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Our BetterMost Community => The Holiday Forum => Topic started by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 08:07:59 am

Title: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 08:07:59 am
Greetings, all!

A suggestion was made in chat to have a thread for Holiday Menus (not recipes). Since we are such an international group, we thought it would be fun to see what people traditionally eat for special occasions during this holiday season...Hanukah brunch, Christmas Eve dinner, New Year's Day, etc...you name the event and tell us what is found on your table. Don't include recipes here. If you want to include recipes, post them on the appropriate thread. And if you want to ask someone for a recipe...that's fine too!

Have fun! I am looking forward to reading lots of interesting menus!

Leslie
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 08:11:04 am
I'll get the ball rolling...just as Santa will always come down the chimney, this meal will always be on the table for Christmas Dinner in our family.

THE NICOLL FAMILY CHRISTMAS MENU

Standing rib roast
Yorkshire pudding
Creamed onions
Creamed spinach
Peas
Horseradish sauce

Dessert -- varies. Nothing particularly traditional about dessert in our household, for some reason!

Leslie
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 10:07:55 am
This is really jumping ahead, but the traditional Pennsylvania German New Year's Day dinner is roast pork with sauerkraut. It's one of those dishes that's supposed to bring you good luck in the coming year if you eat it on New Year's Day. Contrariwise, no proper Pennsylvania German would eat chicken on New Year's Day. Why? Because chickens scratch backward--a bad sign at the beginning of the new year--whereas hogs (pork) root forward.  ;D

Since sauerkraut is said to be rich in vitamin C, perhaps there is kernal of truth behind the tradition of eating it on New Year's Day. Back in the days before people knew about vitamins, it would be a good thing to consume something rich in vitamin C in the depth of winter.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 20, 2006, 10:45:35 am
Here's my menu for this Thanksgiving (we're having two couples over):

14-lb roasted turkey
Giblet gravy
Traditional stuffing (made with baguettes, onions, celery, chicken broth, and lots of butter)
Mashed potatoes (made with Idaho potatoes, heavy cream, and lots of butter)
Cranberry relish (made with fresh cranberries, oranges, and orange liquer (but no butter!))
Green bean casserole (the hokey magazine kind, made with mushroom soup and that dried onion stuff on top)

And for dessert: a triple-layer chocolate mud pie, made with a chocolate pie crust, semi-sweet bakers chocolate, chocolate pudding mix, pecans, and whipped cream.  (I wanted to do my specialty - Southern bourbon pecan pie - but my husband doesn't care for it, the nutjob, so I promised I'd make a pie he was guaranteed to like this year.)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 11:03:26 am
Green bean casserole is one of those comfort foods I like to eat about once, or maybe twice, a year. I made it a few weeks ago for dinner at my parent's house. According to the Durkee's French Fried Onions can, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Imagine, a casserole having an anniversary!

L
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 11:32:08 am
Green bean casserole is one of those comfort foods I like to eat about once, or maybe twice, a year. I made it a few weeks ago for dinner at my parent's house. According to the Durkee's French Fried Onions can, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Imagine, a casserole having an anniversary!

L

Hunh! Considering that it uses Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, I would have thought the green bean casserole was older than a mere 50 years.

I can safely say without fear of contradiction that green bean casserole is something that has never graced a holiday table with its presence on either side of my family. For vegetables we stick with corn and lima beans. Even mashed potatoes are considered de trops because we always have sweet potatoes, in addition to the stuffing.

Some cooks actually include mashed potatoes into the mixture that makes up the stuffing, though my mother never did, and I've never particularly cared for mashed potato stuffing.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 11:59:02 am
My mother was definitely a woman of the 50s and 60s and took advantage of all those convenience foods we laugh at now...green bean casserole, jello salad, tuna wiggle...you name it, we ate it. Now I read these recipes and say mostly say "Yuck!" but there are a few holdouts I remember fondly, and still make.

Leslie
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 20, 2006, 01:36:38 pm
Man, am I getting hungry!  I'd gladly show up to dinner at any of your houses this week!  ;D

Jeff, thanks for the interesting low-down on pork and sauerkraut.  My mother always served that on New Year's Day, and it's nice to know the reasoning behind it.  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 01:47:38 pm
What on earth is "tuna wiggle"? Do I really want to know?  ;D

Thankfully, my mother seems to have missed that one.   :D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 20, 2006, 02:09:31 pm
I'm guessing "tuna wiggle" is canned tuna inside a jello mold.  That's enough to make a vegetarian out of me.
(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:r-u7lRrbeYx0CM:http://www.madvortex.com/uploaded_images/ringaroundthetuna-704066.jpg)

Re green bean casserole:  My Mom was also into the new conveniences of the 50s and 60s, which meant we rarely had fresh vegetables.  However, at Thanksgiving, we always had fresh green beans (cooked to death in the pressure pot).   We had a variation on the casserole, but for the leftovers:  it was like lasagna, in layers.  A layer of shredded turkey covered with a layer of stuffing covered with a layer of green beans, the whole mess infused with cream of mushroom soup and baked.

Those onion thingies in a can scare me.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 02:18:04 pm
What on earth is "tuna wiggle"? Do I really want to know?  ;D

Thankfully, my mother seems to have missed that one.   :D

Tuna Wiggle

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tuna fish (drained)
1 small can mushrooms, chopped and drained
1 box frozen peas (optional, but my mother always included them)
1 2 lb. bag egg noodles

Cook egg noodles as usual. Drain and return to stove. Mix in soup, tuna fish, peas, and mushrooms. Cook over high heat until hot. Remove and serve.

Enjoy!

Leslie


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 02:18:50 pm
I'm guessing "tuna wiggle" is canned tuna inside a jello mold.  That's enough to make a vegetarian out of me.
(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:r-u7lRrbeYx0CM:http://www.madvortex.com/uploaded_images/ringaroundthetuna-704066.jpg)

 :P  Me, too.

Thanks, Paul.

(Fruit in jello I honestly don't mind--for a summer dessert, Mother used to put diced apple in lime jello, and I liked that; very cool and refreshing. But tuna?  :P )
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 20, 2006, 02:19:44 pm
OH - you mean tuna noodle casserole.  My Mom made it with Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup and minus the mushrooms.  Good stuff!   :D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 20, 2006, 02:20:27 pm
Tuna Wiggle

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tuna fish (drained)
1 small can mushrooms, chopped and drained
1 box frozen peas (optional, but my mother always included them)
1 2 lb. bag egg noodles

Cook egg noodles as usual. Drain and return to stove. Mix in soup, tuna fish, and mushrooms. Cook over high heat until hot. Remove and serve.



Leslie, that doesn't look like it would wiggle very much.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 02:23:08 pm
Leslie, that doesn't look like it would wiggle very much.

Yeah, but what a name!

Leslie
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on November 20, 2006, 02:26:09 pm
Leslie, that doesn't look like it would wiggle very much.

It needs to be shaken - not sitirred. :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 20, 2006, 02:34:34 pm
Hey, did you see Casino Royale this past weekend, too, Clarissa?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on November 20, 2006, 02:51:42 pm
Hey, did you see Casino Royale this past weekend, too, Clarissa?


No, just been reading your thread on it, Barb. :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 20, 2006, 03:04:40 pm
Actually, to my 1950's-raised self, tuna wiggle doesn't sound half bad.  ;D

I thought it might refer to the noodles being wiggly, like those spiral-y ones.  :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 03:19:10 pm
to get this thread back on track, how about

THANKSGIVING AT THE NICOLL-JENDREK HOME

Roast Turkey
Stuffing made with bread, onions, salt, pepper, chicken broth and lots of butter
Gravy
Mashed sweet potatoes wtih marshmallows on top
Creamed onions*
Brussel sprouts with chestnuts (I loathe this dish and refuse to eat or make, so my mother always gets stuck with the job)
Homemade cranberry sauce (use the recipe on the bag; it's easy)
Aunt Cuyler's lime-cheese salad (another one of those 50s confections with lime jello, mayonnaise, cottage cheese, evap milk and nuts)
Pumpkin pie for dessert

My recipe for creamed onions is over on the main courses & side dishes thread.

Leslie
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 20, 2006, 03:46:01 pm
Stuffing made with bread, onions, salt, pepper, chicken broth and lots of butter

What?  No celery???  ;)


Homemade cranberry sauce (use the recipe on the bag; it's easy)

I was gonna use a pretty easy-looking one I found in November's "Real Simple" magazine, but now that you mention it, I'll take a look-see.  :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 04:54:30 pm
Brussel sprouts with chestnuts (I loathe this dish and refuse to eat or make, so my mother always gets stuck with the job)

Oooh, sounds good to me! Heh heh heh. I l-o-o-o-v-e Brussels sprouts!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: MaineWriter on November 20, 2006, 05:06:04 pm
Oooh, sounds good to me! Heh heh heh. I l-o-o-o-v-e Brussels sprouts!  ;D

Well I won't. or don't. or whatever! LOL
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 20, 2006, 05:36:45 pm
I love Brussels sprouts, too.  But I love lima beans even more.  I think it's quite possible Jeff and I may be the only people who fall into both categories.  Basically, with the exception of olives, I have never met a vegetable I didn't like.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2006, 11:58:59 pm
I love Brussels sprouts, too.  But I love lima beans even more.  I think it's quite possible Jeff and I may be the only people who fall into both categories.  Basically, with the exception of olives, I have never met a vegetable I didn't like.


OMG, somebody else who likes lima beans!  ;D

For me, it's pretty much the case that if it's a vegetable and you can put butter and salt on it, I'll eat it.  ;D

I only recently acquired a taste for olives, however.

Barb, how do you feel about turnips? Not for Thanksgiving, but in general?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 21, 2006, 12:12:24 am
I like lima beans, if they're made from dry beans and not the frozen ones. And I like Brussels sprouts, if they're fresh and not frozen.

In fact, I made Brussels sprouts just tonight!

Here's my recipe, beloved by 3 out of 4 family members: Wash and trim sprouts, cut into quarters. Melt butter in small wok-shaped pan given to you by your mother-in-law years ago. Keep heat high. Put Brussels sprouts in pan and toss to coat with melted butter. Let them cook, stirring occasionally, until they're tender and singed or even kind of blackened around the edges. The more burny looking, the better (within reason).

Yum! They're also good stir-fried in sesame oil.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 21, 2006, 12:19:51 am
Barb, how do you feel about turnips? Not for Thanksgiving, but in general?

Turnips are my friend.  Especially if you boil the bejesus out of them and then put butter and salt on 'em. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2006, 12:22:16 am
I like lima beans, if they're made from dry beans and not the frozen ones. And I like Brussels sprouts, if they're fresh and not frozen.

I won't touch frozen Brussels sprouts. The only frozen Brussel sprouts I ever had were just plain icky.  :P

I'll take lima beans either way. Mother served the green limas, either fresh or frozen, with butter sauce, and she used dried limas to cook with potatoes and ham hocks.

Now I'm hoping I can convert my dad to the joys of fresh broccoli, instead of frozen. ...
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2006, 12:24:52 am
Turnips are my friend.  Especially if you boil the bejesus out of them and then put butter and salt on 'em. 

Yum!  ;D That's what my mother always did, adding potatoes and carrots to the turnips. She usually served up a great big dish of that mixture, with pork chops for the meat.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Lynne on November 21, 2006, 12:27:44 am
Homemade cranberry sauce (use the recipe on the bag; it's easy)

It is easy and good, but use extreme caution!!  The first year I tried it, I had cranberries exploding all over the stovetop.  Too hot, or no lid, or some such issue!   :P
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ednbarby on November 21, 2006, 12:29:59 am
Yum!  ;D That's what my mother always did, adding potatoes and carrots to the turnips. She usually served up a great big dish of that mixture, with pork chops for the meat.

That sounds 'nummy.  You know, I think vegetables are really just butter/salt vessels.  They all taste about the same to me.   Maybe that's why I don't like olives - you kinda havta eat them raw.  And unlike other raw veggies, they have a distinctive taste.  Definitely an acquired one, in my opinion, and I haven't acquired it yet.  But I do love to cook with olive oil.  Go figure.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ifyoucantfixit on November 21, 2006, 03:02:05 am
I'm guessing "tuna wiggle" is canned tuna inside a jello mold.  That's enough to make a vegetarian out of me.
(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:r-u7lRrbeYx0CM:http://www.madvortex.com/uploaded_images/ringaroundthetuna-704066.jpg)

Re green bean casserole:  My Mom was also into the new conveniences of the 50s and 60s, which meant we rarely had fresh vegetables.  However, at Thanksgiving, we always had fresh green beans (cooked to death in the pressure pot).   We had a variation on the casserole, but for the leftovers:  it was like lasagna, in layers.  A layer of shredded turkey covered with a layer of stuffing covered with a layer of green beans, the whole mess infused with cream of mushroom soup and baked.

Those onion thingies in a can scare me.
  THAT IS SCARY,,,  i may never eat jello again....green food not grown in a garden kind of creeps me out....janice
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ifyoucantfixit on November 21, 2006, 03:06:34 am
I love Brussels sprouts, too.  But I love lima beans even more.  I think it's quite possible Jeff and I may be the only people who fall into both categories.  Basically, with the exception of olives, I have never met a vegetable I didn't like.

i love nearly all vegies, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, lima beans...all sound good to me...but lime jello, not so much, no matter what you put in
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: ifyoucantfixit on November 21, 2006, 03:13:10 am
         my holiday menu includes fried stuffing sandwiches for lunch the day after thanksgiving....go to the fridge and slice it off,  fry in butter of course, and make a sandwich with choice of bread, and mayo. put cranberry sauce on top of stuffing a little or a lot,,,,,,good stuff
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2006, 11:11:35 am
You know, I think vegetables are really just butter/salt vessels.

Tell you what, I think you may be on to something there, Barb!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2006, 04:28:00 pm
         my holiday menu includes fried stuffing sandwiches for lunch the day after thanksgiving....go to the fridge and slice it off,  fry in butter of course, and make a sandwich with choice of bread, and mayo. put cranberry sauce on top of stuffing a little or a lot,,,,,,good stuff

Can't say I've ever had a "fried stuffing sandwich," but my mother's preferred way to reheat leftover stuffing--back in the day before God and Amana gave us microwave ovens--was to fry it in butter. Went real good that way with leftover gravy on top!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 21, 2006, 07:05:21 pm
Yum, there's something about anything fried in butter that has an appeal!  ;D

Jeff and Janice, there's now a Leftovers thread for stuff like stuffing.  ;)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2006, 07:11:12 pm
Yum, there's something about anything fried in butter that has an appeal!  ;D

You bet! It doesn't have anything to do with holiday meals--or holiday leftovers--but when I was a very small boy, my mother's method of reheating leftover macaroni and cheese was--you guessed it!--to fry it in butter!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: dot-matrix on December 02, 2006, 05:49:29 am
Just for fun  :D  These are actual Christmas Menus from historic places in the old west, collected by North Pole West in Cody Wyoming.  Some I'm sure you will recognize

Christmas Dinner Menu
LaVeta Hotel, December 1889
 Claret Wine      Reisling Wine 
Blue Point Oysters     Hearts of Lettuce    Kalamazoo Celery
Oyster Consomme a la Jardiniere    Barbecued Trout     Parisienne Potatoes matre d h Boiled Ham
Brazed Elk    Champignons Blance Rabbit a la Francisco     Duck a la Maringue    Queen Fritters Sweet Wine
Roast Prime Rib of Beef    Young Pig Stuffed with Apple Sauce     Povindeur of Turkey     Cranberry Sauce
Antelope with Current Jelly    Chicken Salad Mayonaise      Mashed Potatoes     Baked Sweet Potatoes
Petits Pois Hot Slaw    Green Apple Pie     Mince Pie     La Veta Ice Cream  Assorted Cake
Christmas Plum Pudding with Hard and Brandy Sauce     Fruits   Raisins    Assorted Nuts    Muscat Grapes
Chocolate with Whipped Cream   


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Dinner Menu
Shared between Trappers and Indians Utah, 1840
Stewed Elk Meat Boiled Deer Meat
Boiled Flour Pudding with Dried Fruit and Sour Berry Sauce 
Cakes and Strong Coffee Sweetened

After dinner tobacco pipes were smoked
Shooting contests passed the remainder of the day. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Dinner Menu
Camp Desolation, 1848
Recorded by Thomas E. Breckenridge, member of Colonel John Fremonts 4th expedition west.

