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Entries from Talk tagged with 'holidays'
Mothers' Day eats
So here I am, planning a menu for Sunday brunch (some kind of quiche, lox and bagels, pancakes for the kids) and was wondering you all take the opportunity to go crazy and make the most fattening dishes of deliciousness ever, or do you keep it simple?
What's the plan?
Passover NYT Article...
I'm not Jewish but I found this article profoundly moving. The ingenuity necessary to survive the experience notwithstanding, some even found ways to make matzo and keep the Passover holiday. I wish the article had been longer.
Hoppy Easter, Serious Eaters...
An oldie but goodie about what it's like to be a chocolate bunny...
Have a fun day!
the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!
I work 35 or so hours between Friday at 10am and Sunday at 2pm. The word of the weekend is EXHAUSTED. Here's what I have so far...just 4 of us with the usual stragglers to follow suit.
turkey, brined
screw stuffing...Im not interested.
mashed/gravy
sweet potatoes with cinnamon honey butter, brought home from my job
asparagus with lemon and toasted sesame seeds
honey oat bread, also brought home from work
deviled eggs
I need a dessert...no rolling of pastry or beating of egg whites, please. I am in the mood for lemony berry-iey somethingy, even though it is 9 degrees. The fools I co-habitate with are in the chocolate camp and since I dont see them doing squat to prepare for dinner, I want what I want.
Apps? Nothing life altering but the rules are no seafood, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers or mayo.
Make my Easter dinner satisfying and non-dramatic, please?
Have a safe and happy holiday filled with love, family, Jesus (if thats what your into) and copious amounts of amazingly Serious Eats!
Easter Dinner
My family has never really been big on Easter dinner, but this year I'm feeling festive. I usually hate spring and summer here in L.A., but spring has hit so earlier I feel myself warming up to it. It's beautiful here lately! Anyhow, I'd like to make my parents their first, official Easter dinner. I've seen a lot of posts recently that were Easter related, so I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring. I can find recipes fine on my own, I'm just look for food suggestions from all of you. What does the classic Easter dinner entail? What combination of dishes can comfortably be made by just one cook under a budget?
Preparing a semi traditional Good Friday dinner - suggestions?
My husband comes from an interesting background of fundamentalist Christian believers of all ilks. One of the traditions that his family and organizations got into was preparing a traditional Good Friday supper, loosely based on a Passover seder meal - trying to replicate what Jesus, as Jewish person, would have eaten. I've done this twice now - fish, matzos, hummus, grapes, boiled eggs, that type of thing - but am looking to branch out and include some more traditional Passover preparations? Tell me, what did YOUR bubbee make?
Dying easter eggs
All my little sous chefs are home on spring break and I desperately need something to keep them occupied for a couple hours. I'm thinking about trying something different with dying easter eggs, but since I'm not the crafty type, I need help! Any ideas or suggestions?
Irish soda bread recipes
Not my thing, but I've been commisioned to bake Irish soda bread for St. Paddy's day and Easter. All I have is mom's recipe, which is sooo dry. Advice?
What are your plans for Easter?
I don't have any planned so far, so I'm looking for inspiration.
Are you making brunch, lunch, or dinner as the main meal?
What's cooking - Lamb, Ham, or something completely different?
What are your favorite St. Paddy's Day eats?
Cabbage for me! Do you make traditional foods & beverages? Go to a restaurant or pub? Serve "unusual" green colored foods? Anyone remember the McDonald's Shamrock shake?
Does anyone bake Hot Cross Buns?
The seasonal sweet, current & citron studded hot cross bun is said to traditionally eaten on Good Friday. Joy of Baking cites a superstition that if hot cross buns were baked on Good Friday, they would never become moldy & one bun would be saved as a good luck charm until the next year's bun was baked. I usually manage to eat one when available locally. Being a chronic yeast-dough challenged baker, never attempted my own. Anyone make these sweetly spiced, dried fruit buns? Any local bakeries feature them around Easter?
As`a kid, my favorite Easter candy was ____
If you were given a candy filled Easter basket as a child, what were your favorites? Chocolate eggs, jelly beans, those colored confection eggs (yuck), marshmallow choc. covered eggs, peanut butter filled....Least favorite? Did you go around the yard or house for an Easter Egg hunt for both real & candy eggs? Plastic eggs that are filled with candy or $ are kinda fun, too! Fancy-pants chocolate or cheapo, which candy would you like to find in an Easter basket this year?
