Well, folks- the time is upon us to cut the lo-carbs, enjoy a little extra butter on that muffin and indulge our sweet tooth cravings. For the next ten days, brown sugar is my friend, rich meats are my lovers and I won't be kicking white starches to the curb as is the norm for my lifestyle. I want a relaxed week full of cake, biscuits, fatty roasts of all kinds and the sweetest party cocktails on planet. What are some of the things you'll be cooking/eating over the holiday season? I'm just finalizing my 3-Day Christmas plan now...trying to remember what used to be good old standard American breakfasts from back in the day..but I'm coming up with nada... tell me, what are you and chompin' your lips on come this weekend? Anybody out there with some killer breakfast ideas?

Can I share what this English girl will be eating?

Bacon butties for breakfast. Roast turkey with all the trimmings for lunch followed by chrsitmas pudding with brandy butter. And in the evening it'll be gammon with pickles, crisps, nuts and other snacky things. Oh, and plenty of champagne.

Sadly, Xmas for me isn’t about “good” food, at least not a big feasty meal kind of thing. And being the only veggie, it’s a little lacking on my side. But because much of it is familiar it is comfortable and I like it a lot anyway. My family spends all Xmas eve day together and we make lots of appetizers (meat balls, dips and such) and put out meats and cheeses and veggies and fruits and crackers and breads and so on. It’s always a grazing-all-day kind of thing. I’m baking almond cookies and classic yellow buttery cupcakes with chocolate butter cream frosting to contribute.

I used to have a tradition of eating crab legs with my parents but that’s gone by the wayside since I’m a veggie now and I have my bf’s family to visit to boot. We’ll have dinner Xmas day with them. No idea what they’ll be serving.

Ottensen said:

Well, folks- the time is upon us to cut the lo-carbs, enjoy a little extra butter on that muffin and indulge our sweet tooth cravings. For the next ten days, brown sugar is my friend, rich meats are my lovers and I won't be kicking white starches to the curb as is the norm for my lifestyle. I want a relaxed week full of cake, biscuits, fatty roasts of all kinds and the sweetest party cocktails on planet. What are some of the things you'll be cooking/eating over the holiday season? I'm just finalizing my 3-Day Christmas plan now...trying to remember what used to be good old standard American breakfasts from back in the day..but I'm coming up with nada... tell me, what are you and chompin' your lips on come this weekend? Anybody out there with some killer breakfast ideas?

Breakfast? A strata is always good - especially since it can be made the night before. It's basically a breakfast bread pudding - cubed bread layered with whatever you like, then drowned in eggs and cream, weighted (so the bread absorbs the custard, rather than floating in it) and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, you bake it. So yummy.

epicurious.com has several good recipes.

Genesia said:

Nothing special for breakfast.

Dinner will be baked rotini with ground beef and spicy italian sausage topped with mozzarella, garlic bread with red pepper, oregano and melted mozzarella.

Dessert will be red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream.

Happy Holidays.

i'll be satisfied with some nuts for starters....

The family does a strata for breakfast - been doing so for as long as I can remember. Sharp cheddar, sliced ham, eggs (duh) and a little mustard on the slices of sourdough (not cubed). In the refrigerator over night, bakes while the presents are being opened. People start asking about it at Thanksgiving. I don't eat that, though, because of the oinker.

Our other traditions are all vegetable related. I make vegetarian greens (seems so weird to have to call a vegetable vegetarian, but, ya know - no smokey meat product), grated beets with sour cream and horse radish, a carrot and sweet potato mash with a generous helping of butter and fairly small amount of brown sugar (people can add more on their own if they like) and a HUGE pot of mashed potatoes. The family is having a small ham and a small turkey this year. Usually it's one or the other.

Snacks involve home made hummus, roasted vegetable dip and salsa. I usually have a banana or pumpkin bread in the freezer from Thanksgiving. I always have a cranberry sauce frozen from Thanksgiving (its actually better after its been frozen and thawed for some reason). Crackers, cookies, chips, candy, etc.

I finished the pies today. Used the last garden pumpkin. Made one pumpkin pecan pie and one spiced brandy pumpkin pie.

We're having duck, roast pork, regular potatoes and caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and lots and lots of gravy. Mmm..

