2019 Holiday Food Thread

[redheadbaker]

It's that time again! Whatcha cooking for the upcoming holidays? 

I'm hosting Thanksgiving, but haven't even started menu-planning yet. 

[lemoncupcake]

I saved this cranberry curd tart to Pinterest a long time ago but I want to actually make it this year:

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017817-cranberry-curd-tart?mc=aud_dev&mcid=fb-nytimes&mccr=OctCooking&mcdt=2017-10&subid=OctCooking&ad-keywords=AudDevGate&kwp_0=599103&kwp_4=2114188&kwp_1=883084

[picksthemusic]

Work is throwing a wrench into a bunch of our plans, so I'm not sure I'll be cooking much. I'm usually in charge of deviled eggs.

[jamaicam]

I haven't decided whether to host or whether my mum should host. She has a dishwasher, I don't (kitchen is being redone next year) but I like being home!

Anyway, either way our menu is a fairly traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner. There's only 6 of us so always good leftovers.

Rice and peas
Potato Salad
Green Salad
Ham
Roast Chicken
Fried Plantain
Mac n cheese

[wawa]

I was planning to start this today if nobody else did. Thank you.

I want to try something fun for dessert this year. Suggestions?

H was thinking about a brined, smoked AND fried turkey. It'd be lightly cold smoked and then fried to actually be cooked.

Canadians try anything new this year you want to tell us about?

[wawa]

Oct 25, 2019 10:42:02 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

I saved this cranberry curd tart to Pinterest a long time ago but I want to actually make it this year:

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017817-cranberry-curd-tart?mc=aud_dev&mcid=fb-nytimes&mccr=OctCooking&mcdt=2017-10&subid=OctCooking&ad-keywords=AudDevGate&kwp_0=599103&kwp_4=2114188&kwp_1=883084

[br
I can't see the recipe at the moment, but I think I made that the other year. It was delicious.

[pixy0stix]

I don't know if MIL is coming for xmas or if we're going to her house Either way, I need a good ham recipe.

[lilles]

First Holiday season as a vegan so I need to find all new recipes....

[mbcdefg]

We’re going to my aunt’s house this year - so we’ll actually get a good meal and have fun, lol.

She asked me to bring a dates appetizer I made for a family gathering a few weeks ago - stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon.

I’m also looking for a nice platter I can give as a hostess gift and I’ll fill it with small assorted desserts - brownies, cookies, fresh berries, storebought chocolates, etc.

[atexan]

Oct 25, 2019 10:42:02 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

I saved this cranberry curd tart to Pinterest a long time ago but I want to actually make it this year:

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017817-cranberry-curd-tart?mc=aud_dev&mcid=fb-nytimes&mccr=OctCooking&mcdt=2017-10&subid=OctCooking&ad-keywords=AudDevGate&kwp_0=599103&kwp_4=2114188&kwp_1=883084

I keep reading this as cranberry turd tart.  Less appetizing.

[georgeglass]

I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.

[atexan]

We're going to my parents' for T-giving. I help my mom cook and we usually do:

Turkey with butter under the skin
Cornbread dressing
Real cranberry sauce
Potato salad (haterz to the left)
Creamed spinach
Some other potato, probably either mashed or au gratin
Carrots (probably cinnamon roasted)
White rolls
Pumpkin pie
Ice cream

I do Christmas and I'm pretty happy with what I've come up with in the past few years. I think this will be the tradition for us.

Christmas Eve:
Lasagna
Green salad
Garlic bread

Christmas Day:
Homemade cinnamon rolls (Pioneer Woman but with egg nog) and fruit for breakfast

Prime rib
Au Gratin potatoes
Green beans

There's always plenty of sweets around so I don't make desserts at Christmas

[wawa]

Oct 25, 2019 11:20:04 GMT -5 lilles said:

First Holiday season as a vegan so I need to find all new recipes....

I always had really good results with Oh She Glows recipes, and she has a whole holiday section.

[eponinepontmercy]

We're going to my parents for Thanksgiving. I usually make cranberry sauce, and then I'll help once we get there. I might find a fun dessert recipe.

My sister's boss (she's a sous chef) put her name in for a chance to have the head chef of the company (they own and operate a bunch of different restaurants) cook Thanksgiving dinner for your family. If that happens, I have no idea what we'll eat, except we'll still make my mom's stuffing recipe the next day.