Leg O Lamb
For the first time is several years, I will be home in my own kitchen at Easter. I'm already getting excited about the prospect of preparing my one and only leg of lamb for the year. It's been a long time so I'm looking for help (reipes to choose from) and maybe new ways to prepare the shank half of a previously frozen leg. What would you be serving to accompany it and how would you prepare them? This is one meal I love but have very limited knowledge in the "science" of getting it right. Thanks in advance...
Great and easy lamb recipe for Valentine's evening?
I am looking for an easy lamb recipe to serve to my sweetheart and my parents this evening and would love some suggestions. They all love lamb and I want to wow them.
It's Mardi Gras time! King cake recipes?
I'd like to make a King Cake to bring in for everyone at my workplace on Fat Tuesday, so I'm looking for a fabulous recipe...any suggestions?
Speaking of Mard Gras...here's a great New Orleans Red Beans & Rice recipe I found - enjoy! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/11359
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
I've been away for a week so forgive me if this topic has already been done to death, but I was hoping people would share their holiday dinner successful dishes and failed dishes (if there were any). It's always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes to entertaining. I followed my own advice this year and did a lot of stuff that could be cooked ahead then reheated at the last minute. Our menu consisted of a roast whole beef tenderloin (rubbed in olive oil, sea salt, crushed pepper, garlic and rosemary), mixed green veg (snap peas, asparagus, and green beans blanched in the morning then sauteed with shallots while the meat rested), a cauliflower gratin (also blanched in the morning, assembled in the afternoon, then baked while the meat rested), and roasted new potatoes (also parboiled, then baked with the meat). It was the most successful holiday dinner I've done so far (I'm a 20something). What did you make? What worked well? What didn't?
Traditional New Years Dishes from Around the World
I'm trying to satisfy my curiousity (and maybe plan a menu). What foods are traditionally used to celebrate the New Year in India, Africa, East Asia, Europe, etc. Recipes?
I know Italians eat lentil soup . . . .
Holiday Price Gouging...
I called a local seafood place (**cough, cough Ward's Seafood**) to make my Christmas Eve fish order. They have been around FOREVER and most locals swear by them.
Q: "I need 14 whole, live lobsters. How much do you get for lobster?"
A: "$18.99 a pound."
Me: "That's obscene."
Clerk: "That's been the price for six months and it's not even locked in for the holiday."
Me: "So I can show up on Monday morning and it can be more?
Clerk: "Yes."
Go online... Superpages "Fish Market, Clearwater."
Find another place: Harr's Surf & Turf.
Call Harr's.
Q: "What do you get for lobster?"
A: "$12.99 a pound."
Me: Get someone on the phone who can take an order.
I escaped gouging by the skin of my teeth. You?
Christmas Eve Dessert - HELP!
I am in desperate need of a dessert idea for Christmas Eve. I am serving Spicy Shrimp (from the Pioneer Woman) for dinner (with crusty bread to soak up the lovely sauce) along with a cabbage salad of some variety (probably a take on an Asian slaw). The shrimp are rich, and I don't want a heavy dessert.....Ideas?
Christmas dinner sides?
I'm making a roast duck and can't decide what to make with it. Any suggestions?
Christmas Roast Duck
There are so many recipes out there for Roast Duck and I just can't narrow it down. Do I roast it in a relatively short time with bacon over it (sounds so good) or slow and low, turning the duck every hour. Should I even attempt to pour boiling water over it to ensure a crisp skin? I am drowning in recipes over here!
Giving a kitchen appliance this Christmas? Why?
Kitchen appliances are sometimes seen as "insensitive" as a gift. But in some cases, the opposite can very-much be true. This year we're giving my mom the ice cream freezer she's wanted for some time. Of the wooden bucket variety, she's specifically wanted one with a hand crank, which has been difficult to come by at a reasonable price. This year we found one with both a hand crank and a motor attachment, so she can switch over when she gets tired.
Are you giving something like this, this year? If so, tell the story!
What will you have on Christmas Morning?
Every year on Christmas Morning, we have cinnamon rolls. It's the one day of the year we awake to a calorie-laden, unapologetically sugary breakfast. After the gift unwrapping, hugging, shouts of glee and sugar fest, we usually crash into naps at around 10:30 a.m.