In Denmark we have a special dessert called Ris a la mande. Its pretty much rice pudding with whipped cream, "crushed" almonds and one whole almond and on top hot or cold cherry sauce. The one that gets the whole almond wins a gift. Its the best dessert ever!

For snacks we have nuts, loads of cookies - that are special for the christmas holidays - and confections we have spent the whole month making.

[Edited 12/23/11 1:17am]

Spicey Tofu, Noodles wiv home made sauce.

Turkey, and desserts, probably cheesecake or chocolate cake.

Christmas is the most fattening time of the year...

Breakfast comprises of ham off the bone, smelly cheese and sour dough

Lunch is the typical turkey and Veggies

and there are always lots of snacks - nuts, fruit, chocolate, ice-cream, cakes to munch on during the day.......

Hopefully i am not going 2 want dinner

On X-mas day we will be joining around 30 others for a huge Wild Game/Fowl feast ...

For breakfast, oyster stew. My daddy and I used to eat it together, but he's gone now, so I'll eat it alone.

For dinner, who knows. Mom died the day after Thanksgiving so it's just me and my brother left. Well probably go out to some restaurant or something since the cousins on my dad's side don't communicate with us, and there's only one cousin on my mom's side and he's in Alabama.

I swore I wasn't going to go crazy this year and stress over making a ton of food, and kept it simple. Plus funds and all, yanno.

But I made/making for desserts

Buncho diff kindsa cookies

A B-day cake. Vanilla 3 layer with strawberry btw layers and cream cheese icing

and a cpl diff kinds of truffles

Beer Bread, Dip, and Crescents.

A local business DONATED a Turkey and stuff to make filling to us, plus a gift each of the kids. Which was just so TOUCHING and Unexpected. So we'll have that.

Ham, mashies, and sweet potatoes.

Halushkie

Brussel Sprouts w bacon. String Beans w bacon.

I'm just lookig forward to eating some tamales!

Genesia said:

Ottensen said:

Well, folks- the time is upon us to cut the lo-carbs, enjoy a little extra butter on that muffin and indulge our sweet tooth cravings. For the next ten days, brown sugar is my friend, rich meats are my lovers and I won't be kicking white starches to the curb as is the norm for my lifestyle. I want a relaxed week full of cake, biscuits, fatty roasts of all kinds and the sweetest party cocktails on planet. What are some of the things you'll be cooking/eating over the holiday season? I'm just finalizing my 3-Day Christmas plan now...trying to remember what used to be good old standard American breakfasts from back in the day..but I'm coming up with nada... tell me, what are you and chompin' your lips on come this weekend? Anybody out there with some killer breakfast ideas?

Breakfast? A strata is always good - especially since it can be made the night before. It's basically a breakfast bread pudding - cubed bread layered with whatever you like, then drowned in eggs and cream, weighted (so the bread absorbs the custard, rather than floating in it) and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, you bake it. So yummy.

epicurious.com has several good recipes.

Strata! I haven't had that in years!!! And Epicurious is my best friend living way over here, so that sounds like a plan!

You know who taught me how to make my first strata? Remember when "The Silver Palate Cookbook" was all the rage back in the day? Chef Julie Rosso had the most amazing 4 season cookbook after that where I made my first stratas ever :

Lisa10 said:

Can I share what this English girl will be eating?

Bacon butties for breakfast. Roast turkey with all the trimmings for lunch followed by chrsitmas pudding with brandy butter. And in the evening it'll be gammon with pickles, crisps, nuts and other snacky things. Oh, and plenty of champagne.

I have not a clue what butties are..or gammon But anything that goes with champagne can't be all that bad!

CarrieMpls said:

Sadly, Xmas for me isn’t about “good” food, at least not a big feasty meal kind of thing. And being the only veggie, it’s a little lacking on my side. But because much of it is familiar it is comfortable and I like it a lot anyway. My family spends all Xmas eve day together and we make lots of appetizers (meat balls, dips and such) and put out meats and cheeses and veggies and fruits and crackers and breads and so on. It’s always a grazing-all-day kind of thing. I’m baking almond cookies and classic yellow buttery cupcakes with chocolate butter cream frosting to contribute.