Soup: Fried Mule Mule Chops      Boiled Mule    Stewed Mule
 Boiled Mule   Scrambled Mule     Shirred Mule    French Fried Mule     Minced Mule
 Damned Mule Mule on Toast
(without toast) Short ribs of Mule with Apple Sauce (without Apple Sauce)   
Beverages: Snow Snow Water Water   

"It really makes no difference how our meat was cooked. It was still the same ould mule".
****Note: He might have been exaggerating

Booth Family Christmas Dinner Menu
Four Mile House, Denver, Colorado 1883


Stewed Oysters, Boned Turkey
Stuffed Ham, Mashed Potatoes
Turnips, Beets,
Fried Celery Gelatin with Fruits and Nuts,
Candied Sweet Potatoes, Plum Pudding,  Baked Lemon Pudding .
Fruit Cake, Nuts, Candied Oranges, Coffee 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mountain Man Christmas Dinner - White River region 1842
"This great annual feast is observerd with all the exhilaration hilarity and good cheer that circumstances will allow. Several little extras for the occasion have been procured from the Indians, which prove quite wholesome and pleasent-tasted. One of these, called washena, consists of dried meat pulverized and mixed with marrow; another is a preparation of cherries, preserved when first picked by pounding and sun drying them (they are served by mixing them with bouille, or the liquor of fresh boiled meat, thus giving to it an agreeable winish taste); a third is a marrow fat, an article in many respects superior to butter; and lastly, we obtained a kind of flour made from the pomme blanc (white apple), answering very well as a substite for that of grain.
The above assortment, with a small supply of sugar and coffee, as well as several other dainties variously prepared, affords an excellent dinner, and though different in kind, by no means inferior in quality to the generality of dinners for which the day is noted in more civilized communities.
Rufus B. Sage 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheyenne Cowboy Stew
1 pound cubed brains
1 pound cubed sweetbreads
2 cubed beef kidneys
1 cubed beef heart  1/2 pound cubed beef liver
1/2 pound cubed beef meat
3 pounds marrow gut sliced into 3/4" peices

Place all ingredients in a cast iron pot; add 1/2 gallon of water- bring to a boil.
Then let simmer for 5-6 hours. Add additional liquid if need be. Season to taste.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Dinner
Fort Custer, Montana

Troop G
1st U.S. Cavalry
1889



Soup
Oyster
Macaroni Entres
Broiled Prairie Chicken
Roast Porterhouse Beef, Natural sauce
Venison, Applesauce
Pig
Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
Oyster Dressing

Salads
Lobster, French Slaw, Shrimp

Vegtables
Potatoes,mashed   Onions,stewed
Sugar Corn    Beets
Potatoes,roasted   Tomatoes,steamed
 
Relishes
Worcestershire Sauce, Chow Chow
French Mustard
Pickled Cucumbers 
Pickled Onions


 
  Pastry
Mince Pie
Cranberry Pie
Apple Pie

Dessert
Preserved Peaches
Preserved Pears 
Apples
Raisins
Nuts

Tea    Coffeee    Chocolate 



 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on December 02, 2006, 07:30:10 am
"Mmmm" (sound of Ennis diggin' inta the can a beans)

"hyucghhh" (sound of Ennis kneeling in the alley)

Some of these are more delightful-sounding than others.  All are right interestin' though, thanks, Dottie.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 02, 2006, 01:32:46 pm
Thanks, Dot!  Those are a perfect addition to our cowboy-themed holiday thread.  8)

I'm with Elle, some of those sound better than others.  And can this be right:

Stewed Oysters, Boned Turkey
Stuffed Ham, Mashed Potatoes

Surely they mean Boned Ham and Stuffed Turkey?  :P

Also, I wonder how those cavalry troops in Montana got hold of lobster and shrimp?  ???

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: dot-matrix on December 02, 2006, 05:34:46 pm
Thanks, Dot!  Those are a perfect addition to our cowboy-themed holiday thread.  8)

I'm with Elle, some of those sound better than others.  And can this be right:

Stewed Oysters, Boned Turkey
Stuffed Ham, Mashed Potatoes

Surely they mean Boned Ham and Stuffed Turkey?  :P

Also, I wonder how those cavalry troops in Montana got hold of lobster and shrimp?  ???



Actually Meryl, I'm told on good authority that Seafood east of California and west of the Mississippi  would have shipped out of either Seattle or San Francisco.  Both with large Asian populations so that prior to the completion of the first trancontinental railroad in 1869 and the second in 1882, seafood in other than coastal was shipped either precooked and packed in salt or brine, or dried and needed to be reconsitited upon arrival.  After the completion of the railroad the railroad, seafood was ship to the nearest rail head packed in ice.  Upon arrival the ice was replenished and then it was couriered by wagon or stage.  The cost was almost prohibative so it was reserved for very special occassions.

As for the turkey verses the ham.  Stuffed Ham was a very popular dish in some parts of the country and I understand still is the South.  Here's a modern version of the recipe.

CHRISTMAS STUFFED BAKED HAM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bake at 325 degrees for 2 1/2 hours. Serves 12. (Delicious and makes a festive holiday presentation with the pink ham and mixed green stuffing!)

1 fully cooked ham (about 10 to 12 lbs.)
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped kale
1 c. finely chopped fresh spinach
1 lg. onion, finely chopped (1 c.)
3/4 c. finely chopped watercress
1/2 c. finely chopped celery tops (leaves)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. honey
2 tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. dry mustard

(Ask your grocer produce manager to order watercress for you in advance. It's not always locally available.
1. Trim rind off ham, if any. Trim fat to 1/4 inch thickness. Make X-shaped cuts with a small paring knife, 2 inches deep and 1 inch apart; stagger the rows, all over fat side.

2. Cook hole in boiling salted water to cover, following directions on package; drain; cool; squeeze out excess water with hands.

3. Combine kale, fresh spinach, onion, fresh watercress, fresh celery leaves, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

4. Press greens mixture into pockets in ham; pack down well with fingertips. Place ham, fat side up, in a large shallow pan.

5. Bake in a slow oven (325 degrees) for 2 minutes.

6. Stir honey with vinegar and dry mustard; brush part over ham. Continue baking and brushing with the remaining honey mixture, 30 minutes or until top of ham is richly glazed. Remove ham from pan. Let stand 20 minutes before carving.

7. Carve ham carefully, holding slices together to keep the stuffing intact. Garnish platter with glazed carrots and fresh watercress leaves!


According to my cookbook, frontier families would often use spinach, dandielion greens, pote salad, collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens and various wild greens to stuff their hams.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: LazyLJack on December 09, 2006, 09:18:37 am
We have a venison roast in the freezer from hunting this fall, so for Christmas Eve, this will be on the table at the Lazy L:

Roasted Rack of Venison with Shallots and Dried-Cranberry Gravy
Braised Red Cabbage
Golden Creamed Onions
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes

For dessert: Lemon-Poppyseed Cake

Jack
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 09, 2006, 02:45:37 pm
Yum!

*Meryl gets out her 30-30*

I'm off to shoot elk!  You comin' with me, Jack?  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 16, 2006, 10:15:44 am
Here are two of my recent Christmas dinner menus:

For 2004, I planned a traditional Italian Christmas dinner with a few French touches tossed in. The appetizer was simple—jumbo cocktail shrimp with a spicy sauce to dip in, plus a host of appetizers served in cut crystal relish dishes passed on to me by my mother.  The appetizers included mixed fruit, pickles, pickled onions, spiced crab apples, and special olives.

I usually like to serve a soup after the appetizer and I had selected a rice noodle and bok choy soup, but I had to delete the soup course this year in order to keep to our schedule—we were planning to go to a 5 p.m movie. So, I went ahead to the main course—duck. I had prepared the duck the traditional Italian way—rubbing it with cracked black pepper, garlic, salt and rosemary and letting it rest uncovered in the refrigerator for a couple of days beforehand in order to ensure a crisp skin.

On “Christmas” day, I put the duck in the oven in a roasting pan on a rack above a pan of water. I let the duck roast for about 1.5 hours, without basting or glazing. Instead of making a gravy or sauce, I served peach chutney to slather on the duck. It was delicious.

I poached Brussels sprouts, which my daughter loves, and stirred into them a mixture of butter, honey, mustard, horseradish, freshly ground pepper, and maple syrup. I also placed some quartered acorn squash in the roasting pan with the duck, which was done in about an hour. I dressed it simply with butter, freshly ground pepper, and a few spices.

Finally, I made an Italian dish, a Christmas spaghetti with a sauce of olive oil, roasted walnuts (on a pie plate in the oven) garlic, anchovies, and parsley. I bought parsley roots for the first time, which look live baby parsnips with parsley tops. The pasta was a big hit. All was served with basil bread that I had baked the previous weekend.

The salad came later, in the Italian tradition. It was a simple salad of arugula, grapefruit sections, and pomegranate seeds, with a vinaigrette made with mild rice vinegar and blue cheese to sprinkle over the top.

Christmas 2003

This Christmas finds us all together, no hockey tournament this year.  The weather cooperated—a little overcast in the morning and then sunny and mild.

Father made pancakes for breakfast. The buttermilk biscuits could wait for dinner. I used the recipe from the Crème de Colorado cookbook.

Appetizers will be little crab cakes with avocado slices, red radishes.

The meat will be ham, which will go well with the biscuits. I will serve a special mustard, gravy, and chutney that I made last weekend with the ham. We will also have cranberry relish, Mama Stamberg’s recipe. And a cranberry waldorf salad too.

There are a wealth of vegetables this  year. I will serve steamed cauliflower with a sauce from the Crème de Colorado cookbook. Also green beans and pumpkin wedges. Mushrooms and a salad made with sliced fennel and grapes. Sliced beets with a topping of dried apricots and crème fraiche.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on December 22, 2006, 11:34:33 pm
Lee, I want to eat at your house!  :)  Those sound wonderful.  Great ingredients creatively mixed together. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 26, 2007, 01:48:38 pm
How did you like your holiday menus this year?

At Front-Ranger's we had a simpler feast than previous years. We are planning to go out of town for New Year's and we didn't want a bunch of leftovers in the fridge.

So I served olive bread with tapenade and proscuitto, butternut squash soup, turkey, mushroom gravy, roesti potatoes, braised red cabbage with blueberries, eggplant, Mama Stamberg's cranberry relish, spiced peaches and chocolate cranberry pie for dessert. There were chocolate chip scones for breakfast. Let me know if you would like me to post any of these recipes!!

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Shasta542 on December 26, 2007, 01:54:31 pm
How did you like your holiday menus this year?

At Front-Ranger's we had a simpler feast than previous years. We are planning to go out of town for New Year's and we didn't want a bunch of leftovers in the fridge.

So I served olive bread with tapenade and proscuitto, butternut squash soup, turkey, mushroom gravy, roesti potatoes, braised red cabbage with blueberries, eggplant, Mama Stamberg's cranberry relish, spiced peaches and chocolate cranberry pie for dessert. There were chocolate chip scones for breakfast. Let me know if you would like me to post any of these recipes!!

Front-Ranger -- that sounds like a very elegant spread! The olive bread sounds yummy! May we see that recipe?

Where are the Rangers heading for New Year's if you don't mind telling us. ?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 26, 2007, 05:28:51 pm
Front-Ranger -- that sounds like a very elegant spread! The olive bread sounds yummy! May we see that recipe?

Where are the Rangers heading for New Year's if you don't mind telling us. ?

I will dig it out for y'all!!

We are heading to Arizona...we haven't yet recovered from LAST winter in Denver, much less this one!! We'll be back on the 1st, and I'll check in between sessions in the spa!!

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 04, 2008, 03:02:18 pm
Time to think about the holiday menu!! What are you planning on putting on the table, everyone??
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 04, 2008, 03:06:57 pm
My son always wants to go to this really good butcher shop near here and get ducks.

But my grocery store had a two-for-one special on hams, so I have a couple. And if I get lazy ...  :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 04, 2008, 05:53:59 pm
And if you get lazy, buy the duck and say to your son, have at it, knock yourself out! (oops sorry for the violent expression!!)

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 04, 2008, 05:58:39 pm
And if you get lazy, buy the duck and say to your son, have at it, knock yourself out! (oops sorry for the violent expression!!)

To his credit, when he gets interested in a meal like that, he often does participate in a lot of the cooking.

But I'm looking forward to the day when he can drive himself to the butcher shop, select and pay for the duck, bring it home prepare it, serve it, and clean up the kitchen afterward.

Is that asking too much? Don't answer that.  :laugh:


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 04, 2008, 06:12:03 pm
To his credit, when he gets interested in a meal like that, he often does participate in a lot of the cooking.

But I'm looking forward to the day when he can drive himself to the butcher shop, select and pay for the duck, bring it home prepare it, serve it, and clean up the kitchen afterward.

Is that asking too much? Don't answer that.  :laugh:

Have faith, friend, it can happen! It did happen to my daughter. She was the messiest cook, and always requiring lots of exotic ingredients. But after living away from home for a year and in another country (cooking for her roommates) for several months, she came back home and is now a completely resourceful, autonomous, and considerate cook!! And, she also grows herbs and makes wine and mead as well!! I am so proud.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on December 05, 2008, 03:54:23 am
Your 2007 menu sounds so good, Lee.  Could you tell about the potatoes, please.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 07, 2008, 05:12:31 pm
Oh yes, I love those roesti potatoes. It's a Swiss recipe. Here is how James Beard did it:

I find that boiling good-sized potatoes in their jackets for 10 minutes, then peeling them, is a fine idea. (Yukon potatoes are best)
Grate them coarsely and form them into a large cake. Sauté in 6 to 8 tablespoons butter till they are exquisitely brown and crusty on the bottom.
Invert the pan on a plate, add more butter to the pan, and slip the uncooked side into the pan. Cook the potatoes over medium heat till they are crusted on the other side. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
These may also be made with raw potatoes or cold baked potatoes grated coarsely.

You can of course use olive oil instead. I also add some fines herbs. They look like a big pancake, and you cut it into pie wedges to serve it.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on December 07, 2008, 09:43:13 pm
Oh yes, I love those roesti potatoes. It's a Swiss recipe. Here is how James Beard did it:

I find that boiling good-sized potatoes in their jackets for 10 minutes, then peeling them, is a fine idea. (Yukon potatoes are best)
Grate them coarsely and form them into a large cake. Sauté in 6 to 8 tablespoons butter till they are exquisitely brown and crusty on the bottom.
Invert the pan on a plate, add more butter to the pan, and slip the uncooked side into the pan. Cook the potatoes over medium heat till they are crusted on the other side. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
These may also be made with raw potatoes or cold baked potatoes grated coarsely.

You can of course use olive oil instead. I also add some fines herbs. They look like a big pancake, and you cut it into pie wedges to serve it.


That's what I want right now.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 17, 2009, 01:35:16 pm
Need some help with my holiday menus!! Because there will be some kosher-keeping people and some finicky people at my table this year, I won't be able to serve any pork, shellfish, or fish. No scallop empanada, which I traditionally serve for Christmas Eve dinner. That's not so big a problem...I am planning to put smoked turkey and duck into the empanada instead. Problem fixed! Then, for Christmas dinner, I will have a standing rib roast, like Leslie serves. I haven't served beef for Christmas dinner in ages, but it seems to be the right thing to do this year with beef such a bargain. I take two large beef rib roasts, trim them, and stand them up in a circle in a pan and tie them. Drizzle them with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and other spices, and broil them till they're done. In the middle of the crown roast, I would like to pile brussels sprouts, but my mother recoiled at the very mention. So I've come up with a melange of portobello mushrooms, new potatoes, and pearl onions. Hope that will work. Side dishes will include some kind of yam souffle, whole wheat rolls (recipe in the Moosewood Classics cookbook), Paul's cranberry relish, Cumberland Sauce, and a salad with oranges, kiwis, and pomegranate seeds. Dessert will be chocolate silk pie with whipped cream, and grapes and cheeses. Let me know your suggestions for other things, particularly appetizers. I can't think of an appetizer that doesn't have ham, prosciutto, or shellfish in it!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 17, 2009, 02:13:44 pm
You could serve a Philadelphia appetizer, Cheese Whiz on Ritz crackers. ...  :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 17, 2009, 02:27:03 pm
You could serve a Philadelphia appetizer, Cheese Whiz on Ritz crackers. ...  :laugh:

If I did that, my kids would gobble them all up and not have any room for dinner!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 17, 2009, 03:21:44 pm
Wow, Lee, that's quite a meal! 

As for appetizers, I would keep it simple, given what's to come.  Maybe some crudités and a simple dip (I recently had a hummus flavored with harissa).  Also, I think chicken liver paté is reasonably kosher, and very good with cornichons. 

While whole-wheat rolls sound good, I always like popovers with beef.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Monika on December 17, 2009, 03:41:44 pm
Please snap some shots of your dinner, if you can, Lee!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 17, 2009, 05:41:18 pm
Hi Lee. Don't know to what degree your guests are keeping kosher, but if they really are, you can't serve any cream, whipped or not, for dessert.

Also, there's no kosher reason you can't serve fish, as long as it's a kosher fish, which actually most fishes are.

And as for the meat, if your kosher guests are going to eat it, it has to be kosher.
And if they are, no dairy products  in any of the other dishes they are supposed to eat!

If your guests are very  kosher, they won't eat the food, even if kosher, that's been cooked in your pots and pans. In that case, you can use disposable aluminium tins to cook in the oven.

