What are you planning to have on the holiday?

[Mark Wein]

We're probably eating the same old thing as always. Turkey and whatnot for Christmas eve. Christmas day we are hosting at our house and Mrs W is making some homemade soups....

[GergS]

Homemade lasagna christmas eve and prime rib christmas day..

I'll be busy starting on Dec. 24 with preparing both meals....good times.

[Chihlidog]

Aw man prime rib sounds amazing. Too bad I dont really have the budget to do that.

[cfgsteak]

ribeye roast on Christmas. With mashed potatoes and good bread and some yummy veggies and some gravy...

I loves me a ribeye roast...

My Dad's wife is making dinner Christmas Eve, she usually makes something pretty good. I'm not sure what she is making though.

[GergS]

Aw man prime rib sounds amazing. Too bad I dont really have the budget to do that.

The one I got was only like $4 or $5 a pound. I got it at the local butcher shop so it wasn't as expensive as the grocery store...

But still, it's something I only purchase once a year.

[Bernie Franks]

I'm not so sure anymore. My brother and I are all but flat broke so we won't be springing for any Christmas hams, especially since our family backed out of coming out here (though we kind of expected that from the get-go, even before they reneged on Thanksgiving).

I'm thinking of doing a holiday variant on the Denver Pie. :D

[Help!I'maRock!]

obviously i'm not Christian, but we're making some steaks on Thursday and trying to make gnocchi from scratch on Friday.

[hobo]

not sure, but we might go to one of them rotating sushi bars and then for evening snacks have crackers with Kraft cheese and dried squid :eek:

[Suhnton]

not sure, but we might go to one of them rotating sushi bars and then for evening snacks have crackers with Kraft cheese and dried squid :eek:

What, no Kentucky Fried Chicken? It's a Japanese tradition don't you know. :)
If I don't have to work, we're going to go to a new place that recently opened. We went the other day and it was pretty good, and being "tabehoudai" will end up being easier and cheaper than doing it at home.

[baimun]

I bought some Habaneros for the Holidays. :D

[Mark Wein]

What, no Kentucky Fried Chicken? It's a Japanese tradition don't you know. :)
.

This needs some explanation :)

[hobo]

What, no Kentucky Fried Chicken? It's a Japanese tradition don't you know. :)
If I don't have to work, we're going to go to a new place that recently opened. We went the other day and it was pretty good, and being "tabehoudai" will end up being easier and cheaper than doing it at home.


Kentucky Fried Chicken is "horrible" here
"

[parrotheada1a]

The better half and I are headed for her brother's house. The guy has a seriously nice kitchen, and he usually serves up some damn fine grub. Last year he did roast tenderloin with a red wine glaze. I have been charged with bringing some appetizers.... I think I'll do some scallop stuffed shrooms. Those are always a big hit.

[Suhnton]

This needs some explanation :)

I guess it comes from watching American/western movies where the family all enjoy a big roast turkey at Xmas together.

Since
a) finding a turkey in Japan is rare and
b) until very recently very few houses had ovens (most have gas grills) and
c) roasting entire birds is also not part of Japanese custom/tradition

the easier/other option is to go to somewhere that specialises in making chicken. Of course people don't go to just KFC, but I like to joke with my Japanese friends about it since it is quite common. There's a KFC about 300m from my house, which always has queues out the door on Xmas eve.
I think the KFC is pretty good, although I only eat it once every couple of years.

[Mark Wein]

I guess it comes from watching American/western movies where the family all enjoy a big roast turkey at Xmas together.

Since
a) finding a turkey in Japan is rare and
b) until very recently very few houses had ovens (most have gas grills) and
c) roasting entire birds is also not part of Japanese custom/tradition

the easier/other option is to go to somewhere that specialises in making chicken. Of course people don't go to just KFC, but I like to joke with my Japanese friends about it since it is quite common. There's a KFC about 300m from my house, which always has queues out the door on Xmas eve.
I think the KFC is pretty good, although I only eat it once every couple of years.


Thats pretty funny. We have a KFC about the same distance from my house and I really try to forget that its there.

[Kerouac]

Xmas Eve:
Cold cuts, dressing, mac 'n cheese, deviled eggs, shrimp, veggie platter, etc. Apple and Pecan pies for desert.

Xmas Brunch at Dad's:
Sausage Quiche and coffee cake, Egg Nog w/Bourbon

Xmas Dinner:
Flank steak, stuffed baked potatoes, rolls, Waldorf salad, green beans, some kind of cake/roll/bake with my special ginger-vanilla whipped cream.

