Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. The week leading up to the day has always been an exciting one for me. I can remember as a youngster the preparations for a family gathering on Christmas eve, and in my later years sharing these with my new family. Being from an Italian-Polish family there was a variety of foods at each gathering, some of those I would like to share with you.
A short time ago a follower of this blog, Steve Hynes who hails from Australia suggested that we as a group should post a memory or two of Christmas foods that we are fond of. So if you like we would all love to see you chip in with some of yours.
Eggplant Parmaigiana , a dish served on Christmas eve.
Stuffed breads....eggplant, broccoli, peppers, and cheese.
Lasagna...a Christmas day dinner star...there was turkey, ham, and the fixings that go with it, but it was the Lasagna that always went first.
So please take a few minutes and post your favorite food dish and memory.
My Slovakian grandmom cooked chicken and dumplings for us every Christmas. Now we do and it’s been ongoing for 60 plus years.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Gerry
My favourite food dish would be homemade clooty dumplin made by my granny, similar to christmas pudding but made in the old traditional way and simply mouthwatering. as for favourite memory it would have to be trying to get out of bed at 2am without my parents hearing me so I could sneak downstairs and see what santa had brought, I used to get halfway and then my dad would shout...back to bed....lol
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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George that is a Christmas dish that is indeed special. It's new to me. Dad saying back to bed is familiar.
All looks good. We serve homemade manicotti and prime rib, potatoes and a veggie.
ReplyDeleteMichael Capurso
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Mike that is quite a meal assortment, and it's delicious for sure. Prime rib is a traditional meal at Christmas.
No smoked trout? Ah, that must be on the New Years menu.
ReplyDeleteMrKevenkins
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No smoked trout, but lots of fried smelts.
At Italian Christmas eve dinners fish is a big part of the festivities.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteEven though Mom is German, she always made a great lasagna for Christmas Eve and she still continues to. My girls love it same as I do. New Year's Day was always pork roast and sauerkraut. My wife continues that tradition on and how I love it.
Best Regards, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Your mom knew her way around mozzarella and ricotta. I t's great that she still pleasing the family. Roast pork and sauerkraut now that's German.
Alan, Mom is not doing well this year so she will pass the baton to my wife for lasagna. Mom gave Bev her recipe and she will run with it. I know it will be good with all the right cheese.
ReplyDeleteNothing like Italian food on Christmas Eve. When my sister was married to an Italian, it was all the best foods on Christmas Eve after mass. Now all I remember is Bloody Marys on Christmas mornings.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard good food and great cheer lead to bloody Mary's for sure. Good times remembered.
Alan, you know by now I'm a traditionalist who clings to the old ways. For me Christmas will always be Jan 07. Anyway that's another story. We Carpatho-Russians have adopted Bobalki, from the Slovaks. Bobalki are round sweet rolls made with honey and poppy seed. Delicious! Also, mushroom (huby) and sauerkraut (kvasna kapusta) soup was enjoyed. And, of course, poppy seed and walnut rolls.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John you have listed several dishes that are new to me. Kapusta I do enjoy, Mom made it with potatoes and spare ribs.
Poppy seed rolls are a favorite of mine also.
Brk Trt, as my memory of Christmas day as a kid, it was always a Turkey holiday day for us growing up. Since I got married 20+ years back, my father in-law always cooked a roasted prime rib of beef. Since his passing about 8 years ago or so, he/they passed on those duties to me. So with much respect to him as well as my dear mother in-law and others, I'm extremely honored to carry on his tradition for past and future years. Merry Christmas to all......Phil
ReplyDeleteDRYFLYGUY
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Phil it's great that you have stepped up and continue to carry on those Christmas traditions of your family. Prime rib and turkey are Christmas favorites of many.
Merry Christmas.
Alan
ReplyDeleteIf my memory serves me, my Mom used to make a turkey or turkey breast with all the fixing, salad, dinner rolls, assorted pies and her homemade Christmas cookies. There was also baked ziti or lasagna. My wife and continued that for many years, now I do a beef tenderloin. Merry Christmas.
TROUT1
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Pete those are some fond memories for you I'm sure.
That beef tenderloin must be a tender-tasty dinner.
Merry Christmas.
When I moved to northern MN many years ago I was introduced to the holiday dessert POTICA. It might be the reason I stayed.
ReplyDeleteAl R
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Al I googled POTICA and it's something I would love to try.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI can taste those meals from here-----I still remember my Mom's rum cake---thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill those tastes and smells from holidays long ago never really leave us.
Linguini, meatballs, a Sicilian red that was down on its luck. Thanks for the memory!
ReplyDeletespike
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My friend it very much sounds as if you favor the Italian's at Christmas. Linguini and clam sauce is a traditional Christmas eve dish.
Merry Christmas
Oh my goodness! If I had all night and an endless space to write all the family favorites....Wow! It sure is good to read all of the great dishes all of you have written! Let's see, whole turkey cooked with the stuffing inside the bird (that's something your are not suppose to do these days but it hasn't killed us yet), cranberry dishes of two types, homemade rolls, noodles, shrimp with cocktail sauce, and an assortment of sweets that defy description! So many varieties! One delight that not many have heard of is bone soup made from the turkey bones with rice and celery and onions added. Absolutely delicious!
ReplyDeleteOne of the best gifts my mom gave her three daughters-in-laws was a recipe book for each that contained hand written recipes from many generations previous. A marvelous gift that indeed keeps on giving!
Merry Christmas to one and all! What a good idea this is as it brings back so many good memories!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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I know it's not fair to have to list Christmas memories in such a short space, but it seems like you have accomplished it.
That recipe book was a very thoughtful gift.
Doug Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I really don't know that I had a favorite dish but one of my favorite memories is of my family and I going to Midnight Mass. Afterwards opening up one gift when we got home just before bed. My most heartfelt Merry Christmas goes out to you and Janet and all your family Alan.
ReplyDeletepenbayman
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Mike it's good to hear from you. Your memories sound similar to those of many of us.
Merry Christmas Mike and to your family.
Up until fairly recently most families here in Australia sat down to the traditional Christmas hot dinner--turkey, pork, assorted roast vegetables with apple and cranberry sauces. Lots of baked ham. Then plum pudding slathered with custard and cream. Shortbread, gingerbread, nuts and candy. All this was washed down with various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There's been a shift towards seafood and salads, which makes sense when the temperature is up around 40C. My mother used to make a Christmas cake that had whole nuts and preserved fruit. Topped with almonds then glazed with a thick honey glaze. Finally it was soaked in rum a few weeks before Christmas Day. Delicious but but I think a few pieces of it would have put you over the legal alcohol limit if you were driving!
ReplyDeleteI think our SSR Christmas table will be groaning under the weight of all the fine tucker!
Merry Christmas and peace to everyone,
Steve.
Steve Hynes
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Steve that all sounds wonderful. Many folks put a great deal of work to make a festive dinner.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.