Any more questions, you're welcome to ask.

Best wishes

Sonja's kosher advice agency.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 17, 2009, 06:45:13 pm
Thanks for all your thoughts, friends! It has been great cooking today...I have kept my computer on the kitchen counter, just out of reach of flying food, lol (it is a white Mac after all). Great suggestion on the crudities Paul, that's exactly what I'll do. I have never had the courage to do popovers at this altitude, and my oven is a little temperamental, so it's somehting I'll have to try for a family dinner first.

Sason, my guests are just kosher in certain areas. They won't eat any pork or shellfish, but they love all dairy foods. My daughter explained to me that the prohibition against eating dairy foods with meat was a historical thing brought on by economics...it was not a good idea to eat the young animals but instead they should be raised to maturity first. (It sounded to me like a bit of rationalization, but I'm not complaining!)

Another thing is that, although fish are kosher, I can't serve it since one of my other guests hates fish of any kind; in fact she has to leave the house if she smells fish. It takes all kinds I guess.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 17, 2009, 10:46:48 pm
If your guests are very  kosher, they won't eat the food, even if kosher, that's been cooked in your pots and pans. In that case, you can use disposable aluminium tins to cook in the oven.

Oy! If I had guests like that, the only thing I'd make for dinner would be ... reservations.

At a kosher restaurant, of course. ...  ;)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 18, 2009, 03:01:18 pm
Oy! If I had guests like that, the only thing I'd make for dinner would be ... reservations.

At a kosher restaurant, of course. ...  ;)

 :D

That's a good solution IMO, if you live somewhere where there are kosher restaurants around.

I had an uncle, now long gone, who brought his own food when he came to visit my parents.
He was a very modest and unassuming man, happy to come for a visit, just didn't eat anything
unless he was 200% sure it was absolutely kosher. To each his own.....
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 18, 2009, 03:09:57 pm
:D

That's a good solution IMO, if you live somewhere where there are kosher restaurants around.

I had an uncle, now long gone, who brought his own food when he came to visit my parents.
He was a very modest and unassuming man, happy to come for a visit, just didn't eat anything
unless he was 200% sure it was absolutely kosher. To each his own.....

Oh, I do. There is even a restaurant near my home that's described as glat kosher. I don't really know what that means, but I assume it's something like "super kosher."
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 18, 2009, 03:14:24 pm
Oh, I do. There is even a restaurant near my home that's described as glat kosher. I don't really know what that means, but I assume it's something like "super kosher."

Yeah, some people think glatt kosher is the real thing. Others think that kosher is kosher, there are no degrees. Either it's kosher or it's not.

Sounds like you're well equipped for all kinds of guests!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Ellemeno on December 18, 2009, 08:44:20 pm
Will they eat off your plates and forks that have had both dairy and meat on them?  Will they sit at a table that is serving meat and cheese at the same meal?

Best wishes to you all.  My mom and sister are coming to our vegetarian household for the week of Christmas, some similarity, although they are the ones who have to be more flexible, which we appreciate.  And we do make reservations so that people can get their fixes.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 17, 2010, 09:40:37 pm
In the newspaper today, the question was asked, How would you prepare a nontraditional Thanksgiving? I'm all for the traditional approach (with a few upgrades) but I enjoyed reading about the answers, especially this from our only (as far as I know) Scottish gastropub in Denver, Argyl:

Fruition Farms sheep's milk ricotta and orange-stuffed dates, wrapped in bacon and baked

Colorado hops smoked whole trout stuffed with risotto-style barley and mushrooms

Lamb "steamship": Leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary, studded with black peppercorns and red wine

Pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms, butternut squash, pine-nuts and sage

Potato & celery root puree

Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts gratin with pepitas and Colorouge cheese

Haricot vert (green beans) with smoked paprika and almonds

Cream cheese and chipotle cornbread (see denverpost.com/recipes)

Pumpkin bread pudding with chai spiced ice cream, hazelnut brittle and cinnamon apple chutney


Read more: Slaying the sacred turkey: Imagining a world without the traditional feast - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_16621556#ixzz15asgNVNa
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 18, 2010, 03:24:38 pm
That menu sounds yummi!!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Andrew on November 20, 2010, 01:23:54 am

Pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms, butternut squash, pine-nuts and sage



On the subject of pine nuts - I just found out this week, the hard way, about that horrible problem of long lasting bitterness in the mouth which starts a day or two after you eat certain varieties of pine nuts.  Mine started Tuesday, the day after I had some in a rice casserole.  The condition has been non-stop since then and has spoiled the flavor of everything I've eaten.  Apparently, it can last for weeks, although at least no one has identified any actual health hazards from it.  Seemingly, the problem has been all over the Internet the last two years as more and more people experience it in the US and Europe, but I somehow missed out.

They are not really positive which varieties it is, although they are leaning toward a small variety from China, packaged either by itself or added to Chinese blends.  Some sources are claiming these are not even nuts from pinyon pines, like other pine nuts, they are from a variety of Chinese white pine. 

That is the conclusion of the Wikipedia article on pine nuts at least.

The ones I bought were in fact small, no longer than sunflower seeds although rounder and fatter.

But I missed out on the general articles, like this one:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/pine-mouth-pine-nuts-leave-bitter-taste-lingers/story?id=11097222&page=1 (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/pine-mouth-pine-nuts-leave-bitter-taste-lingers/story?id=11097222&page=1)

I reported the problem back to the store where I got them and to the Food and Drug Administration which I read was investigating the issue.  Unfortunately I know the FDA does not have enough information yet to be able to simply ban pine nuts from specific sources. 

Well, I won't be putting on any extra weight over Thanksgiving at least!




 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 20, 2010, 01:49:41 am
Poor Andrew!  I hope it goes away soon.  :(

Thanks for letting us know about the pine nuts.  I've never heard of that problem.  Scary!  :P
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 20, 2010, 12:18:11 pm
Wow, that is weird! Well, it's just walnuts for me in pesto, from now on. I'm not a huge pine-nut fan, anyway.

Though it is tempting to TRY to get pine mouth as a diet aid ...  ::)


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 20, 2010, 07:00:24 pm
Poor Andrew! Sounds like a PIA.   >:(

This is total news to me, I've never heard of it before.

I very seldom eat pine nuts, but I actually had some today, what a coincidence!

But they weren't from China, so I hope I'll be ok.

Hope you'll be ok soon, too.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 20, 2010, 07:27:47 pm
Wow, that is weird! Well, it's just walnuts for me in pesto, from now on. I'm not a huge pine-nut fan, anyway.

Though it is tempting to TRY to get pine mouth as a diet aid ...  ::)

Heh. I can remember a news report, maybe about ten years ago, about a woman who died from eating pesto; it turned out she was allergic to pine nuts.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 20, 2010, 11:43:19 pm
I stopped in a store tonight and the clerk was just digging into a dinner of what looked like hummus that had some things sprinkled on top, and it looked like they could have been pine nuts. It was all I could do not to yell "Sssssttttttoopppppp!" in slow motion and lunge across the room to knock  the food out of her hand.

But I didn't want to wreck her dinner unnecessarily. So I shrugged, made my purchase, and left.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Andrew on November 21, 2010, 12:49:15 pm
Thanks for the sympathy, all !  I am not miserable, it is just an annoyance.  I mostly wanted to sound the alert as we are going into the holidays and menus are being finalized.   And for most people, food flavors are one of the first pleasures of life.  Actually, food is usually discussed in Thanksgiving kitchens and dining rooms, too, so I was hoping the word would get spread even further.  If I had read about it I might have decided to hold off on pine nuts for a year or two till they established definitively what is the source of the ones which have this effect. 

One thing they know is that it is not like an allergy which only affects some people.  I have always eaten them and never had any problem; all the complaints to the FDA are coming from the last couple of years.

It reminds you how hard it is to find out where anything you eat comes from.   I did get a response from the supermarket, that they would investigate the source of the ones I bought right away.   But the problem is, you don't know at the time you buy, which is true even for most products from most health food stores.  For some people, it would even be a selling point that they were buying American pinyon nuts harvested by Native Americans, or Italian or other Mediterranean ones from the Stone Pine, which have been eaten since prehistoric times.   For now, if people can't get that information, the best they can do with the limited information available is to get big ones - and of course, the more expensive ones are more likely to have originated in the US or Europe. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 21, 2010, 02:06:27 pm
Maybe it's some pesicide they spray on the trees in China? Or on the nuts after harvest.

They aren't exactly known to try to achieve a high level of environmental friendliness.... :-\
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 24, 2010, 11:37:08 am
The new issue of Cooking Light has a recipe for pine-nut cookies. NooooooooooooOO!!!



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 26, 2010, 03:59:55 pm
Back to menus:  

Here was the menu for Thanksgiving in the South End:

With drinks:  three cheeses (tangy goat, crumbly cheddar, gooey mont d'or), crab dip, nuts.

Main course:
Roast turkey--organic, walk-around, chemical-free from Vermont (best I ever had).
Stuffing/dressing--bread and sausage with lots of celery and sage, and one for vegetarians.
Gravy made from giblets simmered in red wine.
Onions that were roasted with the turkey.
Butternut squash purée with maple syrup and sour cream, topped with caramelized onions.
Eastham turnip purée (kind of like a rutabaga, pure white and peppery).
Steamed and sautéed haricots verts.
Cranberry-clementine-ginger relish.

Wine:  Stephen Vincent "Crimson"

Dessert:
Homemade mincemeat pies.
Very strong coffee.

For the weekend:  turkey consommé made from the bones.  Yum.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 26, 2010, 04:11:37 pm
Sounds YUMMI!!!

I'm a bit confused by the mincemeat.  I suppose it isn't meat, but what is it?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 26, 2010, 04:57:15 pm
Sounds YUMMI!!!

I'm a bit confused by the mincemeat.  I suppose it isn't meat, but what is it?

I think mincemeat originally contained meat, and/or beef suet.  But, nowadays, most versions contain seasoned, chopped dried fruit (like raisins, currants, dates, prunes, orange peel spiced with cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg).  Often mixed with brandy and baked in a pie.  
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 26, 2010, 05:04:55 pm
Mmmmm --- sounds delicious!!

Any nuts in the mixture?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 26, 2010, 05:06:19 pm
Mmmmm --- sounds delicious!!

Any nuts in the mixture?

No nuts.  It has enough texture on its own. 

I hated it as a kid, probably too strong, but now I love it.  In fact, I had a little piece for breakfast today.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 26, 2010, 05:49:14 pm
Thanks for the South End menu, Paul.  I was wondering how our resident gourmet chef would celebrate Turkey Day.  Sounds wonderful!  8)

I had pie for breakfast, too, of course.  A rare treat:  homemade apple pie made with Macoun and Empire apples and a buttery crust.  Oh boy!  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 24, 2010, 06:05:20 pm
I just finished a mince-cranberry pie for tomorrow's dinner. I found that the mincemeat you buy in a jar has no beef suet in it, in fact, no meat of any kind. Therefore, I can serve it when my sortof kosher daughter and her son visit. I fortified the mincemeat with some special golden raisins I have been macerating in brandy for a fortnight or so.

I was thinking of serving the pie with vanilla ice cream...Paul, what do you think? It has a crust on top.

For your homemade mince pie, did you use beef suet? It's surprisingly hard to get. You have to order it from a butcher in advance around these parts.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 24, 2010, 10:34:03 pm
Mmm, I'm sure golden raisins and cranberries will brighten up any store-bought mincemeat.

I think beef is not necessary in any form.

Vanilla ice cream is always a welcome with pie.  Another option would be ginger ice cream.  Yum. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 24, 2010, 10:42:14 pm
Here's the Christmas menu for tomorrow:

Drinks with Joey's gougeres (extraordinary cheese puffs), patés--venison and mousse truffée.

Savenor's Market best rack of lamb crusted with juniper berries, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, dijon mustard, breadcrumbs. Rosy rare.
Gratin of potato and celery root.
Little haricots verts.

Barolo for wine.

Again, homemade mincemeat pies, because everyone loves them.
Very strong coffee.
Dark chocolate covered orange peel from La Maison du Chocolat.
10 year tawny port, Taylor Fladgate.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 25, 2010, 02:30:31 am
Mmm, I'm sure golden raisins and cranberries will brighten up any store-bought mincemeat.

I think beef is not necessary in any form.

Vanilla ice cream is always a welcome with pie.  Another option would be ginger ice cream.  Yum. 

I think ginger ice cream might be do-able! Thanks for the inspiration, friend! Enjoy your dinner!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 25, 2010, 02:42:37 am
Here's the Christmas menu for tomorrow:

Drinks with Joey's gougeres (extraordinary cheese puffs), patés--venison and mousse truffée.

Savenor's Market best rack of lamb crusted with juniper berries, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, dijon mustard, breadcrumbs. Rosy rare.
Gratin of potato and celery root.
Little haricots verts.

Barolo for wine.

Again, homemade mincemeat pies, because everyone loves them.
Very strong coffee.
Dark chocolate covered orange peel from La Maison du Chocolat.
10 year tawny port, Taylor Fladgate.

Wow.  And Barolo, too.  You are definitely going to have a Merry Christmas, Paul!  8) :-*
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Penthesilea on December 25, 2010, 05:47:22 am
Here's the Christmas menu for tomorrow:

Drinks with Joey's gougeres (extraordinary cheese puffs), patés--venison and mousse truffée.

Savenor's Market best rack of lamb crusted with juniper berries, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, dijon mustard, breadcrumbs. Rosy rare.
Gratin of potato and celery root.
Little haricots verts.

Barolo for wine.

Again, homemade mincemeat pies, because everyone loves them.
Very strong coffee.
Dark chocolate covered orange peel from La Maison du Chocolat.
10 year tawny port, Taylor Fladgate.


You know, if there weren't already a thousand other reasons, your culinary skills and gourmet disposition would be reason enough to marry you. The guys ought to queue up! I know I would. And I would happily gain another 10 pounds, lol. :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 25, 2010, 08:55:40 am
Here's the Christmas menu for tomorrow:

Drinks with Joey's gougeres (extraordinary cheese puffs), patés--venison and mousse truffée.

Savenor's Market best rack of lamb crusted with juniper berries, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, dijon mustard, breadcrumbs. Rosy rare.
Gratin of potato and celery root.
Little haricots verts.

Barolo for wine.

Again, homemade mincemeat pies, because everyone loves them.
Very strong coffee.
Dark chocolate covered orange peel from La Maison du Chocolat.
10 year tawny port, Taylor Fladgate.

Sounds divine.

(barring the wine and coffee, of course  ;D)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 25, 2010, 11:16:45 pm
Here's what I ended up serving today:

First, for brunch, I arranged on the sideboard yogurt (several varieties, including limited editions of cranberry apple, pumpkin pie, etc.) fresh fruit, including pineapple, grapefruit, pear, kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries, cinnamon rolls, juice, and strata (an Italian dish consisting of eggs, milk, fresh nutmeg, bread, spinach, poached shredded chicken, and cheese.

Then, after a break to open presents, I served appetizers including pumpkin seeds, hummus with crusty bread, deviled eggs and trout baked in salt “La Sara”. This is the abode of Nathalie Waag, a partner of Julia Child. I often prepare recipes of hers. The entree included Stuffed Mushrooms in tomato sauce, roast Lamb with garlic/bay/clove boats and Cumberland Sauce, Tabouli Salad, Sweet-sour Onions, artichoke and preserved lemons garnishing the lamb, Semolina cakes and Cranberry Sauce. The dessert was mince cranberry pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, crystallized ginger, and butterscotch Cookies.

The wine we served was not special. It was a Kendall Jackson 2006 Syrah. It complemented the lamb well.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 26, 2010, 11:01:59 am
Wow.  And Barolo, too.  You are definitely going to have a Merry Christmas, Paul!  8) :-*

Thanks, Meryl.  Everything turned out great.  The Barolo was a real find--inexpensive and good!  I hope yours was merry too.


You know, if there weren't already a thousand other reasons, your culinary skills and gourmet disposition would be reason enough to marry you. The guys ought to queue up! I know I would. And I would happily gain another 10 pounds, lol. :laugh:

Haha!  Thanks, Chrissi.   :-*

Sounds divine.

(barring the wine and coffee, of course  ;D)

Wine and coffee are essential!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 26, 2010, 11:02:53 am
So, Lee, how was the pie?

I just had a piece for breakfast.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 26, 2010, 07:06:18 pm
Thanks, Meryl.  Everything turned out great.  The Barolo was a real find--inexpensive and good!  I hope yours was merry too

It was indeed merry.  Our circle of close friends gathered at my friend Leslie's and had a yummy brunch and exchanged presents.  I made a coffee cake from the Weight Watchers website that got raves.  Then I trekked to Brooklyn to the home of a colleague and had another great meal and got to meet his four new kittens (he and his partner were too soft-hearted to not adopt the whole litter).  Very nice!  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 26, 2010, 07:40:24 pm
So, Lee, how was the pie?