Honestly, almost all the food is disappointing because I hate spending all that time with the family and am stressed out so much it all tastes like ashes. On paper (or on the screen) it sound quite good, but I just don't enjoy it and try to get through it as quickly as I can.

[Mark Wein]

Xmas Eve:
Cold cuts, dressing, mac 'n cheese, deviled eggs, shrimp, veggie platter, etc. Apple and Pecan pies for desert.

Xmas Brunch at Dad's:
Sausage Quiche and coffee cake, Egg Nog w/Bourbon

Xmas Dinner:
Flank steak, stuffed baked potatoes, rolls, Waldorf salad, green beans, some kind of cake/roll/bake with my special ginger-vanilla whipped cream.

Honestly, almost all the food is disappointing because I hate spending all that time with the family and am stressed out so much it all tastes like ashes. On paper (or on the screen) it sound quite good, but I just don't enjoy it and try to get through it as quickly as I can.


Thats a bummer but Ive had many of those holidays myself. Mostly around your age, too. sux.

[Kerouac]

Thats a bummer but Ive had many of those holidays myself. Mostly around your age, too. sux.

I've felt like that ever since I was a little kid... I just really hate this time of year. Best Christmas ever was when I was 1200 miles away and ate Velveeta Shells and Cheese out of the pan and didn't see another human soul the whole day. Just me, the dog, the cat, and the mac. :o

[Mark Wein]

I've felt like that ever since I was a little kid... I just really hate this time of year. Best Christmas ever was when I was 1200 miles away and ate Velveeta Shells and Cheese out of the pan and didn't see another human soul the whole day. Just me, the dog, the cat, and the mac. :o

I used to, too. After a while you realize that you just have to make of it what you can. Life is too short to be miserable.

[Kerouac]

I used to, too. After a while you realize that you just have to make of it what you can. Life is too short to be miserable.

Well, there's always alcoholism! :thu:

[Mark Wein]

Well, there's always alcoholism! :thu:

:facepalm:

[Kerouac]

:facepalm:

Just wait until you hear my original submission for the "Coverfest..." :o

[the_huge]

We have a goose on Christmas day, as is traditional

[Kerouac]

We have a goose on Christmas day, as is traditional

Who the fuck are you, Bob Cratchit? :o

[Prages]

My mom usually makes a huge spread, but they still don't have electricity, so I'm going to pick up the Holiday Feast from Bob Evans and take it to them instead. :(

[Mrs.P]

I still don't know what we are doing for Christmas dinner for ourselves. I'm just not feeling the Christmas spirit right now. :(

[Mark Wein]

My mom usually makes a huge spread, but they still don't have electricity, so I'm going to pick up the Holiday Feast from Bob Evans and take it to them instead. :(


I still don't know what we are doing for Christmas dinner for ourselves. I'm just not feeling the Christmas spirit right now. :(

thats a bummer. :(

[Denverdave]

Christmas Eve we will be at church from about 3:30 to 8:30 or so. I am making mozzarella/garlic bread and we are having various homemade soups between services there which I won't be able to enjoy since I will be running home to pick up my son who works late.

Christmas morning we always go to IHOP at 6:00AM for breakfast.

Christmas day was unknown until last night. No ham or turkey so I went to Sams to see what they had. I bought a sirloin top round roast (10# sucker) and I'm figuring out how to cook it. I'm thinking about two to three hours in the smoker and then another two in the oven to finish it off. It will be too cold to do the whole thing in the smoker (expected 20 degree high on Christmas) and I don't want to fuss over the smoker all day.

Then we will have homemade cranberry sauce, greenbean casserole (from scratch - it rocks!) and some variation of potatoes au gratin.

[Denverdave]

My mom usually makes a huge spread, but they still don't have electricity, so I'm going to pick up the Holiday Feast from Bob Evans and take it to them instead. :(


I still don't know what we are doing for Christmas dinner for ourselves. I'm just not feeling the Christmas spirit right now. :(


I'd invite you all here since we have tons of food, but the commute would be a bitch. Sometimes the 'off the cuff' stuff ends up being some of the most memorable times.

[tamoore]

Last night I made a lasagna. It was pretty good, but my wife scolded me for using the 'cheap' sauce. She was right, it wasn't as good as hers....:o

Tonight, I'm making a big-ol' plate of Nacho's for Christmas eve dinner. Shit. Just remembered that I don't have sour cream. *adds to the shopping list*

For Christmas day, the wife and I always have to do the meal (all the holiday meals) for the whole family. Not sure why we always have to do it, but it's just the way it goes. My mom insists that we have Christmas as her house, so we end up having to do most of the prep here at home, and then take it on the road to finish at her place.

