Jewish tradition meets Latin flavors in these fun, authentic recipes for Hanukkah. Lighting the menorah

For food writer and blogger Susan Schmidt, Hanukkah means lit menorahs, happy Yiddish songs and scrumptious potato latkes- but with a twist. Her menorahs adorn a traditional Latin home, the holiday tunes are carried in Spanish and spicy hot latkes are served with a schmeer of refried beans. That's how the creator of Challa-peño, a site following Schmidt's journey into writing a Mexican-Jewish cookbook, has been celebrating Hanukkah all her life: in a distinctively Jewish way, but with a decidedly Mexican flavor infusing the celebration.

Schmidt, whose Eastern European Jewish parents immigrated to Mexico in the 1920's, was born in Mexico City. As time passed, the family's Jewish heritage began to mix with their new country's Latin influences of cuisine and language. Today at the Schmidt's Los Angeles home, Hanukkah is a merge of two cuisines and two cultures. "We set up a table in front of a window, and

We take a look at the famous novios that stood out this year, by either keeping us guessing or putting their love on full display.

We may speak the same language and celebrate Christmas in the same month, but the traditions that define Latinos' fiestas de Navidad are as varied as our countries.

The ultimate holiday shopping guide for makeup lovers.
Holiday Beauty Gift Guide
By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Makeup companies usually release a slew of new products and gift sets during the holiday season. It can be overwhelming to decide what to invest in, so I investigated different beauty items and have prepared some of the best worth checking out. There are a few fun sets in the mix, as well as a few staples I think every woman should have.

Makeup gift sets in beautiful colors
Tarte came out with so many fun holiday gift sets this year that it was hard to narrow it down to just a few. By far my favorite has to be their Carried Away Collector's Set, which includes 24 eyeshadows, 8 maracuja lip glosses, a blush, their famous Light's, Camera, Lashes! mascara, a full sized face brush, a finishing powder, as well as a beautiful travel bag to fit it all in. The eyeshadows are housed in a compartment behind a large mirror in the included makeup bag. I just love how this set has practically all the

A holiday that began as the celebration of two cultures-Indians and Pilgrims-coming together to share a Thanksgiving en familiatable, has also joined Latinos and Americans into one family.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, we get the opportunity to celebrate many of the traditional US holidays, but I have to say that one of my favorites is Día de Acción de Gracias, or Thanksgiving, as it is known in the mainland. Just imagine having turkey, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes, along with Puerto Rican yellow rice, roasted pork and coconut-based desserts in 80+ degree weather. Every year our friends and relatives would join together to sit at the same table to laugh, talk and say a prayer of thanks-in Spanish, of course. It was the type of gathering beautiful memories are made of.

Once we moved to the states, and as my brother and sisters began to marry, the families they married into became integrated with our holidays. Soon, our table started showing signs of new traditions. There was a broccoli casserole

Shine Latina sat with two professionally accomplished Latin women to uncover the secrets behind A Latina's map to climbing the corporate ladderovercoming the gender and cultural barriers of corporate success.

When Puerto-Rican native Ingrid Schmidt began working as the administrative assistant of a mortgage bank's president in San Juan, little did she know that one day she would become Sr. Vice President of an even larger bank conglomerate.

She understood from the start that even at the lower levels of the corporate ladder, it's important to envision the professional career ahead. "You must look beyond at opportunities beyond [your present situation]. You have to have the vision," says Schmidt, who decided to be indispensable to her boss. "I became knowledgeable of all the numbers she needed to follow. I was aware of the mortgage industry's [monthly] ups and downs, and kept the president abreast of the latest data," recalls Schmidt of her first bank job, where she saw an opportunity beyond her pay grade, and worked hard

By Niria Portella

The perfect presents for everyone in your life, from mami to la vecina-all UNDER $100! We've got you covered. Check out our special CFL discounts, a great reason to start shopping early this year!

Read More at CosmoForLatinas.com!

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By Niria Portella

We've got you covered-from the cologne you'd actually want to spray on your man to the accessories you need to treat yourself to. Check out our special CFL discounts, a great reason to start shopping early this year!

Read More at CosmoForLatinas.com!

7 Holiday Cocktails

Winter Dates That'll Heat Things Up

Holiday Sex Confessions

How to Plan a Vacation