It was excellent...especially the extra-macerated raisins I fortified it with! I served it with vanilla ice cream sprinkled with crystallized ginger. Those little sprinkles really made the dessert truly special!! Thanks again for the advice!
Title: New Year's Holiday Menu
Post by: delalluvia on December 31, 2010, 03:39:30 pm
New Years again.

I got my black-eyed peas, collard greens, sausage (instead of ham) and I'll be picking up some bread after I work out tonight.  Not cornbread though.

Anyone else?
Title: Re: New Year's Holiday Menu
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 31, 2010, 05:15:10 pm
New Years again.

I got my black-eyed peas, collard greens, sausage (instead of ham) and I'll be picking up some bread after I work out tonight.  Not cornbread though.

Anyone else?

I bought boneless pork chops at the grocery store this morning. I already had potatoes for mashed potatoes and a can of sauerkraut, so I'll have my pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes.

Technically, I guess, for me to be a good Pennsylvania Dutchman, it should be roast pork with sauerkraut, instead of baked pork chops, but I have yet to roast anything in my life, and I'm not inclined to start tomorrrow!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 31, 2010, 08:32:54 pm
I got my black-eyed peas, collard greens, sausage (instead of ham) and I'll be picking up some bread after I work out tonight.  Not cornbread though.

I bought boneless pork chops at the grocery store this morning. I already had potatoes for mashed potatoes and a can of sauerkraut, so I'll have my pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes.

Mmm, sounds good!  I may make up a batch of my Mom's navy beans and ham to start the New Year with a bang!  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 31, 2010, 08:37:03 pm
I'm going all New Age-y with a chick pea and parsley soup. The parsley is from a pot in my sunroom...first year I've ever been able to grow parsley inside. Rounding that out is a pot roast that's been simmering since this morning, with onions, bay leaves (from sunroom) and black fungi (Chinese mushrooms, in other words). Challah made by my Jew-ish daughter. Gingerbread butterscotch cookies with Crown Royal.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: delalluvia on December 31, 2010, 08:48:01 pm
I'm going all New Age-y with a chick pea and parsley soup. The parsley is from a pot in my sunroom...first year I've ever been able to grow parsley inside. Rounding that out is a pot roast that's been simmering since this morning, with onions, bay leaves (from sunroom) and black fungi (Chinese mushrooms, in other words). Challah made by my Jew-ish daughter. Gingerbread butterscotch cookies with Crown Royal.

I was with you, until here.  :P  Don't you know gingerbread butterscotch calls for something light - like a vin santo?  :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 31, 2010, 09:24:15 pm
New Year's Eve menu in Provincetown:

Seared Hudson Valley foie gras with poached pears, brioche toast and port wine reduction.

Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with baby bok choi, black sesame rice cake and lobster tail.

Chocolate pot de creme with a glass of champagne. 

Lots of great hugs and kisses from friends. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Lynne on December 31, 2010, 11:10:38 pm
New Year's Eve menu in Provincetown:

Seared Hudson Valley foie gras with poached pears, brioche toast and port wine reduction.

Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with baby bok choi, black sesame rice cake and lobster tail.

Chocolate pot de creme with a glass of champagne. 

Lots of great hugs and kisses from friends. 

Are y'all at Mewes?

*jealous here with my popcorn and wine*

 ;)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: delalluvia on December 31, 2010, 11:27:26 pm
New Year's Eve menu in Provincetown:

Seared Hudson Valley foie gras with poached pears, brioche toast and port wine reduction.

Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with baby bok choi, black sesame rice cake and lobster tail.

Chocolate pot de creme with a glass of champagne. 

Lots of great hugs and kisses from friends. 

 :o

SERIOUS welcome to the New Year.  Nom nom nom.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 31, 2010, 11:56:13 pm

Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass

Oh, you mean Patagonian toothfish?  ::)

Happy New Year, friend!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on January 01, 2011, 05:50:09 am
I'm going all New Age-y with a chick pea and parsley soup. The parsley is from a pot in my sunroom...first year I've ever been able to grow parsley inside. Rounding that out is a pot roast that's been simmering since this morning, with onions, bay leaves (from sunroom) and black fungi (Chinese mushrooms, in other words). Challah made by my Jew-ish daughter. Gingerbread butterscotch cookies with Crown Royal.

OMG, that all sounds wonderful!  :D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on January 01, 2011, 11:32:52 am
Are y'all at Mewes?

*jealous here with my popcorn and wine*

 ;)

Where else?! It's our "Cheers". 

:o

SERIOUS welcome to the New Year.  Nom nom nom.

Nom nom is right!


Oh, you mean Patagonian toothfish?  ::)

Happy New Year, friend!

Whatever it was, it was good.  Happy New Year to you!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Lynne on January 01, 2011, 11:35:07 am
Where else?! It's our "Cheers". ...

See, if I'd been there, I would have had the risotto and spilled my wine.  Twice a tradition does make, methinks.   :laugh:

Happy New Year, Paul!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on January 01, 2011, 02:58:14 pm
I may make up a batch of my Mom's navy beans and ham to start the New Year with a bang!  ;D

Is that a soup, Meryl? In any case, ham and beans are good!  :D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on January 01, 2011, 03:08:51 pm
Is that a soup, Meryl? In any case, ham and beans are good!  :D

It's kind of a main dish and a soup, Jeff.  If you like it soupy, you can always add more liquid.  We used to have it for supper a lot when I was a kid.  Here's the recipe:

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,6191.msg117596.html#msg117596

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on January 01, 2011, 03:15:07 pm
It's kind of a main dish and a soup, Jeff.  If you like it soupy, you can always add more liquid.  We used to have it for supper a lot when I was a kid.  Here's the recipe:

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,6191.msg117596.html#msg117596

Thanks! Reminds me a lot of what my mother used to make, but she always used dried lima beans, and she didn't use chicken broth. I remember her soaking the beans overnight preceding the day she wanted to cook them. The result was kind of soupy without actually being "bean soup"--she used navy beans for bean soup--and was more of a stew.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on January 02, 2011, 01:21:18 pm
I make a dish like that in the slow-cooker. I've made it with limas, with kidneys, with black-eyed peas, with lentils, with bags of mixed beans (all dried, all soaked overnight, except for the black eyes and lentils, which don't require soaking). Sometimes I use bacon instead of ham. Sometimes I use ham hocks, which are cheap and give it a wonderful smoky flavor. Sometimes I add a can of chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce (but only after the beans have softened -- the acid in the tomatoes will keep them from softening).

What I love about the slow-cooker is you don't have to be in the house while it's cooking, and it gives you a lot of latitude as to when it's finished cooking. Usually it will say something like, "cook on low for 6 to 8 hours," which means if you put it in at noon you can eat anytime from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

I made a ham for Christmas. We didn't quite finish it, so I tossed the rest, including the bone, into the freezer. Sometime next week, probably, I'll thaw it out and throw it in the slow-cooker for a big pot o' beans.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on January 02, 2011, 08:30:51 pm
Sounds great, Katherine!  I had my beans for supper with black bread and a beer.  That's good eatin'! (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/merylmarie/Emoticons%20and%20Avatars/readytoeat.gif)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 19, 2011, 01:39:14 pm
It's T minus four days! Is anyone doing a themed Thanksgiving this year? There was a native feast in WSJ's Off-Duty section today...I like to include some native American ingredients, but that's as far as it goes in my house.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 20, 2011, 09:24:21 pm
On track with the Thanksgiving prep! I always work backwards. Completed a cranberry mincemeat pie today. I wanted a low-key pie that wouldn't compete with the pumpkin pie my daughter in law is bringing over. I think this is perfect...and so easy!

Also completed some side dishes: spiced peaches and sweet/sour onions. Obtained brussels sprouts, which I will roast, and all ingredients for the stuffing.

Potential problem: the 20-lb turkey that has been defrosting in the garage since Thursday night is still rock hard! I won't get my feathers ruffled over this.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2011, 10:09:13 am
Your "daughter-in-law"?  ???

I had a hankering for brussels sprouts, but there were none to be had at the grocery story on Friday, except for frozen ones, which are a mushy abomination.  ???
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 21, 2011, 01:59:25 pm
I tried pumpkin pie for the first time when I was in Chicago last week.

It reminded me a lot of a Swedish cake called 'mjuk pepparkaka', "soft gingerbread'. Same spices.

I'm glad I tried it, but I don't feel like I need to have it again.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 23, 2011, 01:29:37 am
Your "daughter-in-law"?  ???
Jeff, that would be my daughter's husband's sister. Sason, pumpkin pie is so de rigeur here that it is almost religious!

I had a hankering for brussels sprouts, but there were none to be had at the grocery story on Friday, except for frozen ones, which are a mushy abomination.  ???
I agree with you about the frozen brussels sprouts. I finally found some fresh ones, and I greedily acquired nearly 2 lbs. of them. I trimmed them tonight and they are all ready to be roasted on Thursday. Yay!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 23, 2011, 01:35:16 am
On track with the Thanksgiving prep! I always work backwards. Completed a cranberry mincemeat pie today. I wanted a low-key pie that wouldn't compete with the pumpkin pie my daughter in law is bringing over. I think this is perfect...and so easy!

Also completed some side dishes: spiced peaches and sweet/sour onions. Obtained brussels sprouts, which I will roast, and all ingredients for the stuffing.

Potential problem: the 20-lb turkey that has been defrosting in the garage since Thursday night is still rock hard! I won't get my feathers ruffled over this.

I made a lot of progress tonight. I cleaned the entire kitchen, put a leaf in the table, cleaned and dusted the dining room, decorated, and prepared the stuffing and a couple of side dishes. Also, the turkey has thawed. I cleaned it out and it is now brining. My son polished the silver, dispatched a whole pomegranate whose seeds will be used in the salad, and promised to shut down the sports supply store that is our front foyer. I'm totally ready for Thanksgiving!!!!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 23, 2011, 11:36:31 am
Sason, pumpkin pie is so de rigeur here that it is almost religious!


Yeah, I kinda figured that. That's why I wanted to try it!

They waitress did look a bit puzzled when I said to Linda, "Oh, they have pumpkin pie on the menu, I've never tried that."

Linda gave me a look and told the waitress, "She's from Sweden".  :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 23, 2011, 09:05:20 pm
I tried pumpkin pie for the first time when I was in Chicago last week.

It reminded me a lot of a Swedish cake called 'mjuk pepparkaka', "soft gingerbread'. Same spices.

I'm glad I tried it, but I don't feel like I need to have it again.

I'm surprised pumpkin pies aren't popular where you live. Pumpkins are definitely a cold-climate crop, and since they're kind of sweetish, so to speak, you'd think they'd be a natural for pies in every culture.


I'm going to a friend's gathering and bringing roasted cranberry sauce from Saveur: (http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Roasted-Cranberry-Sauce). A friend of mine had Thanksgiving a week early, made this, and she and her daughter both said it was really good. So I'm counting on their expertise.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on November 23, 2011, 09:48:30 pm
I'm making the stuffing tomorrow, and I found a recipe for making it in the crockpot.  A good idea, I think.  It'll free up the oven and also stay nice and moist.  It's also from the Calgary Herald, so how great is that?  8)

http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-stuffing-49609

Crock Pot Stuffing

By Dib's on December 22, 2002

    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
    Servings: 10


"Here's a Crock-Pot stuffing recipe I found in the Calgary Herald and thought I'd share it. I'm going to use it for Christmas with the vegetable stock for my vegetarian so I will add my comments after Christmas."

Ingredients

        2 cups chopped onions
        1 1/2 cups thinly sliced celery
        1 cup diced tart apples, peeled and cored
        1/4 cup butter
        1 tablespoon ground sage
        1 teaspoon ground marjoram
        1 teaspoon salt
        1 teaspoon pepper
        1/2 teaspoon savory
        1/2 teaspoon thyme
        12 cups lightly toasted bread, cubes
        1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
        1 1/2 cups chicken stock or 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock

Directions

    In a large fry pan saute onions, celery and apple in butter until onion is just translucent.
    Stir in sage, marjoram, salt, pepper, savory and thyme.
    Combine vegetable mixture with the bread cubes and parsley.
    Toss well.
    Pour stock over mixture, tossing well.
    Spoon into your crock-pot.
    Cover and cook on high for one hour.
    Reduce to low and continue cooking for 2-3 hours, stirring every hour.
    As stated, for vegetarians use vegetable stock.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 24, 2011, 01:06:54 am
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 24, 2011, 03:05:38 pm
I'm surprised pumpkin pies aren't popular where you live. Pumpkins are definitely a cold-climate crop, and since they're kind of sweetish, so to speak, you'd think they'd be a natural for pies in every culture.


I'm going to a friend's gathering and bringing roasted cranberry sauce from Saveur: (http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Roasted-Cranberry-Sauce). A friend of mine had Thanksgiving a week early, made this, and she and her daughter both said it was really good. So I'm counting on their expertise.




Pumpkins are a fairly new phenomenon in Sweden. There were starting to make an appearance at the same time as Halloween stuff about 10 years ago. A cultural import for commercial reasons entirely.

Since then I've seen several recipes with pumpkin, soups among others. I don't recall any pie recipes, though.
I think pie has another cultural significance in the US than in Sweden.

I once made a cake with pumpkin in it. It was no big hit.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 25, 2011, 01:04:47 am
Here's the menu for Christmas in the South End this year:

Breakfast

Tangerine juice mimosas
Buttermilk waffles from scratch
Extra-thick country bacon from the Ozarks--a special Christmas present
Wicked strong lattes

Dinner

My friend Laurence's world-famous chopped liver with whole wheat toasts and cornichons
A very ripe and gorgeous Brillat-Savarin triple creme cheese that is like buttah
Manhattans with Woodford Reserve bourbon

Roast rack of lamb, very rare, with juniper berry, garlic, rosemary, dijon mustard crust
Joey's Cape Cod Eastham turnip and potato puree
Little haricots verts sauteed with shallots
For wine, a Cotes de Ventoux from Provence

Lynne will join us for dessert:
My mom's homemade mincemeat pies infused with brandy
Joey's homemade fruitcake
Espresso
Dark chocolate-covered figs
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 25, 2011, 02:15:16 am
Booking my flight now....!  :P  :D

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 25, 2011, 09:38:04 am
I'll gladly set an extra place for the Priestess!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 25, 2011, 10:27:10 am
Your menu sounds out-of-this-world YUMMY, Paul!!!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 23, 2012, 07:18:29 pm
Happy Christmas Eve Eve! I'll bet I know what a lot of my friends are doing at this time...cooking, prepping and being domestic gods and goddesses! A funny thing happened as I was reviewing this thread. I was going to write "I think I'll make a different kind of pie this year...mincemeat." But then I noticed that I have made mincemeat pie of one kind or other at least two times before and written about it!! I will certainly put shavings of crystallized ginger over the top of the vanilla ice cream on the pie as Paul suggested lo these many years ago!

So far I have made the cornbread for the stuffing (a turkey is brining in the garage) and I just may cook the stuffing in the crock pot as Meryl suggested. I've also made the cranberry dressing. Susan Stamberg's mother in law's cranberry dressing, whose recipe she repeats every year on NPR as a tradition. I've made the pastry for the mincemeat pie and I'm working on lemon shortbread cookies with lavender and also Greek grape molasses cookies. For the latter, I had to steal a fourth cup of bourbon from my husband's barrel of home-made moonshine, dump in a half teaspoon of baking soda and let it ferment for a while. Okay, it's time for your holiday menu countdown update!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 24, 2012, 12:54:33 pm
Your meal sounds yummy and creative as usual, Lee!  Hope the stuffing works out to your satisfaction.  8)

I'm attempting my first standing rib roast tomorrow.  It was expensive as heck, so I hope I do it right!  Accompaniments are mushroom gravy, rolls, baked potatoes, salad and veggie brought by a guest, and pumpkin and lemon meringue pies.

Bon appetit, everyone!  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 24, 2012, 01:02:33 pm
Mmm, I'm getting hungry! 

Lemon shortbread with lavender sounds terrific, Lee.

Good luck, Priestess, with the rib roast.

I'm sticking with my tradition, more or less, this year.  Rack of lamb with a mustard-juniper-garlic-rosemary crust, potato and celery root gratin, sauteed (almost charred) brussel sprouts, haricots verts, followed by my mother's mincemeat pies and Joey's famous fruitcake. 

Oh, and I have crock of Harrod's stilton, a souvenir of my London trip. With port and walnuts. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 24, 2012, 01:32:19 pm
Meryl, I know your standing rib roast will be perfect! Do you use one of those oven thermometers that have a sensor that goes into the meat? I use one and it has served me well through many a meal. I tried using it one time along with the little pop-up timer that goes on the turkey, and I would have had overdone, dry turkey if I had relied on the latter!

