The One Dish You Can’t Imagine Christmas Without?

[Olivvia]

Hi,
Christmas time is just around the corner, and since I’m from Poland, it’s no surprise that my favourite traditional dish is pierogi! I always make them during this season, and they never fail to bring that festive feeling.

Do you have a favourite traditional dish from your country or family?
I’d love to hear about it — and feel free to share recipes too!



Let me know!

Olivia

 

[The Ghan]

I suppose in Australia it would be a Roast (Lamb or Beef) roast spuds, pumpkin, cauliflower with white sauce and peas and gravy. Desert would alwys be a plum pudding - home made.

 

[Kathleen]

My grandmother had many traditions surrounding Christmas. When she passed, the family kept none of them, and Christmas became my least favorite holiday. To combat this, I now have themes for Christmas meaning my menu changes nearly every year. One thing I do is have seafood on Christmas eve.

Now, I do have many traditional foods for Thanksgiving and would find it hard to name just one!

 

[The Ghan]

If I worried about xmas and had to make a "special meal for it" I don't know what the would be but if it had to be xmassy then I would have to have plum pudding. Then again, you can have that any time

 

[taxlady]

I like to have some sort of roast for Yule. Roasts that I have made for Yule were goose, Cornish hens, and pork roulades. But the one thing I always want to make at Yule is trifle for dessert.
Edited to add something I just remembered - there should be gløgg, the Scandinavian (well Nordic, since they also serve it in Iceland and the Faroe Islands and probably Greenland) version of mulled wine.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Jennifer.

 

[Andy M.]

My parents emigrated from Armenia as adults. As a result they had no background with American holiday traditions. We had turkey dinner for Thanksgiving and again for Christmas. It was all "American food". No Armenian dishes.

As time passed, I got married and we started our own traditions. We rarely had turkey for Christmas. Often a roast loin of pork.

These days we have a rib roast with potatoes and veggies. My eldest makes a raft of Christmas cookies. I'll make a cheesecake this year.

 

[forty_caliber]

Christmas has become kind of a greeting card holiday for us. Between Mrs. Boss and I all four parents have passed away. Siblings on both sides are in far flung corners with plans and agendas of their own.

We don't exchange gifts between us or our siblings. We see that our children, nieces, and nephews receive. We also make sure that other young people in our lives are taken care of as well.

For the first time in three or four years, we are planning to travel to spend time with Mrs. Boss's siblings. I think prime rib is on the menu this go round. They usually have some of my favorites:

• Cornbread sage dressing (can't stand the Yankee white bread stuff)
• Green jello salad (lime jello, whipped cream, pineapples, cottage cheese)
• Coconut snowballs (graham cracker pecan balls held together with frozen orange juice concentrate, rolled in a thin glaze, and coated with toasted coconut).

.40

 

[Gone Hiking]

Ham is the traditional meal for Christmas, but I've been trying to mix it up. In the last couple of years, I've made smoked pulled ham (a spin on the tradition) and I've smoked a pork loin crown. I'd like to try beef wellington this year, but so far the upvotes are for another smoked pulled ham.

 

[dragnlaw]

Stick to your guns! Do a Beef Wellington!
One caveat... unless most of the diners enjoy rare meat - I would suggest going for slightly more medium. Do a lot of research.

It is really super, super good. I've even done individual Beef Wellingtons and they were a hit. Been awhile but if I remember correctly - actually easier than one large one! Admit it was only for 3, but still! A little bundle for everyone!
Also did a deconstructed one, which although delicious, needs some practice on my part to perfect.

 

[pictonguy]

Ham is the traditional meal for Christmas, but I've been trying to mix it up. In the last couple of years, I've made smoked pulled ham (a spin on the tradition) and I've smoked a pork loin crown. I'd like to try beef wellington this year, but so far the upvotes are for another smoked pulled ham.

Looks fabulous GH.

 

[dragnlaw]

Yeah, that is gorgeous for sure! One I've never done! hmmm

how do you calculate for people? One rib per person?

 

[Gone Hiking]

Yeah, that is gorgeous for sure! One I've never done! hmmm

how do you calculate for people? One rib per person?

Well, Chris Rock helped in that calculation, and I figure if I can pull off a "deconstructed" turkey for Thanksgiving, then I can probably figure this fancy Wellington thing out.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Do you have a favourite traditional dish from your country or family?

This topic made me think of a woman I worked with in our cat rescue group who's employer transferred her to Minnesota.

On a visit she was telling us that she had been invited to a get together and was told to bring a hot dish. She told them I AM A HOT DISH! She also told us that was the only place you could go to a party and meet three guys named Sven!

 

[Shining Wizard]

I suppose in Australia it would be a Roast (Lamb or Beef) roast spuds, pumpkin, cauliflower with white sauce and peas and gravy. Desert would alwys be a plum pudding - home made.

Yes it is. Mum gave up on roast lamb because it became too expensive. She would be turning in her urn if she saw the price today!
Every Christmas, every relative we visited would entice us with cheap, store bought mince pies. Every single home in Australia had these horrible little things.

 

[dragnlaw]

Stores for some reason have the thickest crusts for things like MinceMeat Tarts, Butter Tarts, etc. Completely ruins.
I've generally used Cross n Blackwell's Mince Meat. Good stuff.
Once accidently purchased another brand and it was disgusting.

Thanks for the reminder! I'll have to make some again, been a while.

 

[Jusa]

I know this sounds odd, but it's mashed potatoes. If prime rib roast is the main, mashed potatoes and beef gravy are a must. Turkey? Mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, of course. With lobster tails I'd jazz up the potatoes by infusing goat cheese and top with fresh herbs at the end.

 

[grumpyoldman]

sweet potato pie

 

[Jusa]

turkey and sweet potato pie

You put turkey and sweet potatoes in the same pie? That's rather unusual.

 

[grumpyoldman]

uh no