Traditional Christmas breakfast for you?
What kind of cookies did you leave for Santa?
Actually don't recall (senior moment) what kind or even if I did leave cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve. When my kids were young, we made old-fashioned cut-out cookies decorated with icing & sprinkles. Each child selected their best cookie for the old stoneware "Santa" plate & left along with a cup of cocoa...and a note. Carrots for the reindeer, too. Like magic, only crumbs were found on the plate Christmas morning. Do you recall leaving cookies for old St. Nick?
My childhood holiday treat favorites were ____
Now I'm going back in history...it was a big deal for the family to recieve a Whitman's Sampler box of chocolates & getting to select a piece after dinner. Of course, I remember candy canes. Mother didn't bake much but usually on a special holiday she made homemade cinnamon rolls with pecans in the filling. 7-Up was reserved for New's Eve only. Oh...have times changed! Do you recall your favorite holiday treats as a kid? Homemade by friends or relatives? Commerical products that are "retired" meaning either no longer available or that you've out-grown your desire to eat them now?
Holiday Bakers, shout out during your baking marathon
I am up baking and trying to finish up by tomorrow. Making Jam Thumbprints here. What is everyone up to? Care to share? Hollar out!
12 kinds done and 6 to go here.
I know that this is sacreligious, but...
I admit it, I cannot stand eggnog. I know, I know. At this time of year, I am supposed to love all fo the gingery, candy caney, hot cocoaey goodness that proliferates around here, but that is the one thing that I cannot stand. Even the smell makes me queasy. So, i want to know, what do you hate at this time of year, even though you are supposed to love it? Your grandmother's fruitcake? Your aunt's sugar cookies? I don't want to feel alone in this!
Do I dare stray from traditional holiday fare this season?
I'm tempted...ohhhhhhh so tempted to try something exotic and new besides the tradational ham/turkey and fixin's etc. I really want to go all Greek or Indian or Mexican or ANYTHING but the traditional for a change! I'm an American of Finnish/Irish/English blood and I'm getting bored of the same old. I'd even love a Jewish food holiday! I LOVE just about ANY food and I'd love to start incorporating other cultural cuisines into my holiday menus. Am I the only sap who feels this way? Anyway if any of you have some suggestions I'd love to hear them! The more ethnically diverse the better! Thank you! And a healthy, happy and safe holiday season to ALL!
P.S. I can make really complex recipes (the more challenging the better) so don't feel afraid to share a time-consuming/technically-challenging recipe. :D
Chinatown at Christmas
A friend asked about Chinatown restaurants for Christmas. She has family coming in and can’t be with them that night and is sending them for the classic NYC Jewish celebration of Xmas. She is looking for a good restaurant in Chinatown. Any suggestions would be so welcome!
December tastes like...
This was discussed on the Washington Post. December is filled with numerous holidays which include many once a year foods & just plain "feel good" foods!
December tastes like...
hot chocolate
clementines
peanut brittle
pecans in the shell
eggnog
fudge
Texas ruby red grapefruit
What does December taste like to you?
What's your favorite type of holiday gathering?
Cookie exchanges, appetizers & wine, house-to-house celebration, gathering to sing Christmas carols & drink hot chocolate? On the flip side, what type of holiday gathering do you least enjoy? I prefer a casual get together with friends or family...cookies & cocoa. Every year, I dread the carry-in & gift exchange at work :( What's your favorite? Which event do you dread?
What's the most over-rated holiday food?
My answer: Peeps. I just don't get it...every holiday, the shelves are lined with these boxes of different shaped neon colored sugar globs :) For you, what holiday food is not worth the hype?
Holiday Baking - what are you making?
Now that Thanksgiving is over - on to holiday baking!
My plans include gingerbread, rugelach, ginger cookies, lemon sables, peppermint cookies, pistachio biscotti, and stollen.
What are you planning to bake this holiday season?
Do you give baked goods as gifts? Bring to the office? Parties?
What's your favorite holiday candy?
