So...whats for dinner?
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eric - yay for DD! She's a smart cookie!
moon - love the baby pic - and the Christmas-piller pic!
susan - your menu sounds fab!
Yay for the carole and auntie meeting!
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Christmas menu has been the same for a number of years. It's a stretch to call it a menu. More a collection of dishes with emphasis on meat and carbs. Pork roast is a must. I have two Boston butt roasts, blade bone in, which I will stuff (little deep pockets) with chopped green onions, garlic, s & p and cayenne. They will be cooked until very tender and not really requiring a knife to eat. My sister will roast a turkey. Several people would prefer a fried Cajun turkey but this turkey is a freebie and will be roasted. This sister always cooks fresh cranberries and mashed potatoes made with cream cheese. The dinner is at her house.
I will make a creamed spinach and artichoke hearts dish and German potato salad. A SIL will make a big pan of cornbread dressing. There will be gravy. Maybe two gravies, pork and turkey. Some years I have made a corn casserole and I may make it this year. Some years we have sweet potatoes in some form. There will be a tossed salad. And dinner rolls! I plan to make the same Pioneer Woman recipe I made at Thanksgiving.
Oh, and to please my mother, I'll make a shrimp mold even though we don't need an appetizer. We serve dinner by 1 pm. My mother is getting fidgety by then because her inner clock tells her 1 pm is an hour late.
One brother is bringing a bakery cake which will double as dessert and my mother's birthday cake. Her birthday is Dec. 27th. The cake will be a "dough bage" (spelling?) cake. It will be too large since this brother tends to over-do things. He will tell how expensive the cake was. My sister will brew coffee.
Most people will have visited, eaten, opened some presents and departed by 3 pm! My dh will never get over the brevity of our holiday celebrations since he remembers celebrations in his family that dragged on until midnight. He and I usually transport my mother and her presents and some leftovers the short distance to her house. Then we stay and visit with my youngest brother and his wife and grown daughter who are in town for the holiday.
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Can someone tell me if there is a huge difference between Zante Currants and White Raisins? I make a White Raisin cake that is a box of white raisins and a lb of chopped pecans every year and I just got in the cupboard and I have Zante Currants instead of Raisins? Its sorta like a fruit cake but light in color?
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We sure do identify with our family food traditions, don't we? When we were Four or more--we always had turkey and ham. Now that Thanksgiving is Two and chcirstmas 3, we do the turkey on Thanksgiving as our third doesn't eat poultry. And we do Ham or Roast Beef on Christmas.
Once my aunt arrives today, I will ask her if she is ok with me doing Hungarian Sausage Dinner for Christmas eve (Hungarian Sausage, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Applesauce) ---and then for Christmas--- This year it will be Ham, candied Sweet Potatoes, Peas, rolls, a special raspberry jello salad that we have just about every holiday, and if I get it made, a white raisin cake for dessert. Usually have an assortment of cream cheese spritz type cookie press cookies, but with trying to take care of me and my dad , I just didn't get to it. This is the first year I haven't decorated to the max and I've never not had a tree put up, but I had a little table top tree and I put it on one end of the console table, with the nativity at the other end and the gifts underneath.. I keep thinking every night when I undress I wll have started to turn Grinch Green but so far so good. I was scared of what Esmerelda (my new kitty) might do if left unattended for long with a 6 foot decorated tree in the house......
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zante currents have less moisture than raisins and are a tad less sweet, in my experience. If you hydrated them for an hour or so, using rum would be a fine hydration solution, they would be pretty similar. Since rum is sweet, that would fix both differences in one fell swoop. If you don't like the rum idea, grape juice, apple juice, or sparkling cider would probably work well too.
My box of Meyer lemons arrived. The question is, do I have the time/energy to make the marmalade before Christmas along with everything else I have planned.