We're having a regular old ham and various traditional side dishes. I'm making redskin mashed (clumpy) garlic potatoes that always come out pretty good. One thing that I'm looking forward to making is something I just had for the first time at the company Christmas pot-luck....

CABBAGE RAMEN NOODLE SALAD

1/2 head cabbage, finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 pkg. Top Ramen noodles (beef or chicken), crumbled
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1 pkg. sunflower seeds

Mix together except the noodles and refrigerate a few hours.

DRESSING:

2 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 c. salad oil
1/2 tsp. pepper
Flavor packet from the noodles

That was an amazingly good salad, Walter.

I also made a snack that my mum used to make but I haven't had in years that we'll be munching on over the holidays.

1 (12 oz.) pkg. oyster crackers (miniature)
1 pkg. original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (16 oz.)
1 tsp. dill weed
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 c. salad oil

Put the dry stuff in a bowl, mix it up, then dump the crackers in there, mix it up, then slowly add the oil while you're mixing it up. Spread it out on a cookie sheet for a while, and then scoop it up and put it into a bag and then eat it. Very easy, and addictive. The flavor is more than the sum of its parts. Some people apparently put lemon pepper in theirs as well....:idk:

That's pretty much what we've got going on around here....:o

[Help!I'maRock!]

CABBAGE RAMEN NOODLE SALAD

1/2 head cabbage, finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 pkg. Top Ramen noodles (beef or chicken), crumbled
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1 pkg. sunflower seeds

Mix together except the noodles and refrigerate a few hours.

DRESSING:

2 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 c. salad oil
1/2 tsp. pepper
Flavor packet from the noodles

That was an amazingly good salad, Walter.

my girlfriend makes the same thing, though she doesn't use the flavor packet. she calls it simi salad. its pretty good.

[mosiddiqi]

Christmas eve is just the two of us...which is nice. I'm doing the cooking on Christmas Day for the first time :eek:...Lisa's mum usually does it..but she's getting old :(...and I said last year that I thought it was too much work for her..cooking for 10 people...so I volunteered :facepalm:

I'm doing roast chicken, tandoori roast leg of lamb (already marinating in the fridge) and Nut Cutlets for the veggies. Roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli parsnips and green beans. Garlic and onion gravy. Lisa's mum is doing the Christmas puddings (she insisted on doing something) and my sister is bringing chocolate cake and mince pies.

I might be a bit stressed tomorrow :)

[Phil513]

I had the kids for Christmas eve, so Christmas day is just by myself. So i dont feel like really cooking.

Im going to make smoked salmon lettuce wraps. Cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and cucumber, wrapped in lettuce leaves. Im looking forward to that. :aok:

[Mark Wein]

I had the kids for Christmas eve,


Thats pretty cool...did you have a good time? Those kinds of events were always dicey when I was a kid...

[tamoore]

Nachos from last night. They were good, very good. :)

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs181.snc3/18833_408595355552_790740552_10311583_6191385_n.jp g

[Phil513]

Thats pretty cool...did you have a good time? Those kinds of events were always dicey when I was a kid...

Yeah, it went well, thanks. Grandma and Grandpa met us at my apartment, they took us all to applebees for lunch, then we came back and exchanged gifts. Then they took the kids on to their mom's house. Things went fine.

I got them Mario Kart and an extra steering wheel for their Wii. They were probably up late last night. :D

[Mark Wein]

Nachos from last night. They were good, very good. :)

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs181.snc3/18833_408595355552_790740552_10311583_6191385_n.jp g

THose are some serious nachos :aok:


Yeah, it went well, thanks. Grandma and Grandpa met us at my apartment, they took us all to applebees for lunch, then we came back and exchanged gifts. Then they took the kids on to their mom's house. Things went fine.

I got them Mario Kart and an extra steering wheel for their Wii. They were probably up late last night. :D

Sounds like a pretty good night, then. :)

[huskerdude]

I currently have the pork shoulder for my Christmas Carnitas in the oven.

[mosiddiqi]

All done, everyone's gone home...I'm shattered. :o....had a great day though :)

[Kerouac]

Wow, mum cooked AWESOME tonite. Instead of flank steak she did some sort of steak loin and double-stuffed potatoes!!!! Even better, she made extra and I got to being some home with me for dinner tonite, plus my dad gave me half of a quiche and some left-over strata. No cooking for the next two days. :D