Its about that time of year again. As designated chef, I’m thinking about what I should cook for Christmas Dinner. I’m bored stiff by the idea of cooking another turkey, ham or leg of lamb. Mashed sweet potatoes - gharg!
Here is what I’m thinking of doing this year
A spiced beef with homemade pickle, caramelized onions…etc…
Steamed veggies (some asparagus, carrots, brussels etc…)
Some kind of gratineed potatoes
Cream of Mushroom soup (my soups are weak – anything better?)
Some cheese & roasted beet salad
Some keishes
For dessert a black cake for adults and pot de chocolate for the kids.
And of course, eggnog, (full proof).
Anyone got any other ideas? Better more creative ideas? What are y’all planning to do for food? I’m feeling something less than inspired this year.
Oh, I might do a seafood and chicken paella, with some healthy greens, some freshly baked bread and olive oil on the side, and a nice bottle of wine. Or I might try making something Mexican like Pollo Pibil (Chicken with Achiote), sopes on the side, a salad, and homemade tortillas. I brought back a few Mexican cookbooks and ingredients with me, and am eager to try them.
[quote=“914”]All of the Christmas dinners I’ve enjoyed had always had more than one main meat dish because not everyone likes/can eat roast beef or ham or chicken.
I suggest a nice slab of salmon baked in foil with lemon and dill!
Or a seafood bake: crab legs, clams, mussels, scallops with some onions, tomatoes, white wine, garlic thrown in.
Where’s your salad? You need a salad![/quote]
Ah, salmon. Very good…
Salad - it’s there in form of roasted beets, frise and some cheese. I’ll admit it’s a salad for people who dislike salad - Do you know any good salads??
I made a very good salad for Thanksgiving. Just a regular tossed salad:
-red lettuce
-romaine
-cherry tommytoes
-sliced cucumbers
-sliced yellow peppers
-slivered red onions
-chopped parsley
-some candied walnuts if you want
For dressing, I made a concoction of pineapple juice/orange juice/chilly sauce/balsamic vinegar. Have a couple of different dressings, in case some guests prefer thicker stuff.
I think every holiday meal should have just a tossed salad that’s not too complicated because you have all the heavy foods and side dishes already, you need to balance it out with some raw roughage.
Yes. I have to do appetizers. In the winter I’ll usually make a country pate, bruschetta and some fruit. If I have time I’ll do a fruit de mare, but in China the seafood is shite, so no go there.
Usually Christmas is strictly family. However, since in Taiwan family means 10-12, it means a lot of food. This year we’re in China, so not much family about.
I reckon no more than six people then? You prolly have enough food, cuz I was going to suggest a staple dish like a fried rice or pilaf or a simple linguini tossed with garlic and olive oil. But if you just have some warm rolls and bread, that can be your staple, since a rice or pasta dish might be too much food.
[quote=“Edgar Allen”]You have to have Turkey or Goose surely? Isn’t it the law? Your guests might be very disappointed you know.
When are you sending invites? I saw Maoman sent his out![/quote]
No Turkey. To make it taste good you have to brine it and do all sorts of crap to make it cook properly in the small ovens you get here. Goose - wouldn’t have the foggiest where to get one.
Anyone spotted any brussels sprouts on this wee island?
I’m going to cook up some meatballs, some sausage, some potatoes, buy some ham and bake some traditional christmas bread from back home and do some christmas rice porridge, maybe a few other bits and pieces.
I’m going to be with my family. My gran wants to cook, which she has always done. However, she’s not really ‘all there’ anymore, so it’ll be a bit stressy trying to make sure she doesn’t blow up anything or wander off, or get mixed up and use the wrong ingredients, without making her feel bad or less ‘in charge’. She knows she’s sick and is often completely lucid and has always been a sharp, intelligent person and gets very upset if she thinks we are checking up on her or ‘treating her like a child’.
Me and my sister are going to do the shopping and act as ‘assistants’. My gran wants traditional turkey and ham and pudding, and all sorts of things like that. The focus is going to be ‘traditional’, with the same rituals that we had as kids, to make her feel comfortable.
I’m just happy I can be home. She has switched over myself and my mother, in her mind (she calls me by my mother’s name) and last year she started to cry and ask for ‘my mother’. My mother was there and thinks she meant me, so I’m thrilled to be making this one a good one for her.
I brought back a few Mexican cookbooks and ingredients with me, and am eager to try them.