I used to have a tradition of eating crab legs with my parents but that’s gone by the wayside since I’m a veggie now and I have my bf’s family to visit to boot. We’ll have dinner Xmas day with them. No idea what they’ll be serving.

I like the idea of seafood during the holidays, but so far I haven't figured out a way to fit it in. The appetizers thing, though It looks like we'll be doing something similar on New Years Eve with some friends that live up the road, and it sounds much cooler than stuffing our faces with any more full on meals.

In fact, let me call Judy now and mention meatballs

Oooh...have you ever done honey drizzled brie/camebert for an appetizer? With apple or pear wedges and some crusty bread, that's usually a hit

Fake Food Free: Honey Pecan Baked Brie

Cerebus said:

The family does a strata for breakfast - been doing so for as long as I can remember. Sharp cheddar, sliced ham, eggs (duh) and a little mustard on the slices of sourdough (not cubed). In the refrigerator over night, bakes while the presents are being opened. People start asking about it at Thanksgiving. I don't eat that, though, because of the oinker.

Our other traditions are all vegetable related. I make vegetarian greens (seems so weird to have to call a vegetable vegetarian, but, ya know - no smokey meat product), grated beets with sour cream and horse radish, a carrot and sweet potato mash with a generous helping of butter and fairly small amount of brown sugar (people can add more on their own if they like) and a HUGE pot of mashed potatoes. The family is having a small ham and a small turkey this year. Usually it's one or the other.

Snacks involve home made hummus, roasted vegetable dip and salsa. I usually have a banana or pumpkin bread in the freezer from Thanksgiving. I always have a cranberry sauce frozen from Thanksgiving (its actually better after its been frozen and thawed for some reason). Crackers, cookies, chips, candy, etc.

I finished the pies today. Used the last garden pumpkin. Made one pumpkin pecan pie and one spiced brandy pumpkin pie.

Damn you can cook, Cerebus! Spiced brandy pumpkin, eh?

I was too lazy to bake sweets this week , I just did my standard apple upside down cake-but I did at least try to spice it up a bit by adding a little brandy, fresh ginger, and some allspice

...these pies sound pretty search worthy

HonestMan13 said:

Nothing special for breakfast.

Dinner will be baked rotini with ground beef and spicy italian sausage topped with mozzarella, garlic bread with red pepper, oregano and melted mozzarella.

Dessert will be red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream.

Happy Holidays.

I'm doing red velvet cake for my hostess on Monday ('cause these folks over here celebrate Christmas 3 days straight ) ! Another thing I haven't had in years, but just decided to try it on a whim when I spoke to her today! Happy Holidays back at'cha

lenis said:

We're having duck, roast pork, regular potatoes and caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and lots and lots of gravy. Mmm..

In Denmark we have a special dessert called Ris a la mande. Its pretty much rice pudding with whipped cream, "crushed" almonds and one whole almond and on top hot or cold cherry sauce. The one that gets the whole almond wins a gift. Its the best dessert ever!

For snacks we have nuts, loads of cookies - that are special for the christmas holidays - and confections we have spent the whole month making.

[Edited 12/23/11 1:17am]

From reading your first sentence, I was just about to ask you if you lived in Northern Europe, because that's pretty much what I'm cooking on Sunday here in Hamburg, right after church

But instead of potatoes, I'm making knödels (for my US peeps, that's a gigantic potato/bread dumpling that resembles a matzo ball)

smudges said:

Spicey Tofu, Noodles wiv home made sauce.

What kind of sauce do you like to make?

The one flavored tofu I bought rcently was a basil one. I threw it on top of pasta for lunch the this week with some chopped tomatoes, and called it a day.

Ottensen said:

Cerebus said:

The family does a strata for breakfast - been doing so for as long as I can remember. Sharp cheddar, sliced ham, eggs (duh) and a little mustard on the slices of sourdough (not cubed). In the refrigerator over night, bakes while the presents are being opened. People start asking about it at Thanksgiving. I don't eat that, though, because of the oinker.

Our other traditions are all vegetable related. I make vegetarian greens (seems so weird to have to call a vegetable vegetarian, but, ya know - no smokey meat product), grated beets with sour cream and horse radish, a carrot and sweet potato mash with a generous helping of butter and fairly small amount of brown sugar (people can add more on their own if they like) and a HUGE pot of mashed potatoes. The family is having a small ham and a small turkey this year. Usually it's one or the other.