On stuffing, people are so funny, because they dribble chicken broth on the stuffing to "moisten" it and then they are upset because the stuffing is shmushy rather than crispy! I never put water or broth on mine, simply some good butter and/or olive oil. Currently the stuffing's all cut up and ready to go into the crock pot, and my hands (and my computer keyboard) smell like rosemary and sage!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Meryl on December 24, 2012, 01:45:35 pm
Lee, I bought a thermometer yesterday that is long enough to get to the middle of the roast.  Fingers crossed that it works!  8)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Penthesilea on December 25, 2012, 03:48:34 am
Good luck to everyone for your Christmas menus!
We had our traditional pork loin wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven in a cream cheese with herbs and sour cream sauce. Goes with noodles. Helen was allowed to eat the same. It's Christmas and I think two exceptions in December are okay.
We passed on the also traditional ice-cream dessert because Helen had asked us to, so the dessert was coffee and a game of crazy8s :).


Today we'll be at my in-laws. I don't know what my MIL will have for us but hope for something good. :)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 25, 2012, 04:53:54 pm
Well, I suppose your Christmas is just about over, Chrissi! I hope you and your family had a very happy one. I just finished making Tamarind Spiced Chickpeas and Spinach  (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/tamarind-spiced-chickpeas-and-spinach) while waiting for the turkey to be done. It looks and smells wonderful! That's one of the best things about Christmas...the wonderful aromas.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Penthesilea on December 25, 2012, 05:11:48 pm
Well, I suppose your Christmas is just about over, Chrissi! I hope you and your family had a very happy one.


Thank you very much, we did and still do. Christmas is not over here in Germany. We celebrate three days long, starting on Dec. 24th.
Two of three Christmas days are over, but tomorrow is another national holiday. Todays was in-laws, tomorrow is my family. :)



Quote
I just finished making Tamarind Spiced Chickpeas and Spinach  (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/tamarind-spiced-chickpeas-and-spinach) while waiting for the turkey to be done. It looks and smells wonderful! That's one of the best things about Christmas...the wonderful aromas.

And you should be in the midst of celebrating right now! Hope you also have a lovely time with your family! :-*
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 26, 2015, 01:34:31 pm
Quick! Before the memory grows dim, please reprise your holiday menus here!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 26, 2015, 01:51:46 pm
OK, I'll go:  a nice sunny day, very warm, with windows open!

Appetizers:
-my friend Laurence's homemade chopped liver
-a fresh Brillat-Savarin cheese
-Joey's homemade gougeres (cheese puffs, yum)

Dinner:
-roast rack of lamb with mustard/garlic/rosemary/juniper berry crust
-simple string beans
-thinly sliced and charred brussel sprouts with cumin and coriander
-potato, leek and celery root gratin
-a lovely Rhone wine from my sister

Dessert:
-Joey's famous stollen
-my sister's macaroons
-mini mincemeat pies

After dinner:
-20-year tawny port
-Joey's tray of dried fruits, nuts and chocolates
-a reading from David Sedaris "Holidays on Ice"
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 26, 2015, 04:11:32 pm
Sounds outstanding! I prepared leg of lamb this year. One problem I have is that when the lamb starts to brown and the drippings fall into the gravy pan, the kitchen starts to get smoky and we have to open some windows. I try to remember to put water in the gravy pan but it doesn't always take care of the problem. Anybody, like Paul, have any tips for me?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 26, 2015, 09:03:02 pm
Sounds outstanding! I prepared leg of lamb this year. One problem I have is that when the lamb starts to brown and the drippings fall into the gravy pan, the kitchen starts to get smoky and we have to open some windows. I try to remember to put water in the gravy pan but it doesn't always take care of the problem. Anybody, like Paul, have any tips for me?

Hmm, I don't often do leg of lamb, but I have two ideas:

1) Put a bunch of sliced onions in the bottom of the pan; you can add them to the gravy.

2) Cook it on an outdoor grill
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: BradInBlue on December 27, 2015, 12:31:17 am
Impressive menu and item-coupling Paul.  Most our friends/family wouldn't know what most of the stuff you served is & I don't know that any one of them has ever had lamb :)  I kept the sit down part simple: Fab shrimp cocktail, Prime Rib, Idaho bakers, and charred Brussel Sprouts which I finished in Olive Oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. No nice Port after, but the Naked Grape Cab (in the box) was a hit.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on December 27, 2015, 09:33:40 am
Cheers, Brad.  I love prime rib!  Isn't is just the cow version of rack of lamb?  Do you serve it on the bone?  When I was a kid, I would always ask for the bone because our German Shepard LOVED it.

I'll share a secret:  the reason I started doing rack of lamb--it only takes about 25 minutes to cook.  Roast for 500 degrees for ten minutes, then turn down to 350 for about 15 minutes for rosy rare. I don't even put it in until all the guests have arrived. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on December 28, 2015, 11:23:54 am
I didn't have any recipies this year, mom said she wanted to handle it all.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: BradInBlue on December 28, 2015, 01:23:02 pm
Cheers, Brad.  I love prime rib!  Isn't is just the cow version of rack of lamb?  Do you serve it on the bone?  When I was a kid, I would always ask for the bone because our German Shepard LOVED it.

Didn't do this one on the bone but that is my preferred way (protects & keeps the meat moist). This one had Kosher salt/granulated garlic/packed whole Rosemary crust.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 21, 2016, 10:38:59 pm
The challenge I have every year is finding cornichons, which are de rigueur for holiday meals IMHO. This year, I only had to go to four places to find them! And most of these stores are the size of a football field! Go figure!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: BradInBlue on November 22, 2016, 01:01:14 am
The challenge I have every year is finding cornichons, which are de rigueur for holiday meals IMHO. This year, I only had to go to four places to find them! And most of these stores are the size of a football field! Go figure!

Amazon.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 22, 2016, 11:40:55 am
I'm getting  away easy this year.  Michelle wants me to just bake various rolls/breads and a Buffalo  Chicken Dip
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 22, 2019, 05:27:12 pm
Twas the weekend before Thanksgiving. . .

and I'm searching for a recipe that I can make ahead, improves with mellowing a few days, and can be served a room temperature. I've already made all the relishes and pickles, etc.

Accepting ideas! I'm thinking maybe some kind of slaw.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 24, 2019, 03:58:15 pm
A colorful slaw, that's what I'm after. My menu this Thanksgiving is shaping up to be something of a Southern feast, complete with spiced peaches.

I've got carrots, tart apples, and red cabbage to put in the slaw. What else do I need?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 24, 2019, 04:08:31 pm
How is a slaw different from a salad?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 24, 2019, 04:51:23 pm
They both typically have raw ingredients, but the slaw usually has ingredients that are in smaller pieces, often grated. The slaw also has a dressing, often a creamy tart mayonnaise/sour cream dressing. Salads in America usually have a lighter dressing applied at the table.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 24, 2019, 04:56:04 pm
A colorful slaw, that's what I'm after. My menu this Thanksgiving is shaping up to be something of a Southern feast, complete with spiced peaches.

I've got carrots, tart apples, and red cabbage to put in the slaw. What else do I need?

A spicy vinaigrette (which I prefer to creamy white dressing) or a chipotle ranch? A sprinkling of toasted sliced almonds, walnuts, pepitos or other nuts? Finely chopped kale? Slivered poblano? Shaved Brussels sprouts, lightly blanched or roasted?

(Just thinkin' out loud.)

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 24, 2019, 06:44:34 pm
These are inspired ideas, friend! I will use all except the poblanos which would drive my white bread relatives screaming out of my house! Thank you!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 24, 2019, 06:55:36 pm
They both typically have raw ingredients, but the slaw usually has ingredients that are in smaller pieces, often grated. The slaw also has a dressing, often a creamy tart mayonnaise/sour cream dressing. Salads in America usually have a lighter dressing applied at the table.

I see. Thanks Lee!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 25, 2019, 11:50:13 am
These are inspired ideas, friend! I will use all except the poblanos which would drive my white bread relatives screaming out of my house! Thank you!

Glad you liked the ideas. Now I'm in the mood to bring a slaw. But I'm bringing my usual sweet-potato pie. My son was talking about bringing something, possibly a salad, so I'll suggest this.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 26, 2019, 06:58:15 pm
How is a slaw different from a salad?

A salad.

(https://recipes.heart.org/-/media/aha/recipe/recipe-images/mediterranean-salad.jpg)


A slaw


(https://food.fnr.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2009/2/10/0/SH1206-1_Mint-Broccoli-Slaw_s4x3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1382724094977.jpeg)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 27, 2019, 03:03:02 pm
Thanks Chuck, but the slaw doesn't show up. I can't get the link to work in a search either. Dunno why.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 27, 2019, 03:36:58 pm
We generally say coleslaw rather than just slaw. I notice that, in deli counters here in NZ, they often have it labelled kiwi slaw but I still ask for coleslaw and that is what I am given, cannot find any difference. I have never made it myself but buy it almost every week, all year.  It is just cabbage and carrot and perhaps something else (onion?). Now that summer is finally here, I will begin buying salads. I love Greek salad which I buy already prepared but I do grow lettuces and buy tomatoes and cucumbers to make a salad as well. I have given up on growing my own tomatoes this year.  In previous years I have planted in October and lucky if i get a few ripening in March. The lady at the Farmers market told me that as I live in a higher suburb, I really need a greenhouse.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 27, 2019, 06:49:24 pm
Thanks Chuck, but the slaw doesn't show up. I can't get the link to work in a search either. Dunno why.

does this one work?


(https://www.fifteenspatulas.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Cole-Slaw-Fifteen-Spatulas-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 27, 2019, 09:00:27 pm
It works for me!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 28, 2019, 11:12:14 am
Me too! That one looks more delicious than the previous one.

The cole in cole slaw refers to cabbage. It comes from the Latin word for cabbage: caulis. Interestingly the word kale, a whole different vegetable, also comes from caulis. Cabbage is usually the foundational vegetable in slaw, although I've seen it made with finely chopped broccoli or other ingredients. Cabbage is particularly well suited for it because it doesn't get soggy as quickly as lettuce. So while a lettuce salad with dressing would probably be inedible the next day, cole slaw is still OK.

I used to make a delicious dish called colcannon, a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes and finely chopped cabbage and onions. I added cheese to mine, though I don't think that's a traditional element.

There's a department store chain here named Kohl's, which is the German form of caulis. Either the store is named Cabbage's, or the founder's last name was Cabbage. But they may not have known that, because in modern English the word Kohl has no meaning.

My ex-mother-in-law calls it cold slaw.  ::)



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 29, 2019, 12:17:53 pm
How informative, and ended with a laugh! You should do food writing more often, friend!

So how did everyone's menu work out? I'm still working on mine; nine are coming today!

The renter moved out in May, and I've had the house to myself since then!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 29, 2019, 04:33:39 pm
That pic works!

We would call that a salad too, just a different variety than the one in the previous pic.

The Swedish word for cabbage is kål, pronounced much like cole.

Kale (grönkål) and cabbage (vitkål) are related, they both belong to the same family: brassica. As do also e.g. broccoli, cauliflower (blomkål), brussel sprouts (brysselkål), kohl rabi (kålrabbi), among others.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 29, 2019, 04:59:25 pm
How informative, and ended with a laugh! You should do food writing more often, friend!

In an amazing coincidence, I was (briefly) a food writer in the mid-'80s. I worked mainly as a feature writer but they didn't have a food writer so part of my job for a year or so was writing a weekly food story with recipes. I took the opportunity to try to make them fun and culturally interesting. But the very first story I wrote was on a topic assigned by my editor and that topic was ... CABBAGE!

My little bit of knowledge of cole/kål, however, I didn't acquire until years later, when I began making colcannon. And I can't even remember where I got that recipe.

And here we are still learning, thanks to Sonja! I guess i knew that some of those cruciferous (shouldn't that word be coleciferous) vegetables were related, but I didn't know the whole list or that cabbage was on it.





Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 29, 2019, 07:04:52 pm

(shouldn't that word be coleciferous)

 :laugh:

Katherine, the colcannon sounds interesting. I'd be interested in the recipe, if you still have it.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 29, 2019, 08:01:08 pm
:laugh:

Katherine, the colcannon sounds interesting. I'd be interested in the recipe, if you still have it.

I'm not sure I ever had it written down, and if so it could be hard to find at this point because I've been packing things up for an eventual move. But here's the gist of it: I would saute an onion in olive oil, add a bag of shredded cabbage until it wilts. Meanwhile, I would boil some potatoes and mash them (so their quantity is a little bigger than the cabbage and onion. I'd mix them together and add grated cheese to taste.

Not exactly glamorous, but tasty and fairly healthy! If you google you'll be able to find online recipes that might be more precise. And I'm not sure cheese is authentic to the original recipe but I liked it.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 29, 2019, 08:51:18 pm
Thanks!

It sounds like good everyday food.

I'll try it, maybe tomorrow.

I imagine a dollop of butter won't hurt....  ::)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 30, 2019, 09:26:28 am
It sounds like good everyday food.

Exactly. Everyday ingredients you may already have, not much time or work, satisfying and healthy. Done!

Quote
]I imagine a dollop of butter won't hurt....  ::)

I don't think a dollop of butter has ever hurt anything!  :D

I use butter (and/or milk or cream) when mashing potatoes. But it would be welcome later in the process, too.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 30, 2019, 03:48:24 pm
So I made it today. It was very good!

I used what I already had at home: cooked the potatoes with a couple of carrots too; fried leek instead of onions and used brussel sprout tops instead of cabbage. And some butter of course....
I cooked some salmon to go with it.

It came out really good, and I'm definitely gonna make it again!

Thanks for the idea, Katherine!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 30, 2019, 03:49:03 pm
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQs6dRorhMwwRcXWLGhuUFCDmhtj4fAu1_bkmiPJS4Qp2_gzLK9&s)


Brussel sprout top.

Brysselkålstopp.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 30, 2019, 05:02:03 pm
Yum!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 30, 2019, 05:29:45 pm
So I made it today. It was very good!

I used what I already had at home: cooked the potatoes with a couple of carrots too; fried leek instead of onions and used brussel sprout tops instead of cabbage. And some butter of course....
I cooked some salmon to go with it.

It came out really good, and I'm definitely gonna make it again!

Thanks for the idea, Katherine!

I'm glad you liked it! Your version sounds good.

(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQs6dRorhMwwRcXWLGhuUFCDmhtj4fAu1_bkmiPJS4Qp2_gzLK9&s)


Brussel sprout top.

Brysselkålstopp.

I don't think I've ever seen those. They must cut them off the Brussels sprouts here before selling them.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 30, 2019, 08:40:09 pm
I've never seen them in the stores here either.

I get them from the organic CSA farm I'm a member of.

It provides me with all kinds of veggies plus youghurt and meat.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 30, 2019, 09:23:56 pm
I've never seen them in the stores here either.

I get them from the organic CSA farm I'm a member of.

It provides me with all kinds of veggies plus youghurt and meat.

I did that a couple of times. Both times the farmers had bad years, so their output wasn't great. Also, I felt too much pressure to figure out how to use the vegetables while they were still good. So I decided to stick with farmers' markets.

At one of the CSA farms, though, the people raised and sold free-range chickens and fresh eggs. They were a long drive out into the country, though beautiful on a nice day. I would stock up on about six of the chickens. (I mean, at that point the chickens were, er, ready to eat, not still strutting around.)

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 01, 2019, 10:49:41 am
These Brussels sprouts are said to have more nutrients that fight cancer than CBD oil!

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 02, 2019, 01:57:59 pm
I did that a couple of times. Both times the farmers had bad years, so their output wasn't great. Also, I felt too much pressure to figure out how to use the vegetables while they were still good. So I decided to stick with farmers' markets.

At one of the CSA farms, though, the people raised and sold free-range chickens and fresh eggs. They were a long drive out into the country, though beautiful on a nice day. I would stock up on about six of the chickens. (I mean, at that point the chickens were, er, ready to eat, not still strutting around.)

Yeah, sometimes I very optimistically order veggies and then a week later find that I haven't used all of them.

But I like the idea and the community of the CSA farm.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on December 02, 2019, 01:59:02 pm
These Brussels sprouts are said to have more nutrients that fight cancer than CBD oil!

Are they some special variety of brussel sprouts?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 10, 2020, 03:23:02 pm
This year (as usual) Thanksgiving will be a mix of the traditional, along with the Italian.

 :laugh:

Mom and dad are supplying the main meal, which they are getting catered.

I'm going to be making the Italian sausage (some mild, some hot), and the meatballs and sauce.

I'm also going to be making traditional side dish of corn pudding/corn casserole, depending on which name you opt to use.

I'm posting the recipes in the appropriate threads.


http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,6107.0.html
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 10, 2020, 09:05:12 pm
That sounds great, Chuck! I wish I had some fun ancestral food to mix into Thanksgiving!

My folks (and their folks and who knows how many folks before that) was from Iowa.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 10, 2020, 10:09:11 pm
That sounds great, Chuck! I wish I had some fun ancestral food to mix into Thanksgiving!