I have many...fudge with nuts, peanut brittle, buck-eyes & toffee. Not too crazy about divinity, tho' Store-bought favorite is a mini candy cane. What's your best home-made holiday candy resipe? When you purchase, which candy do you choose? Good online sources? Calling all candy-makers to share recipes :)
Vegetarian holiday food
Half my kids have gone vegetarian on me- protein being the star of most holiday meals, its a problem. My son, Billie, the chef, and I and my husband and one daughter are planning a surf and turf Christmas lunch, and the other kids are coming later. I've asked each of them for the one thing the couldn't resist on a menu, and Billie and I are going to come up with a 7 course vegetarian tasting menu. Wish us luck! My course is dessert- flourless chocolate cake with port ice cream- yummy!
Christmas Channukah Kwanzaa Yuletide Menu ideas
Ok we just got done turkey day, now let us talk about what we are doing in 4 weeks.
I been thinkng of 7 fishes for Christmas Eve. Maybe a ham for Christmas day-Or Lasagne.
Keeping dinner hot in a small kitchen....
....The most important thing is some foods have to be hot (ones with fat or they will not taste good)....
Why does everyone think every thing has to be done so far ahead? Get help by keeping the mashed potatoes in their hot water until after salad course or first course, and have some one drain and mash them while turkey is being carved and plated, turkey can set whole a couple hours, and will be less dry which is always a consideration. While someone is carving, and someone is mashing potatoes, get gravy very hot in a skillet so it can warm up potatoes dressing and turkey if they chill, heat plates if possible, (pre heat gravy boat with boiling water.)..and dish it the very last thing. Vegetables are fine at room temp if in olive oil and not cream or butter sauce. The whole day is about the feast...let the meal dictate..for once. I find warm or hot plates make a huge difference we always heat our plates, in 170 oven....
If you bake in pottery or metal things like sweet potatoes will stay warm enough if left covered,,,,do you have a fire place or furnace rolls wrapped in foil, or hot dishes can wait covered near fire, for up to an hour, remember food safety...at some point microwaving might be the best option for reheating vegetables. Relax and enjoy...
Brine Bags for Turkey
I've tried using a brine bag for two years now and I can't seem to get enough air out to have the brine submerge the whole bird. Plus they have the worst zip tops ever. Any advice?
Turkey Leftovers
I am so pleased to have won a 17 pound turkey from seriouseats! This is going to be quite an adventure for me since the biggest bird I've ever roasted was about 12 pounds. We already have a turkey for the big day (heritage turkey - first time ever trying that) so I'm thinking I'll roast my seriouseats turkey on Friday and then make some mini turkey pot pies and maybe a soup out of the meat. I'll save the heritage turkey leftovers for some turkey sandwiches. What do you do with your turkey leftovers? Have any suggestions for my extra bird??
Green Bean Casserole...
In case anyone's interested... Cooks Illustrated did a "from scratch" version of Green Bean Casserole that looks outstanding. The recipe is on their site and it's free.
Save me from Serious Thanksgiving angst!
I have finally sketched out my menu http://izzyeats.blogspot.com/2007/11/wheres-my-thanksgiving-menu.html but now with so many recipes from which to choose, I just can't decide. Give me your favorite (tried and true) recipes for the following (sans pork, grandpa won't eat it!)
Brussels Sprouts
Sweet Potatoes
Stuffing
Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight!
Good Gravy!
My boyfriend is joining my family for the first time we've spent Thanksgiving together and I'm hoping it's easy and fun. There's a small snag already, however, and that's gravy related. We don't eat the stuff! I think it's gross, and Mom's turkey is always moist enough without it. But the boy seems to think there's no turkey without the stuff, and I'm willing to compromise enough to keep the peace.
The question then, (I'm finally getting around to it) is what makes the best gravy? Is this something I can secretly buy in a jar and dump into a boat? Must I boil a neck? Where does gravy even come from? PLEASE HELP!
First Thanksgiving problem: How much turkey do I need?
It's the first time I've planned and cooked a Thanksgiving dinner myself, and I have NO idea of how big of a turkey to get. I've got 10 people coming, and I'm planning to deep fry the turkey. Will a 12lb bird be enough? Should I get two smaller birds? I want to ensure sufficient leftovers, of course. Soups and moles are in the game plan. Help!
Thanksgiving Appetizers
I've been instructed to bring an appetizer to Thanksgiving that doesn't require heating (to save on oven space). I have a few ideas, but what would YOU bring besides a salad?