Thanksgiving is usually pretty boring, but it's always delicious:
Turkey
Stuffing
glazed carrots
glazed sweet potatoes
cranberry sauce - fresh and canned

I host Christmas and my family comes down to us.
Prime rib
roasted potatoes (that cook with the prime rib and I'm drooling just thinking about them)
roasted maple carrots
creamed spinach (my sister makes this)
Every year I look for a lighter, fresh vegetable recipe to cut the roastedness, but nothing ever works. DH laughed for days when I suggested making a salad.
Some kind of dessert.  I made a Rainbow Cookie Cake last year that I might have to make again.  

Christmas Eve is at my ILs with a strange collection of food. At least DH's aunt usually brings an awesome cookie tray, and they started asking me to bring pierogies a few years ago.

[cattledogkisses]

Oct 25, 2019 12:12:54 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.

This is my husband too.  We'll watch them make something super complicated and he'll be like, "We should make that!" 

Sure, it'll only take us 10 hours and turn out to be some monstrosity that Paul Hollywood would NOT approve of.  Lol. 

[shamrockshake]

Oct 25, 2019 12:41:55 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

We're going to my parents for Thanksgiving. I usually make cranberry sauce, and then I'll help once we get there. I might find a fun dessert recipe.

My sister's boss (she's a sous chef) put her name in for a chance to have the head chef of the company (they own and operate a bunch of different restaurants) cook Thanksgiving dinner for your family. If that happens, I have no idea what we'll eat, except we'll still make my mom's stuffing recipe the next day.

Thanksgiving is usually pretty boring, but it's always delicious:
Turkey
Stuffing
glazed carrots
glazed sweet potatoes
cranberry sauce - fresh and canned

I host Christmas and my family comes down to us.
Prime rib
roasted potatoes (that cook with the prime rib and I'm drooling just thinking about them)
roasted maple carrots
creamed spinach (my sister makes this)
Every year I look for a lighter, fresh vegetable recipe to cut the roastedness, but nothing ever works. DH laughed for days when I suggested making a salad.
Some kind of dessert.  I made a Rainbow Cookie Cake last year that I might have to make again.  

Christmas Eve is at my ILs with a strange collection of food. At least DH's aunt usually brings an awesome cookie tray, and they started asking me to bring pierogies a few years ago.

Would you share the recipe you used for the rainbow cookie cake? I love those cookies and cake form might be a perfect christmas dessert this year

[mbcdefg]

Oct 25, 2019 12:50:05 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Oct 25, 2019 12:12:54 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.

This is my husband too.  We'll watch them make something super complicated and he'll be like, "We should make that!" 

Sure, it'll only take us 10 hours and turn out to be some monstrosity that Paul Hollywood would NOT approve of.  Lol. 

When we were first dating we spent about $40 and several hours making a ton of artichoke spinach dip. It was fine but we immediately agreed that it was not worth it, lol

[StrawberryBlondie]

I'm bringing pies and mac & cheese to Thanksgiving. Probably apple pie & pumpkin pie but I might go with apple butter cheesecake instead of apple pie.

[isabel]

I make these green beans every year and they are delicious.

www.seasonalandsavory.com/2012/11/support-for-sandy-blogger-event-green-beans-with-sherried-mushrooms-and-fried-shallots.html

Apple butter cheesecake sounds amazing. I might have to do that.

[turnipthebeet]

Oct 25, 2019 11:06:26 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I don't know if MIL is coming for xmas or if we're going to her house Either way, I need a good ham recipe.

My go-to for ham is 2.25 c brown Sugar, spiral cut ham, 20 oz crushed pineapple, and 1/2 c honey. 

Pat 1.5 c brown sugar in the bottom of large crock pot (or whatever you're baking it in, if you're baking). Put ham cut side down on top of brown sugar and slightly pull apart the layers. Pour pineapple over, sprinkle remaining brown sugar and drizzle with honey. Cover and cook for 3.5 hours. 

[eponinepontmercy]

shamrockshake,

www.brit.co/italian-rainbow-cookie-cake-recipe/

Here you go! It tasted exactly like those cookies. My mom is still talking about it.

[turnipthebeet]

I have most of my meal planned. My in-laws and parents, and several of our siblings are coming over, we'll have around 18. I'm taking care of the mains and farming out apps and deserts.

