What was your holiday meal like?

[Jeannie]

At first we talked about making traditional turkey and trimmings. Then we talked about going out someplace nice. Then it turned to grilling steaks at home, and then to spiral cut ham. This went on for several days.

Somehow we ended up making a big pot of pinto beans, cole slaw, and corn bread. That was definitely a first for Christmas day, but it was wonderful.

[Wilson Barbers]

A friend sent us Omaha Steaks for Xmas, so we had grilled bacon-wrapped fillets, baked potatoes with sour cream, salad and pumpkin pie. Most of the day itself, we spent snacking on Hickory Farms cheeses and sausages with a variety of snack crackers. As "stocking stuffers," I'd gotten my wife a box of Fannie Mays and she'd gotten me a box of fruit gels, but we were both fairly restrained on these. All in all, it was a nicely well-fed holiday. . .

Originally Posted by r-nadiv

....Think potato crockett. Apple sauce or sour cream is optional.

That was a very hearty approximation, R, but I believe you were aiming for the word 'croquette'. My mother loves these (she calls them potato pancakes) and, as the following recipe notes, they are a good way to make use of leftover mashed potatoes.

*is put in mind of something served in a coonskin cap*

P.S. I'm trying to reach 100 posts this first day of 2006 (3 or 4 more to go--I would have over 100 by now if I hadn't gotten in a fit and deleted some), so you might find me stalking you in other, previous posts.

Potato Croquettes

A great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. It works best if you can let the croquettes chill for an hour after forming.
leftover mashed potatoes
egg(s) (one per cup of mashed potatoes, roughly)
flour as needed
garlic and/or onion powder to taste (optional)
bread crumbs
Mix the egg(s), mashed potatoes, spices, and flour until the mixture is firm enough to handle gently. Pat them into a patty or roll them into a cylinder, roll in bread crumbs, then lay on a plate covered with wax paper. Refrigerate an hour if you have time.
Heat a thin layer of oil and fry the croquettes, about 5 minutes on each side. They should be browned and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.
Copyright 2003-2003 Ellen Lawson Ferlazzo

[r-nadiv]

The Punjabi Varient-

*wishing I'd seen this before the holidays*

Aloo Tikki (Fried Potato Cakes)

Ingredients: - Potatoes - 1/2 kg boiled and mashed, Bengal gram - 1/2 cup (Channa daal), Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp., Ginger - a small piece, Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp., Salt to taste, Green chillies - 2-3, Red chillies - 1/2 tsp., Chaat masala - 1 tsp., Mixed spices (Garam masala) - 1/2 tsp., Chopped corriander leaves - 1 tsp., Ghee for shallow frying, Filling.

Method: - Soak Bengal gram for two hours, heat 1 tbsp oil or ghee in a pan-add Cuminseed, allow to splutter - Add chopped green chillies, red chillies and salt. Cover and let it cook on low heat till it is well cooked. Sprinkle water while cooking. It should be all dry. Add chaat masala - mixed spice and chopped coriander leaves. Allow it to cool. Boil, peel and mash potatoes with a pinch of salt. Take a ball of mashed potatoes, oil palm slightly, make shallow cup with the ball of mashed potatoes, place a tea spoon of gram filling in centre and seal well and flatten the ball. Heat oil in a frying pan or grease the griddle shallow fry each tikki on low heat on both sides. Serve hot with mint chutney. Goes very well with khatte-chhole.

[r-nadiv]

Originally Posted by saucywench

That was a very hearty approximation, R, but I believe you were aiming for the word 'croquette'.

Indeed was. Thanks.

[Ray^UK]

Breakfast of freshly home baked bread with cream cheese and smoked salmon.

Dinner, large turkey breast joint, roasted, with roast potatoes, roast parsnips and brussels sprouts (and lots of gravy). Afters was a chocolate pudding (that is an English steamed pudding) with chocolate sauce and extra thick double cream.

Lots of snacks and sweets and things in between and afterwards!

[SoVerySoft]

Originally Posted by Ray^UK

Breakfast of freshly home baked bread with cream cheese and smoked salmon.

Dinner, large turkey breast joint, roasted, with roast potatoes, roast parsnips and brussels sprouts (and lots of gravy). Afters was a chocolate pudding (that is an English steamed pudding) with chocolate sauce and extra thick double cream.

Lots of snacks and sweets and things in between and afterwards!

Welcome, Ray!!!

That sounds soooo good! Did you cook? (and didn't invite me?? )

[Ray^UK]

Originally Posted by SoVerySoft

Welcome, Ray!!!

That sounds soooo good! Did you cook? (and didn't invite me?? )

Thank you for the welcome

I did some of the cooking, but only a bit. I 'did' the brussels (they were fresh not frozen so needed top/tailing and the outside leaves taking off) and helped a bit generally. I microwaved the pudding I believe, and served it. Oh and carved the turkey and made the gravy.

And as for your invite - you would have been most welcome! But I suspect you had other plans for that day that didn't involve popping across the pond

[sweetnnekked]

My roomie treated me to $100 worth of Chinese takeout while we watched videos and dvds of our favorite Christmas movies!!

[Boteroesque Babe]

We had several Christmas dinners at the homes of several of my kinfolk, and being that we're a carnivorous clan, I only remember the beasts we ate. Deep fried turkey, marinated venison tenderloin, a slow-cooked roast, the Smithfield ham I love, the non-Smithfield ham I love a little less, an interesting charcoal grilled vinegar yardbird, and authentic pork chop chili tostadas made by an authentic half-Mexican in-law. I also actually got my fill of shrimp cocktail, and had some really good stuffed shells with sweet Italian sausage at a party one night, where I also filled up on those little redneck cocktail meatballs. And enough Brokeback Mountain jokes to choke a horse.

Hmmm... can't think of a single animal I didn't eat over the holidays.

Brought home some boiled peanuts, Virginia apple butter, and the most amazing homemade apple sauce ever.

But the highlight may have been the footlong chili dog from the old haunt where I ate most every day in high school. Same flavor, same wood paneling, same vibe, but the Little River Band and Molly Hatchett on the jukebox have been replaced by Jay Z and (insert other Jay Z -like artist here).

Had to come home and load up on grains and greens, so's I don't get all clogged up with beastie. But you didn't hear that from me.