Snacks involve home made hummus, roasted vegetable dip and salsa. I usually have a banana or pumpkin bread in the freezer from Thanksgiving. I always have a cranberry sauce frozen from Thanksgiving (its actually better after its been frozen and thawed for some reason). Crackers, cookies, chips, candy, etc.

I finished the pies today. Used the last garden pumpkin. Made one pumpkin pecan pie and one spiced brandy pumpkin pie.

Damn you can cook, Cerebus! Spiced brandy pumpkin, eh?

I was too lazy to bake sweets this week , I just did my standard apple upside down cake-but I did at least try to spice it up a bit by adding a little brandy, fresh ginger, and some allspice

...these pies sound pretty search worthy

Thanks. Been cookin' for a long time.

I also made Cinnamon Oatmeal cookies, Cherry Coconut cookies, Cheerio Chocolate Chip cookies, Golden Grahams cookies (taste like a waffle cone ), Amish Ginger cookies and miniature stuffed date turnover things... not sure what they are, really. They taste like a sweeter fig newton stuffed inside a folded over sugar cookie.

Oh, and spiced brandy pumpkin pie is just a pumpkin pie with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and brandy. Pretty easy as far as pumpkin pie goes, but SUUUUUPER tasty.

Ottensen said:

lenis said:

We're having duck, roast pork, regular potatoes and caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and lots and lots of gravy. Mmm..

In Denmark we have a special dessert called Ris a la mande. Its pretty much rice pudding with whipped cream, "crushed" almonds and one whole almond and on top hot or cold cherry sauce. The one that gets the whole almond wins a gift. Its the best dessert ever!

For snacks we have nuts, loads of cookies - that are special for the christmas holidays - and confections we have spent the whole month making.

[Edited 12/23/11 1:17am]

From reading your first sentence, I was just about to ask you if you lived in Northern Europe, because that's pretty much what I'm cooking on Sunday here in Hamburg, right after church

But instead of potatoes, I'm making knödels (for my US peeps, that's a gigantic potato/bread dumpling that resembles a matzo ball)

Are those beets on the left? They look a bit like the ones I'm making.

Ham,turkey,stuffing,corn

Fried fish,potato salad,rolls

lots of pie (pumpkin and sweet potato)

Cerebus said:

Ottensen said:

From reading your first sentence, I was just about to ask you if you lived in Northern Europe, because that's pretty much what I'm cooking on Sunday here in Hamburg, right after church

But instead of potatoes, I'm making knödels (for my US peeps, that's a gigantic potato/bread dumpling that resembles a matzo ball)

Are those beets on the left? They look a bit like the ones I'm making.

Oh- that's red cabbage! Over here in Germany/northern Europe they serve it with roasts and poultry, usually in the winter/holiday months. It's pretty yummy and not sour like green cabbage, the holiday versions usually have chopped apples inside to enhance the red cabbage's natural sweetness. All the freezer isles are full of 50,000 different kinds of "rotkohl" this year.

Machaela said:

On X-mas day we will be joining around 30 others for a huge Wild Game/Fowl feast ...

Now will you all hunt everything yourselves?

I used to romanticize having freshly hunted game/foul until the Christmas I spent at my ex-in-laws plucking the hell out of a pheasant one year. Gurl...I was standing over the kitchen sink with a pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass trying to get those last bits of feather out of that sucker for I don't know how long. I was instantly cured of all my fantasies of preparing wild fowl after that, forevermore

Ottensen said:

Cerebus said:

Are those beets on the left? They look a bit like the ones I'm making.

Oh- that's red cabbage! Over here in Germany/northern Europe they serve it with roasts and poultry, usually in the winter/holiday months. It's pretty yummy and not sour like green cabbage, the holiday versions usually have chopped apples inside to enhance the red cabbage's natural sweetness. All the freezer isles are full of 50,000 different kinds of "rotkohl" this year.

I make a braised beets with red cabbage, too.

Turkey and dressing, ham, fried cabbage, and macaroni and cheese with Rotel and bacon in it.