:: Appetizer :: MIL
• Relish Tray
• Bruschetta
• Pumpkin Dip

:: Salad ::
• Chopped salad

:: Drink ::
• Cranberry Orange Mule: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/cranberry-orange-mule-4529257
• Wine/beer
• Coffee

:: Dinner ::
• Turkey 1: smoked turkey breast
• Turkey 2: fried
• Gravy: www.bonappetit.com/recipe/why-is-it-so-good-gravy
• Rolls: www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/lion-house-rolls/
• Mashed Potatoes
• Cheesy Potatoes
• Stuffing?
• Green Bean Casserole: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/best-ever-green-bean-casserole-recipe-1950575
• Carrots or brussels sprouts: cookpad.com/us/recipes/448389-sweet-and-sour-brussel-sprouts-with-bacon,

:: Dessert :: Mom
• Pies

[litebright]

lemoncupcake, I made that last year. It was very pretty. I'm glad I tried it, but it did make me realize that I'm more of a sweet-dessert fan than something tart or citrusy.

My favorite pie the past two years has been pumpkin praline, and I think that one is set to become a new must-have. It's basically pumpkin pie on the bottom with a pecan pie layer on the top. So incredibly good. It's a Cooks Illustrated recipe originally.

www.mastercook.com/app/Recipe/WebRecipeDetails?recipeId=15879803

I also ordered a fresh turkey from a local farm that I will pick up the weekend before Thanksgiving. I've always wanted to do that, so I'm looking forward to the turkey more than usual.

I want to try a pavlova, but I think I might do that for Christmas instead of T-Day.

[cattledogkisses]

We're doing Thanksgiving with the ILs on Thursday and then traveling to my family for the weekend and doing our Thanksgiving with them on Saturday.

ILs will be traditional Thanksgiving fare. H and I brought the appetizers last year, so we'll probably do it again this year. We put together a charcuterie spread for people to nibble on throughout the day while things were cooking.

My mom says she figures we'll be all turkey-d out since us kids will be coming fresh off of Thanksgiving with all of our in-laws, so she's trying to figure out what the main course should be. I'm trying to talk her into Beef Wellington, but my sister is pulling for a ham (battle of the siblings!).

lemoncupcake I've had that same cranberry tart pinned for ages too, and I might have to try to make it this year.

[redheadbaker]

I might try a whiskey-brined turkey this year

www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/rachael-ray-whiskey-brined-turkey

[StrawberryBlondie]

Oct 25, 2019 15:18:42 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I might try a whiskey-brined turkey this year

www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/rachael-ray-whiskey-brined-turkey

I did a bourbon-brined one a few years ago. Was tasty.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 25, 2019 15:33:59 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Oct 25, 2019 15:18:42 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I might try a whiskey-brined turkey this year

www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/rachael-ray-whiskey-brined-turkey

I did a bourbon-brined one a few years ago. Was tasty.

Can you share the recipe? 

[StrawberryBlondie]

Oct 25, 2019 15:37:06 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oct 25, 2019 15:33:59 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I did a bourbon-brined one a few years ago. Was tasty.

Can you share the recipe? 

I'll look for it. Pretty sure it was in a cooking light magazine.

ETA: Can't find the magazine but it was pretty similar to this one:

www.greensnchocolate.com/maple-cider-bourbon-brined-turkey-with-bourbon-gravy/

redheadbaker

[redheadbaker]

Oct 25, 2019 15:43:49 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Oct 25, 2019 15:37:06 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Can you share the recipe? 

I'll look for it. Pretty sure it was in a cooking light magazine.

ETA: Can't find the magazine but it was pretty similar to this one:

www.greensnchocolate.com/maple-cider-bourbon-brined-turkey-with-bourbon-gravy/

redheadbaker

Thanks!

[tessalb]

We are going to my ILs for Thanksgiving like we do every year, and they put me in charge of green bean casserole (don’t @ me - I love it)

We are hosting Christmas with my parents (maybe ILs? Who knows). We have cheese fondue with ham, bread, tortellini, broccoli, apples, etc every Christmas Eve. My absolute favorite meal. I love prepping it with my mom. Memories I will cherish forever, for sure.

For Christmas Day, I kind of want to do a turkey. Other than that, I have no idea and will be watching this thread. I’m not sold on doing the turkey (yet).