad. you talk about light over darkness. when we've had a week like we've had in the country, there are faiths, but what do you tell kids about light dominating darkness at a time when all this horrible news is coming at us? >> well, it's a good point you bring up. that's why this year at the celebration actually it's much more meaningful for us bec