Zephyrus From Norway, joined Jan 2005, 21 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 1303 times:
As the A.Net community is an international one, it would be interesting to hear about the varying Christmas fare traditions from around the globe.
As for myself, I hail from Norway, where the most important day of Christmas is Christmas Eve (24th), being the first day of several familiar gatherings around the dinner table (and this being our day for the unwrapping of presents).
With respect to Christmas fare traditions, Norway is divided east-to-west, whereas the Eastern part of Norway enjoy what is called "Ribbe" (Loin rib of pork).
In my part of the country, Western Norway, most people swear by what we call "Pinnekjøtt" (salted and cured mutton ribs).
...both of which are traditionally washed down with "Juleøl" ("Christmas beer" darkish, malted beer) and Aquavit (Schnaps laced with caraway and other herbs.
So - what do YOU eat for Christmas? Bring it on!
Merry Christmas to all!
"The dreaded seven-engine approach" (B-52 on final w/ one engine shut down)
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6189 posts, RR: 25 Reply 3, posted (5 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1272 times:
We do the Turkey and Stuffing, Ham, Candied Sweet Potatoes on Thanksgiving at a big extended family gathering.
We used to do a standing rib roast on the grill for Christmas dinner, but now that the grandkids are getting to be teenagers, we just have extended snacks all day long - not a big dinner.
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4926 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (5 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1215 times:
We had:
Tamales (pork, venison) with hot red sauce
Bacalao (salted codfish, portuguese style)
Roast Turkey
Lasagana Bolognese
Spinach Canelloni
Breaded praws
Tres Leches cake for dessert
The first two are what most Mexican families would have, add a leg of pork instead of the turkey. But since my mother hails from Argentina, from Italian ancestry, we have the rest.
Prawns, well, I always find an excuse to eat prawns!
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16932 posts, RR: 57 Reply 7, posted (5 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1213 times:
sccutler From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 5101 posts, RR: 28 Reply 9, posted (5 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1197 times:
Growing up, it was always turkey and dressing, but around our household these days, we tend to tamales. Good tamales are ample and eloquent proof that there is a God, and He loves us very much.
Sometimes throw in a ham, potatoes, smoked turkey, and tres leches cake for dessert.
...three miles from BRONS, clear for the ILS one five approach...
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4740 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (5 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
I'm Jewish so when I'm not working I do the in thing for us Jews on Christmas; graze on Chinese food!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (5 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1071 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 8): Whatever my grandmother has cooked. Probably something soaked in grease and/or butter.
Ha, that rings a bell! My gran loves to help, but her cooking is, frankly, awful. This year she was in charge of the stuffing and Christmas pudding, thankfully nothing too important.
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5754 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (5 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1066 times:
On Christmas eve (which is when we celebrate Christmas), we had Flæskesteg (roast pork with a crisp crackling/rind), white & brown (caramelised) potatos and red cabbage. For dessert, we had the customary risalamande, which is basically a rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, chopped almonds and vanilla, and served with warm cherry sauce. A few whole almonds are thrown in and whoever finds that wins a small price (in my extended family, that has ranged from small toys to a lottery ticket for the kids, to doing the dishes or arranging a guided tour of Italian vinyards for the adults (that year, we had arranged to rent a vinyard in Italy for a joint summer holiday the following summer)).
The 25th we usually have a Julefrokost, or Yule lunch, which involves a lot of small dishes, warm and cold, served with plenty of wine, beer and snaps. As a result, everyone is usually too plastered to care for dinner, which is usually just some heated leftovers.
We usually drive home either late on the 25th or early on the 26th, depending on where we were staying. We had our christmas at my half-sisters this year, so I just took the train and bus home yesterday, an easy 25 minute ride.
We had: smoked salmon with a salad garnish for starter; roast turkey, roast potatoes, roast carrots & parsnips, sprouts with pancetta, peas & corn, home-made apricot, cranberry & almond stuffing, sausage meat, home-made cranberry sauce, gravy; followed by traditional Christmas pudding with brandy cream.
Growing up in Winnipeg (large-ish Jewish community) I got invited over to then g.f.'s home on 'that' day .... yes ! Huge amounts of Chinese. I noted several dishes with shrimp in them. Not kosher ?
This year, I was hosting. Current g.f. moved in Christmas Eve for a few days, with her 110 lb mastiff. Fortunately a good natured beast. Christmas brunch for the two (three ?) of us was prawn crepes with cheese sauce. Definitely diet food. Of course served with champagne. Mid afternoon when another couple came over, the rest of the prawns pan fried with garlic, plus perogies, sour cream, and crumbled bacon. A dry white wine to accompany.
Dinner:
Salad (endive & arugula, mainly)
Roast venison (infused with whole cloves of garlic, finished with rosemary)
Roast potatoes with hunter sauce
Mixed carrots & green beans (steamed)
Wine: Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 2001 (Spanish Rioja, very full bodied)
Dessert: Jen made (did not buy) wildberry cheesecake (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries). Definitely diet food.
Afters: Irish coffee.
Needless to say, no one was driving that night. And a good time was had by all.
Hopefully everyone in A.netland had an enjoyable Christmas, and all the best for 2013 !
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