Christmas Time 2025 - what's cooking for the season?

[dragnlaw]

Mine uses onion and celery along with the meat & water. The spices are black pepper, bay leaves, savory, rosemary, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice.
Salt, not right away but about 1/2 way thru the simmering time. Then later oatmeal, no potatoes.
2.5 lbs of ground pork (not lean! regular!) does 2 pies.

 

[Rocklobster]

That's a nice plump tourtière Roch. I'm going to go ahead and figure that mashed potatoes work well, if you use them. I guess the tourtière that I didn't think much of had other problems than what kind of potato was included.

I'll coarsely mash the potatoes before I add them and then give the whole mixture a few good mashes to incorporate most of them. There will still be a few random pieces of potatoes visible in the pie when cut and served.

 

[thymeless]

I'm going try tasting history's boar's head in black sauce. I'll use pork shoulder instead of the boar.

 

[dragnlaw]

history's boar's head in black sauce

Do you have a link? Sounds rather interesting!

 

[thymeless]

Boar with Black Sauce — Tasting History

Medieval spiced wine sauce with fruit and almonds that complements the boar really well, but would also be very good with pork

www.tastinghistory.com

 

[dragnlaw]

Thank You!

 

[caseydog]

I'm going try tasting history's boar's head in black sauce. I'll use pork shoulder instead of the boar.

I haven't seen that episode. I'll check it out.

Some of the things Max cooks on that show are not things I'd want to eat.

CD

 

[rodentraiser]

I was just going to get a pizza for Christmas, but I forgot and went grocery shopping and with what I had left over from last month, I don't think I've ever had so much food in the trailer. There were sales on stuff that I couldn't resist and a new store opened up in the middle of November that I just got to today and of course, I had to buy something there. Plus, my neighbor's have been ordering some things for me and most of it is food (Swiss Colony order). And of course, I'm supposed to be starting Zepbound, which is something like Ozempic. Bad time of the year for that. LOL Or maybe the best time of the year, who knows.

So at this point, I have no idea what will be on the table on Christmas. It could be anything from a blue cheese and cheddar stovie to tostadas or even Hamburger Helper.

I'm seriously thinking of pulling some stuff out and donating it to the local food bank.

 

[Shining Wizard]

My mum wasn’t a great cook, but bless her, she did really try.
With four mouths to feed on a policeman’s salary (always been a poorly paid vocation) she made do.
Our Christmas dinner was always chicken breast coated in a Special K breading with rosemary and then baked. I loved it.
So, I might make that, and make the fish pie as a starter

 

[Kathleen]

Here is my CMT of Trudy's Tourtière. She claimed that this was a close as she ever found to her mother's.
I went back and read the blog a long time ago - should do so again as she gives a few good hints.

I don't know if you can see the separate notes I made, so let me know if you decide to try it and I'll pass on my own.

I cannot see the notes. To all who replied, I'm curious about the dish, but have never had it. Is it very dry? What is served with it?

 

[dragnlaw]

Made right, no it is not dry. But it is usually served with a brown gravy or ketchup. I like it either way.
French fries and with ketchup) is common or mashed potatoes with gravy .
It should hold it's shape when cut. Regular ground pork is best, you need the fat. I use oatmeal for a binder, Rock uses potato.

If served as a meal then the mashers and a green vegie (or salad) to go along.
If being served as a light snack/lunch/dinner - ketchup is perfect along with a side of fries.
If being served as a buffet style with other things going on then probably kechup is best.

 

[taxlady]

It's not supposed to be dry. I usually provide some gravy or if I have some homemade ketchup, I'll put that on the table. Potatoes in some form is a usual accompaniment. I usually also put pickled beets. I don't remember if that is traditional or just because I think they go well with tourtière.

I found where I posted my recipe for tourtière, here on this forum, a looonnngg time ago.

taxlady's recipe for tourtière

 

[dragnlaw]

Nice taxy, thanks!

 

[taxlady]

I was just reminded that a lot of people like baked beans with their tourtière. It is often used like gravy.

 

[dragnlaw]

Yes, read that too. It's true, actually my ex prefers it with baked beans. He loves baked beans with just about anything but this time it is actually a very good companion.
@Kathleen so add baked beans to the list I gave.

 

[dragnlaw]

Checking the calendar and calculating timing for thawing and dressing the last of my geese. It's coming up soon. Here's all the chatter on spatchcocking the goose this year.