Everybody has a Christmas list. As a child it would be the latest and greatest toy, I’m sure you remember the excitement as you opened up your presents in anticipation of your dreams coming true.
But what about food?
The cliché goes that it’s the seasonal foods we don’t like that get all the attention, I talking of course about that one foodstuff that divides the world…Brussels sprouts! There are several other “Christmas only” foods that also get people quivering at the thought of them appearing on a plate in front of them including the curious pickled walnut.
Food is of course a big part of Christmas as it is the time of year for feasting, There are things to eat which are peculiar this festive holiday and (for some reason) you have to wait all year to eat them. There are some really interesting flavours that appear, but which are the ones that if they were missing then Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas.
Is it the meat? From golden roast turkey and goose to glazed hams glistening under the glare of fairy lights. I personally can’t get enough of those sausages wrapped in bacon, but there is so much more to love in this giant extended roast dinner.
Maybe it’s vegetables like red cabbage (something that strangely only seems to make an appearance around Christmas), roast chestnut stuffing or those divisive Brussels sprouts.
Then we have the sweet stuff, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, mince pies, chocolates the list goes on and on.
There is plenty of food and drink which makes Christmas day stand out from any other normal day of the year.
Sherry is something nobody drinks except for Christmas day. How about a snowball, Advocaat and lemonade a drink which I have never anyone seen order in a bar but in peoples homes it’s offered around like a treat which has so rare and divine “you simply must have one, it is Christmas after all!”
Port and stilton is a wonderful thing so why oh why is it only popular at Christmas? Strange that this cheese is used more as an ingredient during the rest of the year but only at Christmas are we allowed to savour its sharp, rich and utterly cheesy delights?
But these are some of the things that make our festive day and we love it so much it’s the only time of year you will see adults don a paper crown with gusto and let pictures of themselves looking ever so slightly stupid be posted all over the internet. I wonder if the Queen does this in her real crown?
So what is the best thing food wise about Christmas for you? What would ruin it for you if it was taken away?
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Boring and funny yet “Corn Bread” stuffing is a must and never without. I love Port and not only for Christmas.
This year will be a great adventure for most of the family are coming into Massachusetts and bringing the holiday cheer to my in this Rehabilitation Center and I love it. My only and big sister suggested it to me and my moms. I would like either talking on Face Time with all the family during a fest over my Moms. They were going to do this for this years eating and stuff.
Well, I will take allot of pictures and see what the heck will come out of this one.
William
William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Order In Chaos
Nothing to do with food is boring William 😉 I hope you have a fantastic Christmas!
We have goose for Christmas dinner. It’s fabulous with goose fat taters followed by Christmas pud and a syllabub of some kind. It’s the only meal I look forward to the whole year!
Sarah recently posted..Google Hangouts: How to set it up and look good
I love goose it’s such a wonderful meat if cooked well…and yes the potatoes are amazing in goose fat 🙂
I adore brussel sprouts any time of year! One thing I really like at this time of year are those jumbo canned black olives. The rest of the year I like to try all different kinds from the olive bar at Whole Foods but those canned ones remind me of Christmases around my mom’s table. She would put them out on the table a few minutes before the turkey came out and my cousins and I would devour them all. It got so bad she used to have to keep a can in reserve so she would get at least one or two!
The divisive element at our table now is white vs. brown gravy. My southern boy husband just has to have white gravy and I love brown. At Christmas we just have to have both now!
Kathy from Bliss Habits recently posted..Speaking of Celebration – How do you Celebrate?
I love those Brussels sprouts too 🙂 Great olive story, that’s what is important at this time of year…memories.
Hello Michael! This does make one think, it is weird how we only have these certain things at X-Mas Huh? For myself it is the X-Mas cookies. I did get into this habit of making cookies for my mom, all her favorites and not quite sure why I do not do this more often for her.
Great article Thanks for sharing.. Chery :))
Chery Schmidt recently posted..Introducing Xalo My Ageless Experience
Chery, The great hing is those cookies are now a family Christmas tradition in your house, and could last for many years to come. What a great foodstuff to start a tradition with too 😉
We usually do a variation of cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and some pies. For Christmas dinner, its not any different from what I cook for Thanksgiving…. but I do chicken instead.
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Mmm that sounds like a great spread Nile. I’m a little jealous that over on your side of the pond you get to eat two festive dinners 🙂
Michael,
I’m of Italian decent, so all the food starts at Christmas Eve…it is the feast of the seven fishes. Antipasto, Seven different courses of fish, Nuts and fruits, Coffee and Italian pastries.
Then Christmas day: Huge Antipasto, Home made Lasagna, Turkey with all the sides, and a repeat of Italian pastries.
I’ll make it, but won’t eat it! The last time I did, it was way too much for me. I’ll pick but that’s about it.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Partner, Pal and Product
Wow! Donna that’s some serious Christmas feast! The fish sounds amazing, I wish we had a similar tradition here in the UK. We tend to do another big eat on Boxing day with the leftover turkey and a freshly made ham, kind of like a less exotic Antipasto 😉
At Christmas I like to make *real* old fashioned fudge. I mean the kind you use a candy thermometer to get to just the right temperature, then you whip it up well and mix in pecans. Love it, but not easy to get right so I just do it once a year. 🙂
Eldon Beard recently posted..HBS 002: The First Key to Success With an Online Home Business
Another great family tradition there Eldon, I love the sound of the fudge it sounds absolutely delicious 🙂