*susan*
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Susan--Thank you---pthen you think if I soak them they will be ok? Don't think I have any rum in the house---I have a bottle of Cointreau Orange LIquor wht do you think? I have Brandy I might just run to the store and get a box of yellow raisins. I honestly can't remember why I bought these, unless I used them in a fruitcake I made --could be I tossed the wrong thing in the cart.....OH WELL
I don't know how you do all you do---I am wanting to just crawl in bed and not come out till the holiday is over.... which really isn't like me at all.
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Brandy with 1/2 tsp sugar.....
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Lucky Red. I can't even find currants here. Lucky to find golden raisins. Soup mojo I love it Susan. There is prob. one serving of the black eyed pea stew left plus I froze a generous amt for DD.
Susan what size army are you feeding for Christmas? I could never, never, never in a million years get all that together much less have it all ready at the same time or even the same day. Make sure you get some rest time you ambitious little cooker you.
Congrats Eric on such a smart daughter. But look at her parents - no slouches themselves.
Moon - love our tree and DGD picture. I think she looks just like your DD.
Well I finally have an answer from DD. Yes she is coming Christmas Eve. Could not get Jan 2 off, was thinking of coming out that weekend instead. That may be a blessing in disguise. I just saw a forecast for freezing rain on New Years Eve. Now what to make for 3 people on short notice. I do have the pork loin in freezer. I think I see a grocery run tomorrow. But do not want to spend this time in the kitchen. Hmm.
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Susan, omg, you exhaust me. Except if I were home this year, I'd be cooking and planning right along with you. My friends and family tease me that my motto is "excess is never enough". Can't help it, it's the same reason I overpack. I like variety.
Eric, smart girl, congrats to her!
I'm sitting in my hotel room (waiting for my phone to charge), enjoying a cup of coffee and looking at the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. havent spotted a dolphin yet, but I usually do in this very spot.
We had a very lovely lunch with Carole and her dh. It was such fun to meet someone from here and I felt like I knew her already. They are delightful people and I hope we get to do it again.
Tried a new fish for me at caroles dh's recommendation - triggerfish in a po'boy. Good stuff.
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Cake is out of the oven---went to store and purchased Golden Raisins--as I needed coconut. House smells so good...Cake is cooling in the pan, Charlie brown music in the Bose---Bowling Xmas party tonight, dinner with two pals tomorrow. 88 yr. old aunt arrived safe and she is with my dad---which means I can relax a little, knowing he's not alone....She thought the soup was good and so did my dad and so did I. Nothing will ever taste quite like you remember your mom's, but it was close---just like my potatoe salad is "close' but just not quite there..... Fine with me. Now if the rain would just chase out of IL> It was o so dark here at 3pm.......AGHHHHHH. But, thankfully its not cold enough for all this to be snow......
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So, for some reason, today began the Christmas food countdown. I was supposed to have a heavy coding day, and then my brain starting meandering, and next thing I knew, I was in the kitchen. Made the Viennese crescent cookie dough. And then Mr. PostMan brought my organic Meyer lemons!!!! There was such a sweet note inside from the farmer saying how she picked the lemons in the morning before heading to the post office. Hello? Will I ever order organic Meyer lemons from anyone else? Anyhow, this meant that I could probably get one batch of marmalade done before Christmas. My mother could head home with marmalade and we can have some with that lovely brioche bread! So, I sliced up 1.5 lbs and they are now "curing." The cookies were shaped and then into the oven. Now I moved onto the salmon to make the gravlax. Easy to do, and it is now curing under a brick. And finally, the rolled cookie dough. Since it needs to chill for at least 2 hrs, making the dough was the only piece of this project that I could do. And gosh, it was time to make dinner! Whipped up some biscuits, fry up some chicken, and make a simple salad. Bake off the cookies, have an uncomfortable interaction with the girl child, and here I am!
This mother/daughter thing is complicated. Somehow she "thought" that because we were having a "grazing" meal that meant she could have the kitchen on Wednesday. Clueless! Ummmm.... heck when was the last time a holiday meal just appeared without effort? Yea. I am racking my brain too. This too shall pass. Sometimes, we are all self-centered. And this is her moment!
