Your holiday dinners?

[Skybird]

I use to meet my parents on late afternoon 24th, and then we have a slow raclette all evening long: potatoes, French (not Swiss) Raclette cheese and for me medium old Gouda as well (Raclette for the creamyness , Gouda for the taste and a crispy surface), cherry tomatoes (which of course are lousy at this time of the year), Salami, and for my parents also ananas (which i absolutely hate), all this usually with a red wine, and afterwards a strong double Espresso. The nice thing with Raclette is that it is very social, and takes time. You can kill hours and hours.

Yesterday I ate nothing, it was my fastening day anyway, I skip eating every four days, and do 16/8 interval fasting on the three other days. Its now my life style.

Today, I had a feast for myself, alone. 2x 2 1/2 minutes fried Lamb steaks, marinaded in mustard with a bit yoghurt and fried with all the mustard, served in mint sauce (my style), with boiled potatoes and fresh green beans and bacon, and a Weinschorle (red wine spritzer). I do not cook the sauce the English way, but do an ordinary light (not dark) gravy, with only very mild seasoning of salt and pepper only, since I use plenty of fresh mint leafs, which I also do not chop. I also use three drops of mint oil per 250 ml gravy. 4 are too much, 2 are too little, 3 is just about right. My Mum almost dropped dead when I told her, but after she tasted it some time ago, she now drops others dead to get their mint oil. One of my most favourite meals. And kind of refreshing. No bad breath after eating.

No, the green stuff on the left side is no spinach
upload picture

Looks kind of rude, but is extremely delicous. Several people have stolen the recipe from me now.

The nice thing with interval fasting is that I can eat like that as often as I want - and still lose weight. From 90 down to 80 kg in two and a half months, still falling.

What recipes do you have for christmas and special event dinners that are worth to be stolen?

[Jimbuna]

My favourite holiday meal is the plain old Xmas dinner, chicken and stuffing, beef, lamb, mashed and roast potatoes, peas, carrots, mashed turnip, cauliflower and a rich brown gravy topped with a sprinkling of mint sauce.

[Eichhörnchen]

We had leg of lamb with 'pigs in blankets' (sausages wrapped in bacon), Yorkshire puddings, all the usual veg plus leek sauce (which I absolutely must have) and gravy... also home-made cranberry & crab-apple cheese

We avoid turkey or goose, usually preferring to get a good deal on something like lamb, goat or ostrich. We have a gammon joint at Christmas as well, for Boxing Day

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

We had leg of lamb with 'pigs in blankets' (sausages wrapped in bacon), Yorkshire puddings, all the usual veg plus leek sauce (which I absolutely must have) and gravy... also home-made cranberry & crab-apple cheese

We avoid turkey or goose, usually preferring to get a good deal on something like lamb, goat or ostrich. We have a gammon joint at Christmas as well, for Boxing Day

Looks like another painting of yours! Certainly more stylish a table than mine.

[STEED]

Steamed fish no trimmings better for your health.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

We had leg of lamb with 'pigs in blankets' (sausages wrapped in bacon), Yorkshire puddings, all the usual veg plus leek sauce (which I absolutely must have) and gravy... also home-made cranberry & crab-apple cheese

We avoid turkey or goose, usually preferring to get a good deal on something like lamb, goat or ostrich. We have a gammon joint at Christmas as well, for Boxing Day

Originally Posted by Skybird

Looks like another painting of yours! Certainly more stylish a table than mine.

Quite a 'spread'! we did much the same at my daughter's abode this season for her 11 wine industry friends and relatives. We loaned out our dining chairs etc and my wife got a marvelous Cosco beef Wellington which then got wrapped in prosciutto and breaded. Additionally my wife, a superb chef who loves to cook, made the dessert: a magnificent cheesecake topped with our own raspberries...the wine & Scotch (Napa??!!) flowed like the Nile! Having done much the same at Thanksgiving, it falls to me to clean the kitchen afterwards.....

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

We had leg of lamb with 'pigs in blankets' (sausages wrapped in bacon), Yorkshire puddings, all the usual veg plus leek sauce (which I absolutely must have) and gravy... also home-made cranberry & crab-apple cheese

We avoid turkey or goose, usually preferring to get a good deal on something like lamb, goat or ostrich. We have a gammon joint at Christmas as well, for Boxing Day

Forgot to mention the Yorkshires

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

.... it falls to me to clean the kitchen afterwards.....

Yup, I did the washing-up solo afterwards (we never yet got a dish-washing machine)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Yup, I did the washing-up solo afterwards (we never yet got a dish-washing machine)

We've had one for years and I still haven't learned how to operate it

[Dowly]

Pretty traditional Finnish Christmas dinner:
- Ham
- Potatos
- Brown sauce
- Various casseroles (potato, carrot, cabbage)
- Smoked salmon
- Rye bread/Karelian pie
- Home brew beer


Though this year it was at my mom's instead of grandparent's since they are getting a bit too old, so we don't want to put the burden on them. (My grandma worries a lot about the Christmas dinner, might not sleep properly etc.)

[Kapitan]

I was alone this Christmas so for me i had beans on toast cant beat it

[Mr Quatro]

I can't wait to see what Reece had for Christmas after his picture of what he enjoyed for his birthday

I just had a big breakfast by myself and then a friend sent her son over with a Turkey leg, dressing, sweet potato, celery, cheese, gravy and mashed potato's and a great pineapple/coconut pie and she even sent a can of whipped cream for the topping.

[Sailor Steve]

I try to avoid holidays, for personal reasons, but I( used to go to a local market that sold "Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners for One". You'd go to their deli and select what you wanted. They'd box it up and you'd pay a single price and take it home. When I was homeless I'd go to one of several churches around town that hosted holiday dinners. The Greek Orthodox church was the best. I don't do it anymore just because it's no longer fun to eat a big meal (even a nice one) with a bunch of strangers.

This time I bought some frozen turkey breast (quite cheap) and some mashed potatoes and called it good.

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

I can't wait to see what Reece had for Christmas after his picture of what he enjoyed for his birthday

.... wallaby

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

I was alone this Christmas so for me i had beans on toast cant beat it

Oh boy I know what to have for lunch tomorrow.