Pumpkin pie vs. sweet potato pie
As the eatin' season begins, it seems to me that someone out there can discuss the difference between pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie. I've only had SP pie once, a good while back. But it seems to me that they're both basically the same thing, a custard with cooked, pureed flesh and similar spicing, which is variations on cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg/mace. But that's only a theoretical description. Lots of folks seem to prefer one to the other. Help me out here. What's the difference? Why do you prefer one to the other?
What do you eat for breakfast on holidays?
Do you skip or eat minimal amounts saving up calories & tummy room for the feast later that day? Fix your usual breakfast? Nibble on whatever you're preparing for the holiday dinner? Or do you plan & eat a breakfast that is equally as special as the main meal?
What salad will you serve on Thanksgiving?
With the turkey & dressing, multi-sides, other nibbles & dessert...does salad find itself on your menu? Never liked those gelatin concoctions that were traditional in my growing-up years :( When I do plan a Thanksgiving dinner, I include a fruit salad containing pears, apples, grapes, nuts ,etc. Are you serving a salad this year?
What holiday dish was a a total flop?
Over the years, I'm sure there have been a few holiday meals that a dish or two just didn't measure up either taste or appearance-wise. Was it something prepared by family? Left the little bag of giblets inside the turkey? Burned or undercooked food? A dish that nobody really liked but felt compelled to prepare out of tradition? At my house, I'm recalling those little creamed onions everone hated & one of those layered jello ring molds that not only didn't set-up but slid off the plate :( What holiday dish just didn't meet your criteria? How well did you handle the outcome?
What holiday traditions are still going strong in your family?
It is said that friends are "the family we get to choose". Every year, I invite friends to my an annual Halloween popcorn ball making party which will be this weekend. The second weekend in Dec is set aside for baking cookies & candy making with grandkids. Our family Christmas meal is always a brunch after gifts are opened. What food related holiday traditions do you share with friends & family?
Cranberry blog
Since holiday discussions are in full swing, I must talk about one of my favorites: cranberries. I freeze them when they are available, so I can make cranberry sauce all year. I use the dried ones in salads, stuffings and desserts. On Thanksgiving I serve a cranberry casserole as a sidedish. It is cranberries, apples and sugar, topped with a brown sugar, butter, flour, oatmeal, chopped pecan streusel. How do you make your cranberries? Do you eat them raw? I do!
The holidays are coming...what is your favorite beverage?
I go for hot chocolate on Halloween. Then Thanksgiving thru the New Year, I like the grocery store "custard-style" cartons of eggnog. Occasionally order one of those gingerbread or eggnog lattes at the coffee shop. What do you sip on during the winter holidays?
Countdown: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a little over 4 weeks away, and I'm already in planning mode. Yesterday I tried out a pecan pumpkin cheesecake. I'll be testing more recipes, and ripping out magazine pages for menu and decorating ideas. Is anyone else in the full holiday swing? How far do most people plan ahead? Any fantastic ideas?
I'm getting my turkey from _____________
I have an opportunity to get a turkey from a farm connected with a food coop. I've used Empire turkeys, Shady Brook turkeys, a couple of fresh farm turkeys. They were all good to varying degrees. I read Cooks Illustrated this month and their results surprised me. They like frozen turkeys. Where are you getting your turkey from?Why?
Thanksgiving! (In Canada, It's This Weekend)
How are all of my fellow canadians celebrating thanksgiving this upcoming weekend? I'll be having two dinners with family and friends, and going the fair!
What do you do to celebrate Labor Day?
Do you barbeque? If so, what foods do you make? How do you celebrate?
Question of the Day: What are you doing for Memorial Day Weekend?
Going anywhere or just enjoying the long weekend at home? More important, what are you going to eat?
Question of the Day: New Year's Day Foods
Southerners eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day to bring luck. In many cultures, cabbage is thought to bring good fortune if eaten today. The Dutch have a special fritter they eat. What about you? Any New Year's Day tradition you follow?
What's a great festive holiday restaurant for a small company in NYC? Good food, fun times.
Looking for a festive holiday restaurant to take the company (small company, only 4 of us) where we can enjoy great food and atmosphere. Last year we went to Bouley and it was a wonderful experience, wanted to try Gramercy Tavern but no reservations available. Any great ideas, they'd be much appreciated. Thanks.
KL
Diets during the holidays
Is there some holiday diet that is made up entirely of the holiday foods, but allows you to lose weight? Like by drinking lots of egg nog and eating lots of snacks?