Tomorrow, I will prep the spanikopita filling, make the brioche dough, roast the butternut squash for the soup, and dry brine the lamb ribs. And try to do some "real" work.
*susan*
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DH and I also enjoyed the lunch get-together with Nance and her dh. Never a lag in the conversation. We did not leave the Beau Rivage casino any wealthier than when we arrived. The video poker machines weren't generous.
There were a couple of packages waiting for us when we got home from the Gulf coast. One was a Christmas present with two boxes of crackers and two soup "kits." The company is Stonewall Kitchen. For my evening meal I opened one of the box of crackers, got out a block of gorgonzola and a jar of tobasco pepper jelly. Dessert was several of dh's home-made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I'm eating them to get rid of them so they won't be a temptation. Good logic?
Susan, we made marmalade with meyer lemons last winter. DH wants to make orange marmalade this year. Meyer lemon trees are pretty common around here. I usually have some lemons given to me but not this year so far.
Tomorrow I'll make a grocery list for odds and ends of ingredients I don't already have on hand. The weather forecast is for rain, but I'm hoping for a window of opportunity to go to the nearby Winn Dixie supermarket. On Wed I'll stuff the pork roasts and make the dinner rolls. Christmas morning I'll have to get busy fairly early to make the German potato salad and the creamed spinach dish and the corn pudding dish while the pork roasts are cooking. DH is a big help. I may put the pork roasts in the oven when I go to bed on Christmas Eve and set the oven to come on. That would give them time to come to room temperature.
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So happy to hear that you had a lovely lunch together with your DHs, Nancy and Carole. Hope the dolphins showed, Nancy
For a person who is having a rather toned down holiday, I have managed to position myself solidly behind the 8 ball. Need to get to the food store pronto!
Ho Ho Ho!
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Unlike the sun, 3 dolphins made an appearance this morning. I do believe this is the most relaxed Christmas I've ever experienced. I like it.
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Nancy, I'm so glad you're enjoying your relaxed Christmas holiday. Tomorrow should be a good travel day for you to move on to NO. By then this front should have made it through. We've missed most of the rain today but it's thundering and raining now. The town of Amite, north and west of us and about a 45 min. drive, had a tornado destroy some homes.
I forgot about the leftover lasagna in the refrigerator and have Apple Braised Turkey Thighs cooking in the oven. It's Martha Stewart's recipe, easy to put together and quite good. I can only find turkey thighs in the supermarkets around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Lacey, is behind the 8 ball good or bad? I'm not much of a pool player.
Lots of people at the local Winn Dixie today but everyone was patient and polite. The manager was ready for us shoppers with a big supply of the items that figure into holiday cooking. Quite a few of the items on my list were on special. I bought extra butter for the freezer since the price was so good.
I had enough "points" from purchases at the store the last few weeks that I qualified for a free small appliance. I selected a 4 qt. Crock Pot. It is quite pretty, a dark red color.
My oven is talking to me so I'd better go remove the lid of the Dutch oven.
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I made the grocery run today. What a madhouse. I think every stock clerk was there filling up the shelves. I had to laugh at one. He was stocking canning jars. He said they were actually quite popular this time of year. I can only think for soup mixes, hot chocolate mixes, that kind of thing. DH decided on enchiladas for tomorrow's dinner. That's good, I can make most of it ahead of time. Fruit salad, refried black beans, Spanish rice. Heavy carbs. Can send home with DD. Think either brownies or a 9" carrot cake. Recipe came off of the sugar bag I think Tom Thumb brand.
Carole I read that at least 4 people died in Mississippi. So sad anytime but esp. this time of year. I know the weather has been crazy. Looks like N. Texas will get winter back for New Years. Glad you and Nancy were able to get together. Sorry casino was stingy with you.
Not so sure what dinner will be. I had a salad when I came in and am not really hungry. Maybe I can rustle up a bit of leftovers to tide DH over.