My folks (and their folks and who knows how many folks before that) was from Iowa.

Does that mean green bean casserole is a traditional dish?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 11, 2020, 10:16:41 am
Does that mean green bean casserole is a traditional dish?

I think so, though not an essential element. Around here, the traditional kind involves beans mixed with cream of mushroom soup and topped with canned fried onions.

That actually sounds pretty good. I'm making Thanksgiving dinner this year, with the help of one or more of my sons -- or perhaps I'll help them; they like to cook. If I were to make green-bean casserole I'd try to use fresher ingredients than Campbell's and French's packaged products.

The vegetable part of a Thanksgiving dinner can be the hardest because nobody cares about that.  :laugh:




Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 11, 2020, 01:28:03 pm
Oh yes, traditional Minnesota hot dish.

Around here, Thanksgiving is when the vegetables shine. Turkey is really kind of bland, as is mashed potatoes. So, the side dishes are crucial to the success of the meal.

My mother's signature dish was spiced peaches. I'm not sure what my signature dish for Thanksgiving might be. Probably Brussels sprouts. My children always ask for them.

Dessert is important too, but most of the time we are too full to eat it, so we make a date a day or two later to eat dessert. I put chopped walnuts in my pumpkin pie. They sink to the bottom and give a surprise crunch and burst of flavor at the end of each bite.

I must order my turkey soon. There is a shortage of small turkeys as the gatherings are smaller this year. Our Governor told us to avoid gatherings, whatever the size, for a few weeks due to the spike in cases.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 11, 2020, 05:52:39 pm
The vegetable part of a Thanksgiving dinner can be the hardest because nobody cares about that.  :laugh:


:laugh:
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 11, 2020, 05:56:17 pm
Oh yes, traditional Minnesota hot dish.

Around here, Thanksgiving is when the vegetables shine. Turkey is really kind of bland, as is mashed potatoes. So, the side dishes are crucial to the success of the meal.

My mother's signature dish was spiced peaches. I'm not sure what my signature dish for Thanksgiving might be. Probably Brussels sprouts. My children always ask for them.

Dessert is important too, but most of the time we are too full to eat it, so we make a date a day or two later to eat dessert. I put chopped walnuts in my pumpkin pie. They sink to the bottom and give a surprise crunch and burst of flavor at the end of each bite.

I must order my turkey soon. There is a shortage of small turkeys as the gatherings are smaller this year. Our Governor told us to avoid gatherings, whatever the size, for a few weeks due to the spike in cases.


Don't hold off too long on getting your supplies.   I was at the market today, and there were a lot of people who were doing Thanksgiving shopping, and two of the people told me the store was starting to run low on stuff.

Of course, there's time to restock before the holiday, it's still 15 days until the holiday, but still, better to get it done early and have it, than wait too late and not be able to find it anywhere.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 12, 2020, 10:44:34 am
Oh yes, traditional Minnesota hot dish.

Well, actually a hot dish can be almost anything because it's just what Minnesotans call casserole. My folks was Iowan, so I didn't start using "hot dish" until adulthood, and then semi-ironically. The most classic Minnesota hot dish is tater-tot hot dish, which is tater tots baked over meat and vegetables. Kind of like a convenience-product shepherd's pie, I guess. Recently I considered trying to make one using broccoli tots and more interesting ingredients, but I haven't dared yet.

Quote
Around here, Thanksgiving is when the vegetables shine. Turkey is really kind of bland, as is mashed potatoes. So, the side dishes are crucial to the success of the meal.

I like turkey and dressing (and gravy!) because Thanksgiving is pretty much the only time of the year I eat them. I like mashed potatoes any time. My ex-mother-in-law also makes mashed rutabagas, so I'll make those this year. (Sometimes when I make mashed cauliflower I throw in a couple of potatoes or turnips or a rutabaga, which gives the concoction more body than cauliflower alone.)

Quote
Probably Brussels sprouts. My children always ask for them.

I'll probably make Brussels sprouts, too. I love them! I haven't cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner since I lived in New Orleans, but that's when I first made them and realized that, contrary to prevailing belief at the time, they're really good. I think that was before they became fixtures in nice restaurants, so it's entirely possible Emeril Lagasse was walking past my house one evening, smelled the delicious Brussels sprouts, and launched the trend. (Or possibly it was the other way around -- maybe I got the idea from eating them at Emeril's or some other fancy NOLA restaurant. I can't remember now!)

Quote
Dessert is important too, but most of the time we are too full to eat it, so we make a date a day or two later to eat dessert. I put chopped walnuts in my pumpkin pie. They sink to the bottom and give a surprise crunch and burst of flavor at the end of each bite.

Years ago I started making sweet-potato pie. A friend had me over for Thanksgiving and served pumpkin pie made from fresh pumpkin, and I was impressed but that seemed like a lot of work so I started making sweet-potato pie every year. I make a recipe with bourbon in it (I usually pick Wild Turkey for obvious reasons). Everybody seems to like it.

I've probably told this story before, but one year I was invited to a friend's father who is kind of a gourmand. (For example, he says Brussels sprouts are best after the first freeze.) So I was really meticulous about the sweet-potato pie -- watched the oven to take it out at precisely the right time, made the whipped cream just the right consistency and flavor. I served it after dinner, and as soon as I took a bite I realized I'd forgotten to add sugar. Everybody sat there eating it for a few minutes, and finally I said, "I think I forgot to sugar." "Yeah, I think so," everybody said in unison.

I took the rest of it home and found that microwaved pieces, topped with cheese, were like pumpkin quiche. Yum!

(Side note: I've recently discovered my store sells pumpkin-pie hummus! It's pretty good -- like denser and presumably healthier pumpkin pie. I top it with a dollop of ricotta and/or mascarpone.)

Quote
I must order my turkey soon. There is a shortage of small turkeys as the gatherings are smaller this year. Our Governor told us to avoid gatherings, whatever the size, for a few weeks due to the spike in cases.

Oh no! I hadn't even thought about that. Every gathering that splits up means that many more turkeys. So for example instead of one at our extended family gathering, which won't be happening this year, there'll be at least three or four turkeys. But of course turkey farmers only raise the number they expect to sell ... :o


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 12, 2020, 12:08:28 pm
As I'll only have three to dinner for Tgiving, I've decided to cook turkey thighs. 

I once did a turkey breast roulade, but it was too much work and not that great.  We're a dark meat crowd anyway. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 12, 2020, 01:56:48 pm
We call sweet potato kumera and I do not like it.  I prefer chicken to turkey. We did not have turkey when I was a child, chicken was a luxury item then. Although I now have chicken every week, I am quite happy to have it on Christmas day along with ham and salmon (for a starter).
When I first moved to NZ, my sister asked me to go back for Christmas. I did for six years but then changed to Easter as Christmas is too hot for me in Sydney. So this will be my 4th year of having Christmas by myself.  Probably fortunate as I would not be allowed to go to Australia for Christmas this year but I am now use to having it by myself.  Last year my sister came over here in the first week of December and we went to an expensive winery for lunch one day. When she went home a few days later, we did not know we would not see each other again for over a year (probably nearly 18 months) and that I would not be able go over at Easter.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 12, 2020, 08:54:32 pm
We did not have turkey when I was a child

That's because you don't have a charming origin story about Europeans and indigenous people gathering for a nice dinner of turkey and mashed potatoes, having a splendid time and living happily ever after. ... Or at least until about a year later, when a spike outside the European fort held the head of the leader of the indigenous group that showed up that day.

At least according to a story I read last year in the New Yorker. Fairly reliable source.



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 12, 2020, 09:21:42 pm
That's because you don't have a charming origin story about Europeans and indigenous people gathering for a nice dinner of turkey and mashed potatoes, having a splendid time and living happily ever after. ... Or at least until about a year later, when a spike outside the European fort held the head of the leader of the indigenous group that showed up that day.

At least according to a story I read last year in the New Yorker. Fairly reliable source.
I think it was also due to cost. As I said, chicken was a food for special occasions in those days, now I eat it several times per week.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 10:30:00 am
I think it was also due to cost. As I said, chicken was a food for special occasions in those days, now I eat it several times per week.

Yes, I wasn't aware at the time but I've seen things since since then about people cooking veal (!) because chicken was such a luxury.

I bet the chickens were happier in those days. :-\  That is, chicken might have gotten cheaper due to the growth of factory-farmed as opposed to pasture-raised chicken.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 13, 2020, 12:57:59 pm
As I feared, stores are starting to run low on Thanksgiving victuals. My favorite meat place is completely out of turkeys and Natural Grocers has an automated message saying it's out too. I was driven to order a frozen turkey  :o and I also ordered some turkey "tenderloins". Are those the same as the thighs you're cooking, Paul? I think I'll brine the frozen turkey after thawing so it will have more flavor. I'm still looking around for a fresh turkey as well.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 01:26:29 pm
As I feared, stores are starting to run low on Thanksgiving victuals. My favorite meat place is completely out of turkeys and Natural Grocers has an automated message saying it's out too. I was driven to order a frozen turkey  :o and I also ordered some turkey "tenderloins". Are those the same as the thighs you're cooking, Paul? I think I'll brine the frozen turkey after thawing so it will have more flavor. I'm still looking around for a fresh turkey as well.

After this conversation yesterday, I emailed the paper's consumer reporter to let him know of this possibility. He hadn't thought of it or come across it, so it was probably helpful to him.

Meanwhile, my son said that last year, when he couldn't come home, he and his roommates bought a turkey from, of all places, Popeye's! Apparently they sell them -- uncooked but with Cajun seasoning -- and my son said it was really good.

Sounds weird, but it might be worth a try if you have a Popeye's around. Popeye's was launched in New Orleans before it became a national chain and the founder worked really hard to perfect the recipes before opening. So remember the celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme? He as in NOLA, too, and always said he thought Popeye's had the best red beans and rice in town, which is saying a lot in NOLA.






 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 13, 2020, 02:34:59 pm
Oh yes, traditional Minnesota hot dish.

Hotdish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 13, 2020, 02:37:08 pm
Sounds weird, but it might be worth a try if you have a Popeye's around. Popeye's was launched in New Orleans before it became a national chain and the founder worked really hard to perfect the recipes before opening. So remember the celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme? He as in NOLA, too, and always said he thought Popeye's had the best red beans and rice in town, which is saying a lot in NOLA.

First time I ever heard of Popeye's I kind of went, "Hunh?" I thought Popeye ate spinach.  ???
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 13, 2020, 02:40:09 pm
I also ordered some turkey "tenderloins". Are those the same as the thighs you're cooking, Paul?

My dad and I have started a search for turkey "cutlets." We figure to grill them, same as I do "chicken cutlets."
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 03:01:31 pm
Hotdish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish)

Yup. And as the Wikipedia entry says, cream of mushroom soup is often a key ingredient. I believe the hotdish in the picture is the aforementioned tater-tot version.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 13, 2020, 03:02:13 pm
Hotdish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish)

http://www.stlukeselca.com/youmightbealutheranif.htm (http://www.stlukeselca.com/youmightbealutheranif.htm)

If you scroll down, you'll see that you might be Lutheran if you think hotdish is a major food group, and if you call hotdish a casserole, you're trying to be uppity and might even be Episcopalian.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 04:09:27 pm
http://www.stlukeselca.com/youmightbealutheranif.htm (http://www.stlukeselca.com/youmightbealutheranif.htm)

If you scroll down, you'll see that you might be Lutheran if you think hotdish is a major food group, and if you call hotdish a casserole, you're trying to be uppity and might even be Episcopalian.

 :laugh:

I've never been a Lutheran (my folks wasn't either), and for that matter I'm not a very good Minnesotan. I find lutefisk kind of sickening, for example. I do proudly call carbonated soft drinks "pop," though.

Maybe I've already mentioned this, Jeff, but did you know the largest early immigrant group in Minnesota was Germans? I only learned that recently, having always assumed it was Swedes or Norwegians.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 13, 2020, 06:01:39 pm
...remember the celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme? He as in NOLA, too, and always said he thought Popeye's had the best red beans and rice in town, which is saying a lot in NOLA.

Oh, yes, I remember him. My then-husband and I were at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival and hubby had commissioned Prudhomme to create a drink with Beefeater Gin which he was the brand director of. (It didn't take a lot of work: a chili pepper and gin in a martini glass.) I was standing next to the great chef waiting for him to sign his latest book and he motioned me closer to his wheelchair. I gave him the book which he put in his lap and then he put his hand up my dress! I jumped up and back so hard I hit hubby in the chin and he actually got a bruise. He was so mad at me and I couldn't say anything in my defense until we were away from the party!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: southendmd on November 13, 2020, 06:18:41 pm
I was driven to order a frozen turkey  :o and I also ordered some turkey "tenderloins". Are those the same as the thighs you're cooking, Paul?

I'd guess that tenderloins are some kinda white meat.  Turkey thighs are bone in and skin on; much larger than a chicken thigh, one per person is plenty. 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 13, 2020, 06:24:47 pm
Oh, okay. Well, they were one of the two things that were out of stock anyway. And the other out-of-stock thing was turkey bacon! Other than that, my grocery order turned out pretty well. I think I'll follow Chuck's method through the holidays. The grocery store was pretty crowded.  :-\
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 07:17:52 pm
I gave him the book which he put in his lap and then he put his hand up my dress! I jumped up and back so hard I hit hubby in the chin and he actually got a bruise. He was so mad at me and I couldn't say anything in my defense until we were away from the party!

 :o  Whoa! Too bad you couldn't #metoo him back then.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 07:23:49 pm
Well, I just ordered a fresh turkey from an artisanal butcher shop -- it comes from some farm near here -- and there was no problem. Most of the ones under 10 lbs are already claimed, so I had to order "10 pounds or less." I ran the figures through a turkey calculator and it suggested 6 lbs. Since my sons are in their 20s and workout constantly, they get really hungry, so I figured maybe 7-8. Turns out the smallest they had left at this point are 10.

Oh well, it freezes well and I'll probably find it handy to have there sometime in the future for a dinner emergency. And it's not expensive, surprisingly.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 07:27:10 pm
the other out-of-stock thing was turkey bacon!

I wonder if they diverted turkey that would normally be used for other products into Thanksgiving turkey. Strange if they could see that far ahead. Also, I don't remember if turkey was among the packing plants that had COVID outbreaks. I think it was just pork, at least in this state. And that seems as plentiful as ever in the stores.

 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 13, 2020, 08:31:43 pm
:o  Whoa! Too bad you couldn't #metoo him back then.

In those days, you couldn't call anybody out, you just had to stand it.  :'(
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 13, 2020, 08:39:58 pm
In those days, you couldn't call anybody out, you just had to stand it.  :'(

If you can't fix it ...  :'(

That was what was remarkable about #metoo. It just flipped everything around really quickly. Hope it lasts.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 14, 2020, 02:08:31 pm
Yup. And as the Wikipedia entry says, cream of mushroom soup is often a key ingredient. I believe the hotdish in the picture is the aforementioned tater-tot version.

That list where I got the hotdish reference also includes the entry that you might be Lutheran if you think cream of mushroom soup should be called Lutheran Binder. I'm not sure if that's a reference to its use in recipes, or if it means it constipates you.  ;D
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 14, 2020, 02:10:54 pm
I wonder if they diverted turkey that would normally be used for other products into Thanksgiving turkey. Strange if they could see that far ahead. Also, I don't remember if turkey was among the packing plants that had COVID outbreaks. I think it was just pork, at least in this state. And that seems as plentiful as ever in the stores.

In Delaware it was poultry--specifically chicken--plants. Poultry is big business down on the Delmarva peninsula.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 14, 2020, 02:13:15 pm
Oh well, it freezes well and I'll probably find it handy to have there sometime in the future for a dinner emergency. And it's not expensive, surprisingly.

For the day after Thanksgiving I used to love cold turkey sandwiches with mustard on nice, thick slices of bread.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 14, 2020, 04:32:42 pm
That list where I got the hotdish reference also includes the entry that you might be Lutheran if you think cream of mushroom soup should be called Lutheran Binder. I'm not sure if that's a reference to its use in recipes, or if it means it constipates you.  ;D

At my first reporting job, where I was making like $110 a week, one of my standard dinners was generic pasta topped with cream-of-mushroom soup. It actually wasn't too bad.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 21, 2020, 01:22:46 pm
I spent several HOURS on Thursday ordering groceries for Thanksgiving week, picking them up yesterday. One thing the store didn't have and didn't even have a substitute, was carrots. Carrots!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2020, 10:10:07 pm
At my first reporting job, where I was making like $110 a week, one of my standard dinners was generic pasta topped with cream-of-mushroom soup. It actually wasn't too bad.

That does sound pretty good.

