Holiday Cooking Projects 2009

[azscoob]

a wee bit late for those who are interested:
German potato salad
2-3 lbs of red potatoes, peeled and sliced, cooked but not falling apart
2-3 medium yellow onions thinly sliced (basically one per lb of potatoes)
1/2 lb bacon chopped, cooked crisp and removed from drippings, add the onion to the drippings and cook slowly till translucent.

sweet sour mixture:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar (cider vinegar is good also)
1/3 cup water
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste
simmer til everything is disolved, ad to warm potatoes and onion, add bacon back to pan and simmer on low to allow potatoes to absorb liquid and for the flavors to blend.

I prepair a day ahead and refrigerate, then warm up the next day for serving.

 

[Revvy]

Annually I do a Jamaican Spiced Plantain/Banana Bread as gifts for co-workers and such. They have become a Christmas Legends, amongst my friends and co-workers. It's because they are really just a vehicle to soak up the spiced rum/banana wine mixture I spray on them for a few days before wrapping.

Today I baked the first 20 mini loaves of about 60 that I will have done by next weekend.

 

[chefmike]

a wee bit late for those who are interested:
German potato salad
QUOTE]

Not too late. I got busy and neglected checking on this thread.

Thanks so much for posting this. I am going to try it as soon as I can. Man... I am getting hungry reading food threads tonight.

Who had the Hop cheesecake... that is the other one someone mentioned that really piqued my interest.

But german potato salad. and brats.

 

[philrose]

christmas eve for swmbo's family will either be a

Crown rack of lamb with red quinoa and pine nuts
-or-
Roast duck with sauteed greens and slivered almonds.

damn I love holidays. Its the only time I get to cook meat for more than one!

 

[chefmike]

I am not sure if I would like the duck or the lamb more.... they both sound so good!

I am heading out to eat breakfast at a local place that makes the best biscuits... Martin's

Then to the store for groceries. Tonight is the MIL's meal: standard american holiday fair.

Tomorrow I am making a timballo (pasta, eggplant, sausage and cheese stuffed in a pie crust and baked. like this only I sure dont use turkey sausage!!)

Making eggnog if I make it to the liquor store today.

 

[Ragutis]

Christmas Menu:
Carne Adovada
Chicken enchiladas
Cheese enchiladas
Zucchini and green chile tamales
Apricot pork tamales
Chile relleno casserole
Fresh flour tortillas

 

[chefmike]

Ragutis-
sounds fantastic... there is nothing in the world like a fresh tamale.

what beer you serving with it all?

 

[Coastarine]

Pork Wellington. Basically a pork tenderloin stuffed with dried apples, flavored with thyme, wrapped in proscuitto, seasoned with salt, pepper, and mustard, and then wrapped in puff pastry. Starts at 4:50...

 

[dwarven_stout]

Pork Wellington. Basically a pork tenderloin stuffed with dried apples, flavored with thyme, wrapped in proscuitto, seasoned with salt, pepper, and mustard, and then wrapped in puff pastry.

Nice. I'm doing a traditional Beef Wellington (with homemade mustard), maple glazed turnips and carrots, and balsamic-glazed brussel sprouts.

I made eggnog for a party the other night.. might make it again for Christmas if I feel like it. My fiance is in the kitchen right now making Belgian pearl sugar waffles (Gauffres de Liège) which are amazing.

 

[Ragutis]

Ragutis-
sounds fantastic... there is nothing in the world like a fresh tamale.

what beer you serving with it all?

I have a nice Belgian Tripel brewed last Summer along with a Northern English brown ale for home brew. I also have a good supply of New Belgian Abbey, Avery Celebration Ale and Rogue Dead Guy.
With a snow storm on the horizon, it should be a good time to hole up for a couple of days.

 

[chefmike]

I remembered to snap a shot of the timballo:

I hope everyone is recovering from the fun of the holidays!