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TV dinners for after Christmas Eve service. Told hubby I was going to be doing all the cooking tommorrow, not cooking tonight!
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Smart move, Mommy!
About to get the last gifts wrapped and cookie trays for neighbors assembled. Will probably skip the church service tonight and just have a relaxing dinner here with DS2....shrimp/scallops in a spicy red sauce over linguini, salad, and sauteed zucchini, mushroom, onions as a side. If I get to it, apple crisp for dessert.
Baked up coconut/cranberry oatmeal cookies last night after making chocolate walnut fudge. Never got to the mexican chocolate cookies. Right now, Nancy your Christmas plan sounds really appealing. Enjoy!
Susan, I wish I had your energy and talent!
Tomorrow I will be the salad maker for our friends' Christmas dinner. They are having 30 (!) people over. Yikes! She wants me to make my kale salad, and I decided to add another more mainstream one...Greek, which is oretty close to garden, IMHO.
So, I'd better get moving....
Happy Holiday to all!
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Two clients in crisis this morning. Juggling them alongside the butternut squash which will turn into soup. Cookies are all done. Now have to move to the "goo" for tomorrow's Flour Sticky Buns, making all those cute Spanikopitas [tedious] and the filling for the mushrooms. Another long list for after lunch.
*susan*
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Merry Christmas all y'all! (That's southern for merry Christmas) On our way to NOLA. I've eaten so much shrimp I'm taking on a pinkish tinge. So darned good!
Hope your holiday is merry and bright my frIends!
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I think dinner is under control. Taking a quick break to take a shower and to wish all my food-fellows a Joyous Christmas Eve. Then a glass of wine with my brie.
*susan*
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There was no eggnog at the store...so making my own.
Merry Christmas everyone.
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Thank you all for sharing your recipes and your meal plans for another year, along with other interesting details of our lives. I appreciate every one of you on this thread. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
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Happiest of holidays to my favorite foodies and friends!
I managed not to escape the crud that is going around so have spent the last two days in bed - and I was already behind! While feeling crappy this afternoon went to the grocery store and got a standing rib roast for tomorrow - they were already out of tenderloin - along with other stuff. DH brought everything in from the back of the car - no roast. Store closing in 15 minutes - found the roast all by itself next to the storage bin in the back of the car - crisis averted! Moral of the story - when accepting help from nice young man who works at the store pay attention to where he puts your roast!
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My brother and sister in law made it into town today. Mom hasn't seen them in a couple of years and she's happy.
Tomorrow they'll be over in the morning and in the afternoon we all will be going to my brother's in-laws' place for dinner.
The eggnog turned out pretty well....If I had to put a note, it would be "Next time, add more clove and less nutmeg". Normally the stuff I make is uncooked, but I don't want my mom eating raw eggs, hence the cooked variety. Cooking seems to make the nutmeg taste stronger and the clove less strong.
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Hope you're feeling better today, Special......
Merry Christmas to all.
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Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is feeling better! Hope all cooking is going well and that everyone has a chance to appreciate family and friends. Blessings to all!
Much Love
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Merry Christmas, too all
Christmas can be hard for a "family" of 2 sisters and 1 brother who haven't lived together since we were teenagers and not having living relatives since our early 20s. It is so hard to be 'family' when we have gone 10 or more years having lost contact with each other several times
I am thankful for my family of chosen friends and people who understand me. I wish this and love for every one whoever your family might be. (This does include our fur-family) xo
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As I've said before, friends are family by choice...and sometimes can be closer than family by birth.
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eric - I agree on the friends thing - I have no parents or siblings left so friends are my family! I am not really feeling better - I am feeling "different" meaning that whatever I have is morphing day to day. I am just dealing and still doing what needs to be done - today while waiting for DD to arrive from Georgia I stripped and re-made two beds, did a few loads of laundry, cooked dinner, wrapped gifts and addressed cards. Strangely, I feel better if I am moving - if I sit or lay I feel worse - inertia is not my friend!
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