I wonder how something like cream of broccoli would work? I guess I ought to try that sometime.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 21, 2020, 10:18:42 pm
For Thanksgiving dinner, my dad and I will be having grilled turkey cutlets, filling/stuffing/dressing with turkey gravy, and a baked sweet potato. There maybe be biscuits as well. The vegetable and dessert have not yet been determined.

In the possibility that I may not be traveling to my dad's after all, when I went to the supermarket yesterday I bought a couple of thick slices of roasted turkey breast at the deli counter, and I found some already prepared filling/stuffing/dressing. I had to go to another store to find gravy, and I had to settle for some not-very-good canned stuff. I will put the gravy in a sauce pan, then put the sliced turkey in the gravy, and heat the turkey while I heat the gravy. I have several varieties of vegetables in the freezer, though I will probably have corn (which everybody knows is really a grain, not a vegetable). If I find I am not going to my dad's, I may try to find some biscuits. Dessert has yet to be determined.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 22, 2020, 11:32:09 am
If I find I am not going to my dad's, I may try to find some biscuits. Dessert has yet to be determined.

Biscuits seem like they might be the easiest element to get in a good convenience version. Those Pillsbury cans are super simple and quite tasty. Plus, you'd liven up the holiday with a visit from the Doughboy!

My Thanksgiving dish has always been sweet-potato bourbon pie with fresh whipped cream, as I believe I've mentioned elsewhere. But this year we're having a turkey and the other sides, so I may not have time and energy for pie, too -- may have to go the store-bought route on that one. Do you have Perkins -- the chain family restaurant -- in your area? They have decent bakery take-out. But we also have fancy grocery chains with decent bakeries nearby.

My big fear is that my younger son, who lives in Chicago, won't make it. He's getting a 48-hour virus test and, if all is well, coming on Tuesday. I really need him here, both in an emotional sense but also to help with the cooking. My older son likes cooking too, but he likes to be alone in the kitchen doing it all. My ex-husband, who will also be attending, has offered to help. But his cooking skills are limited to basic prep stuff like chopping onions, whereas both my sons get into the more adventuresome aspects.

There was a story in the paper today about 85-year-old grandmothers sitting alone in their rooms on the holiday. The governor has asked people to limit celebrations to immediate family. My Chicago son is immediate family, of course, and luckily he still has a MN driver's license. If we were in New Zealand we'd probably risk spending the holiday in jail.



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 22, 2020, 02:02:50 pm
Biscuits seem like they might be the easiest element to get in a good convenience version. Those Pillsbury cans are super simple and quite tasty. Plus, you'd liven up the holiday with a visit from the Doughboy!

The Pillsbury biscuits are exactly what I had in mind.
Quote
Do you have Perkins -- the chain family restaurant -- in your area? They have decent bakery take-out. But we also have fancy grocery chains with decent bakeries nearby.

The name is familiar from somewhere, but I can't place it. It may be that they were in the area once but pulled out for some reason.


Quote
My big fear is that my younger son, who lives in Chicago, won't make it. He's getting a 48-hour virus test and, if all is well, coming on Tuesday. I really need him here, both in an emotional sense but also to help with the cooking. My older son likes cooking too, but he likes to be alone in the kitchen doing it all. My ex-husband, who will also be attending, has offered to help. But his cooking skills are limited to basic prep stuff like chopping onions, whereas both my sons get into the more adventuresome aspects.

Right now, if you lived in Philadelphia, none of them, not your boys, not your ex, would be permitted to come to your place for Thanksgiving if they don't live with you, by order of the city. Indoor gatherings of people from more than one household are prohibited. If our condo association doesn't enforce that rule, the association can be fined up to $2000, and individuals can be fined up to $500. The condo association would push up its fine onto the offending resident. The rule is in force to the end of the year at least (italics are mine because I believe it's going to last longer.) So no Christmas gatherings, either.

On the other hand, I have no idea how the city is going to enforce this order.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 22, 2020, 02:28:10 pm
My Chicago son is immediate family, of course, and luckily he still has a MN driver's license. If we were in New Zealand we'd probably risk spending the holiday in jail.
If you were in New Zealand now there are no restrictions except for compulsory mask wearing on Auckland public transport and on all planes. We are asked to keep a track of where we go, generally by using our phone apps. I have just been away with 9 friends for 4 nights in 2 beach cottages on our Southern Island, Stewart Island.
Back at Easter and Anzac Day we did have restrictions similar to what Jeff has written for Philadelphia. I do not think anyone went to jail (unless there were other factors) but some were fined. The vast majority just complied and it worked.
There are many stories of those trying to come home from overseas for Christmas but the Quarantine Hotels are full, they had to apply for a voucher.  I am sorry for them but remember that many of my generation left UK and Europe in the 50's for Australia and NZ wondering if they would ever see their parents again. They would have to prebook an expensive phone call for Christmas Day.
I did not expect this when I emigrated from Sydney in 2010. I knew one day I would become too old for travel so far. On December 9 it will be 12 months since I farewelled my sister. She came over for 10 days and we went away for 2 nights and had a "Christmas" Lunch at a winery. I had stopped going for Christmas as Sydney is too hot at that time but planned Easter as usual. I now have my fingers crossed for next May. I can fly to Australia at the moment but would have to quarantine for 14 days ($3,000) on return and apply for a voucher. However I can skype with my sister every morning. It will be my 4th Christmas lunch at home by myself.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 22, 2020, 02:35:21 pm
Right now, if you lived in Philadelphia, none of them, not your boys, not your ex, would be permitted to come to your place for Thanksgiving if they don't live with you, by order of the city.
... I have no idea how the city is going to enforce this order.

So if you did spend the holiday with your dad it would be OK because it's not in the city? Most of our mandates are statewide. Which in MN is appropriate because up until now rural people have felt pretty invincible (either because they're in less dense places or because they're Trump supporters who think the virus is a hoax). But the virus has been spreading fast in small towns, so apparently they're vincible after all.

My older son lives with me, so he'd be OK. My ex works from my dining room table because he's too cheap fiscally prudent to get his own internet. So he's here every day, but of course wouldn't count as a resident of the household.

My younger son doesn't live here but could fake it because his driver's license has this address.

Let's hope they don't enforce it the way Brian said New Zealand did or could, with cops allowed to barge into households to make sure everyone inside lived there. That was the one precaution Brian has outlined that I would balk at. But then, when NZ cops burst into a home they're probably less likely to shoot anyone.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 22, 2020, 02:42:43 pm
And there's Brian now!

I am sorry for them but remember that many of my generation left UK and Europe in the 50's for Australia and NZ wondering if they would ever see their parents again.

And of course if you go back even further, migrants from the Old to New World pretty much assumed they would never see their parents again.

I must not have inherited their genes, because although my folks was ancestors were from the UK and surrounding countries, short of a crisis like the potato famine I wouldn't necessarily have wanted to go to the U.S. And now I'd have nationalized health care!


 
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 22, 2020, 05:10:16 pm

Let's hope they don't enforce it the way Brian said New Zealand did or could, with cops allowed to barge into households to make sure everyone inside lived there. That was the one precaution Brian has outlined that I would balk at. But then, when NZ cops burst into a home they're probably less likely to shoot anyone.
LOL
Our police do not routinely carry guns although there is regular discussion about changing that. We are more likely (as early this year) to have national mourning due the the death of a policeman. Two young police officers made a routine traffic stop and the driver jumped out and shot them both, one fatally. His funeral was delayed as close relatives had to come from Australia and undergo 14 days quarantine. The funeral (in our largest football stadium) was broadcast on TV about 2 hours. It was very emotional. Just the Haka at the end has me in tears
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 22, 2020, 06:25:10 pm
I spent several HOURS on Thursday ordering groceries for Thanksgiving week, picking them up yesterday. One thing the store didn't have and didn't even have a substitute, was carrots. Carrots!

What would be a substitute for carrots I wonder.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 22, 2020, 06:31:50 pm
LOL
Our police do not routinely carry guns although there is regular discussion about changing that. We are more likely (as early this year) to have national mourning due the the death of a policeman. Two young police officers made a routine traffic stop and the driver jumped out and shot them both, one fatally. His funeral was delayed as close relatives had to come from Australia and undergo 14 days quarantine. The funeral (in our largest football stadium) was broadcast on TV about 2 hours. It was very emotional. Just the Haka at the end has me in tears

Your fellow citizens are much less murderous than ours, that's for sure. Whether via gun or COVID.

Weren't the first Europeans in Australia criminals, taken there as prisoners? I could very easily be wrong, but that's how I seem to remember my ancient history. And of course, that might not apply to NZ.

In any case, much of the United States was settled by extremely religious people. Funny how things work out.



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 22, 2020, 06:49:49 pm
Your fellow citizens are much less murderous than ours, that's for sure. Whether via gun or COVID.

Weren't the first Europeans in Australia criminals, taken there as prisoners? I could very easily be wrong, but that's how I seem to remember my ancient history. And of course, that might not apply to NZ.

In any case, much of the United States was settled by extremely religious people. Funny how things work out.
Yes the first Europeans to settle in Australia were convicts from England. But they could be transported for 7 years for stealing a loaf of bread. That was not true of NZ. However 16.5% of our population are Maori, a very blood thirsty culture. They regularly raided and murdered between tribes before colonisation. They fought a very strong battle  against the British in the Maori Wars.
I think access to guns is the major difference. Thankfully we do not have a right to bear arms.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 22, 2020, 09:12:31 pm
I think access to guns is the major difference. Thankfully we do not have a right to bear arms.

Probably. The Founders thought it was important to specify that because many early colonists were fleeing despotic European governments and felt they needed to protect themselves against government tyranny.

That might have made sense in the 18th century, but the concept sure backfired (no pun intended).


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 22, 2020, 09:55:00 pm
Weren't the first Europeans in Australia criminals, taken there as prisoners? I could very easily be wrong, but that's how I seem to remember my ancient history. And of course, that might not apply to NZ.

I believe you're correct. The first fleet of settlers consisted of criminals transported out of England.

One of these days I'll get around to reading The Fatal Shore (1986), by Robert Hughes, which tells the story of the colonization of Australia.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 22, 2020, 10:06:51 pm
So if you did spend the holiday with your dad it would be OK because it's not in the city?

That's correct. The mandates are not statewide. According to the regulations now, I can't even go down to visit my friend who lives on the 20th floor because we're not in the same household.

I don't know what they're doing out in Pittsburgh.

The city's ban on indoor dining is being protested by some restaurant owners. Of course they're hurting financially, but they're also quite sensibly pointing out that if you want to eat inside a restaurant, all you have to do is cross the city line into one of the suburban counties, or pop down to Delaware.

Quote
Let's hope they don't enforce it the way Brian said New Zealand did or could, with cops allowed to barge into households to make sure everyone inside lived there. That was the one precaution Brian has outlined that I would balk at. But then, when NZ cops burst into a home they're probably less likely to shoot anyone.

That, I have to say, I find truly shocking. Like stormtroopers. That I would call tyranny, even in the present crisis.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: brianr on November 22, 2020, 10:33:36 pm
That, I have to say, I find truly shocking. Like stormtroopers. That I would call tyranny, even in the present crisis.
It would have been nothing like that. The police would have arrived most likely due to a complaint from the neighbours. They would have knocked on the door and politely asked questions. If they found people in the house who should not have been there, they would have issued a warning and asked people to leave. In most cases, people would comply. Only occasionally would force be necessary. The same thing could happen any Saturday night due to excessive noise. Music machines are removed and sometimes people asked to go home. They might be arrested for drunkenness but are released the next morning usually without charge. Quite common in our university town.
As I have stated elsewhere. In NZ the majority of people respect the lawmakers and comply with any requests from police. As they are not wearing guns, there is nothing to fear.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 23, 2020, 09:44:25 am
What would be a substitute for carrots I wonder.

I had ordered frozen, crinkle cut carrots with substitution allowed but they were out of frozen carrots, period. Fortunately, I do know how to process fresh carrots!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 23, 2020, 11:45:39 am
One of these days I'll get around to reading The Fatal Shore (1986), by Robert Hughes, which tells the story of the colonization of Australia.

That would be fun to read while visiting Australia. When I travel, I love to read books -- I mean real books, not just guidebooks -- of places I'm visiting. For example, I read V.S. Naipaul's The Enigma of Arrival when visiting the Caribbean -- it was perfect. Maybe someday we can travel again!

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 23, 2020, 04:51:35 pm
I had ordered frozen, crinkle cut carrots with substitution allowed but they were out of frozen carrots, period. Fortunately, I do know how to process fresh carrots!

I see. I was thinking of fresh carrots, and tried to come up with another veggie that could substitute them, but couldn't find one.
Of course, parsnips could be an alternative, depending on what you were planning to use them for.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 23, 2020, 09:28:36 pm
How weird that carrots are in short supply! I might try to substitute squash. i realize we kind of categorize these differently, but they offer similar nutrients and flavors. Unless, of course, you're thinking of using raw carrots to dip in hummus or something like that, which wouldn't work with any squashes I know. But cooked, it might work -- roasted slices of butternut squash instead of roasted carrots.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 23, 2020, 10:55:28 pm
Well, not long to Thanksgiving now.

I hope everyone has what they need.   I need to go out tomorrow and get some milk and garlic, but other than that, I am ready to go.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on November 23, 2020, 11:03:53 pm
What would be a substitute for carrots I wonder.

Parsnips?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 24, 2020, 01:25:18 pm
I'm compiling a list. I hope I can still order it for pickup.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Sason on November 24, 2020, 02:50:10 pm
Parsnips?

Yup, that's what I was thinking too.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 25, 2020, 06:41:07 pm
Evening everyone!

Marinara sauce is done,  sausage is cooking in the oven, and the meatball mix is chilling in the fridge for about an hour.

Corn casserole will be made tomorrow.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 25, 2020, 09:15:03 pm
I picked up my turkey today from a local butcher shop -- fresh, from some farm nearby. Then I saw a NYT recipe for "easy turkey" that suggested a dry brine -- rub the turkey with salt, pepper and lemon zest, seal it in a plastic bag with garlic and bunches of fresh herbs. So I did all that. But the recipe calls for brining it from 1 to 3 days, and I just finished applying the brine part now. Still, that would almost work, except that it also recommends taking the turkey out of the bag and leave it uncovered in the fridge for four hours to make the skin crispy, then taking out for an hour to bring it to room temperature. All of that is not possible unless we're going to eat at midnight, so I'm going to have to cut some corners.

I kind of wish I'd bought the pre-brined fresh turkey at the grocery store instead.

Now I have a dilemma. The turkey came with a little piece of plastic jammed into the opening that I think is there to keep it in the right shape. It's not easy to pull out, although I'm sure I could get it out if I cut it. The question is, am I supposed to remove it before cooking? Would it melt in the stove? Or if I take it out will the turkey collapse in on itself or something?

I may have to call the Butterball hotline tomorrow -- if they don't mind helping someone with a non-Butterball turkey!  :laugh:


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 25, 2020, 10:02:03 pm
Side dishes are going to be mashed rutabagas, which my ex-husband, who will be here, always wants because his mom makes them. I like them myself and they're easy, so that's fine. I also got potatoes -- don't know if we'll oven roast them or also mash them or what.

My epicurean son suggested green beans (haricots verts) with bacon and almonds for a side dish. And instead of cranberry sauce, he proposed I could make this salad I always used to make with butter lettuce, dried cranberries, pecans and chevre in a vinaigrette. That sounded fine to me.

Then my traditionalist son comes home and wants regular cranberry sauce and green-bean casserole. So I acquiesced to both. The green-bean casserole is easy, at least, as is the cranberry sauce. I got sauce as opposed to the jelly kind where it slushes out of the can in one piece and you can still see the seams of the can. I used to make my own orange-cranberry sauce from scratch with fresh cranberries, but that's not happening this year.

All of those foods were in the same aisle -- cranberry sauce, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, fried onions to top the casserole.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 26, 2020, 10:48:06 am
... The turkey came with a little piece of plastic jammed into the opening that I think is there to keep it in the right shape. It's not easy to pull out, although I'm sure I could get it out if I cut it. The question is, am I supposed to remove it before cooking? Would it melt in the stove? Or if I take it out will the turkey collapse in on itself or something?

Yes, you have to remove the plastic thingy. First slide the "ankles" out from under, and then the tail, unfold it, and then the rest of it pops out. I hate those plastic things and they are so disrespectful to the turkey! Let us know of any other questions, or call me. I'm not celebrating today, we're getting together tomorrow.

Looking good, Chuck! Your Italian Thanksgiving will be amazing!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 26, 2020, 12:08:06 pm
I may have to call the Butterball hotline tomorrow -- if they don't mind helping someone with a non-Butterball turkey!  :laugh:

[/quote]
Yes, you have to remove the plastic thingy. First slide the "ankles" out from under, and then the tail, unfold it, and then the rest of it pops out. I hate those plastic things and they are so disrespectful to the turkey! Let us know of any other questions, or call me.

Thanks, FRiend! You're better than the Butterball hotline by far!


