Doug: So what are those treats, and I don't necessarily mean sweets, that really get you into trouble during this period around the holidays (and we can certainly stretch this back to Thanksgiving if you'd like). Think of this six week run or so of family, office parties, going out to dinner, special breakfasts, etc. -- sheesh, I'm making myself hungry just typing all this -- and fill us in on your particular vices.
Doug: One tradition we have, and it's really quite simple, is to enjoy Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning. I think we started it when the boys were young because it was simple -- pop those babies into the oven as we were about to commence gift giving and they'd be done around the time we were finished. As I helped the boys wade through the mountains of torn gift wrapping, making certain to not throw anything valuable away, my wife could finish up and prepare to serve. Man, I love those things, and now that the boys are men there are never enough to go around!
Doug: There are of course other treats that you only seem to find during the holidays. Here's another one that's pretty simple, but that I can honestly recall eating around the holidays my entire life. Take a couple of slices of Buddig roast beef, slather a little cream cheese on it, place a dill pickle on one side and roll it up. Then slice it into 3/4" pieces and set on a plate like an hors d'oeuvre. Man, those are good. My mother-in-law makes crab rangoon that is out of this world, as well.
Doug: So here we sit smack in the middle of Christmas gatherings, with New Year's Eve and -Day a week away. What's your poison?
12 comments:
Typically for me, the first sight of Starbucks holiday latte's and other yuletide treats (really good fruitcake, anyone..?) starts my thoughts going, 'Must run daily, must run daily..', but my near 100% Auntie hosts a party every year (well, for the last 45yrs anyways..), of lasagna, desert torts (death by chocolate, etc..), and virtually tons of kielbasa like you had died and gone to heaven. The entire family of cousins, other relatives are there, it's always held the Saturday before Christmas. It's that 'one party' that signifies the holiday season for me. Quite literally, it's 'not Christmas until that party'. No drama, no theatrics, just lots of eating, talking talking talking, everyone catching up with each other, some 'not-all-that-expensive' wine and hard drinks in the back enclosed porch. It's merriment at it's best. Even when I was stationed in Germany 3yrs or deployed to Kuwait, I'd have to call long distance to give my regards to everyone. It's been such a blessing.
As for the eve and morning, I strongly share Doug's penchant for those cinnamon rolls and coffee, perhaps some quick eggs and bacon to follow, right after opening the gifts..
I'm still a pretty slim guy, but even I have to keep my near-daily workout routine (especially those 20-30 situps) to keep the waistline down. My 2 miles of walking each day at the hospital where I work also helps greatly.
Oh, and wishing a very Happy Boxing Day to those of us BABsters living 'cross the Globe.
Well, David, for some of us not living in (current or former) Commonwealth countries, it's St. Stephen's Day. It's also a national holiday over here, and since both the little lady and I had to work yesterday, it's actually our Christmas.
Anyway, as to the topic at hand, growing up in Croatian household, Christmas (and New Year's and Easter for that matter) meant tons of rich food, i.e., roast turkey or goose/duck or lam with all the trimmings, as well as stuffed cabbage leaves, sausages, etc., etc., and also pastries, all kinds of sweet, wonderful pastries. And in the latter category, I particularly associate with the winter holidays, poppy seed and walnut rolls. Thes are very common traditional specialties among most Slavs, and they are delectable: the dough is soft, sweet and chewy, and I often cannot stop eating them...
Hmmm, I may have to go to Croatia next Christmas! (although I was never big on cabbage rolls).
I'm probably in the minority, but I always liked fruitcake; fruit, nuts, raisins, a ton of sugar, and inch-thick icing? Yeah, I'll take it!
Mike W.
Pecan pie is my kryptonite. I can resist most sweets, but I can never say no to pecan pie. Just had a piece, in fact.
I will have to get back into my exercise routine quickly because I've been pretty bad the past few days.
Happy Boxing Day everyone!
Well like many other Trinidadians I have a taste for ham. Most Trinis prefer ham,turkey or pastelles (a cornmeal pie filled with minced beef and olives). My brother cooked a ham on Christmas day and I ate quite a lot of ham sandwiches, probably more than is healthy! Oh well, I did promise myself I'd resume weight training in January!
- Mike 'overindulgence is never too much' from Trinidad & Tobago.
I love, and I do mean LOVE, fruitcake! And I have no standards to what kind I will eat. Finding the first ones out at the store meant Christmas was on its way.
Christmas Eve became a time for a cold supper. In between evening service and gift opening, who had time to cook. It seemed every couple of years, Mom found a new dish to add.
And back in the day, before they became popular, tamales were only a once a year, seasonal delicacy. To wake up to a steaming plate of scrambled eggs and chopped up tamales, mmmmm, Christmas!!!
It also meant the last of the tamales. :(
And saving the best for last. My Aunt makes a pumpkin roll that she only makes at Christmas. Even going to two rolls meant there was barely enough to go around!!!
(All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth).
As kids, we also used to have those Pillbury Cinnamon rolls, and Orange Danish, on Christmas morn. Made the whole house smell wonderful!
I do love tamales at Christmas! I used to have friends I could get them from but since moving to Phoenix, I have to settle for store-bought. Costco actually has some pretty decent ones.
I love the Chocolate Orange that you whack on the table and then eat slices from -violence and sweets!
Crackers and cheese...some nice havarti...OK, I'm headed back to the kitchen!
You all have me drooling...
My wife makes incredible sugar cookies each year for family. She has a special secret frosting recipe as well, and the cookies somehow stay soft and don't get hard over a few days. I could eat a whole tin of them in one sitting easily, along with a tall glass of cold milk!
Cinnamon roll question: do you separate them on a baking sheet or pile them into a cake pan? My wife's family always did the circle pattern and it was an issue as to who would get the middle roll!
(You know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen).
Christmas morning in our house now means Monkey Bread (essentially cinnamon roll-like bread rolled into super-ball sized orbs, baked together in a Bundt pan and eaten with your hands). My wife makes it and my kids eat most of it and I try my best to get a few bites in as I sip that early morning coffee.
Happy Boxing Day/St Stephens Day everyone!
(And Chuey, Tavo and Beto... :P)
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