Happy Thanksgiving Brokiegivin', everyone!


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 26, 2020, 11:35:10 pm

Yes, Thanksgiving is over, it about 90 minutes.

Had a nice meal with my family.   Turkey, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, corn, spinach and artichoke, stuffing, corn casserole, meatballs & sausage in marinara.

Of course, dessert was pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and a chocolate cake.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 27, 2020, 11:38:23 am
Turkey, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, corn, spinach and artichoke, stuffing, corn casserole, meatballs & sausage in marinara.

So wait, are you saying your corn and spinach and artichoke and stuffing were four different dishes? Or just one -- a stuffing with corn, spinach and artichokes? Or three -- spinach and artichokes together plus corn and stuffing separately?

Quote
Of course, dessert was pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and a chocolate cake.

Ours were almost exactly the same. My son's boss gave him a free huge chocolate cake -- really good, with chocolate mouse layers. I bought pies because with everything else I didn't have time to make any. I was going to go with pumpkin and pecans, but at the last minute I saw sweet-potato pie, which is what I normally would make, so I grabbed that instead.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 29, 2020, 11:38:11 am
Yes, Thanksgiving is over, it about 90 minutes.
Wow, speed dining! Our T-day dinner was five hours! How did your family manage that?           

Had a nice meal with my family.   Turkey, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, corn, spinach and artichoke, stuffing, corn casserole, meatballs & sausage in marinara.
That sounds wonderful, friend. I have occasionally done Italian Christmases and Easters that were similar. Was the meatball/marinara served over pasta?
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 29, 2020, 11:39:14 am

Thanks, FRiend! You're better than the Butterball hotline by far!


You're welcome, friend! It was only because I had just cooked a turkey and it was fresh in my mind.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 29, 2020, 03:50:05 pm
You're welcome, friend! It was only because I had just cooked a turkey and it was fresh in my mind.

It was an excellent suggestion, although in the end I didn't do it the graceful way you suggested, just yanked it out and it sprayed turkey juice in my face.

Also, the dish I was most excited about, the mushroom dressing, lingered in the oven too long and got dry and slightly burned. The other dishes ranged from fine to good but not exquisite. Lesson learned. If I do this again, I'm definitely paring down the menu and doing everything possible ahead of time.

I can't add any ancestral foods because items in the standard dinner are pretty much already my ancestral foods. I guess I could throw in haggis or a kidney pie, but ...  :P Colconnan would be good, but best saved for a simpler dinner.

But I do like fiddling with traditions. One year, when living in NYC, my then-future-now-ex-husband and I had Thanksgiving dinner in the diner that's often seen on Seinfeld. The food wasn't fantastic but the setting was fun.


(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Tom%27s_Restaurant%2C_NYC.jpg)


I wonder if Chuck's 90-minute dinner and Lee's five-hour dinner might reflect a difference in what you're measuring and the length of time hanging out versus eating? I've Thanksgivings at my in-laws that lasted five hours, but most of it was standing around talking, maybe having light appetizers and a drink, and then maybe 90 minutes -- at most! -- eating dinner and dessert.

If I ate for five solid hours, I'd be pretty full.  :laugh:


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 29, 2020, 10:29:06 pm
So wait, are you saying your corn and spinach and artichoke and stuffing were four different dishes? Or just one -- a stuffing with corn, spinach and artichokes? Or three -- spinach and artichokes together plus corn and stuffing separately?

Ours were almost exactly the same. My son's boss gave him a free huge chocolate cake -- really good, with chocolate mouse layers. I bought pies because with everything else I didn't have time to make any. I was going to go with pumpkin and pecans, but at the last minute I saw sweet-potato pie, which is what I normally would make, so I grabbed that instead.


Oh, sorry!   :laugh:  I meant they were separate dishes.  Corn, a spinach and artichoke dish, and stuffing.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 29, 2020, 10:31:46 pm
Wow, speed dining! Our T-day dinner was five hours! How did your family manage that?
           
That sounds wonderful, friend. I have occasionally done Italian Christmases and Easters that were similar. Was the meatball/marinara served over pasta?


I wonder if Chuck's 90-minute dinner and Lee's five-hour dinner might reflect a difference in what you're measuring and the length of time hanging out versus eating? I've Thanksgivings at my in-laws that lasted five hours, but most of it was standing around talking, maybe having light appetizers and a drink, and then maybe 90 minutes -- at most! -- eating dinner and dessert.

If I ate for five solid hours, I'd be pretty full.  :laugh:


LOL  Apparently, my messages were not easy to understand that day.  Perhaps it was due to a food-induced coma?  I was typing that message at 10:30 at night,  I was saying that there was 90 minutes left in Thanksgiving Day.

Normally I would make pasta, but since there was so much food, I just made meatballs and sausage to have in marinara, along side the turkey and traditional dishes.


As for the time spent at my parents, well, I was there for 1:00, and back home by 6:30.  We ate, talked, and played a rousing game of Phase 10.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on November 29, 2020, 10:40:40 pm
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Tom%27s_Restaurant%2C_NYC.jpg)


Ah, the Seinfeld Diner.  So...this isn't Alice's Restaurant?

;)
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on November 30, 2020, 11:58:03 am

Ah, the Seinfeld Diner.  So...this isn't Alice's Restaurant?

;)

It's weird. I like Arlo and have seen him live twice, but I didn't remember that AR involved Thanksgiving until yesterday two Facebook friends posted two posts apart from each other that they were listening to it to celebrate the holiday. One was our own Ellemeno.


Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 13, 2020, 11:08:12 am
Now, moving on from Thanksgiving, I had nine people at the table for my son's birthday and, although the menu was very simple, it seemed to be a great success. It consisted of pot roast, a festive salad, garlic bread, spiced pears, and a tiramisu birthday cake.

Instead of cubed stewing beef I bought a nice roast, browned it with chopped onions and then filled the pot with broth, ale, stewed tomatoes, and gravy (adding 3 bay leaves). I simmered that overnight, and in the morning shredded it. I added the crinkle cut carrots and baby bella mushrooms, halved and put an equivalent amount of shredded beef back in the pot and simmered that all day. A half hour before serving, I added frozen peas and gnocchi. I ladled the pot roast into large bowls for the adults and cereal bowls for the children and brought them in on a tray. All those bowls were completely empty 10 minutes later, and some wanted seconds!

The salad was leaf lettuce, shaved parmesan, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, and caramelized pecans. You can now get these already caramelized. I made a simple dressing with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, a pinch of sugar, and olive oil whisked in. This was served on a salad plate with a slice of garlic bread on the side. The only thing passed around was the spiced pears, which also fit on the salad plate. Even with two leaves in the table, there was not enough room for more than one plate and one bowl per person. Plus a wine glass and a water glass, of course.

It felt good to sit down to a dinner of china, silver and crystal. I'm planning to do it again for Christmas!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 13, 2020, 12:45:47 pm
Instead of cubed stewing beef I bought a nice roast, browned it with chopped onions and then filled the pot with broth, ale, stewed tomatoes, and gravy (adding 3 bay leaves). I simmered that overnight, and in the morning shredded it. I added the crinkle cut carrots and baby bella mushrooms, halved and put an equivalent amount of shredded beef back in the pot and simmered that all day. A half hour before serving, I added frozen peas and gnocchi. I ladled the pot roast into large bowls for the adults and cereal bowls for the children and brought them in on a tray. All those bowls were completely empty 10 minutes later, and some wanted seconds!

That sounds delicious! The gnocchi is genius. I'm not very experienced in making beef of any kind, thanks to all of those years of thinking chicken and fish were much better for you, which I no longer do. I'm curious about several things. 1) What kind of gravy? 2) Are you saying you shredded the simmered roast overnight and then simmered the same shredded meat again all day? Or were they two different portions of beef that you simmered and shredded separately? 3) Were you nervous about cooking something on the stove overnight, or did you do it in a slow cooker? Or maybe your stove is electric, which wouldn't be as scary as gas.

Quote
The salad was leaf lettuce, shaved parmesan, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, and caramelized pecans. You can now get these already caramelized. I made a simple dressing with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, a pinch of sugar, and olive oil whisked in.

Oh, thank you!! I knew I was forgetting something. I used to make my own vinaigrette all the time (as I said in a different thread, I more or less followed the recipe in The Silver Palate cookbook -- it's the main thing I made from it; the book used to automatically flop open to the page). But now my cookbooks are packed away somewhere and I wanted to make a vinaigrette for Thanksgiving. So I winged it based on my memory of TSP recipe. But I forgot about the sugar! I used to substitute real maple syrup or balsamic syrup or even a tiny bit of jam in place of plain sugar. But that is a crucial element, just as salt is a crucial element in cookies. The Thanksgiving salad was OK, so it wasn't quite as big a disaster as when I forgot sugar in the sweet-potato pie, but it was missing that je ne sais quoi.

Your ingredients sound good, too. My go-to salad mix is leaf lettuce, pecans or walnuts, dried cherries or cranberries and crumbled goat cheese.

Quote
It felt good to sit down to a dinner of china, silver and crystal.

I sold my silver a few years ago to be melted down. I've been trying to give away my grandmother's china and crystal, but nobody wants it. Both are/were nice enough but I hardly ever use them. So now, even on special occasions, I use my basic tableware, although the dishes my husband and I registered for when we got married serves as either fine china or everyday.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 13, 2020, 01:35:30 pm
That sounds delicious! The gnocchi is genius. I'm not very experienced in making beef of any kind, thanks to all of those years of thinking chicken and fish were much better for you, which I no longer do. I'm curious about several things. 1) What kind of gravy? 2) Are you saying you shredded the simmered roast overnight and then simmered the same shredded meat again all day? Or were they two different portions of beef that you simmered and shredded separately? 3) Were you nervous about cooking something on the stove overnight, or did you do it in a slow cooker? Or maybe your stove is electric, which wouldn't be as scary as gas.

The gravy was a simple roux of olive oil/butter, flour, seasonings and broth. Yes, I cooked the roast overnight, shredded it in the morning, and simmered the whole thing for six hours. I have both a gas stove and an electric one, but the lowest temperature on the electric one (and on my slow cooker) is too high, so I used my gas stove. I got up once during the night to check on it but it was fine. I'm used to doing this because my mother had to have her meat cooked to the point where it was very tender. The children like it tender too. I didn't even put out knives.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 13, 2020, 01:39:52 pm
It felt good to sit down to a dinner of china, silver and crystal.

Yes, it does. I use my mother's silver on weekends. I keep telling myself I need to get my "good china" out of storage to use on weekends, also, but somehow I never get around to doing it.  :-\
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 13, 2020, 01:46:53 pm
I sold my silver a few years ago to be melted down. I've been trying to give away my grandmother's china and crystal, but nobody wants it. Both are/were nice enough but I hardly ever use them. So now, even on special occasions, I use my basic tableware, although the dishes my husband and I registered for when we got married serves as either fine china or everyday.

Maybe if/when your sons get married, their spouses may want the china and crystal. You never know...some young people these days are traditionalists. As everybody knows, my daughter is, and loves fine things. She has received silverware and a silver teapot, coffeepot, sugar and creamer from her dad's side of the family and china from my mother's family. My ex wanted me to give her the rest of the silver, but I have held off and now my son is engaged to a tradition loving young lady. I have another silver teapot, water jug, sugar and creamer for her too, plus silverware from my mother's side. I'd like to divide up the rest of the silver service between them, with the larger items going to my daughter's large family and the smaller items going to my son's. I need to buy a case of Wright's Silver Cream first!
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 13, 2020, 03:25:28 pm
I'm glad they're getting use and appreciation!

I offered them to my young women relatives and none of them wanted it. I took it to vintage shops and none of them would take it. The only person who showed the slightest interest was a Mexican woman I hired a couple of years ago to clean my house in preparation for my move. She goes to church six times a week and said many members of her church are immigrants who could use household supplies.

It's actually a fancy kind of old Spode china that at one time was worth a pretty penny. Now even Replacements.com would only take some of it, but the amount they'd pay was about the same as the amount it would cost to mail, so I didn't bother.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 13, 2020, 09:47:36 pm
I sold my silver a few years ago to be melted down. I've been trying to give away my grandmother's china and crystal, but nobody wants it. Both are/were nice enough but I hardly ever use them. So now, even on special occasions, I use my basic tableware, although the dishes my husband and I registered for when we got married serves as either fine china or everyday.

So I take it your silver was sterling? Whom did you sell it to?

I know of at least one place around here that will buy sterling for the value of the silver in it, but nobody wants plate.

I've got a chest full of plate, service for eight that's really delicate, with tons of extra pieces in other patterns, and I'd love to get rid of it, but I don't want to donate it to a thrift store.

I'd thought about putting it on Craig's List, but I never got around to it. I'm sure now is not a good time to be trying to sell silverware.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 14, 2020, 10:24:58 am
I need to buy a case of Wright's Silver Cream first!

I think that's part of the reason younger generations aren't interested in things like heirloom silver and china. Nobody wants to take the time to polish silver.  :-\
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 14, 2020, 12:06:04 pm
So I take it your silver was sterling? Whom did you sell it to?

I know of at least one place around here that will buy sterling for the value of the silver in it, but nobody wants plate.

I've got a chest full of plate, service for eight that's really delicate, with tons of extra pieces in other patterns, and I'd love to get rid of it, but I don't want to donate it to a thrift store.

I'd thought about putting it on Craig's List, but I never got around to it. I'm sure now is not a good time to be trying to sell silverware.

For years, I thought mine was plate, so I didn't do anything about it. Then one day I looked at it with my reading glasses!  :laugh: Turns out it was marked sterling after all. I googled and found a jewelry store that buys silver. There were a few plate serving spoons and things mixed in, so when I brought it there they sorted through everything and gave me back the plate.

It was my grandma's silver, which was a sort of traditional pattern. My mom had a cool silver set with a Greek key pattern. I might have kept that, but she sold it herself decades ago. At that time, they may have still been buying silver as tableware.

I wish I'd have sold the china years ago. I would just use it as my everyday china -- it can go in the dishwasher -- but the surface has a ring of bumpy basket-weave pattern, and the edges are ruffled. The design is an elaborate floral that's pretty in a traditional way but not my current taste. In both practical and aesthetic ways, I prefer a smooth plain plate. I do have a few pieces mixed in for when I run low on regular dishes.



Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on December 24, 2022, 10:19:50 pm
This year my brother and sister-in-law hosted, and they decided to make things easy and catered from an Italian restaurant.

We had lasagna, meatballs, chicken franchise, sausage & peppers, cavatelli & broccoli, and garlic knots.

dessert was pecan pie, fruit tart, cookies, brownies and assorted goodies.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 25, 2022, 01:33:35 pm
That sounds really good! I went to my ex-husband's family's, as usual. Their custom is to have everyone bring an appetizer. Which would be fine, except everyone treats it like a dinner, lining up with plates and going through the line, then sitting down at tables to eat. I think of appetizers and things you set out for people to graze on throughout the evening. If you're going to treat it like a dinner fine, but then have an actual dinner, because a meal of rich appetizers -- good though they were! -- is a lot. That's my thinking, anyway.  :)  The evening was very fun, though. We played a game where everyone was instructed to bring a food or food-related gift, then pick a number. Which is perfect, because it appeals to people of every age, and the group there ranges from about 18 to 85, plus a couple of small children.

Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: CellarDweller on December 25, 2022, 03:51:42 pm
We've done meals like that, but not for the holidays.

There have been times that mom is not in the mood to cook, and no one can decide what to eat, so we'll place an order with a local restaurant, and get maybe 4 or 5 different appetizers, and every one will take some of each, and have it as a meal.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: Front-Ranger on December 25, 2022, 10:09:46 pm
Today I gathered with my daughter's family for brunch. We had eggs, toast, hash browns, sausage, and avocado. I brought beef barley soup but she didn't serve it. She might serve it tomorrow. The rest of the family is gathering tomorrow for gift opening, going to the museum, and dinner out.

After brunch, we watched the Muppetts Christmas Carol with Michael Caine. Very good, as always.
Title: Re: Holiday Menus
Post by: serious crayons on December 26, 2022, 01:27:36 am
There have been times that mom is not in the mood to cook, and no one can decide what to eat, so we'll place an order with a local restaurant, and get maybe 4 or 5 different appetizers, and every one will take some of each, and have it as a meal.

Yeah, I've done that, too. I'm not sure if restaurant dishes are healthier or maybe just have more cohesive cuisine. Last night everything came from different people: I brought salmon and cream-cheese pinwheels, somebody else brought cheddar jalapeno poppers, someone else stuffed potatoes with what tasted like bacon, someone else brought his classic hamburger dip with Fritos, someone else meatballs and little weinies in a too-sweet sauce, someone else sausage and cheese, someone else five kinds of cookies. All good in their own ways, but none healthy, most rich and some clashing. Or maybe I just eat too much when it's served like a buffet. All I know is I like small plates in restaurants but in a situation like that I end up feeling kind of queasy.